II Corinthians 9:12-14

This passage is often used to show that the role of the church is to look out for the physical well being of all people, regardless of the state of their soul. Let us consider what these verses actually say.

Verse 12

For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God;

The beneficiary of their benevolence is listed here as “the saints,” as it is also stated in the first verse of the chapter. Other passages which deal with benevolence from a church are Acts 2:44, 4:32, 6:1-10. Acts 11:27-30, Rom15:25, I Cor 16:1, II Cor 8:9, I Tim 5:9-10. Each time it is stated as being benevolence to believers. We thus begin establishing a pattern.

We also see that a result of it is many thanksgivings unto God. This is, of course, a natural outpouring from saints, but uncommon from nonbelievers.

Verse 13

Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men;

We see the that the recipients glorify God. Once again, this normal for saints and abnormal for non- saints.

The word translated here as “distribution” is the word koinoneo, meaning “fellowship.” Other places this appears are Acts 2:42, Romans 12:13, Philippians 1:3-7, and I John 1:1-9. Each time we see this word used positively when it describes a saint/saint relationship and negatively when it describes a saint/unbeliever relationship.

We also know that there were other needy saints than just in Jerusalem, where it is assumed the “saints” named here are located (I Cor 16:1). We also know there were needy saints throughout Judea (which was a region) based on Acts 11:27-30. It also seems likely to me that there must have been financial difficulties in numerous places, much as it is today. Thus, it is easy to understand the phrase, “and unto all” (remembering that the word men isn’t found in the Greek, but is an addition by the translators) as “to the saints in Jerusalem and in other places” or “To the saints in Jerusalem and to all other places benevolence has been sent”

Furthermore, there are several occasions when “all men” refers in context to saints only. Compare Acts 2:44-47, Romans 16:19, I Thessalonians 2:15, and III John 1:12.

The “men” is not included in the NASB, BBE, YLT, or ASV. It is included in the KJV and NKJV. The phrase is translated as “and with everyone else” in the NIV and as “for all others” in the ESV.

Verse 14

And by their prayer for you, which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you.

Remembering that a pronoun is used to refer back to the previously mentioned noun, we must ask who is offering prayers and who “longs after” the Corinthians for the “grace in them?” Is it unbelievers? Or is it believers? Once again, it would be the norm to come from believers, but unusual to come from unbelievers who are either untaught or have rejected the message to respond in this way.

Thus, the congregation is limited in benevolence to saints only. This does not mean that individuals (Gal. 6:10, etc.) are not to “do good unto all men,” but only that it is not the work of the church as the church. Just as different Christians play different roles, the individual and the congregation play different roles.