The "indescribable gift" to which Paul referred in closing is probably Jesus Christ, the "divine gift which inspires all gifts." [1] It is probably not the gift God would give the Corinthians because they were generous toward the Judeans, to which Paul referred in the immediately preceding context. Some have suggested that it is the gift of eternal salvation. [2] Christ qualifies as an "indescribable" gift (cf. Romans 8:32). Furthermore reference to Him is appropriate and climactic at the end of this section of the epistle. Paul went back to the primary motivation for Christian giving again (cf. 2 Corinthians 8:9) for his final appeal to his readers. [source][source][source]
The Corinthians did follow through and assemble their gift. It was only a few months after Paul penned2Corinthians that he wrote Romans. In it he said that the Christians of Macedonia and Achaia (including Corinth) had made a contribution to the poor saints in Jerusalem ( Romans 15:26-27). Paul and his delegation then traveled back to Jerusalem from Corinth through Macedonia and Asia Minor ( Acts 20:3 to Acts 21:19). The leaders of the Jerusalem church evidently received the gift gladly ( Acts 21:17). [source][source][source]
Context Summary
2 Corinthians 9:8-15 - Enriched Unto Liberality
We are not really poorer by what we give away; and God will never starve His own almoners. Note the comprehensiveness of 2 Corinthians 9:8. God's grace is like an ocean at full tide. Count the alls: all grace, always, all sufficiency, every good work, and twice the verb abound. When you are going forth to sow, ask God to give you the seed. When after sowing you are hungry, ask God to supply you with bread. When you are discouraged at the results, ask God to increase the fruit. We sow the seed, whether of the gospel, or of money to aid its circulation, and lo! we reap a harvest of thanksgiving to God and of love to those who have given. But who can ever measure the thanks and love which are due to God for having given the Gift that includes all gifts! But have we accepted it? Do we use it?
Remember to look to God for your own supplies of spiritual nourishment, and specially for your seed of thought or money, of word or act. Leave the increase with Him. Hold all that God has given you as a trustee holds property for others. Administer God's good gifts, giving people continual cause to glorify and praise Him for your exhibition of the essential nature of His holy gospel. [source]
Chapter Summary: 2 Corinthians 9
1He yields the reason why he sent Titus and his brothers beforehand 6And he proceeds in stirring them up to a bountiful alms, as being but a kind of sowing of seed, 10which shall return a great increase to them, 13and occasion a great sacrifice of thanksgivings unto God
For his unspeakable gift [επι τηι ανεκδιηγητωι αυτου δωρεαι] One of Paul‘s gems flashed out after the somewhat tangled sentence (2 Corinthians 9:10-14) like a gleam of light that clears the air. Words fail Paul to describe the gift of Christ to and for us. He may have coined this word as it is not found elsewhere except in ecclesiastical writers save as a variant (B L) for αδιηγητον adiēgēton in Aristeas 99 See similar word in Romans 11:33 (ανεχιχνιαστα anexichniasta unsearchable) and Ephesians 3:8. [source]
Unspeakable [ἀνεκδιηγήτῳ] Lit., not to be told throughout. Only here in the New Testament. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for 2 Corinthians 9:15
John 4:10Answered and said [απεκριτη και ειπεν] As often (redundant) in John. The first aorist passive Condition of second class, determined as unfulfilled, ει ei and past perfect ηιδεις ēideis (used as imperfect) in condition and αν an and aorist active indicative in conclusion The gift of God Naturally the gift mentioned in John 3:16 (Westcott), the inexpressible gift (2 Corinthians 9:15). Some take it to refer to the living water below, but that is another allusion (metaphor) to John 3:16. See Ephesians 4:7 for Paul‘s use of both χαρις charis and δωρεα dōrea (from διδωμι didōmi to give). Who it is She only knew that he was a Jew. This Messianic self-consciousness of Jesus is plain in John, but it is early in the Synoptics also. Living water Running water like a spring or well supplied by springs. This Jacob‘s Well was filled by water from rains percolating through, a sort of cistern, good water, but not equal to a real spring which was always preferred (Genesis 26:19; Leviticus 14:5; Numbers 19:17). Jesus, of course, is symbolically referring to himself as the Living Water though he does not say it in plain words as he does about the Living Bread (John 6:51). The phrase “the fountain of life” occurs in Proverbs 13:14. Jesus supplies the water of life (John 7:39). Cf. Revelation 7:17; Revelation 22:1. [source]
1 Peter 1:8Not having seen [ουκ ιδοντες] Second aorist active participle of οραω horaō to see, with ουκ ouk rather than μη mē because it negatives an actual experience in contrast with μη ορωντες mē horōntes (though not seeing, hypothetical case). On whom It is possible that Peter here has in mind the words of Jesus to Thomas as recorded in John 20:29 (“Happy are those not seeing and yet believing”). Peter was present and heard the words of Jesus to Thomas, and so he could use them before John wrote his Gospel.Ye rejoice greatly (αγαλλιατε agalliāte). Same form as in 1 Peter 1:6, only active here instead of middle.With joy Instrumental case (manner).Unspeakable (ανεκλαλητωι aneklalētōi). Late and rare double compound verbal (alpha privative and εκλαλεω eklaleō), here only in N.T., in Dioscorides and Heliodorus, “unutterable,” like Paul‘s “indescribable” (ανεκδιηγητος anekdiēgētos) gift (2 Corinthians 9:15, here alone in N.T.).Full of glory Perfect passive participle of δοχαζω doxazō to glorify, “glorified joy,” like the glorified face of Moses (Exodus 34:29.; 2 Corinthians 3:10. [source]
1 Peter 1:8With joy [χαραι] Instrumental case (manner).Unspeakable (ανεκλαλητωι aneklalētōi). Late and rare double compound verbal (alpha privative and εκλαλεω eklaleō), here only in N.T., in Dioscorides and Heliodorus, “unutterable,” like Paul‘s “indescribable” (ανεκδιηγητος anekdiēgētos) gift (2 Corinthians 9:15, here alone in N.T.).Full of glory Perfect passive participle of δοχαζω doxazō to glorify, “glorified joy,” like the glorified face of Moses (Exodus 34:29.; 2 Corinthians 3:10. [source]
1 Peter 1:8Unspeakable [ανεκλαλητωι] Late and rare double compound verbal (alpha privative and εκλαλεω eklaleō), here only in N.T., in Dioscorides and Heliodorus, “unutterable,” like Paul‘s “indescribable” (ανεκδιηγητος anekdiēgētos) gift (2 Corinthians 9:15, here alone in N.T.). [source]
What do the individual words in 2 Corinthians 9:15 mean?
Greek Commentary for 2 Corinthians 9:15
Third time (2 Corinthians 9:11, 2 Corinthians 9:12, 2 Corinthians 9:15). [source]
One of Paul‘s gems flashed out after the somewhat tangled sentence (2 Corinthians 9:10-14) like a gleam of light that clears the air. Words fail Paul to describe the gift of Christ to and for us. He may have coined this word as it is not found elsewhere except in ecclesiastical writers save as a variant (B L) for αδιηγητον adiēgēton in Aristeas 99 See similar word in Romans 11:33 (ανεχιχνιαστα anexichniasta unsearchable) and Ephesians 3:8. [source]
These abrupt thanksgivings are common in Paul's writings. See Romans 9:5; Romans 11:33; 1 Corinthians 15:57; Galatians 1:5; Ephesians 3:20. [source]
Lit., not to be told throughout. Only here in the New Testament. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for 2 Corinthians 9:15
As often (redundant) in John. The first aorist passive Condition of second class, determined as unfulfilled, ει ei and past perfect ηιδεις ēideis (used as imperfect) in condition and αν an and aorist active indicative in conclusion The gift of God Naturally the gift mentioned in John 3:16 (Westcott), the inexpressible gift (2 Corinthians 9:15). Some take it to refer to the living water below, but that is another allusion (metaphor) to John 3:16. See Ephesians 4:7 for Paul‘s use of both χαρις charis and δωρεα dōrea (from διδωμι didōmi to give). Who it is She only knew that he was a Jew. This Messianic self-consciousness of Jesus is plain in John, but it is early in the Synoptics also. Living water Running water like a spring or well supplied by springs. This Jacob‘s Well was filled by water from rains percolating through, a sort of cistern, good water, but not equal to a real spring which was always preferred (Genesis 26:19; Leviticus 14:5; Numbers 19:17). Jesus, of course, is symbolically referring to himself as the Living Water though he does not say it in plain words as he does about the Living Bread (John 6:51). The phrase “the fountain of life” occurs in Proverbs 13:14. Jesus supplies the water of life (John 7:39). Cf. Revelation 7:17; Revelation 22:1. [source]
Third time (2 Corinthians 9:11, 2 Corinthians 9:12, 2 Corinthians 9:15). [source]
Him is emphatic: and Him He gave. Not merely set Him over the Church, but gave Him as a gift. See 2 Corinthians 9:15. [source]
“I have gratitude.” As in 1 Timothy 1:12. Robinson cites examples of this phrase from the papyri. It occurs also in Luke 17:9; Acts 2:47. Χαρις Charis in doxologies Paul uses (1 Corinthians 15:57; 2 Corinthians 2:14; 2 Corinthians 8:16; 2 Corinthians 9:15; Romans 6:17; Romans 7:25). His usual idiom is ευχαριστω eucharistō (1 Corinthians 1:4; Romans 1:8; Philemon 1:4; Philemon 1:3) or ευχαριστουμεν eucharistoumen (1 Thessalonians 1:2; Colossians 1:3) or ου παυομαι ευχαριστων ou pauomai eucharistōn (Ephesians 1:16) or ευχαριστειν οπειλομεν eucharistein opheilomen (2 Thessalonians 1:3). [source]
Second aorist active participle of οραω horaō to see, with ουκ ouk rather than μη mē because it negatives an actual experience in contrast with μη ορωντες mē horōntes (though not seeing, hypothetical case). On whom It is possible that Peter here has in mind the words of Jesus to Thomas as recorded in John 20:29 (“Happy are those not seeing and yet believing”). Peter was present and heard the words of Jesus to Thomas, and so he could use them before John wrote his Gospel.Ye rejoice greatly (αγαλλιατε agalliāte). Same form as in 1 Peter 1:6, only active here instead of middle.With joy Instrumental case (manner).Unspeakable (ανεκλαλητωι aneklalētōi). Late and rare double compound verbal (alpha privative and εκλαλεω eklaleō), here only in N.T., in Dioscorides and Heliodorus, “unutterable,” like Paul‘s “indescribable” (ανεκδιηγητος anekdiēgētos) gift (2 Corinthians 9:15, here alone in N.T.).Full of glory Perfect passive participle of δοχαζω doxazō to glorify, “glorified joy,” like the glorified face of Moses (Exodus 34:29.; 2 Corinthians 3:10. [source]
Instrumental case (manner).Unspeakable (ανεκλαλητωι aneklalētōi). Late and rare double compound verbal (alpha privative and εκλαλεω eklaleō), here only in N.T., in Dioscorides and Heliodorus, “unutterable,” like Paul‘s “indescribable” (ανεκδιηγητος anekdiēgētos) gift (2 Corinthians 9:15, here alone in N.T.).Full of glory Perfect passive participle of δοχαζω doxazō to glorify, “glorified joy,” like the glorified face of Moses (Exodus 34:29.; 2 Corinthians 3:10. [source]
Late and rare double compound verbal (alpha privative and εκλαλεω eklaleō), here only in N.T., in Dioscorides and Heliodorus, “unutterable,” like Paul‘s “indescribable” (ανεκδιηγητος anekdiēgētos) gift (2 Corinthians 9:15, here alone in N.T.). [source]