Monday, 2 November 2015
Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! 2 Corinthians 9:15
To end the chapter, and also the topic of the collection of the gift, Paul breaks into a sudden and emotional proclamation of thanksgiving. This is not at all unique to his writings as he elsewhere suddenly breaks forth in praise and thanks to God. It is as if Paul contemplated the words which he had penned and couldn’t restrain himself at certain points. And not only was it an internal expression, but one which he simply had to share with others as well.
The word for “thanks” is the same as the word elsewhere translated as “grace.” Even in the previous verse it is used this way. There it said, “…and by their prayer for you, who long for you because of the exceeding grace of God in you.” Scholars debate what this “grace” is intended to be. Is it the Holy Spirit? Is it Christ Jesus? The answer seems likely to be the same “grace” which he just mentioned. He turned the thought around from “the exceeding grace of God in you” into “thanks.”
If this is so, then it refers to the entire process of salvation which was initiated through their “confession to the gospel of Christ” which was mentioned in verse 13. Because of their salvation which came from this confession, and because of their obedience to it, all things were working out for a good and common goal among the saints. In other words, it all comes back to the work of Jesus Christ in them. He is the gift of God through which all other things find their right and proper place.
And this seems certain by the use of the word “indescribable.” The Greek word from which this is translated is used only here in the New Testament. It comes from two separate words. The first it a negative prefix and the second is a word which means “to declare.” In other words, there are simply no words which could fully express this gift. This is certainly the case concerning the Person and work of Christ. He is the indescribable Gift which is the basis of every other good thing which comes down from the Father of heavenly lights.
Life application: If you are in the mood to break out in praise or thanks to God, don’t hold it in. You might explode. Let it out!
Glorious God! I want to praise You and thank You for Your indescribable Gift, my Lord Jesus. Without Him, I would be forever separated from You. I would have no hope and no reason to exist. Life would be a vain pursuit which would terminate in an oblong box. But though I may end up there, it will only be a temporary place of rest until I am brought back for an eternal walk in Your presence. And all of it is because of the Gift of Jesus. Thanks be to You for this indescribable Gift! Amen.