" the fruits of your righteousness " mean the reward of your righteousness, amounts substantially to the same thing; for the reward of beneficence is, according to the context, the in- crease of the means w^herewith to be beneficent.
11. Being enriched in every thing to all bountiful- ness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.
In our version vs. 9 and 10 are regarded as a parenthesis, and this verse is connected with v. 8. '' That ye may have abundance for every good work — being enriched, &c." But this is unnecessary and forbidden by the regular connection of vs. 9 and 10 Avith v. 8. Others supply the substantive verb " ye shall be enriched." Almost all the modern commenta- tors assume the irregular construction of the participle of which so many examples occur both in the New Testament and in the classics. See Eph. 4, 2. 3, 17. Col. 2, 2. 3, 16. Acts 15, 22, &G. The connection is therefore with what im- mediately precedes. 'God will increase the fruits of your righteousness, (i. e. your resources,) being enriched, i. e. so that you shall be enriched, &c.' The reference is not to in- ward or spiritual riches, but, as the whole context demands, to worldly riches. 'If you are liberal, God will give you abundance, so that you shall be rich to all hountifulness^ ets iraaav aTrXoT-qra. The preposition (cts) expresses the design or end for which they shall be enriched. JBoimtifulness or liber- ality ; the word is airXor-q^^ which means sincerity, rightmind- edness. Another example of a general term used in a specific sense. See 8, 2. Rom. 15, 12. Which causes through iis, i. e. by our ministry. Paul had been instrumental in exciting the liberality of the Corinthians and in effecting the contribution for the poor in Jerusalem, and therefore he could say that the thanksgiving to God which Avas thus called forth was through him. The good effect of the liberality of Christians was not limited to the relief of the temporal necessities of their breth- ren ; it had the higher effect of promoting gratitude to God. On this idea the apostle enlarges in the following verses.
12. For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God.
Your liberality produces gratitude, for (otl)^ because, tho