What does 2 Corinthians 9:4 mean?
Paul has boasted to other churches about the eagerness of the Corinthians to give to meet the needs of the Jerusalem Christians. He has sent instructions in a previous letter (1 Corinthians 16:1–4) about exactly how to be ready to make a generous donation. Now Paul and his associates are sending Titus and delegates from other churches ahead of the official delegation to make sure the Corinthians are ready.Paul is open with them. This is a moment of testing for their own reputations, as well as Paul's. If the church in Corinth has nothing ready to give, it would send a poor message to the Macedonian churches who have given generously in spite of their own poverty. If that happens, Paul will feel embarrassed for being so confident in the Corinthians. He assumes they, too, will be humiliated. He does not want that for himself or for them.