Thanks be to GodThis phrase is an expression of gratitude and worship directed towards God. In the context of 2 Corinthians, Paul is emphasizing the importance of thanksgiving as a response to God's grace. Thanksgiving is a recurring theme in Paul's letters, highlighting the believer's acknowledgment of God's sovereignty and benevolence (
1 Thessalonians 5:18). The act of giving thanks is deeply rooted in Jewish tradition, as seen in the Psalms, where gratitude is often expressed for God's deliverance and provision (Psalm 136).
for His indescribable gift!
The "indescribable gift" refers to the grace and salvation offered through Jesus Christ. This gift is beyond human comprehension and expression, emphasizing its divine origin and immeasurable value. The concept of a gift from God is central to the New Testament, where salvation is portrayed as a free gift of grace (Ephesians 2:8-9). The term "indescribable" underscores the uniqueness and magnitude of Christ's sacrifice, which fulfills Old Testament prophecies about the coming Messiah (Isaiah 9:6). This gift is also a type of Christ, as He embodies the ultimate expression of God's love and generosity (John 3:16). The cultural context of gift-giving in the ancient world often involved reciprocity, but God's gift of salvation is given freely, without expectation of repayment, highlighting the nature of divine grace.
Persons / Places / Events
1.
Paul the ApostleThe author of 2 Corinthians, Paul is writing to the church in Corinth to encourage generosity and express gratitude for God's gift.
2.
CorinthA major city in ancient Greece, known for its wealth and commerce, but also for its moral challenges. The church in Corinth was diverse and faced various issues, which Paul addresses in his letters.
3.
The Church in CorinthThe recipients of Paul's letter, they were a group of believers navigating their faith in a complex cultural environment.
4.
GodThe giver of the "indescribable gift," which is central to Paul's message of gratitude and generosity.
5.
Jesus ChristThe ultimate "indescribable gift" from God, whose life, death, and resurrection provide salvation and eternal life.
Teaching Points
Gratitude for God's GiftRecognize and express gratitude for the gift of Jesus Christ, which is beyond human description.
Understanding the Indescribable GiftReflect on the magnitude and implications of God's gift, which encompasses salvation, grace, and eternal life.
Generosity as a ResponseLet the recognition of God's generosity inspire us to be generous in our own lives, both materially and spiritually.
Living in Light of the GiftLive a life that reflects the transformative power of receiving God's gift, showing love and grace to others.
Sharing the GiftBe proactive in sharing the message of God's indescribable gift with others, fulfilling the Great Commission.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1.What is the meaning of 2 Corinthians 9:15?
2.How can we express gratitude for God's "indescribable gift" in daily life?
3.What does 2 Corinthians 9:15 reveal about God's generosity towards believers?
4.How does this verse connect with John 3:16 about God's ultimate gift?
5.In what ways can we share God's "indescribable gift" with others?
6.How does recognizing God's gift influence our attitude towards giving and service?
7.What does "Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!" mean in 2 Corinthians 9:15?
8.How does 2 Corinthians 9:15 relate to the concept of grace in Christianity?
9.Why is the gift described as "indescribable" in 2 Corinthians 9:15?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from 2 Corinthians 9?
11.What is the indescribable gift?
12.What is the indescribable gift?
13.Have you obeyed the Gospel of God?
14.How do Yule and Christmas differ?What Does 2 Corinthians 9:15 Mean
Thanks• Paul’s exclamation begins with gratitude: “Thanks.”
• Scripture urges continual thanksgiving: “Give thanks in every circumstance” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).
• Genuine thankfulness acknowledges God as the source of every blessing, echoingPsalm 107:1, “Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His loving devotion endures forever.”
• In context (2 Corinthians 9:6-14), Paul has just described generous giving; his heart now overflows with praise beyond human benevolence, lifting his eyes to the ultimate Giver.
be to God• The praise is directed exclusively to God, reinforcing the first commandment focus (Exodus 20:3).
•James 1:17 reminds us, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights.”
• By centering gratitude on God, Paul underscores that all Christian generosity mirrors God’s own giving nature.
for His• “His” personalizes the gift—originating from God’s own heart, not from impersonal fate.
•John 3:16 declares, “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son.”
•Romans 8:32 comforts believers: “He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?”
• The possessive pronoun assures us that the gift is divinely initiated and secured.
indescribable• Paul strains human language; the gift defies full articulation.
•Isaiah 55:9 reminds us, “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways.”
•Ephesians 3:19 speaks of “the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge.”
• The term signals that any attempt to quantify God’s grace will always fall short—yet we are invited to marvel and proclaim it.
gift!• The climax: what is the gift? Ultimately Jesus Christ Himself and the salvation He brings.
•Romans 6:23: “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
•2 Corinthians 8:9, Paul’s earlier statement, clarifies: “Though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.”
• Additional facets include:
– Redemption from sin (Ephesians 1:7)
– Adoption as God’s children (Galatians 4:4-7)
– The indwelling Spirit (Acts 2:38)
– Future inheritance (1 Peter 1:4)
• Every earthly act of giving (vv. 12-14) is a reflection of this singular, surpassing Gift.
summaryPaul ends his teaching on generosity with a spontaneous doxology: “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!”. Overflowing gratitude focuses on God, whose personal, matchless, and inexpressible Gift—Jesus Christ and the salvation found in Him—surpasses all language. Our giving becomes an echo of His unfathomable grace, drawing worship back to the ultimate Giver.
(15)
Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.--So the section on the collection for the saints comes to its close. We are left to conjecture to what gift the Apostle refers: whether to the love of God as manifested in Christ, or to the spirit of love poured into men's hearts. The use of the word in the Acts (
Acts 2:38;
Acts 8:20;
Acts 10:45;
Acts 11:17) is in favour of referring it to the gift of the Holy Ghost; that of
Romans 5:15;
Romans 5:17, to the gift of pardon or righteousness. Probably it did not enter into his thoughts to subject the jubilant utterance of praise to a minute analysis. . . .
Verse 15. -
Thanks be unto God. Nothing ever seems so much to disburden the full heart of St. Paul after deep emotion as an utterance of thanksgiving (
Romans 7:25;
Romans 9:5;
Romans 11:33;
1 Corinthians 15:57;
Galatians 1:5;
1 Timothy 1:17). The thanksgiving here is like a great sigh of relief. The subject of it is perfectly general. It is not a mere "Amen" uttered, as it were, by St. Paul at the end of the thanksgivings of the saints at Jerusalem which he has been presupposing; but an offering of thanks to God for the issues of grace in general, all summed up in one act of "inestimable love" (
John 3:16;
Romans 6:23;
Romans 11:33;
Ephesians 3:19).
Parallel Commentaries ...
Greek
Thanks [be]Χάρις(Charis)Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 5485:From chairo; graciousness, of manner or act.to GodΘεῷ(Theō)Noun - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2316:A deity, especially the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very.forἐπὶ(epi)Preposition
Strong's 1909:On, to, against, on the basis of, at.Hisαὐτοῦ(autou)Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846:He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.indescribableἀνεκδιηγήτῳ(anekdiēgētō)Adjective - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 411:Indescribable, that cannot be thoroughly related, inexpressible. Not expounded in full, i.e. Indescribable.gift!δωρεᾷ(dōrea)Noun - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 1431:A (free) gift, a gift (without repayment). From doron; a gratuity.
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NT Letters: 2 Corinthians 9:15 Now thanks be to God for his (2 Cor. 2C iiC 2Cor ii cor iicor) 
