THE EXPLANATION OF 2 CORINTHIANS 8 VS 9

'For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.' - 2 Corinthians 8 vs 9

Greetings to you dearly beloved of God in Christ Jesus. Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

For a long time, it has been erroneously taught in the churches of God all over the world that our opening Bible passage implies that Jesus was materially rich when He was on earth. Really?! They also explain to the brethren that Jesus became poor (materially) for them that they might be rich (materially). What an error! Right now, let's carefully look through the Bible and see what It truly says on this subject. Read with an opened mind void of doubts and despise. Okay. God is with you.

FOR OUR SAKES HE BECAME POOR

How did He become poor for our sakes? Did He empty His Bank accounts to give to us money? Is that how He became poor? This clearly tells you that this riches being talked about here is not material riches, it's not material wealth. - Selah

HE WAS RICH BUT FOR OURSAKES HE BECAME POOR

What riches is the Apostle talking about?

'You are familiar with the generosity of our Master, Jesus Christ. Rich as he was, he gave it all away for us-in one stroke he became poor and we became rich.' - 2 Corinthians 8 vs 9 {MSG}

If we became materially rich by Jesus' sacrifice, why does the Bible record clearly and unarguably that there were poor saints in the Church? If they became materially rich by Christ becoming materially poor for us, why were they poor saints? of which the Apostle Paul was urging the brethren to give in order to support these poor saints? This tells you that there's more to that verse than it literally appears. - Selah

'For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem.' - Romans 15 vs 26 {KJV}

THE POOR SAINTS

So evidently and obviously, the Apostle Paul wasn't in anyway depicting that Christ was materially rich, but rather He was reminding the brethren of Christ's sacrifice for us all, in that He layed down Himself for us so that we might be saved; commending them to embrace that attitude in their response to giving to the needs of others who were poor. That's it. You see now... 

From the verse 3 of that 2 Corinthians 8, you will clearly see that that discussion was because there was a giving project ongoing in that Church (Corinthian Church) which was for the ministering / helping of the poor saints in Jerusalem. The same giving project was also going on in the Roman Church, of which I showed you the Bible Passage above. Now let's see 2 Corinthians 8 vs 3 to 4;

'For, as I can bear witness, [they gave] according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability; and [they did it] voluntarily,

Begging us most insistently for the favor and the fellowship of contributing in this ministration for [the relief and support of] the saints [in Jerusalem].' - {AMPLIFIED BIBLE TRANSLATION}

You see? So the Apostle Paul in the verse 9 was pointing the brethren to the great sacrifice of the Lord, how that He didn't consider Himself, but He considered us, and He layed down His life for us that we may live; urging the brethren by this exhortation that they be like minded towards the brethren in Love and Sacrifice. Simple! He never intended to mean Christ was materially wealthy on earth. - Think about this

The Apostle Paul's usage of the words "rich & poor" as seen in our opening passage was simply a figure of speech (A metaphor,) a descriptive figure of speech; using the description of the sacrificial work of Christ for us to urge the brethren on how they who are rich should also be sacrificial for others who are poor, so that they can be sustained and have just as Christ was made sin for us (became poor) so that we could become Righteous (Rich). See this;

'For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.' - 2 Corinthians 5 vs 21 {KJV}

It's clear here: Christ who is Righteousness (Rich) became sin (poor) for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God (Rich) in Him. You see that? So it's evident that the Apostle Paul used a metaphoric figure of speech in 2 Corinthians 8 vs 9 to further enlighten and urge the brethren to be sacrificial towards one another in accordance to the footsteps of Christ. - Selah

You Might Want To Read This Paragraph Again!

Having this understanding, let's read our opening Bible passage again;

'For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.' - 2 Corinthians 8 vs 9 {KJV}

You get it now? It's clear now that the Apostle Paul never intended to communicate that Christ was materially rich, but using the terms (Rich & Poor) of the matter which was on ground (Contribution for the poor saints), he explained the sacrificial work of Christ with a metaphor by his usage of "Rich" & "Poor", which he interchanged for the words "righteousness" and "sin", as seen in 2 Corinthians 5 vs 21 which we saw above. Let's see it again;

'For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.' - 2 Corinthians 5 vs 21 {KJV}

WHO KNEW NO SIN

He was rich.

HE HATH MADE HIM TO BE SIN FOR US

He became poor (For our sakes).

THAT WE MIGHT BE MADE THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD IN HIM

That we through His poverty might become rich.

You see it now? It's clear.

'Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.' - Galatians 6 vs 2 {KJV}

It was an exhortation of Love and Sacrifice to the Church for the poor brethren, and not to imply that Jesus was materially rich on earth. - Selah. If truly He was rich (materially) and became poor so that we could become rich (materially,) why are many Christians financially broke? If truly it was a material dealing the Apostle spoke about, no Christian should be poor. - Think about it

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

- Jenning U. Angel