How Should We Respond to God's Indescribable Gift? - Christian Publishing House Blog

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Christian Living Based on 2 Corinthians 9:15

“Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!” — 2 Corinthians 9:15

This brief exclamation by the apostle Paul, nestled at the conclusion of an extended discourse on Christian generosity, draws the heart of the reader toward the greatest act of divine giving ever known: the offering of Jesus Christ for the salvation of mankind. Though the verse is often quoted in isolation, its full depth emerges only when studied in its proper context within chapters 8 and 9 of 2 Corinthians—Paul’s appeal to the Corinthian congregation to complete a charitable collection for the poor believers in Jerusalem.

Yet, just as Paul completes his careful reasoning about the need for cheerful, voluntary giving, he lifts his eyes heavenward and erupts in gratitude: “Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!” The Greek word used here for “indescribable” is ἀνεκδιήγητος (anekdiēgētos), found nowhere else in the New Testament. It denotes something beyond words—something so magnificent, so immeasurable, that human language fails to capture it. What is this gift? It is not material provision, nor is it merely the virtue of generosity. It is Christ himself, the gift above all gifts.

As we meditate on this devotional passage, we are compelled to ask: How should we, as believers, respond to a gift so grand that it defies explanation? What kind of life flows from the heart that has truly understood the magnitude of what God has given?

The Context of Paul’s Thanksgiving

Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians, written around 56 C.E., addresses numerous challenges—defense of his apostolic authority, correction of misunderstandings, encouragement in affliction, and most notably in chapters 8 and 9, a renewed appeal for financial support of the saints in Jerusalem. The original plan for this collection was introduced during Paul’s earlier visits and writings, such as in 1 Corinthians 16:1–4. The purpose was to relieve the suffering of Jewish Christians who were experiencing intense persecution and economic hardship, possibly due to famine and their ostracization from the synagogue community.

Paul appeals to the generosity of the Corinthian church by pointing to the example of the Macedonians, who gave “beyond their ability” and “of their own accord” (2 Corinthians 8:3). But rather than making this a mere financial appeal, Paul frames giving as a matter of grace—a response to the grace that God has already extended through Christ. He writes, “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9). This sets the stage for the crescendo in 9:15.

Thus, when Paul exclaims, “Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift,” he is not departing from his theme but concluding it. Every act of Christian giving—whether time, resources, or encouragement—is ultimately rooted in and motivated by the supreme gift of Christ. Our generosity is a reflection of the generosity we have received.

Christ: The Unspeakable Gift

The gift in view is Christ himself—his life, his death, his resurrection, his reign, and the entire plan of salvation that flows from his sacrificial offering. No finite words can capture the totality of what has been given in him. The Incarnation, where the eternal Word became flesh (John 1:14); the atonement, where he bore our sins in his body on the tree (1 Peter 2:24); and the resurrection, which declares him victorious over death (Romans 6:9)—each of these elements, while describable in propositional truth, remains inexpressibly rich in spiritual impact.

The magnitude of this gift is seen in the way it encompasses every need of humanity. As Paul explains in Romans 8:32, “He who did not spare his own Son, but delivered him over for us all, how will he not also with him freely give us all things?” This is not a vague benevolence—it is the structured, eternal plan of redemption, executed with precision and love, offering salvation, adoption, sanctification, and eternal life (zōē aiōnion, ζωήν αἰώνιον).

The Old Testament anticipates this indescribable gift. Isaiah 9:6 foretells, “For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us…” and in that giving is embedded the promise of deliverance, justice, and everlasting peace. The Jewish sacrificial system pointed forward to this gift, prefiguring the substitutionary death of a sinless one on behalf of sinners (Leviticus 16; Isaiah 53). Yet even those shadows could not fully portray what was to come.

Christ is called in John 4:10 “the gift of God,” and in Acts 2:38, Peter connects repentance, baptism, and the “gift of the Holy Spirit” as blessings that flow from Christ’s finished work. The spiritual riches available to the believer—reconciliation with God (2 Corinthians 5:18), adoption as children (Galatians 4:4–5), and an imperishable inheritance (1 Peter 1:3–4)—are all components of this singular, indescribable gift.

Responding with Thanksgiving and Devotion

When a person receives a gift, the natural response is gratitude. But for a gift of such magnitude, gratitude cannot remain mere words—it must produce a transformed life. Paul’s use of the word “thanks” (χάρις, charis) is itself deeply theological. It shares the same root as “grace,” suggesting that our thanksgiving is not merely a polite gesture—it is an acknowledgment of divine favor and a readiness to return it with obedient devotion.

Romans 12:1 captures this well: “Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.” This is the only logical response to a gift so profound. A life surrendered, a will conformed to his, and a heart wholly devoted—that is what the gift demands.

Furthermore, the gift is not merely personal. The context of 2 Corinthians 9 shows that this gift is to be shared—its fruit is to result in generosity, compassion, and partnership in ministry. Those who receive Christ as the indescribable gift become, by grace, givers themselves—distributors of the gospel, participants in mercy, encouragers in the faith. As Paul says in 2 Corinthians 9:11, “You will be enriched in everything for all liberality, which through us is producing thanksgiving to God.”

Living Generously Because We Have Received Lavishly

The Christian life is not lived out of obligation, but out of overflow. A heart that has grasped the worth of Christ cannot help but give—time, energy, resources, comfort, counsel, correction, and love. Not out of guilt, but out of joy. Not to earn favor, but because favor has been lavishly bestowed.

This understanding guards against both selfishness and pride. It humbles the believer, reminding them that they own nothing that has not first been given (1 Corinthians 4:7). It also challenges the heart to give sacrificially, as Christ did. Philippians 2:5–8 calls us to adopt his mindset: humble, obedient, self-emptying for the sake of others.

If Christ is God’s indescribable gift, then every act of service, every offering, every sacrifice, and every expression of love is simply a reflection—a faint echo—of that divine generosity. And when believers live this way, the body of Christ flourishes, needs are met, and Jehovah is glorified.

A Daily Devotion to Remember the Gift

In practical terms, how can believers keep their hearts centered on this gift?

By meditating daily on the cross, not as a symbol, but as the historical and spiritual turning point of all creation.
By remembering the cost—the blood, the shame, the wrath endured—so that grace would be free.
By praising Jehovah for this gift, not only in song or prayer, but in attitude and conduct.
By speaking often of Christ, making his name known as the greatest treasure available to mankind.

The indescribable gift is not hidden. It has been revealed in Christ. But its depths are inexhaustible. No amount of study or expression can exhaust the wonder of what Jehovah has given. Yet the call remains: respond with a life of thanks—live in a way that makes visible the invisible treasure of heaven.

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About the Author

EDWARD D. ANDREWS (AS in Criminal Justice, BS in Religion, MA in Biblical Studies, and MDiv in Theology) is CEO and President of Christian Publishing House. He has authored over 220+ books. In addition, Andrews is the Chief Translator of the Updated American Standard Version (UASV).