Collection as a Mark of Righteousness: The Theological Significance of the Collection in Paul’s Ministry

Abstract

This study examines the significance of Paul’s collection as a formative practice of early Christian faith by focusing on the concluding section of the collection discourse in 2 Corinthians 9:6–15. Particular attention is given to Paul’s citation of Psalm 111:9 (LXX) in 2 Corinthians 9:9. The study argues that Paul draws on Jewish wisdom traditions in which almsgiving functioned as a defining marker of righteousness, faith, and piety, yet fundamentally reinterprets this tradition on a christological basis. The collection is thus presented not merely as an expression of individual piety but as a grace-grounded enactment of righteousness and a decisive indicator of Gentile believers’ genuine participation in the gospel of Christ. In this way, the collection emerges as a central practice shaping communal identity and participation in the economy of divine grace.