2 Corinthians 8:15 - Printer Friendly

ESV: As it is written, “Whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack.”

NIV: as it is written: 'The one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little.'

NASB: as it is written: 'THE ONE WHO had gathered much did not have too much, AND THE ONE WHO had gathered little did not have too little.'

CSB: As it is written: The person who had much did not have too much, and the person who had little did not have too little.

NLT: As the Scriptures say, 'Those who gathered a lot had nothing left over, and those who gathered only a little had enough.'

KJV: As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack.

NKJV: As it is written, “He who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack.”

Paul quotes from Exodus 16:18 to illustrate that his insistence on the biblical principle of financial fairness among Christians was not a new idea. The verse in Exodus describes how the people of Israel were to gather the manna God miraculously gave to them from heaven for their daily food. Each person would take up as much as he or she needed. In the end, no matter how much was gathered, nobody had more or less than was needed to live on.

Paul is teaching that the Christian community should work the same way. Since the Corinthian believers were experiencing relative abundance compared to the Jerusalem believers, it was right that they should share some of what they had to make things more fairly distributed in the family of Christ.

Second Corinthians 8:1–15 begins with Paul's praise for the churches in Macedonia. These believers begged to be included in giving to a collection for the suffering Jewish Christians in Jerusalem. Paul urges the Corinthians to follow through on their own commitment to do the same thing of their own free will as an act of grace. In doing so, they will also be following the example of Jesus' sacrifice for them. They should give proportionally, using their abundance to meet the need of other believers so that all may have enough.

The Corinthians had previously agreed to contribute to a collection. This was for suffering Christians in Jerusalem. Paul raises the issue with them, pointing to the example of the poverty-stricken Macedonian churches who had given beyond their means of their own free will. Paul urges the Corinthians to follow through on their commitment by their own choice. Titus and two representatives of other churches are coming to Corinth to oversee the collection so it is done with integrity. Paul urges the Corinthians to prove their love by following through on their commitment to give.

Second Corinthians 8 follows Paul's expression of comfort and rejoicing at what he learned from Titus. That news explained the Corinthians' repentance in response to Paul's letter of rebuke. Next Paul urges them to follow through on a commitment to contribute to a collection for the suffering Christians in Jerusalem. He points to the example of the generous gifts of the poverty-stricken Macedonian churches and asks the Corinthians to prove that their own Christlike love for others is genuine by excelling in this, as well. Titus and two delegates from other churches will come to Corinth to oversee the collection. In chapter 9, Paul will continue to discuss this ministry opportunity.

Second Corinthians returns to similar themes as those Paul mentioned in his first letter to this church. Paul is glad to hear that the church in Corinth has heeded his advice. At the same time, it is necessary for Paul to counter criticisms about his personality and legitimacy. Most of this text involves that subject. The fifth chapter, in contrast, contains comforting words which Christians have quoted often in times of hardship. Paul also details his expectations that the church in Corinth will make good on their promise to contribute to the needs of suffering believers in Jerusalem.

Accessed 5/3/2024 6:29:22 AM