2 Corinthians 8 15

2 Corinthians 8:15 kjv

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

2 Corinthians 8:15 nkjv

As it is written, "He who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack."

2 Corinthians 8:15 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."

2 Corinthians 8:15 esv

As it is written, "Whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack."

2 Corinthians 8:15 nlt

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

2 Corinthians 8 verses

2 Corinthians 8 15 Meaning

This verse states a timeless principle derived from Israel's wilderness experience: God's provision ensures that no one, regardless of their perceived ability to accumulate, ultimately has an excess, nor does anyone, regardless of their perceived deficiency, suffer lack. In the context of Christian giving, Paul employs this Old Testament example to encourage the Corinthian believers to contribute generously to the collection for the poor saints in Jerusalem, advocating for a mutual exchange where the abundance of some can meet the needs of others, thus fostering an equitable distribution within the body of Christ.

2 Corinthians 8 15 Context

2 Corinthians chapter 8 discusses the collection Paul is organizing for the poor believers in Jerusalem. Paul appeals to the Corinthian church to complete their promised contribution, having set it in motion a year prior (2 Cor 8:10). He presents the example of the Macedonian churches, who, despite their own severe poverty, demonstrated overwhelming generosity and zeal (2 Cor 8:1-5). Paul emphasizes that giving should be voluntary, cheerful, and based on what one has, not what one does not have (2 Cor 8:11-12). Verse 15 directly quotes from the account of the manna in Exodus 16:18, providing a theological grounding for the principle of mutual support and equity in giving. It underscores that God's intention, as evidenced in the wilderness, is for the community to function in such a way that all needs are met.

2 Corinthians 8 15 Word analysis

• As it is written (καθὼς γέγραπται, kathōs gegraptai): This Greek phrase is a standard formula used throughout the New Testament to introduce a quotation from the Old Testament, attributing divine authority and establishing an enduring biblical principle. It signifies that the following statement is not Paul's personal opinion but a revelation from God's Word.
• whoever gathered much (ὁ τὸ πολὺ, ho to polu): Literally "the one the much." This refers to those among the Israelites who, upon collecting manna, found themselves with a greater quantity than the prescribed daily allowance. In Paul's application, it metaphorically signifies those believers who have material abundance or more financial resources.
• had nothing left over (οὐκ ἐπλεόνασεν, ouk epleonasen): Literally "did not superabound" or "did not overflow." In the context of the manna, the miraculous provision meant that no matter how much an individual gathered, when measured, it amounted precisely to what was needed (an omer per person), preventing hoarding and ensuring fairness. When applied to Christian giving, it conveys the idea that personal accumulation is always temporary and that true abundance lies in being a channel for God's provision to others, thereby preventing personal "superabundance" while others suffer want.
• and whoever gathered little (καὶ ὁ τὸ ὀλίγον, kai ho to oligon): Literally "and the one the little." This refers to those Israelites who, perhaps due to weakness or less effort, collected less than the standard daily manna portion. Metaphorically, this applies to believers facing financial scarcity or fewer material possessions.
• had no lack (οὐκ ἠλαττόνησεν, ouk ēlattonēsen): Literally "did not fall short" or "did not diminish." For the manna, this was also miraculous: those who gathered little miraculously found their measure still came up to the required omer. In Paul's exhortation, it signifies that within the body of Christ, through generous sharing, no believer should be left in genuine want or lack fundamental necessities, as their needs are met by the sufficiency of others.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "As it is written, 'Whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack.'": This entire quote from Exodus 16:18 forms the bedrock of Paul's argument. It establishes an Old Testament precedent for an economic and social equity where divine provision ensures everyone's basic needs are met and hoarding is negated. Paul transforms this literal historical miracle into a guiding ethical principle for the church, advocating that the principle of sufficient provision for all should be enacted through voluntary human generosity. This is not about magically disappearing surplus or appearing deficit, but about believers actively and charitably engaging in redistribution to emulate God's original intention of preventing extreme wealth disparity and destitution within His community. The passage underscores that genuine security is found in God's communal provision rather than individual accumulation.

2 Corinthians 8 15 Bonus section

• Voluntary vs. Coercion: It is crucial to understand that Paul is advocating for Spirit-led, voluntary generosity (as seen in the Macedonian churches and his teachings in 2 Cor 9:7, "God loves a cheerful giver"), not a mandated communalism or government-enforced redistribution of wealth. The "nothing left over" and "no lack" in the manna account was a miraculous act of God; for believers today, this outcome is to be realized through active, compassionate, and freewill giving.
• The "Omer" Principle: The specific measurement for the manna, an omer per person, was a fixed amount, demonstrating that God provides exactly what is needed for daily sustenance. This underlines the concept of sufficiency rather than luxury. Paul applies this by suggesting that what seems "much" for one might simply be "enough" for another, and true "much" should overflow to cover "little."
• Application beyond Money: While the immediate context is financial contribution, the principle extends to other forms of giving – time, talents, spiritual gifts. Those with abundance in one area are called to share with those who are in lack, promoting holistic care within the Christian community.

2 Corinthians 8 15 Commentary

2 Corinthians 8:15 is a foundational statement for understanding Christian stewardship and generosity. Paul quotes the manna narrative not as a call to forced equality or redistribution, but to illustrate God's divine principle of sufficiency and equity for His people. Just as God ensured every Israelite, regardless of their gathering ability, had precisely what they needed (no surplus, no deficit), so too should the Christian community strive to ensure that the abundance of some serves to meet the lack of others. This promotes a "relative equality" within the body of Christ, where genuine material needs are met through mutual, sacrificial giving, rather than allowing vast disparities to persist. It is a powerful reminder that our possessions are entrusted to us, not solely for personal gain, but for the communal good, preventing both excessive individual hoarding and widespread need among believers. This principle encourages active compassion and challenges believers to be channels of God's provision for their brothers and sisters in Christ.