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 15 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ex 16:18 | And when they did mete it with an omer, he that gathered much had nothing over... | Old Testament – Equality |
| Ex 16:16 | This is the thing which the LORD hath commanded, Gather of it every man according to his eating... | Old Testament – Stewardship |
| 1 Cor 1:10 | Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing... | New Testament – Unity |
| 1 Cor 11:20 | When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord's supper. | New Testament – Fellowship |
| Rom 12:13 | Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality. | New Testament – Generosity |
| Gal 3:28 | There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. | New Testament – Unity |
| Phil 2:4 | Let each of you look not to his own interests, but each of you to the interests of the others. | New Testament – Selflessness |
| Acts 4:32 | And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. | New Testament – Community |
| Acts 2:44-45 | And all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. | New Testament – Charity |
| Deut 8:3 | And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live. | Old Testament – Providence |
| Matt 6:11 | Give us this day our daily bread. | New Testament – Provision |
| John 6:31 | Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat. | New Testament – Provision |
| John 6:49 | Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. | New Testament – Christ as Manna |
| Ps 78:24-25 | And commanded the clouds from above, and opened the doors of heaven; And rained down manna upon them to eat, and had given them of the corn of heaven. | Old Testament – Provision |
| Prov 11:24 | There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that is withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty. | Old Testament – Generosity |
| Prov 22:9 | He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor. | Old Testament – Generosity |
| Rom 15:26 | For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem. | New Testament – Collection Context |
| 1 Cor 16:1-4 | Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come. And when I come, whomsoever ye shall approve by your letters, them will I send to bring your liberality, to Jerusalem. And if it be meet that I also go, they shall go with me. | New Testament – Collection Instructions |
| 2 Cor 8:10-11 | And herein I give my advice: for this is expedient for you, who have begun not only to do, but also to desire to do a year ago. Now therefore perform the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to desire, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have. | New Testament – Exhortation to Completeness |
| 2 Cor 9:7 | Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. | New Testament – Principle of Giving |
2 Corinthians 8 verses
2 Corinthians 8 15 Meaning
The verse speaks of God's provision ensuring fairness in the distribution of resources among believers, specifically relating to the collection for the Jerusalem church. It echoes the principle found in the Exodus account of the Israelites gathering manna.
2 Corinthians 8 15 Context
This verse is part of the apostle Paul's extended discourse in chapters 8 and 9 of 2 Corinthians concerning the offering being collected from the Gentile churches for the needs of the impoverished believers in Jerusalem. Paul is encouraging the Corinthian believers to participate generously in this collection. He refers to the miraculous provision of manna during the Israelites' exodus from Egypt as a precedent, illustrating that God can and does provide in a way that ensures fairness and sufficiency. This emphasizes God's role in enabling generosity, ensuring that those who give abundantly will also receive sufficiently, thus balancing the needs and resources within the broader Christian community. The Corinthian church had previously expressed a desire to contribute, and Paul is urging them to complete their pledged amount, highlighting both spiritual motivation and practical completion.
2 Corinthians 8 15 Word Analysis
- “As it is written” (ὡς γέγραπται - hōs gegraptai): This phrase immediately establishes that what follows is a scriptural truth, drawing a direct connection to the Old Testament. It signifies that the principle being cited is divinely ordained and has historical precedent.
- “He who gathered much” (ὁ περισσεύσας - ho perisseuasas): This refers to the one who collected more than his allocated share. The Greek word perisseuo means to overflow, to abound, to be more than enough.
- “Had nothing over” (οὐκ ἐστιν αὐτῷ περισσεία - ouk estin autō perisseia): This means there was no surplus remaining with him. The noun perisseia also carries the sense of abundance or excess. The parallel structure underscores the principle of equalization.
- “And he who gathered little” (ὁ δὲ ὀλίγον συνάξας - ho de oligon sunaxas): This refers to the one who collected less than the intended amount. Oligos means small in quantity. Sunaxas comes from sunagō, meaning to gather together or collect.
- “Had no lack” (οὐκ ἐστιν αὐτῷ ὑστέρημα - ouk estin autō hystērema): This signifies that he was not deficient; he had sufficient. Hystērema refers to a lack, a deficiency, or a need.
Group of Words Analysis:
- "He who gathered much had nothing over, and he who gathered little had no lack": This phrase is a direct quotation and application of the principle established during the gathering of manna in the wilderness (Exodus 16:18). It exemplifies divine impartiality and provision, ensuring that no one had an unjust excess while others suffered from want. The spiritual implication is that God's provision and distribution are designed to foster community and equity among His people, especially in acts of generosity.
2 Corinthians 8 15 Bonus Section
The reference to manna connects the act of Christian giving and community support to God's ancient covenantal dealings with Israel. It elevates the practice of supporting fellow believers from a mere social welfare act to an expression of obedience to a God who consistently provides equitably for His people. This principle of divine redistribution, where excess from one contributes to sufficiency for another, underscores the interconnectedness of the body of Christ. It also foreshadows Christ Himself, who is the true bread from heaven, providing spiritual sufficiency to all who receive Him. The sufficiency Paul speaks of is not just material, but spiritual and practical, ensuring the ministry and well-being of all parts of the church.
2 Corinthians 8 15 Commentary
Paul uses the Old Testament account of the manna to illustrate a profound spiritual principle. God's provision is never intended to create unfair disparities among believers, particularly when it comes to shared responsibilities like supporting the needy. The gathering of manna, where surpluses were removed and deficiencies supplied, points to a divinely managed system of equity. In the context of the Corinthian offering, Paul is saying that just as God ensured no Israelite lacked manna, He ensures that the abundance of some enables the needs of others to be met, preventing any from being unduly burdened or overlooked. Generous giving, therefore, aligns with God’s providential ordering, which ensures that giving from abundance leads to meeting need without depleting the giver, and receiving from abundance fills needs without the recipient lacking. It encourages cheerful giving rooted in God’s own equitable provision.
- Practical usage example: A church collective effort where the wealthy contribute a significant portion and the less affluent give what they can, all toward a common goal of aiding a mission project, mirrors this principle. The abundance of some ensures the project is fully funded, while the sincere, even if smaller, contributions of others are valued and needed for the collective spirit.