2 Corinthians 8:13–15
The plenty of some covers the lack of others
Study it word by word13For this is not so that there may be relief for others and affliction for you, but out of equality:
14at the present time your abundance is for their need, so that their abundance also may be for your need, so that there may be equality.
15As it is written, “The one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little.”
In its context
11So now also finish doing it, so that just as there was the eagerness to want it, so also there may be the completing of it out of what you have.
12For if the eagerness is present, it is acceptable according to what one may have, not according to what one does not have.
…
16But thanks be to God, who puts the same earnestness for you in the heart of Titus;
17for he welcomed the appeal, but being all the more earnest, he went out to you of his own accord.
Its words in the original
- ἄλλοιςallois· other, another
Other, another.
- ἄνεσιςanesis· relief, freedom
Relief, rest; some freedom, a loosening of restraints.
- θλῖψιςthlipsis· trouble, affliction
Affliction, distress, pressure.
- ἰσότητοςisotētos· equality, fairness
Equality, a fair balance between people.
- καιρῷkairōi· time, right time
Time, the appointed moment.
- περίσσευμαperisseuma· abundance
Abundance, what is left over; what fills the heart.
- ὑστέρημαhysterēma· lack, need
What is lacking, need, poverty; also a shortcoming.
- γένηταιgenētai· become, happen
Become, happen, come about; be born.
- γέγραπταιgegraptai· write
Write. "It is written": that is what the Scriptures say.
- πολὺpoly· much, many
Much, great; in the plural, many.
- ἐπλεόνασενepleonasen· increase, abound
Increase, abound, grow in number or amount; also make abound.
- ὀλίγονoligon· little, few
Little, small; in the plural, few.
- ἠλαττόνησενēlattonēsen· have too little
Have too little, fall short, lack.