2 Corinthians 8:10-15
New Living Translation
10 Here is my advice: It would be good for you to finish what you started a year ago. Last year you were the first who wanted to give, and you were the first to begin doing it. 11 Now you should finish what you started. Let the eagerness you showed in the beginning be matched now by your giving. Give in proportion to what you have. 12 Whatever you give is acceptable if you give it eagerly. And give according to what you have, not what you don’t have. 13 Of course, I don’t mean your giving should make life easy for others and hard for yourselves. I only mean that there should be some equality. 14 Right now you have plenty and can help those who are in need. Later, they will have plenty and can share with you when you need it. In this way, things will be equal. 15 As the Scriptures say,
“Those who gathered a lot had nothing left over,
and those who gathered only a little had enough.”[a]
Footnotes
2 Corinthians 8:10-15
New English Translation
10 So here is my opinion on this matter: It is to your advantage, since you[a] made a good start last year both in your giving and your desire to give, 11 to finish what you started,[b] so that just as you wanted to do it eagerly,[c] you can also complete it according to your means.[d] 12 For if the eagerness is present, the gift itself[e] is acceptable according to whatever one has, not according to what he does not have. 13 For I do not say this so there would be relief for others and suffering for you, but as a matter of equality. 14 At the present time, your abundance will meet their need,[f] so that one day their abundance may also meet your need, and thus there may be equality, 15 as it is written: “The one who gathered[g] much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little.”[h]
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 2 Corinthians 8:10 tn Grk “who.”
- 2 Corinthians 8:11 tn Grk “and now also complete the doing.”
- 2 Corinthians 8:11 tn Grk “just as the eagerness to want [it].”
- 2 Corinthians 8:11 tn Grk “complete from what you have.”
- 2 Corinthians 8:12 tn The words “the gift itself” are not in the Greek text but are implied. Translators often supply an English phrase like “it is” (NASB) but in the context, Paul is clearly referring to the collection Titus was to oversee (2 Cor 8:4-7). Therefore there is no reason not to specify the referent (the gift) more narrowly for clarity.
- 2 Corinthians 8:14 tn Or “their lack.”
- 2 Corinthians 8:15 tn The word “gathered” is not in the Greek text, but is implied (so also for the second occurrence of the word later in the verse).
- 2 Corinthians 8:15 sn A quotation from Exod 16:18.
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