2 Corinthians 8:13–15

Context

Second Corinthians is a letter that Paul sent to the church at Corinth, generally dated to the mid-50s. Chapters 8–9 deal with the collection (an offering gathered by the churches) to aid the impoverished believers of the church in Jerusalem. Paul first describes how the churches of Macedonia gladly took part in the collection despite their own limited means (8:1–5). He then says he is sending Titus to complete the collection the Corinthian church had begun, and he points to the example of Jesus Christ, who "though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor" (8:9).

Verses 13–14 explain that the collection is intended not to leave the Corinthians "burdened" but to proceed "by an equality." The Greek word isotēs, rendered "equality," denotes fairness or evenness. The older Korean translation renders it pyeonggyun ("evenness"), while the New Korean Revised Version translates it as gyundeung ("equality"). Verse 15 supports this principle by quoting Exodus 16:18, which recounts that when the manna was gathered in the wilderness, "he that gathered much had nothing over, and he that gathered little had no lack."

Interpretations

• Mutual supply: This reading understands the passage as describing mutual aid among churches, in which those who currently have plenty help those in need and receive help in turn when circumstances change. Because Paul had already stated that he spoke "not by commandment" (8:8), this reading holds that the passage presupposes voluntary sharing.
• Spiritual and material exchange: This interpretation takes "their abundance" in verse 14 as the spiritual heritage the Jerusalem church shared with the Gentile churches. Romans 15:27 is offered in support: "if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister unto them in carnal things."
• The principle of the manna: On the basis of verse 15, the passage is read from the perspective of stewardship: since God provides as much as is needed, excessive hoarding is pointless, and possessions are entrusted to believers so that they may be shared.
• Church unity: This reading emphasizes that the Gentile churches' aid to the predominantly Jewish church in Jerusalem served as a sign binding the two communities together.

Questions of Application

The passage is not the subject of sharp interpretive divisions among denominations. Opinions differ, however, on whether "equality" means making everyone's circumstances exactly the same or refers to a fairness that relieves urgent need. Some extend the passage to serve as a basis for economic redistribution across society as a whole or for welfare policy. Others point out that the text addresses only voluntary sharing within the church community and therefore cannot readily be invoked in direct support of any particular economic system or policy.

In the Korean Church

The passage is frequently cited in sermons on almsgiving and relief and offerings. It is also used as a supporting text when encouraging sharing or "mutual flourishing among churches," in which well-resourced churches and churches not yet financially self-supporting help one another.

Related Passages

• Exodus 16:18
• 2 Corinthians 8:9
• 2 Corinthians 9:6–8
• Romans 15:26–27
• Acts 4:32–35