2 Corinthians 8:13

For this is not that others may be eased and you distressed,

World English Bible

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Other translations

WEBBE

For this is not that others may be eased and you distressed,

BSB

It is not our intention that others may be relieved while you are burdened, but that there may be equality.

KJV

For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened:

ASV

For [I say] not [this] that others may be eased [and] ye distressed;

BBE

And I am not saying this so that others may get off free, while the weight comes on you:

Original Greek

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οὐ ou Not G3756 γὰρ gar for G1063 ἵνα ina that G2443 ἄλλοις allois to others [there may be] G243 ἄνεσις anesis ease G425 ὑμῖν humin but for you G4771 δὲ de now G1161 θλῖψις thlipsis affliction G2347

The early church

And yet Christ praised the contrary conduct in the widow's case, that she emptied out all of her living and gave out of her want. But because he was discoursing to Corinthians amongst whom he chose to suffer hunger; "for it were good for me rather to die, than that any man should make my glorying void;" he therefore uses a tempered exhortation, praising indeed those who had done beyond their power, but not compelling these to do so; not because he did not desire it, but because they were somewhat weak. For wherefore doth he praise those, because "in much proof of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality:" and because they gave "beyond their power?" is it not very evident that it is as inducing these also to this conduct? So that even if he appears to permit a lower standard; he doth so, that by it he may raise them to this.

John Chrysostom · d. 407Homilies on 2 Corinthians

Commentary

Matthew Henry · Verses 10–15

Good purposes are like buds and blossoms, pleasant to behold, and give hopes of good fruit; but they are lost, and signify nothing without good deeds. Good beginnings are well; but we lose the benefit, unless there is perseverance. When men purpose that which is good, and endeavour, according to their ability, to perform also, God will not reject them for what it is not in their power to do. But this scripture will not justify those who think good meanings are enough, or that good purposes, and the mere profession of a willing mind, are enough to save. Providence gives to some more of the good things of this world, and to some less, that those who have abundance might supply others who are in want. It is the will of God, that by our mutual supplying one another, there should be some sort of equality; not such a levelling as would destroy property, for in such a case there could be no exercise of charity. All should think themselves concerned to relieve those in want. This is shown from the gathering and giving out the manna in the wilderness, Ex 16:18. Those who have most of this world, have no more than food and raiment; and those who have but little of this world, seldom are quite without them.

Read Matthew Henry on 2 Corinthians 8 →

Cross-references

Cross-references: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. Hebrew and Greek data from STEPBible.org (Tyndale House, Cambridge), CC BY 4.0. Library: sources.