2 Corinthians 8:14

THE MESSAGE

Parallel Translations

New American Standard Bible (1995)
at this present time your abundance being a supply for their need, so that their abundance also may become a supply for your need, that there may be equality;

Legacy Standard Bible
at this present time your abundance being a supply for their need, so that their abundance also may become a supply for your need, that there may be equality.

Simplified Cowboy Version
I know right now you've got some cash laying around you could help with. Who knows? One day it might be you who's in need.

Bible in Basic English
But so that things may be equal; that from those things of which you have more than enough at the present time their need may be helped, and that if you are in any need they may be a help to you in the same way, making things equal.

Darby Translation
but [on the principle] of equality; in the present time your abundance for their lack, that their abundance may be for your lack, so that there should be equality.

Christian Standard Bible®
at the present time your surplus is available for their need, so their abundance may also become available for our need, so there may be equality.

World English Bible
but for equality. Your abundance at this present time supplies their lack, that their abundance also may become a supply for your lack; that there may be equality.

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
let your abundance be at this time a supply to their want; that their abundance also may be a supply to your want, that there may be an equality,

Weymouth's New Testament
but that, by equalization of burdens, your superfluity having in the present emergency supplied their deficiency, their superfluity may in turn be a supply for your deficiency later on, so that there may be equalization of burdens.

King James Version (1611)
But by an equalitie: that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want, that there may be equalitie,

Literal Translation
but by equality in the present time, your abundance for their need; but also that their abundance may be for your need, that there may be equality;

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
but that it be a lyke. Let youre abundaunce sucker their lacke in this tyme off derth, that their abundaunce also herafter maye supplee youre lacke,

Mace New Testament (1729)
that as your present sufficiency supplies their wants, their sufficiency may supply your occasions another way: and thus there will be an equality.

Amplified Bible
at this present time your surplus [over necessities] is going to supply their need, so that [at some other time] their surplus may be given to supply your need, that there may be equality;

American Standard Version
but by equality: your abundance being a supply at this present time for their want, that their abundance also may become a supply for your want; that there may be equality:

Revised Standard Version
but that as a matter of equality your abundance at the present time should supply their want, so that their abundance may supply your want, that there may be equality.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
but that ther be egalnes now at this tyme that youre aboundaunce sucker their lacke: that their aboundaunce maye supplie youre lacke:

Update Bible Version
your abundance at this present time for their want, that their abundance also may become for your want; that there may be equality:

Webster's Bible Translation
But by an equality, [that] now at this time your abundance [may be a supply] for their want, that their abundance also may be [a supply] for your want: that there may be equality:

Young's Literal Translation
but by equality, at the present time your abundance -- for their want, that also their abundance may be for your want, that there may be equality,

New Century Version
At this time you have plenty. What you have can help others who are in need. Then later, when they have plenty, they can help you when you are in need, and all will be equal.

New English Translation
At the present time, your abundance will meet their need, so that one day their abundance may also meet your need, and thus there may be equality,

Berean Standard Bible
At the present time, your surplus will meet their need, so that in turn their surplus will meet your need. Then there will be equality.

Contemporary English Version
for you to share with them when you have so much, and they have so little. Later, when they have more than enough, and you are in need, they can share with you. Then everyone will have a fair share,

Complete Jewish Bible
at present your abundance can help those in need; so that when you are in need, their abundance can help you — thus there is reciprocity.

English Standard Version
your abundance at the present time should supply their need, so that their abundance may supply your need, that there may be fairness.

Geneva Bible (1587)
That also their aboundance may bee for your lacke, that there may be equalitie:

George Lamsa Translation
But that there may be an equality at this particular time, that your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want, that there may be equality.

Hebrew Names Version
but for equality. Your abundance at this present time supplies their lack, that their abundance also may become a supply for your lack; that there may be equality.

International Standard Version
At the present time, your surplus fills their need, so that their surplus may fill your need. In this way things are fair.

Etheridge Translation
14 but in equality be you at this time; that your abundance may be a supply to their want, that also [fn] their abundance may be for [fn] to your want, that there may be equality.

Murdock Translation
14 but that ye may be on equality at the present time; and that your abundance may be [fn] to their want; that their abundance likewise may be [fn] to your want; that there may be equality.

New King James Version
but by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may supply their lack, that their abundance also may supply your lack--that there may be equality.

New Living Translation
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.

New Life Bible
You have more than you need now. When you have need, then they can help you. You should share alike.

English Revised Version
but by equality; your abundance [being a supply] at this present time for their want, that their abundance also may become [a supply] for your want; that there may be equality:

New Revised Standard
your present abundance and their need, so that their abundance may be for your need, in order that there may be a fair balance.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
In order that their surplus may come to be for your deficiency: that there may come about an equality: -

Douay-Rheims Bible
In this present time let your abundance supply their want, that their abundance also may supply your want: that there may be an equality,

King James Version
But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality:

Lexham English Bible
At the present time your abundance will be for their need, in order that their abundance may also be for your need, so that there may be equality,

Bishop's Bible (1568)
But that there be equalnesse nowe at this tyme, and that your aboundaunce may succour their lacke, and that their aboundaunce maye supplie your lacke, that there may be equalitie.

Easy-to-Read Version
At this time you have plenty and can provide what they need. Then later, when they have plenty, they can provide what you need. Then everyone will have an equal share.

New American Standard Bible
at this present time your abundance will serve as assistance for their need, so that their abundance also may serve as assistance for your need, so that there may be equality;

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
but of euenesse in the present tyme youre aboundance fulfille the myseese of hem, that also the aboundaunce of hem be a fulfillynge of youre myseise, that euenesse be maad; as it is writun,

Contextual Overview

⁸I'm not trying to order you around against your will. But by bringing in the Macedonians' enthusiasm as a stimulus to your love, I am hoping to bring the best out of you. You are familiar with the generosity of our Master, Jesus Christ. Rich as he was, he gave it all away for us—in one stroke he became poor and we became rich. ¹⁰So here's what I think: The best thing you can do right now is to finish what you started last year and not let those good intentions grow stale. Your heart's been in the right place all along. You've got what it takes to finish it up, so go to it. Once the commitment is clear, you do what you can, not what you can't. The heart regulates the hands. This isn't so others can take it easy while you sweat it out. No, you're shoulder to shoulder with them all the way, your surplus matching their deficit, their surplus matching your deficit. In the end you come out even. As it is written, Nothing left over to the one with the most, Nothing lacking to the one with the least. I thank God for giving Titus the same devoted concern for you that I have. He was most considerate of how we felt, but his eagerness to go to you and help out with this relief offering is his own idea. We're sending a companion along with him, someone very popular in the churches for his preaching of the Message. But there's far more to him than popularity. He's rock-solid trustworthy. The churches handpicked him to go with us as we travel about doing this work of sharing God's gifts to honor God as well as we can, taking every precaution against scandal. We don't want anyone suspecting us of taking one penny of this money for ourselves. We're being as careful in our reputation with the public as in our reputation with God. That's why we're sending another trusted friend along. He's proved his dependability many times over, and carries on as energetically as the day he started. He's heard much about you, and liked what he's heard—so much so that he can't wait to get there. I don't need to say anything further about Titus. We've been close associates in this work of serving you for a long time. The brothers who travel with him are delegates from churches, a real credit to Christ. Show them what you're made of, the love I've been talking up in the churches. Let them see it for themselves!

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Reciprocal: Exodus 16:18 - General Leviticus 7:10 - one as much Numbers 35:8 - from them Joshua 19:9 - too much Luke 6:38 - and it Acts 2:44 - had 2 Corinthians 9:12 - only 1 John 3:17 - whoso

Cross-References

Genesis 7:11
It was the six-hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, on the seventeenth day of the month that it happened: all the underground springs erupted and all the windows of Heaven were thrown open. Rain poured for forty days and forty nights.

Genesis 8:13
In the six-hundred-first year of Noah's life, on the first day of the first month, the flood had dried up. Noah opened the hatch of the ship and saw dry ground. By the twenty-seventh day of the second month, the Earth was completely dry.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

But by an equality,.... All that he meant was, that there might be an equality both in givers and receivers, proportioned to their several circumstances and stations of life:

that now at this time; which was a very necessitous time at Jerusalem, there being a famine there, and their common stock exhausted:

your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want; which respects either the different abilities of givers at different times; and that whereas now the church at Corinth was rich, and wealthy, and had great abundance of the things of this world, they in this general collection were able to make up the deficiencies of other churches; and so should it ever be their case, as it might be, that they should be reduced, and these other churches increased, and enjoy a large abundance, they might hereafter in their turn supply what would be wanting in them: or else the persons given to; and the sense is, that should they ever change circumstances, as it was not impossible that they that were now rich should become poor, and they that were poor become rich; then as their abundance had been a supply to the wants of others, the abundance of others in their turn would be a supply to their wants; so that the argument is taken from the hope of retribution, in case of such vicissitudes; see Luke 6:38 his view was,

that there may be equality; either that in time to come an equal return may be made, should it be necessary; or that at present some sort of equality might be observed between the rich and poor; that the rich should so distribute as not to leave themselves without a proper support, according to their station of life; and yet so freely communicate, that the poor may not be without food and raiment, suitable to their lower sphere of life.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

But by an equality - On just and equal principles. “That now at this time,” etc. That at the present time your abundance may be a supply for their needs, so that at some future time, if there should be occasion for it, their abundance may be a supply for your needs. The idea is this. Corinth was then able to give liberally, but many of the other churches were not. They were poor, and perhaps persecuted and in affliction. But there might be great reverses in their condition. Corinth might be reduced from its affluence, and might itself from its affluence, and might itself become dependent on the aid of others, or might be unable to contribute any considerable amount for the purposes of charity. The members of the church in Corinth, therefore, should so act in their circumstances of prosperity, that others would be disposed to aid them should their condition ever be such as to demand it. And the doctrine here taught is:

(1) That the support of the objects of benevolence should be on equal principles. The rich should bear an equal and fair proportion, and if more frequent demands are made on their benefaction than on others they should not complain.

(2) Christians should contribute liberally while they have the means. In the vicissitudes of life no one can tell how soon he may be unable to contribute, or may even be dependent on the charity of others himself. A change in the commercial world; losses by fire or at sea; lack of success in business; loss of health, and the failure of his plans, may soon render him unable to aid the cause of benevolence. While he is prospered he should embrace every opportunity to do good to all. Some of the most painful regrets which people ever have, arise from the reflection that when prospered they were indisposed to give to benefit others, and when their property is swept away they become unable. God often sweeps away the property which they were indisposed to contribute to aid others, and leaves them to penury and want. Too late they regret that they were not the liberal patrons of the objects of benevolence when they were able to be.

That there may be equality - That all may be just and equal. That no unjust burden should be borne by anyone portion of the great family of the redeemed. Every Christian brother should bear his due proportion.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 14. But by an equality — That you may do to those who are distressed now, as, on a change of circumstances, you would wish them to do to you. And I only wish that of your abundance you would now minister to their wants; and it may be that there abundance may yet supply your wants; for so liable are all human affairs to change, that it is as possible that you rich Corinthians should need the charitable help of others as it is that those Jews, who once had need of nothing, should now be dependent on your bounty.

That there may be equality — That ye may exert yourselves so in behalf of those poor people that there may be between you an equality in the necessaries of life; your abundance supplying them with that of which they are utterly destitute.