2 Corinthians 8:15

KJV

As it is written, He that [had gathered] much had nothing over; and he that [had gathered] little had no lack.

KJV (with Strong's)

As {G2531} it is written {G1125}, He that had gathered {G3588} much {G4183} had {G4121} nothing {G3756} over {G4121}; and {G2532} he that had gathered {G3588} little {G3641} had {G1641} no {G3756} lack {G1641}.

Complete Jewish Bible

It is as the Tanakh says,

“He who gathered much had nothing extra,
and he who gathered little had nothing lacking.”

Berean Standard Bible

As it is written: “He who gathered much had no excess, and he who gathered little had no shortfall.”

American Standard Version

as it is written, He that gathered much had nothing over; and he that gathered little had no lack.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Second Corinthians 8:15 encapsulates a profound principle of divine provision and communal equity, asserting that in God's economy, both abundance and scarcity are balanced to ensure universal sufficiency. Paul quotes from the Old Testament account of the manna in the wilderness to illustrate that when resources are shared according to God's design, those with much will not have surplus, and those with little will not experience want, thereby fostering a spirit of mutual care and trust in God's unfailing supply within the community of believers.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is strategically placed within Paul's extensive discourse on Christian giving in [2 Corinthians 8](/2_corinthians/8 "2 Corinthians 8 - Paul's Teaching on Generous Giving") and [2 Corinthians 9](/2_corinthians/9 "2 Corinthians 9 - Principles of Cheerful Giving"). Following his commendation of the Macedonian churches' exemplary generosity despite their poverty ([2 Corinthians 8:1-5](/2_corinthians/8-1-5 "2 Corinthians 8:1-5 - The Macedonian Churches' Generosity")), and his profound theological grounding for giving in Christ's self-impoverishment ([2 Corinthians 8:9](/2_corinthians/8-9 "2 Corinthians 8:9 - Christ's Example of Grace")), Paul then addresses the Corinthians directly. He encourages them to complete their promised contribution for the impoverished saints in Jerusalem, not as a burden, but as a matter of fairness and mutual support. [2 Corinthians 8:13-14](/2_corinthians/8-13-14 "2 Corinthians 8:13-14 - The Principle of Equality") establishes the principle of "equality"—that their present abundance should meet the needs of others, with the expectation that in time, others' abundance might meet their needs. Verse 15 then serves as the scriptural proof and illustration of this principle, drawing directly from the Old Testament narrative of the manna.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The immediate historical context is the collection Paul was organizing among Gentile churches for the Jewish Christians in Jerusalem who were suffering from famine and poverty. This collection was not merely an act of charity but a tangible expression of the unity between Jewish and Gentile believers, demonstrating the practical outworking of the gospel. The cultural backdrop involved a strong emphasis on hospitality and care for the poor within both Jewish and early Christian communities. The specific reference to the manna in [Exodus 16](/exodus/16 "Exodus 16 - The Provision of Manna") would have resonated deeply with a Jewish audience and was a familiar story to early Christians. The manna incident describes God's miraculous provision in the wilderness, where each Israelite was to gather an omer of manna daily. Crucially, regardless of how much one physically collected, when measured, everyone had exactly what they needed—no more, no less—highlighting God's equitable distribution and sufficiency for all His people.
* **Key Themes:** The verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in 2 Corinthians and broader biblical theology. Foremost is the theme of **Equality and Equity** within the body of Christ, emphasizing that Christian giving is not about creating burdens or making everyone equally wealthy, but ensuring that basic needs are met and extreme disparities are alleviated. This ties into the theme of **Divine Provision and Sufficiency**, illustrating God's faithfulness to supply for His people's needs, often through the generosity of others. It underscores that when believers participate in God's economy of sharing, He ensures that both givers and receivers experience sufficiency, echoing the truth that God will supply all needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus ([Philippians 4:19](/philippians/4-19 "Philippians 4:19 - God's Abundant Provision")). Finally, it reinforces the theme of **Mutual Support and Interdependence** within the church, portraying the community of believers as a unified body where members care for one another, fostering strong communal bonds and reflecting the unity found in Christ. This principle of sharing and community is also evident in the early church's practice in [Acts 4:32-35](/acts/4-32-35 "Acts 4:32-35 - The Early Church's Communal Life").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **written (Greek, _gráphō'_):** This verb, G1125, signifies "to grave," particularly "to write," and figuratively, "to describe." Its use here, "As it is written," is a standard formula in the New Testament to introduce a direct quotation from the Old Testament, lending divine authority and historical precedent to Paul's argument. It grounds the principle of equitable distribution in God's established pattern of provision for His people.
* **over (Greek, _pleonázō'_):** Derived from a word meaning "more," G4121 means "to do, make or be more," "to increase," or "to superabound." In this context, "had nothing over" means there was no surplus, no excess, no more than was needed. It speaks to the precise and sufficient nature of God's provision and the ideal outcome of equitable sharing—that abundance is distributed rather than accumulated beyond need.
* **lack (Greek, _elattonéō'_):** This word, G1641, comes from a root meaning "less" and means "to diminish" or "to fall short." "Had no lack" signifies that there was no deficiency, no shortage, no want. This highlights the miraculous and comprehensive nature of God's provision, ensuring that even those who gathered little were fully supplied, reinforcing the principle that in God's economy, everyone's needs are met.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"As it is written,"**: This introductory phrase serves as a direct citation marker, signaling that Paul is quoting Scripture. It immediately establishes the divine authority and biblical precedent for the principle he is about to articulate, drawing from the historical account of God's miraculous provision for Israel.
* **"He that had gathered much had nothing over;"**: This clause refers to the Israelites' experience with the manna. Despite some individuals gathering a large quantity, when it was measured, they found they had precisely an omer, the prescribed amount for each person. This illustrates that God's provision is not for hoarding or excessive accumulation, but for sufficiency and equitable distribution among the community.
* **"and he that had gathered little had no lack."**: Conversely, this clause highlights that those who gathered only a small amount of manna miraculously found that when measured, they also had exactly an omer. This demonstrates God's care for the vulnerable and His ability to ensure that even the least capable or fortunate among His people are fully provided for, underscoring the principle of universal sufficiency.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several significant literary devices. The most prominent is **Quotation** or **Allusion**, as "As it is written" introduces a direct verbatim quote from [Exodus 16:18](/exodus/16-18 "Exodus 16:18 - The Manna Distribution"). This not only lends scriptural authority to Paul's argument but also creates a powerful **Analogy** or **Type** where the physical provision of manna in the wilderness serves as a historical and theological type for the spiritual and material provision within the New Covenant community. The structure of the verse itself exhibits strong **Parallelism** and **Antithesis**. The two clauses—"He that had gathered much had nothing over" and "he that had gathered little had no lack"—are syntactically parallel, presenting contrasting situations (gathering much vs. gathering little) that lead to the same equitable outcome (no surplus, no deficiency). This **Antithesis** effectively highlights the divine principle of balance and sufficiency, regardless of individual effort or initial circumstance.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse profoundly illustrates God's economy of grace, where His desire is for sufficiency and equity among His people, not for extreme wealth or poverty. It teaches that true abundance in the Kingdom of God is found not in personal accumulation, but in shared resources and mutual provision. The manna account, to which Paul refers, is a powerful demonstration of God's ability to provide for His entire community, ensuring that no one is left in want when His principles are followed. This divine pattern calls believers to trust in God's ability to sustain them even as they generously share their resources, understanding that their giving participates in a larger divine plan to meet the needs of the whole body of Christ. It challenges the human tendency towards self-preservation and hoarding, instead promoting a counter-cultural ethos of communal responsibility and reliance on God's unfailing supply.

* [Exodus 16:18](/exodus/16-18 "Exodus 16:18 - The Manna Distribution")
* [Philippians 4:19](/philippians/4-19 "Philippians 4:19 - God Will Supply All Your Needs")
* [Acts 4:34-35](/acts/4-34-35 "Acts 4:34-35 - Sharing Among Believers in the Early Church")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Second Corinthians 8:15 challenges contemporary believers to re-evaluate their understanding of wealth, poverty, and stewardship in light of God's communal economy. It calls us away from an individualistic mindset that seeks only personal gain and security, towards a corporate vision where the well-being of the entire body of Christ is paramount. This verse encourages us to view our resources—whether abundant or limited—as part of God's provision intended for the flourishing of His people. It fosters a spirit of generosity rooted in trust, knowing that when we share, God ensures sufficiency for all. Practically, this means actively seeking opportunities to alleviate the burdens of others, contributing to initiatives that support the needy within our churches and communities, and cultivating a lifestyle that prioritizes mutual care over excessive accumulation. It reminds us that our "much" is meant to supply another's "want," and in doing so, God ensures that our "little" will never truly "lack."

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the principle of "no over" and "no lack" challenge my personal financial habits and priorities?**
* **In what practical ways can my local church embody the principle of equitable distribution mentioned in this verse?**
* **What fears or anxieties might prevent me from trusting God's provision when called to give generously?**
* **How does embracing this verse's truth strengthen my faith in God's ability to provide for both my needs and the needs of others?**

### FAQ
**What is the significance of Paul quoting from the Old Testament in 2 Corinthians 8:15?**

Answer: Paul's quotation of [Exodus 16:18](/exodus/16-18 "Exodus 16:18 - The Manna Distribution") is highly significant because it grounds his teaching on Christian giving in a historical and divinely ordained precedent. By referencing the miraculous provision of manna in the wilderness, Paul demonstrates that the principle of equitable distribution and sufficiency for all is not a new idea but a consistent pattern of God's care for His people. It shows that God's desire for His community to live without extreme surplus or extreme lack is deeply embedded in His character and His covenant relationship with Israel, now extended and fulfilled in the church. This Old Testament example provides a powerful, tangible illustration of how God ensures that everyone has enough when His people participate in His economy of sharing.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Second Corinthians 8:15 finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus, who perfectly embodies the principle of divine sufficiency through self-emptying. While the manna provided physical sustenance and demonstrated God's equitable provision, Christ is the true "bread of life" ([John 6:35](/john/6-35 "John 6:35 - Jesus, the Bread of Life")), who descended from heaven to give spiritual life to the world. Paul explicitly links Christian giving to Christ's example in [2 Corinthians 8:9](/2_corinthians/8-9 "2 Corinthians 8:9 - Christ's Example of Grace"): "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich." Jesus, who had infinite spiritual and divine "much," emptied Himself ([Philippians 2:5-8](/philippians/2-5-8 "Philippians 2:5-8 - The Humiliation of Christ")), having "nothing over" in terms of His divine prerogatives, taking on the form of a servant. Through His ultimate sacrifice on the cross, He ensured that humanity, which had "gathered little" and was in utter spiritual "lack" due to sin, would have "no lack" of righteousness, forgiveness, and eternal life. His perfect obedience and atoning death provide an inexhaustible spiritual supply, guaranteeing that all who believe in Him receive spiritual abundance and sufficiency, fulfilling the principle of [2 Corinthians 8:15](/2_corinthians/8-15 "2 Corinthians 8:15 - Equality in Giving") in the most profound and eternal sense.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Exodus 16:18

And when they did mete [it] with an omer, he that gathered much had nothing over, and he that gathered little had no lack; they gathered every man according to his eating.

Luke 22:35

And he said unto them, When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye any thing? And they said, Nothing.