Teks -- 2 Corinthians 8:13 (NET)

8:13 For I do not say this so there would be relief for others and suffering for you, but as a matter of equality.

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per frasa)

Robertson: 2Co 8:13 - Others may be eased

Others may be eased ( allois anesis ).

"Release to others."

Robertson: 2Co 8:13 - Ye distressed

Ye distressed ( humin thlipsis ).

"To you tribulation."The verb ēi (present subjunctive) with hina is not expressed.

JFB: 2Co 8:13 - For

Supply from 2Co 8:8, "I speak." My aim is not that others (namely, the saints at Jerusalem) may be relieved at the cost of your being "distressed" (so the Greek for "burdened"). The golden rule is, "Love thy neighbour as thyself," not more than thyself.

Clarke: 2Co 8:13 - That other men be eased

That other men be eased - I do not design that you should impoverish yourselves in order that others may live affluently.

Calvin: 2Co 8:13 - Not that others

13.Not that others This is a confirmation of the preceding statement — that a readiness of will is well-pleasing to God alike in poverty and in wealth, inasmuch as God does not mean that we should be reduced to straits, in order that others may be at ease through our liberality. True, indeed, it is certain, that we owe to God, not merely a part, but all that we are, and all that we have, but in His kindness He spares us thus far, that He is satisfied with that participation of which the Apostle here speaks, What he teaches here you must understand to mean an abatement from the rigor of law. ⁶⁷³ In the mean time, it is our part to stir ourselves up from time to time to liberality, because we must not be so much afraid of going to excess in this department. The danger is on the side of excessive niggardliness.

This doctrine, however, is needful in opposition to fanatics, who think that you have done nothing, unless you have stripped yourself of every thing, so as to make every thing common; ⁶⁷⁴ and, certainly, they gain this much by their frenzy, that no one can give alms with a quiet conscience. Hence we must carefully observe Paul’s (ἐπιείκεια) mildness, ⁶⁷⁵ and moderation, in stating that our alms are well-pleasing to God, when we relieve the necessity of our brethren from our abundance — not in such a way that they are at ease, and we are in want, but so that we may, from what belongs to us, distribute, so far as our resources allow, and that with a cheerful mind. ⁶⁷⁶

===By an equality === Equality may be taken in two senses, either as meaning a mutual compensation, when like is given for like, or, as meaning a proper adjustment. I understand ἰσότητα simply as meaning — an equality of proportional right, ⁶⁷⁷ as Aristotle terms it. ⁶⁷⁸ In this signification it is made use of, also, in Col 4:1, where he exhorts “masters to give to their servants what is equal. ” He certainly does not mean, that they should be equal in condition and station, but by this term he expresses that humanity and clemency, and kind treatment, which masters, in their turn, owe to their servants. Thus the Lord recommends to us a proportion of this nature, that we may, in so far as every one’s resources admit, afford help to the indigent, that there may not be some in affluence, and others in indigence. Hence he adds — at the present time. At that time, indeed, necessity pressed upon them. Hence we are admonished that, in exercising beneficence, we must provide for the present necessity, if we would observe the true rule of equity.

TSK: 2Co 8:13 - not

not : Act 4:34; Rom 15:26, Rom 15:27

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per Ayat)

Poole: 2Co 8:13

I do not press you to such proportions in giving as should make your afflicted brethren rich, and you poor.

Haydock: 2Co 8:12-13

He tells them that it is the will that chiefly makes their charity acceptable to God, who sees the heart. And that the design is not to make others live at their ease, in a richer condition than those who give, but to make a kind of equality, their brethren in Judea being now in great poverty and want. (Witham) ---

God regards two things in our alms: first, the zeal and good-will with which we give our alms; secondly the greatness of our charities, that is, if they be proportionate to our means. If you have little, give a little, but with good-will; if you have much, give also much, but with equal benevolence and zeal. God measures the extent of our charity by the greatness of our zeal, not requiring of us what we have not, but what we have to spare, relieving others, without overcharging ourselves. (Bible de Vence) ---

Yielding our superfluities, that the poor may not want necessaries. (Menochius)

Gill: 2Co 8:13 - For I mean not that other men be eased and you burdened.

For I mean not that other men be eased and you burdened. Referring either to the givers; and that either to the richer and meaner sort in this church; the apostle's sense being, not to put the whole burden of the collection upon some only, whilst others were excused doing little or nothing; but that everyone should give according to his ability; or to other churches in poorer circumstances; and the apostle's meaning was, not that these churches by reason of their meanness should be entirely free from this service, as it was plain they were not, by the instance of the Macedonians; and that the whole be devolved upon the Corinthian church, and others that were rich; but that all should contribute according to their circumstances: or this may refer to the persons given to, and for whom this beneficence was asked; for the words may be rendered, "for not that there may be ease", or relaxation "to others, and to you affliction" or straitness; that is, his meaning was, not that there should be such a contribution raised for these poor saints at Jerusalem, that they should live in ease and great abundance; whilst their benefactors, through an over abundant generosity to them, were straitened, and their families reduced to great difficulties; this was what was far from his intentions.