New Testament Equality
C. Hodge, D. D. 2 Corinthians 8:13-15 For I mean not that other men be eased, and you burdened:… The word ἰσότης means here neither reciprocity nor equity, but equality, as the illustration in ver. 15 shows. The ἐκ, as in ver. 11, expresses the rule or standard in giving. The rule is equality; we must give so as to produce, or that there may be, equality. This is not agrarianism, nor community of goods. The New Testament teaches on this subject — I. THAT ALL GIVING IS VOLUNTARY. A man's property is his own. It is in his own power to retain or to give away; and if he gives, it is his prerogative to decide whether it shall be much or little (Acts 5:4). Giving is the fruit of love. It is of course obligatory as a moral duty, and the indisposition to give is proof of the absence of the love of God (1 John 3:17). Still it is one of those duties the performance of which others cannot enforce as a right belonging to them. It must remain at our own discretion. II. THAT THE END TO BE ACCOMPLISHED BY GIVING IS RELIEVING THE NECESSITIES OF THE POOR. The equality therefore aimed at is not an equality as to the amount of property, but equal relief from the burden of want. III. THAT WHILST ALL MEN ARE BRETHREN, and the poor as poor, whether Christians or not, are the proper objects of charity, yet THERE IS A SPECIAL OBLIGATION RESTING ON THE MEMBERS OF CHRIST TO RELIEVE THE WANTS OF THEIR FELLOW-BELIEVERS (Galatians 6:10). All the directions in this and the following chapter have reference to the duty of Christians to their fellow-believers. There are two reasons for this. 1. The common relation of believers to Christ as members of His body, so that what is done to them is done to Him, and their consequent intimate relation to each other as being one body in Christ Jesus. 2. The assurance that the good done to them is pure good. There is no apprehension that the alms bestowed will encourage idleness or vice. IV. THE POOR HAVE NO RIGHT TO DEPEND ON THE BENEFACTIONS OF THE RICH BECAUSE THEY ARE BRETHREN (2 Thessalonians 3:10). Thus do the Scriptures avoid, on the one hand, the injustice and destructive evils of agrarian communism, by recognising the right of property and making all almsgiving optional; and on the other, the heartless disregard of the poor by inculcating the universal brotherhood of believers, and the consequent duty of each to contribute of his abundance to relieve the necessities of the poor. At the same time they inculcate on the poor the duty of self-support to the extent of their ability. They are commanded "with quietness to work, and to eat their own bread." Could these principles be carried out, there would be among Christians neither idleness nor want. (C. Hodge, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened: WEB: For this is not that others may be eased and you distressed,