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:

By an equality - literally, out of (from the principle of) equality.

Now at this time - Greek 'at the present opportune season ' Now at this time - Greek, 'at the present opportune season.'

That their abundance also. The Greek being distinct from the previous "that," translate, 'in order that'-namely, at another season, when your relative circumstances may be reversed. The reference is solely to temporal wants and supplies. Those, as Bengel, who interpret it of spiritual supplies from the Jews to the Gentiles, forget that refers to the past benefit spiritually which the Jews have conferred on the Gentiles, as a motive to gratitude on the part of the latter, not to a prospective benefit to be looked for from the former, which the text refers to.

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