NOT YOUR POSSESSIONS, BUT YOU

Passage: 2 Corinthians 12:11-21

Key verse: 14b

NIV

Paul’s Concern for the Corinthians

11 I have made a fool of myself,(A) but you drove me to it. I ought to have been commended by you, for I am not in the least inferior to the “super-apostles,”[a](B) even though I am nothing.(C) 12 I persevered in demonstrating among you the marks of a true apostle, including signs, wonders and miracles.(D) 13 How were you inferior to the other churches, except that I was never a burden to you?(E) Forgive me this wrong!(F)

14 Now I am ready to visit you for the third time,(G) and I will not be a burden to you, because what I want is not your possessions but you. After all, children should not have to save up for their parents,(H) but parents for their children.(I) 15 So I will very gladly spend for you everything I have and expend myself as well.(J) If I love you more,(K) will you love me less? 16 Be that as it may, I have not been a burden to you.(L) Yet, crafty fellow that I am, I caught you by trickery! 17 Did I exploit you through any of the men I sent to you? 18 I urged(M) Titus(N) to go to you and I sent our brother(O) with him. Titus did not exploit you, did he? Did we not walk in the same footsteps by the same Spirit?

19 Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves to you? We have been speaking in the sight of God(P) as those in Christ; and everything we do, dear friends,(Q) is for your strengthening.(R) 20 For I am afraid that when I come(S) I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be.(T) I fear that there may be discord,(U) jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition,(V) slander,(W) gossip,(X) arrogance(Y) and disorder.(Z) 21 I am afraid that when I come again my God will humble me before you, and I will be grieved(AA) over many who have sinned earlier(AB) and have not repented of the impurity, sexual sin and debauchery(AC) in which they have indulged.

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Footnotes
  1. 2 Corinthians 12:11 Or the most eminent apostles
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Concern for the Corinthian Church

11 (A)I have been a fool! You forced me to it, for I ought to have been commended by you. For I was (B)not at all inferior to these super-apostles, (C)even though I am nothing. 12 (D)The signs of a true apostle were performed among you (E)with utmost patience, with signs and wonders and mighty works. 13 For in what were you less favored than the rest of the churches, except that (F)I myself did not burden you? Forgive me this wrong!

14 Here (G)for the third time I am ready to come to you. And I will not be a burden, for (H)I seek not what is yours but you. For (I)children are not obligated to save up for their parents, but (J)parents for their children. 15 (K)I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If (L)I love you more, am I to be loved less? 16 But granting that (M)I myself did not burden you, I was crafty, you say, and got the better of you by deceit. 17 Did I take advantage of you (N)through any of those whom I sent to you? 18 (O)I urged Titus to go, and sent (P)the brother with him. Did Titus take advantage of you? Did we not act in the same spirit? Did we not take the same steps?

19 Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves to you? It is (Q)in the sight of God that we have been speaking in Christ, and (R)all for your upbuilding, beloved. 20 For I fear that perhaps (S)when I come I may find you not as I wish, and that you may find me not as you wish—that perhaps there may be quarreling, jealousy, anger, hostility, slander, gossip, conceit, and disorder. 21 I fear that when I come again my God may humble me before you, and I may have to mourn over many of those (T)who sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, (U)sexual immorality, and sensuality that they have practiced.

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The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

The marks of Paul’s true apostleship were clearly demonstrated among the Corinthians by his life and perseverance in the midst of suffering. God displayed his power through Paul in signs, wonders, and miracles. If there was one thing he did wrong, he didn’t exercise his apostolic right to get financial support from them. However, they didn’t commend him but judged him by worldly standards and even misunderstood his integrity as an apostle. While Paul planned to visit them for the third time, he still didn’t want to be a burden to them. What he wanted was not their possessions but their hearts. He was willing to pour out for them everything he had. It was out of love for them; it was his commitment to their maturity. Paul as a spiritual father loved them with God’s long suffering patience and unselfish love.

Paul’s motive in defending his apostleship to the Corinthians was not based in self-interest or self-defense. Instead, he did it in the sight of God as those in Christ to strengthen God’s flock of sheep. Paul wanted them to repent of the impurity, sexual sin, and debauchery and to restore their pure devotion to Christ. Paul’s aim before God was to strengthen other believers. Passion to build up the body of Christ is a mark of a true servant of God.

Prayer: Lord, help me to put others ahead of my benefit and have a pure motive to build up others in every circumstance.

One Word: The heart and mind of Christ