PAUL’S LOVE FOR THE CORINTHIANS

Passage: 2 Corinthians 12:11-21

Key verse: 15a

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

Cross references

  1. 2 Corinthians 12:11 : 2Co 11:1
  2. 2 Corinthians 12:11 : 2Co 11:5
  3. 2 Corinthians 12:11 : 1Co 15:9, 10
  4. 2 Corinthians 12:12 : S Jn 4:48
  5. 2 Corinthians 12:13 : ver 14; 1Co 9:12, 18
  6. 2 Corinthians 12:13 : 2Co 11:7
  7. 2 Corinthians 12:14 : 2Co 13:1
  8. 2 Corinthians 12:14 : 1Co 4:14, 15
  9. 2 Corinthians 12:14 : Pr 19:14
  10. 2 Corinthians 12:15 : Php 2:17; 1Th 2:8
  11. 2 Corinthians 12:15 : 2Co 11:11
  12. 2 Corinthians 12:16 : 2Co 11:9
  13. 2 Corinthians 12:18 : 2Co 8:6, 16
  14. 2 Corinthians 12:18 : S 2Co 2:13
  15. 2 Corinthians 12:18 : 2Co 8:18
  16. 2 Corinthians 12:19 : Ro 9:1
  17. 2 Corinthians 12:19 : S 1Co 10:14
  18. 2 Corinthians 12:19 : S Ro 14:19; 2Co 10:8
  19. 2 Corinthians 12:20 : 2Co 2:1-4
  20. 2 Corinthians 12:20 : 1Co 4:21
  21. 2 Corinthians 12:20 : 1Co 1:11; 3:3
  22. 2 Corinthians 12:20 : Gal 5:20
  23. 2 Corinthians 12:20 : Ro 1:30
  24. 2 Corinthians 12:20 : S Ro 1:29
  25. 2 Corinthians 12:20 : 1Co 4:18
  26. 2 Corinthians 12:20 : 1Co 14:33
  27. 2 Corinthians 12:21 : 2Co 2:1, 4
  28. 2 Corinthians 12:21 : 2Co 13:2
  29. 2 Corinthians 12:21 : S 1Co 6:18
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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Cross references

  1. 2 Corinthians 12:11 : [ver. 6]
  2. 2 Corinthians 12:11 : See ch. 11:5; 1 Cor. 15:10
  3. 2 Corinthians 12:11 : See 1 Cor. 3:7; 15:9
  4. 2 Corinthians 12:12 : See Rom. 15:19; 1 Cor. 9:1
  5. 2 Corinthians 12:12 : ch. 6:4
  6. 2 Corinthians 12:13 : 1 Cor. 9:12; See Acts 20:33
  7. 2 Corinthians 12:14 : ch. 13:1; [ch. 1:15; 13:2]
  8. 2 Corinthians 12:14 : 1 Cor. 10:24, 33
  9. 2 Corinthians 12:14 : 1 Cor. 4:14, 15
  10. 2 Corinthians 12:14 : [Prov. 19:14; Ezek. 34:2]
  11. 2 Corinthians 12:15 : [ch. 1:6; Phil. 2:17; Col. 1:24; 1 Thess. 2:8; 2 Tim. 2:10]
  12. 2 Corinthians 12:15 : See ch. 6:11
  13. 2 Corinthians 12:16 : ch. 11:9
  14. 2 Corinthians 12:17 : [ch. 9:5]
  15. 2 Corinthians 12:18 : ch. 8:6
  16. 2 Corinthians 12:18 : ch. 8:18
  17. 2 Corinthians 12:19 : See Rom. 1:9; 9:1
  18. 2 Corinthians 12:19 : See 1 Cor. 14:26
  19. 2 Corinthians 12:20 : [ch. 2:1-4]; See 1 Cor. 4:21
  20. 2 Corinthians 12:21 : ch. 13:2; [Rev. 2:21]
  21. 2 Corinthians 12:21 : 1 Cor. 5:1; See 1 Cor. 6:18
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

Paul concludes his foolish boasting in this passage. He claims that he is not inferior to other apostles, nor is the Corinthian church inferior to the other churches. They were the work of God, and Paul would never burden them. They were like children whom he loved. Paul said that he would gladly spend everything he had—even his very life—because of his deep love for them. He sent the best coworkers to them, not to exploit them, but to serve them with the same love and the same Spirit.

Paul was not defending himself or his honor; he was doing everything he could to strengthen the Christians in Corinth. Paul was afraid that their ministry would fall into all kinds of sins. Their congregation had dealt with debauchery and sexual sins in the past. Paul did not want to be grieved by them, but hoped they would repent of all their impurity. He loved them and wanted them to repent and be strong and pure before God.

Prayer: Lord, teach me to love more. Use me to help others to be strong and pure before God.

One Word: Serve others in love