2 Corinthians 12:14-21
14: Here for this third time I am ready to come to you, and I will not be a burden to you; for I do not seek what is yours, but you; for children are not responsible to save up for their parents, but parents for their children.
15: I will most gladly spend and be expended for your souls. If I love you more, am I to be loved less?
16: But be that as it may, I did not burden you myself; nevertheless, crafty fellow that I am, I took you in by deceit.
17: Certainly I have not taken advantage of you through any of those whom I have sent to you, have I?
18: I urged Titus to go, and I sent the brother with him. Titus did not take any advantage of you, did he? Did we not conduct ourselves in the same spirit and walk in the same steps?
19: All this time you have been thinking that we are defending ourselves to you. Actually, it is in the sight of God that we have been speaking in Christ; and all for your upbuilding, beloved.
20: For I am afraid that perhaps when I come I may find you to be not what I wish and may be found by you to be not what you wish; that perhaps there will be strife, jealousy, angry tempers, disputes, slanders, gossip, arrogance, disturbances;
21: I am afraid that when I come again my God may humiliate me before you, and I may mourn over many of those who have sinned in the past and not repented of the impurity, immorality and sensuality which they have practiced.
Paul said that this third time he would come to them he, once again, would not require them to support him. Just as a parent provides for their children, and not the other way around, he would gladly “spend and be expended” for their souls. He was willing to give all he was and had for them.
He speculated that his accusers may have said that even though he hadn’t taken anything from them personally, he profited through his associates. Paul addressed this and openly asked if he had taken advantage of them through anyone he had sent to them. He asked, Titus didn’t take advantage of you, did he? Didn’t he have the same conduct and spirit as I?
He noted that while the Corinthians had been thinking that Paul & Co. were defending themselves toward them, they actually had been speaking in Christ to edify them. What a misunderstanding. Unfortunately, this occurs too often among believers even today. Paul raised the concern that when he came, he might be disappointed in them, and they in him. He was concerned there would be strife, slander, gossip etc. On his part he was concerned that he would find them in unrepentant sin, which would be shameful—embarrassing—for him to find them in that condition. It would appear he’d failed before God. Much like a parent would feel responsible for their child’s ungodly behavior.
Paul was sharing his heart and concerns openly with the Corinthians. He addressed their accusations directly, even though painful, because it was not in his nature in Christ to boast or defend himself. He had given his all toward them and the inability of some to, not only not recognize it, but accuse him of the exact opposite of his heart, was troubling. It was a sign of immaturity on the part of his accusers which one hopes guidance and growth would correct.
15: I will most gladly spend and be expended for your souls. If I love you more, am I to be loved less?
16: But be that as it may, I did not burden you myself; nevertheless, crafty fellow that I am, I took you in by deceit.
17: Certainly I have not taken advantage of you through any of those whom I have sent to you, have I?
18: I urged Titus to go, and I sent the brother with him. Titus did not take any advantage of you, did he? Did we not conduct ourselves in the same spirit and walk in the same steps?
19: All this time you have been thinking that we are defending ourselves to you. Actually, it is in the sight of God that we have been speaking in Christ; and all for your upbuilding, beloved.
20: For I am afraid that perhaps when I come I may find you to be not what I wish and may be found by you to be not what you wish; that perhaps there will be strife, jealousy, angry tempers, disputes, slanders, gossip, arrogance, disturbances;
21: I am afraid that when I come again my God may humiliate me before you, and I may mourn over many of those who have sinned in the past and not repented of the impurity, immorality and sensuality which they have practiced.
***
Paul said that this third time he would come to them he, once again, would not require them to support him. Just as a parent provides for their children, and not the other way around, he would gladly “spend and be expended” for their souls. He was willing to give all he was and had for them.
He speculated that his accusers may have said that even though he hadn’t taken anything from them personally, he profited through his associates. Paul addressed this and openly asked if he had taken advantage of them through anyone he had sent to them. He asked, Titus didn’t take advantage of you, did he? Didn’t he have the same conduct and spirit as I?
He noted that while the Corinthians had been thinking that Paul & Co. were defending themselves toward them, they actually had been speaking in Christ to edify them. What a misunderstanding. Unfortunately, this occurs too often among believers even today. Paul raised the concern that when he came, he might be disappointed in them, and they in him. He was concerned there would be strife, slander, gossip etc. On his part he was concerned that he would find them in unrepentant sin, which would be shameful—embarrassing—for him to find them in that condition. It would appear he’d failed before God. Much like a parent would feel responsible for their child’s ungodly behavior.
Paul was sharing his heart and concerns openly with the Corinthians. He addressed their accusations directly, even though painful, because it was not in his nature in Christ to boast or defend himself. He had given his all toward them and the inability of some to, not only not recognize it, but accuse him of the exact opposite of his heart, was troubling. It was a sign of immaturity on the part of his accusers which one hopes guidance and growth would correct.
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