2 Corinthians 12:15

2 Corinthians 12:15 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.
• New International Version (NIV)So I will very gladly spend for you everything I have and expend myself as well. If I love you more, will you love me less?
• English Standard Version (ESV)I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If I love you more, am I to be loved less?
• New King James Version (NKJV)And I will very gladly spend and be spent for your souls; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved.

Context of 2 Corinthians 12:15

13For what is there wherein ye were made inferior to the rest of the churches, except it be that I myself was not a burden to you? forgive me this wrong. 14Behold, this is the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be a burden to you: for I seek not yours, but you: for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children. And I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If I love you more abundantly, am I loved the less? 16But be it so, I did not myself burden you; but, being crafty, I caught you with guile. 17Did I take advantage of you by any one of them whom I have sent unto you?

2 Corinthians 12:15 word by word

ἐγὼ δὲ ἥδιστα δαπανήσω καὶ ἐκδαπανηθήσομαι ὑπὲρ τῶν ψυχῶν ὑμῶν, εἰ περισσοτέρως ὑμᾶς ἀγαπῶν ἧσσον ἀγαπῶμαι.Read the interlinear

• mostὑπέρhuper · above/forG5228
• gladlyἥδισταhēdista · most gladlyG2236
• spendδαπανάωdapanaō · to spendG1159
• soulsψυχήpsuchē · soulG5590
• loveἀγαπάωagapaō · to loveG25

Cross-references for 2 Corinthians 12:15

• 2 Corinthians 12:9And he hath said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my power is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
• 2 Corinthians 1:6But whether we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; or whether we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which worketh in the patient enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer:
• 2 Corinthians 2:3And I wrote this very thing, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy is the joy of you all.
• 2 Corinthians 7:3I say it not to condemn you: for I have said before, that ye are in our hearts to die together and live together.
• John 10:10The thief cometh not, but that he may steal, and kill, and destroy: I came that they may have life, and may have it abundantly.
• Galatians 4:10Ye observe days, and months, and seasons, and years.
• Philippians 2:17Yea, and if I am offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all:
• Colossians 1:24Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and fill up on my part that which is lacking of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church;
• 1 Thessalonians 2:8even so, being affectionately desirous of you, we were well pleased to impart unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were become very dear to us.
• 2 Timothy 2:10Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sake, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
• 2 Corinthians 12:14Behold, this is the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be a burden to you: for I seek not yours, but you: for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.
• Hebrews 13:17Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit to them: for they watch in behalf of your souls, as they that shall give account; that they may do this with joy, and not with grief: for this were unprofitable for you.
• 2 Corinthians 6:12Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your own affections.
• 2 Samuel 13:39And the soul of king David longed to go forth unto Absalom: for he was comforted concerning Amnon, seeing he was dead.
• 2 Samuel 17:1Moreover Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Let me now choose out twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue after David this night:
• 2 Samuel 18:33And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!

Commentaries on 2 Corinthians 12:15

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 15And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you - I will continue to act as a loving father, who spends all he has upon his children, and expends his own strength and life in providing for them the things necessary for their preservation and comfort. Though the more abundantly I love you - I will even act towards you with the most affectionate tenderness, though it happen to me, as it often does to loving fathers, that their disobedient children love…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 15And I will very gladly spend - I am willing to spend my strength, and time, and life, and all that I have, for your welfare, as a father cheerfully does for his children. Any expense which may be necessary to promote your salvation I am willing to submit to. The labor of a father for his children is cheerful and pleasant. Such is his love for them that he delights in toil for their sake, and that he may make them happy. The toil of a pastor for his flock…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 11-21Verses 11-21 We owe it to good men, to stand up in the defence of their reputation; and we are under special obligations to those from whom we have received benefit, especially spiritual benefit, to own them as instruments in God's hand of good to us. Here is an account of the apostle's behaviour and kind intentions; in which see the character of a faithful minister of the gospel. This was his great aim and design, to do good. Here are noticed several…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 14-15a third time: Paul's first visit was when he first preached in Corinth (Acts 18:1–18). The second was an unexpected "painful visit" (2 Corinthians 2:1). Paul hopes the next visit will be happier, but there is still some distrust. They need to clear the air. I will not be a burden: Paul did not want their money. He wanted them to fully accept his authority. He was willing to give his time and energy for them instead of taking payment.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1515. I will ... spend--all I have. be spent--all that I am. This is more than even natural parents do. They "lay up treasures for their children." But I spend not merely my treasures, but myself. for you--Greek, "for your souls"; not for your mere bodies. the less I be loved--Love rather descends than ascends [Bengel]. Love him as a true friend who seeks your good more than your good will.Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Corinthians 12:15

• Love
• Minister, Christian
• Zeal, Religious

In the dictionaries

• Backbiting
• Crafty
• Excuse
• Gain
• Grace
• Perfect
• Revelation
• Sufficient
• Thorn
• Unspeakable

Commentaries on 2 Corinthians 12

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings