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

13So in what way are you worse off than the other churches, except that I personally did not burden you? Forgive me for this wrong! 14Look, I am ready to come to you this third time. I will not burden you, since I am not seeking what is yours, but you. For children ought not save up for their parents, but parents for their children. I will most gladly spend and be spent for you. If I love you more, am I to be loved less? 16Now granted, I did not burden you; yet sly as I am, I took you in by deceit! 17Did I take advantage of you by any of those I sent 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

Words taken from the KJV.

• Andδέde · thenG1161
• Iἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• will very gladlyἥδισταhēdista · most gladlyG2236
• spendδαπανάωdapanaō · to spendG1159
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• be spentἐκδαπανάωekdapanaō · to expendG1550
• forὑπέρhuper · above/forG5228
• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• ·ψυχήpsuchē · soulG5590
• youσύsu · youG4771
• thoughεἰei · ifG1487
• the more abundantlyπερισσῶςperissōs · excessivelyG4057
• I loveἀγαπάωagapaō · to loveG25
• the lessἥσσωνhētton · less/worseG2276

Cross-references for 2 Corinthians 12:15

• 2 Corinthians 12:9But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me.
• 2 Corinthians 1:6If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation. If we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings that we suffer.
• 2 Corinthians 2:3I wrote this very thing so that when I came I wouldn’t have pain from those who ought to give me joy, because I am confident about all of you that my joy will also be yours.
• 2 Corinthians 7:3I don’t say this to condemn you, since I have already said that you are in our hearts, to die together and to live together.
• John 10:10A thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance.
• Galatians 4:10You are observing special days, months, seasons, and years.
• Philippians 2:17But even if I am poured out as a drink offering on the sacrificial service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you.
• Colossians 1:24Now I rejoice in my sufferings for you, and I am completing in my flesh what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for his body, that is, the church.
• 1 Thessalonians 2:8We cared so much for you that we were pleased to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us.
• 2 Timothy 2:10This is why I endure all things for the elect: so that they also may obtain salvation, which is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.
• 2 Corinthians 12:14Look, I am ready to come to you this third time. I will not burden you, since I am not seeking what is yours, but you. For children ought not save up for their parents, but parents for their children.
• Hebrews 13:17Obey your leaders and submit to them, since they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account, so that they can do this with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.
• 2 Corinthians 6:12We are not withholding our affection from you, but you are withholding yours from us.
• 2 Samuel 13:39King David longed to go to Absalom, for David had finished grieving over Amnon’s death.
• 2 Samuel 17:1Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Let me choose twelve thousand men, and I will set out in pursuit of David tonight.
• 2 Samuel 18:33The king was deeply moved and went up to the chamber above the city gate and wept. As he walked, he cried, “My son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you, 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