God’s Word Translation
2 Corinthians 12:14
14I’m ready to visit you for a third time, and I won’t bother you for help. I don’t want your possessions. Instead, I want you. Children shouldn’t have to provide for their parents, but parents should provide for their children.
2 Corinthians 12:14 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burdensome 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.
- New International Version (NIV)Now I am ready to visit you for the third time, 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, but parents for their children.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Here for the third time I am ready to come to you. And I will not be a burden, for I seek not what is yours but you. For children are not obligated to save up for their parents, but parents for their children.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Now for the third time I am ready to come to you. And I will not be burdensome to you; for I do not seek yours, but you. For the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.
Context of 2 Corinthians 12:14
12While I was among you I patiently did the signs, wonders, and miracles which prove that I’m an apostle. 13How were you treated worse than the other churches, except that I didn’t bother you for help? Forgive me for this wrong! I’m ready to visit you for a third time, and I won’t bother you for help. I don’t want your possessions. Instead, I want you. Children shouldn’t have to provide for their parents, but parents should provide for their children. 15I will be very glad to spend whatever I have. I’ll even give myself for you. Do you love me less because I love you so much? 16You agree, then, that I haven’t been a burden to you. Was I a clever person who trapped you by some trick?
Read all of 2 Corinthians 122 Corinthians 12:14 word by word
Ἰδοὺ τρίτον τοῦτο ἑτοίμως ἔχω ἐλθεῖν πρὸς ὑμᾶς καὶ οὐ καταναρκήσω οὐ γὰρ ζητῶ τὰ ὑμῶν ἀλλ᾽ ὑμᾶς. οὐ γὰρ ὀφείλει τὰ τέκνα τοῖς γονεῦσιν θησαυρίζειν ἀλλ᾽ οἱ γονεῖς τοῖς τέκνοις·Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- Beholdὁράωhoraō · to see: seeG3708
- the third timeτρίτοςtritos · thirdG5154
- I amἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
- readyἑτοίμωςhetoimōs · readilyG2093
- to comeἔρχομαιerchomai · to come/goG2064
- toπρόςpros · to/withG4314
- youσύsu · youG4771
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- I willκαταναρκάομαιkatanarkaō · to burdenG2655
- notοὐou · noG3756
- forγάρgar · forG1063
- I seekζητέωzēteō · to seekG2212
- butἀλλάalla · butG235
- the childrenτέκνονteknon · childG5043
- oughtὀφείλωopheilō opheileō · to oweG3784
- to lay upθησαυρίζωthēsaurizō · to store upG2343
- for the parentsγονεύςgoneus · parentG1118
Cross-references for 2 Corinthians 12:14
- 2 Corinthians 1:15Confident of this, I had previously wanted to visit you so that you could benefit twice.
- 2 Corinthians 13:1This is the third time that I’ll be visiting you. Every accusation must be verified by two or three witnesses.
- 1 Corinthians 4:19If it’s the Lord’s will, I’ll visit you soon. Then I’ll know what these arrogant people are saying and what power they have.
- 1 Corinthians 11:34Whoever is hungry should eat at home so that you don’t have a gathering that brings judgment on you. I will give directions concerning the other matters when I come.
- 1 Corinthians 16:5After I go through the province of Macedonia, I’ll visit you. (I will be going through Macedonia.)
- Proverbs 11:30The fruit of a righteous person is a tree of life, and a winner of souls is wise.
- Acts 20:33“I never wanted anyone’s silver, gold, or clothes.
- 1 Corinthians 10:33I try to please everyone in every way. I don’t think about what would be good for me but about what would be good for many people so that they might be saved.
- Philippians 4:1So, brothers and sisters, I love you and miss you. You are my joy and my crown. Therefore, dear friends, keep your relationship with the Lord firm!
- 1 Thessalonians 2:5As you know, we never used flattery or schemes to make money. God is our witness!
- 1 Peter 5:2Be shepherds over the flock God has entrusted to you. Watch over it as God does: Don’t do this because you have to, but because you want to. Don’t do it out of greed, but out of a desire to serve.
- Genesis 24:35“The Lord has blessed my master, and he has become wealthy. The Lord has given him sheep and cattle, silver and gold, male and female slaves, camels and donkeys.
- Genesis 31:14Rachel and Leah answered him, “Is there anything left in our father’s household for us to inherit?
- Proverbs 13:22Good people leave an inheritance to their grandchildren, but the wealth of sinners is stored away for a righteous person.
- Proverbs 19:14Home and wealth are inherited from fathers, but a sensible wife comes from the Lord.
- 1 Corinthians 4:14I’m not writing this to make you feel ashamed but to instruct you as my dear children.
Commentaries on 2 Corinthians 12:14
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 14The third time I am ready - That is, this is the third time that I am ready - have formed the resolution, to visit you. He had formed this resolution twice before, but was disappointed. See 1 Corinthians 16:5, and 2 Corinthians 1:15, 2 Corinthians 1:16. He now formed it a third time, having more probability of seeing them now than he had before. See 2 Corinthians 13:2. I seek not yours, but you - I seek your salvation, I desire not your property; others…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 14Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you - That is, this is the third time that I have purposed to come and see you, and have made preparation for it. He does not mean that he had been twice with them and was now coming the third time, but that he had twice before intended to go and had been disappointed; see 1 Corinthians 16:5; 2 Corinthians 1:15-16. His purpose had been to visit them on his way to Macedonia and again on his return from…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. 1414. the third time--See Introduction to the first Epistle. His second visit was probably a short one (1Co 16:7), and attended with humiliation through the scandalous conduct of some of his converts (compare 2Co 12:21; 2Co 2:1). It was probably paid during his three years' sojourn at Ephesus, from which he could pass so readily by sea to Corinth (compare 2Co 1:15, 16; 13:1, 2). The context here implies nothing of a third preparation to come; but, "I am…Read the comment
Topics related to 2 Corinthians 12:14
In the dictionaries
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
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