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.
• 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.
• New Living Translation (NLT)I will gladly spend myself and all I have for you, even though it seems that the more I love you, the less you love me.

Context of 2 Corinthians 12:15

13How were you inferior to the other churches, except that I was never a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong! 14Now 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. 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? 16Be that as it may, I have not been a burden to you. Yet, crafty fellow that I am, I caught you by trickery! 17Did I exploit you through any of the men I sent to 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 made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
• 2 Corinthians 1:6If we are distressed, 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 we suffer.
• 2 Corinthians 2:3I wrote as I did, so that when I came I would not be distressed by those who should have made me rejoice. I had confidence in all of you, that you would all share my joy.
• 2 Corinthians 7:3I do not say this to condemn you; I have said before that you have such a place in our hearts that we would live or die with you.
• John 10:10The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
• Galatians 4:10You are observing special days and months and seasons and years!
• Philippians 2:17But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you.
• Colossians 1:24Now I rejoice in what I am suffering for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church.
• 1 Thessalonians 2:8so we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well.
• 2 Timothy 2:10Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.
• 2 Corinthians 12:14Now 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.
• Hebrews 13:17Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you.
• 2 Corinthians 6:12We are not withholding our affection from you, but you are withholding yours from us.
• 2 Samuel 13:39And King David longed to go to Absalom, for he was consoled concerning Amnon’s death.
• 2 Samuel 17:1Ahithophel said to Absalom, “I would choose twelve thousand men and set out tonight in pursuit of David.
• 2 Samuel 18:33The king was shaken. He went up to the room over the gateway and wept. As he went, he said: “O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you—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