2 Corinthians 12:14

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

12When I was with you, I certainly gave you proof that I am an apostle. For I patiently did many signs and wonders and miracles among you. 13The only thing I failed to do, which I do in the other churches, was to become a financial burden to you. Please forgive me for this wrong! Now I am coming to you for the third time, and I will not be a burden to you. I don’t want what you have—I want you. After all, children don’t provide for their parents. Rather, parents provide for their children. 15I 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. 16Some of you admit I was not a burden to you. But others still think I was sneaky and took advantage of you by trickery.

2 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 1:15Since I was so sure of your understanding and trust, I wanted to give you a double blessing by visiting you twice—
• 2 Corinthians 13:1This is the third time I am coming to visit you (and as the Scriptures say, “The facts of every case must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses”).
• 1 Corinthians 4:19But I will come—and soon—if the Lord lets me, and then I’ll find out whether these arrogant people just give pretentious speeches or whether they really have God’s power.
• 1 Corinthians 11:34If you are really hungry, eat at home so you won’t bring judgment upon yourselves when you meet together. I’ll give you instructions about the other matters after I arrive.
• 1 Corinthians 16:5I am coming to visit you after I have been to Macedonia, for I am planning to travel through Macedonia.
• Proverbs 11:30The seeds of good deeds become a tree of life; a wise person wins friends.
• Acts 20:33“I have never coveted anyone’s silver or gold or fine clothes.
• 1 Corinthians 10:33I, too, try to please everyone in everything I do. I don’t just do what is best for me; I do what is best for others so that many may be saved.
• Philippians 4:1Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stay true to the Lord. I love you and long to see you, dear friends, for you are my joy and the crown I receive for my work.
• 1 Thessalonians 2:5Never once did we try to win you with flattery, as you well know. And God is our witness that we were not pretending to be your friends just to get your money!
• 1 Peter 5:2Care for the flock that God has entrusted to you. Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly—not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to serve God.
• Genesis 24:35“And the Lord has greatly blessed my master; he has become a wealthy man. The Lord has given him flocks of sheep and goats, herds of cattle, a fortune in silver and gold, and many male and female servants and camels and donkeys.
• Genesis 31:14Rachel and Leah responded, “That’s fine with us! We won’t inherit any of our father’s wealth anyway.
• Proverbs 13:22Good people leave an inheritance to their grandchildren, but the sinner’s wealth passes to the godly.
• Proverbs 19:14Fathers can give their sons an inheritance of houses and wealth, but only the Lord can give an understanding wife.
• 1 Corinthians 4:14I am not writing these things to shame you, but to warn you as my beloved 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

• Corinth
• Love
• Minister, Christian
• Parents
• Zeal, Religious

In the dictionaries

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

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