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

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! 14Now 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. 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. 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. 17But how? Did any of the men I sent to you take advantage of 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 12:9Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.
• 2 Corinthians 1:6Even when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation! For when we ourselves are comforted, we will certainly comfort you. Then you can patiently endure the same things we suffer.
• 2 Corinthians 2:3That is why I wrote to you as I did, so that when I do come, I won’t be grieved by the very ones who ought to give me the greatest joy. Surely you all know that my joy comes from your being joyful.
• 2 Corinthians 7:3I’m not saying this to condemn you. I said before that you are in our hearts, and we live or die together with you.
• John 10:10The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.
• Galatians 4:10You are trying to earn favor with God by observing certain days or months or seasons or years.
• Philippians 2:17But I will rejoice even if I lose my life, pouring it out like a liquid offering to God, just like your faithful service is an offering to God. And I want all of you to share that joy.
• Colossians 1:24I am glad when I suffer for you in my body, for I am participating in the sufferings of Christ that continue for his body, the church.
• 1 Thessalonians 2:8We loved you so much that we shared with you not only God’s Good News but our own lives, too.
• 2 Timothy 2:10So I am willing to endure anything if it will bring salvation and eternal glory in Christ Jesus to those God has chosen.
• 2 Corinthians 12:14Now 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.
• Hebrews 13:17Obey your spiritual leaders, and do what they say. Their work is to watch over your souls, and they are accountable to God. Give them reason to do this with joy and not with sorrow. That would certainly not be for your benefit.
• 2 Corinthians 6:12There is no lack of love on our part, but you have withheld your love from us.
• 2 Samuel 13:39And King David, now reconciled to Amnon’s death, longed to be reunited with his son Absalom.
• 2 Samuel 17:1Now Ahithophel urged Absalom, “Let me choose 12,000 men to start out after David tonight.
• 2 Samuel 18:33The king was overcome with emotion. He went up to the room over the gateway and burst into tears. And as he went, he cried, “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