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2 Corinthians 12:16

14 See, I am ready to come to you a third time, and I will not be a burden, because I am not seeking your possessions, but you. For children should not have to save up for their parents, but parents for their children.

15 And for the sake of your souls, I will most gladly spend my money and myself. If I love you more, will you love me less?

Be that as it may, I was not a burden to you; but crafty as I am, I caught you by trickery.

17 Did I exploit you by anyone I sent you?

18 I urged Titus to visit you, and I sent our brother with him. Did Titus exploit you in any way? Did we not walk in the same Spirit and follow in the same footsteps?

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Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
Be that as it may, I was not a burden to you; but crafty as I am, I caught you by trickery.
KJV
But be it so, I did not burden you: nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you with guile.
WEB
Even so, I myself didn’t burden you. But you might say that being crafty, I caught you with deception.
ASV
But be it so, I did not myself burden you; but, being crafty, I caught you with guile.
DARBY
But be it so. *I* did not burden you, but being crafty I took you by guile.
BLB
But be it so, I did not burden you⁺; but being crafty, I took you⁺ by trickery.
ÅB
Men la så være at jeg ikke var dere til byrde, men jeg var listig og fanget dere med svik!
OTB
Likevel, jeg belastet dere ikke selv; men likevel, ved å være listig, fanget jeg dere med list.
B1930
Men la så være at jeg ikke var eder til byrde, men jeg var listig og fanget eder med svik!

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • 2 Corinthians 1:12

    And this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in relation to you, in the holiness and sincerity that are from God—not in worldly wisdom, but in the grace of God.

    Read in context

  • 2 Corinthians 7:2

    Make room for us in your hearts. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have exploited no one.

    Read in context

  • 2 Corinthians 10:2–3

    I beg you that when I come I may not need to be as bold as I expect toward those who presume that we live according to the flesh.

    Read in context

  • 2 Corinthians 12:13

    In what way were you inferior to the other churches, except that I was not a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong!

    Read in context

  • 2 Corinthians 11:9–10

    And when I was with you and in need, I was not a burden to anyone; for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied my needs. I have refrained from being a burden to you in any way, and I will continue to do so.

    Read in context

  • 1 Thessalonians 2:3

    For our appeal does not arise from deceit or ulterior motives or trickery.

    Read in context

  • 1 Thessalonians 2:5

    As you know, we never used words of flattery or any pretext for greed. God is our witness!

    Read in context

  • 2 Corinthians 4:2

    Instead, we have renounced secret and shameful ways. We do not practice deceit, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by open proclamation of the truth, we commend ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.

    Read in context