2 Corinthians 12:18

¹⁶ But be it so, I did not burden you: nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you with guile.

¹⁷ Did I make a gain of you by any of them whom I sent unto you?

I desired Titus, and with him I sent a brother. Did Titus make a gain of you? walked we not in the same spirit? walked we not in the same steps?

¹⁹ Again, think ye that we excuse ourselves unto you? we speak before God in Christ: but we do all things, dearly beloved, for your edifying.

²⁰ For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults:

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: 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?
KJV: I desired Titus, and with him I sent a brother. Did Titus make a gain of you? walked we not in the same spirit? walked we not in the same steps?
WEB: I exhorted Titus, and I sent the brother with him. Did Titus take any advantage of you? Didn’t we walk in the same spirit? Didn’t we walk in the same steps?
ASV: I exhorted Titus, and I sent the brother with him. Did Titus take any advantage of you? walked we not in the same spirit? [walked we] not in the same steps?
DARBY: I begged Titus, and sent the brother with [him]: did Titus at all make gain of you? have we not walked in the same spirit? [have we] not in the same steps?
BLB: I exhorted Titus [to go], and I sent with [him] the brother. Did Titus take advantage of you⁺? Did we not walk in the same Spirit? Not in the same footsteps?

ÅB: Jeg tilskyndte Titus og sendte vår bror med ham; mon vel Titus søkte vinning av dere? vandret vi ikke i den samme ånd? ikke i de samme spor?
OTB: Jeg oppmuntret Titus til å besøke, og jeg sendte broren med ham. Titus utnyttet dere ikke, gjorde han? Handlet vi ikke med den samme ånd og fulgte den samme vei?
B1930: Jeg tilskyndte Titus og sendte vår bror med ham; mon vel Titus søkte vinning av eder? vandret vi ikke i den samme ånd? ikke i de samme spor?

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

2 Corinthians 8:6
Insomuch that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also.
Read in context
Romans 4:12
And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised.
Read in context
2 Corinthians 7:6
Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus;
Read in context
Philippians 2:19–22
But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timotheus shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know your state.
Read in context
2 Corinthians 7:2
Receive us; we have wronged no man, we have corrupted no man, we have defrauded no man.
Read in context
Acts 20:33–35
I have coveted no man’s silver, or gold, or apparel.
Read in context
1 Peter 2:21
For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
Read in context
Nehemiah 5:14
Moreover from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year even unto the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that is, twelve years, I and my brethren have not eaten the bread of the governor.
Read in context