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Thursday, October 3rd, 2024
the Week of Proper 21 / Ordinary 26
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Read the Bible

New King James Version

2 Corinthians 12:14

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.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Corinth;   Love;   Minister, Christian;   Parents;   Zeal, Religious;   Thompson Chain Reference - Children;   Duty;   Fathers;   Home;   Parental;   Social Duties;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Ministers;   Parents;  

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Mission;   Suffering;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Corinth;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Paul;   Holman Bible Dictionary - False Apostles;   2 Corinthians;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Corinthians, Second Epistle to;   Person of Christ;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Brotherly Love;   Collection;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - 36 Ought Must;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Corinth;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Corinthians, Second Epistle to the;  

Parallel Translations

New American Standard Bible (1995)
Here for this third time I am ready to come to you, and I will not be a burden to you; for I do not seek what is yours, but you; for children are not responsible to save up for their parents, but parents for their children.
Legacy Standard Bible
Here for this third time I am ready to come to you, and I will not be a burden to you; for I do not seek what is yours, but you. For children ought not to save up for their parents, but parents for their children.
Simplified Cowboy Version
I'm going to come see y'all for the third time. And like the last times, I will not be a burden. I don't want what you have—I just want you riding for the brand. Children shouldn't be the ones providing for the parent when they are able to provide for themselves. It's the other way around.
Bible in Basic English
This is now the third time that I am ready to come to you; and I will not be a trouble to you: my desire is for you, not for your property: for it is not the children's business to make store for their fathers, but the fathers for the children.
Darby Translation
Behold, this third time I am ready to come to you, and I will not be in laziness a charge; 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.
Christian Standard Bible®
Now I am ready to come to you this third time. I will not burden you, for I am not seeking what is yours, but you. For children are not obligated to save up for their parents, but parents for their children.
World English Bible
Behold, this is the third time I am ready to come to you, and I will not be a burden to you; for I seek not your possessions, but you. For the children ought not to save up for the parents, but the parents for the children.
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Forgive me this wrong. Behold the third time I am ready to come to you: yet I will not be burdensom to you; for I seek not yours, but you; for the children ought not to lay up treasure for the parents, but the parents for the children.
Weymouth's New Testament
See, I am now for the third time prepared to visit you, but I will not be a dead weight to you. I desire not your money, but yourselves; for children ought not to put by for their parents, but parents for their children.
King James Version (1611)
Behold, the third time I am readie to come to you, and I will not bee burthensome to you; for I seeke not yours, but you: for the children ought not to lay vp for the parents, but the parents for the children.
Literal Translation
Behold, I am ready to come to you a third time . And I will not burden you, for I do not seek your things, but you. For the children ought not to lay up treasure for the parents, but the parents for the children.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Beholde, I am ready the thirde tyme to come vnto you, and wyl not be chargeable vnto you. For I seke not youres, but you. For ye childre ought not to gather treasure for the elders, but the elders for the children.
Mace New Testament (1729)
This is the third time I purposed to come to you; but I will not be burdensome to you; for I seek not yours, but you: since it is not expected children should lay up for their parents, but parents for their children: on the contrary,
THE MESSAGE
Everything is in readiness now for this, my third visit to you. But don't worry about it; you won't have to put yourselves out. I'll be no more of a bother to you this time than on the other visits. I have no interest in what you have—only in you. Children shouldn't have to look out for their parents; parents look out for the children. I'd be most happy to empty my pockets, even mortgage my life, for your good. So how does it happen that the more I love you, the less I'm loved?
Amplified Bible
Now for the third time I am ready to visit you. I will not burden you [financially], because I do not want what is yours [not your money or your possessions], but you. For children are not responsible to save up for their parents, but parents for their children.
American Standard Version
Behold, this is the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be a burden 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.
Revised Standard Version
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 ought not to lay up for their parents, but parents for their children.
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Beholde now ye thyrde tyme I am redy to come vnto you: and yet will I not be grevous vnto you. For I seke not youres but you. Also the children ought not to laye vp for the fathers and mothers: but the fathers and mothers for the children.
Update Bible Version
Look, this is the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be a burden to you: for I don't seek yours, but you: for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.
Webster's Bible Translation
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.
Young's Literal Translation
Lo, a third time I am ready to come unto you, and I will not be a burden to you, for I seek not yours, but you, for the children ought not for the parents to lay up, but the parents for the children,
New Century Version
I am now ready to visit you the third time, and I will not be a burden to you. I want nothing from you, except you. Children should not have to save up to give to their parents. Parents should save to give to their children.
New English Translation
Look, for the third time I am ready to come to you, and I will not be a burden to you, because I do not want your possessions, but you. For children should not have to save up for their parents, but parents for their children.
Berean Standard Bible
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.
Contemporary English Version
I am planning to visit you for the third time. But I still won't make a burden of myself. What I really want is you, and not what you have. Children are not supposed to save up for their parents, but parents are supposed to take care of their children.
Complete Jewish Bible
Look, I am ready this third time to come and visit you; and I will not be a burden to you; for it is not what you own that I want, but you! Children are not supposed to save up for their parents, but parents for their children.
English Standard Version
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.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Behold, the thirde time I am ready to come vnto you, and yet will I not be slouthfull to your hinderance: for I seeke not yours, but you: for the children ought not to laye vp for the fathers, but the fathers for the children.
George Lamsa Translation
Behold, this is the third time I am prepared to come to you; and I will not burden you; for I seek nothing from you, but yourselves: for children are not under obligation to lay up treasure for the parents, but the parents for the children.
Hebrew Names Version
Behold, this is the third time I am ready to come to you, and I will not be a burden to you; for I seek not your possessions, but you. For the children ought not to save up for the parents, but the parents for the children.
International Standard Version
Here I am ready to visit you for a third time, and I will not bother you for help. I do not want your things but you. Children should not have to supportto save up for">[fn] their parents, but parents their children.Acts 20:33; 1 Corinthians 4:14-15; 10:33; 2 Corinthians 13:1;">[xr]
Etheridge Translation
Behold, this is three times that I prepare to come to you, and not to burden you; for I seek not yours, but you. For the children ought not to lay up treasures for the parents, but the parents for their children.
Murdock Translation
Behold, this third time I am ready to come to you, and I will not burden you; for I seek not yours, but you: for children ought not to lay up treasures for the parents, but the parents for their children.
New Living Translation
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.
New Life Bible
This is the third time I am ready to come to you. I want nothing from you. I want you, not your money. You are my children. Children should not have to help care for their parents. Parents should help their children.
English Revised Version
Behold, this is the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be a burden 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 Revised Standard
Here I am, ready to come to you this third time. And I will not be a burden, because I do not want what is yours but you; for children ought not to lay up for their parents, but parents for their children.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Lo! this third time, I am holding myself, in readiness, to come unto you, and I will not allow myself to be a burden; for I seek not yours, but you; - for, the children, ought not to lay up, for the parents, but the parents for the children; -
Douay-Rheims Bible
Behold now the third time I am ready to come to you and I will not be burthensome unto you. For I seek not the things that are yours, but you. For neither ought the children to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.
King James Version
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.
Lexham English Bible
Behold, this third time I am ready to come to you, and I will not be a burden to you. For I am not seeking your possessions, but you. For children are not obligated to save up for their parents, but parents for their children.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Beholde, nowe the thirde tyme I am redy to come vnto you, and yet wyll I not be chargeable vnto you: For I seke not yours, but you. For the children ought not to lay vp for the fathers and mothers: but the fathers and mothers for the chyldren.
Easy-to-Read Version
I am now ready to visit you for the third time, and I will not be a burden to you. I don't want any of the things you own. I only want you. Children should not have to save things to give to their parents. Parents should save to give to their children.
New American Standard Bible
Here for this third time I am ready to come to you, and I will not be a burden to you; for I do not seek what is yours, but you; for children are not responsible to save up for their parents, but parents for their children.
Good News Translation
This is now the third time that I am ready to come to visit you—and I will not make any demands on you. It is you I want, not your money. After all, children should not have to provide for their parents, but parents should provide for their children.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Lo! this thridde tyme Y am redi to come to you, and Y schal not be greuous to you; for Y seke not tho thingis that ben youre, but you. For nether sones owen to tresoure to fadir and modir, but the fadir and modir to the sones.

Contextual Overview

11 I have become a fool in boasting; [fn] you have compelled me. For I ought to have been commended by you; for in nothing was I behind the most eminent apostles, though I am nothing. 12 Truly the signs of an apostle were accomplished among you with all perseverance, in signs and wonders and mighty deeds. 13 For what is it in which you were inferior to other churches, except that I myself was not burdensome to you? Forgive me this wrong! 14 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. 15 And I will very gladly spend and be spent for your souls; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved. 16 But be that as it may, I did not burden you. Nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you by cunning! 17 Did I take advantage of you by any of those whom I sent to you? 18 I urged Titus, and sent our brother with him. Did Titus take advantage of you? Did we not walk in the same spirit? Did we not walk in the same steps? 19 Again, do you think [fn] that we excuse ourselves to you? We speak before God in Christ. But we do all things, beloved, for your edification. 20 For I fear lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I wish, and that I shall be found by you such as you do not wish; lest there be contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, backbitings, whisperings, conceits, tumults;

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

the third: That is, the third time I have purposed to visit you. See the parallel passages. 2 Corinthians 1:15, 2 Corinthians 13:1, 1 Corinthians 4:19, 1 Corinthians 11:34, 1 Corinthians 16:5

for I: Proverbs 11:30, Acts 20:33, 1 Corinthians 10:33, Philippians 4:1, Philippians 4:17, 1 Thessalonians 2:5, 1 Thessalonians 2:6, 1 Thessalonians 2:8, 1 Thessalonians 2:19, 1 Thessalonians 2:20, 1 Peter 5:2-4

for the: Genesis 24:35, Genesis 24:36, Genesis 31:14, Genesis 31:15, Proverbs 13:22, Proverbs 19:14, 1 Corinthians 4:14, 1 Corinthians 4:15, 1 Thessalonians 2:11

Reciprocal: Genesis 14:23 - That I Genesis 30:30 - when Numbers 16:15 - I have not 1 Samuel 12:3 - whose ox 2 Kings 5:16 - I will receive 1 Corinthians 9:12 - Nevertheless 2 Corinthians 7:2 - we have wronged 2 Corinthians 11:9 - burdensome 2 Corinthians 12:13 - I myself 2 Corinthians 12:15 - you 1 Thessalonians 2:9 - chargeable 1 Timothy 5:8 - and specially

Cross-References

Genesis 3:6
So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate.
Genesis 6:2
that the sons of God saw the daughters of men, that they were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves of all whom they chose.
Genesis 39:7
And it came to pass after these things that his master's wife cast longing eyes on Joseph, and she said, "Lie with me."
Matthew 5:28
But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you,.... Not that he had been twice at Corinth, and was now about to come a third time; for as yet he had been but once there, when he first preached to them, was the means of their conversion, and settled them in a church state; he had promised them to come a second time, but as yet was prevented; see 1 Corinthians 16:5, and now a third time he had purposed it in his mind, and had prepared for it, and was just ready to come unto them; when he assures them he had not altered his mind, nor should he change his conduct, but steer the same course he had:

and I will not be burdensome to you; he signifies he would preach the Gospel freely to them, and take nothing of them; and this he says lest they should think with themselves, that though he took no stipend of them before, yet when he came again he would:

for I seek not yours; their money and substance, as did the false apostles:

but you; they themselves, their spiritual good and welfare, the comfort, edification, instruction, and salvation of their immortal souls; like a good and faithful shepherd, who sought not the fleece, but the good of the flock; or rather like a loving tender father, that was affectionately concerned for the good of his children:

for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children; not but that children ought to take care of, and provide for their aged and indigent parents, and churches ought to maintain their faithful ministers; but the apostle argues from a common fact which nature and affection direct unto, and have formed into a sort of a law, that parents not only care for their children, bring them up, and provide for them food and raiment; but as they are blessed by Providence, lay up treasures for them for tithe to come, and not children for their parents; this is neither usual nor necessary, for however, as the case may be, children may be obliged to maintain their parents when grown old and in want, yet not to lay up substance for them for futurity; and by it the apostle suggests, that he was a spiritual father to these Corinthians, and they were his children; for whose spiritual welfare he had the highest concern, and whatever he did was out of no disrespect to them, but from the strongest affection for them.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Behold, 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 Macedonia. He had now formed a third resolution, which he had a prospect of carrying into execution.

And I will not be burdensome to you - I resolve still, as I have done before, not to receive a compensation that shall be oppressive to you, see the notes on 2 Corinthians 11:9-10.

For I seek not yours, but you - I desire not to obtain your property, but to save your souls. This was a noble resolution; and it is the resolution which should be formed by every minister of the gospel. While a minister of Christ has a claim to a competent support, his main purpose should not be to obtain such a support. It should be the higher and nobler object of winning souls to the Redeemer. See Paul’s conduct in this respect explained in the notes on Acts 20:33.

For the children ... - There is great delicacy and address in this sentiment. The meaning is, “It is not natural and usual for children to make provisions for their parents. The common course of events and of duty is, for parents to make provision for their offspring. I, therefore, your spiritual father, choose to act in the same way. I make provision for your spiritual needs; I labor and toil for you as a father does for his children. I seek your welfare, as he does, by constant self-denial. In return, I do not ask you to provide for me, any more than a father ordinarily expects his children to provide for him. I am willing to labor as he does, content with doing my duty, and promoting the welfare of those under me.” The words rendered “ought out” (οὐ ὀφείλει ou opheilei) are to be understood in a comparative sense. Paul does not mean that a child ought never to provide for his parents, or to lay anything up for a sick, a poor, and an infirm father, but that the duty of doing that was slight and unusual compared with the duty of a parent to provide for his children. The one was of comparatively rare occurrence; the other was constant and was the ordinary course of duty It is a matter of obligation for a child to provide for an aged and helpless parent; but commonly the duty is that of a parent to provide for his children. Paul felt like a father toward the church in Corinth; and he was willing, therefore, to labor for them without compensation.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 14. The 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 have sought your property, but not your salvation. See 2 Corinthians 11:20.

For the children ought not to lay up for the parents — You may have many teachers, but you have but one FATHER; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the Gospel; see 1 Corinthians 4:15. Ye are my children, and I am your father. You have not contributed to my support, but I have been labouring for your life. I will act towards you as the loving father who works hard, and lays up what is necessary to enable his children to get their bread.


 
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