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New Living Translation

2 Corinthians 12:13

The 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!

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Minister, Christian;  

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Suffering;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Paul;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Disciples;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Burden;   Grace;   Person of Christ;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Collection;   Forgiveness;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Corinth;  

Encyclopedias:

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

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
So in what way are you worse off than the other churches, except that I personally did not burden you? Forgive me for this wrong!
King James Version (1611)
For what is it wherein yee were inferior to other Churches, except it bee that I my selfe was not burthensome to you? forgiue me this wrong.
King James Version
For what is it wherein ye were inferior to other churches, except it be that I myself was not burdensome to you? forgive me this wrong.
English Standard Version
For in what were you less favored than the rest of the churches, except that I myself did not burden you? Forgive me this wrong!
New American Standard Bible
For in what respect were you treated as inferior to the rest of the churches, except that I myself did not become a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong!
New Century Version
So you received everything that the other churches have received. Only one thing was different: I was not a burden to you. Forgive me for this!
Amplified Bible
For in what respect were you treated as inferior to the rest of the churches, except [for the fact] that I did not burden you [with my financial support]? Forgive me [for doing you] this injustice!
New American Standard Bible (1995)
For in what respect were you treated as inferior to the rest of the churches, except that I myself did not become a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong!
Legacy Standard Bible
For in what respect were you treated as less than the rest of the churches, except that I myself did not become a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong!
Berean Standard Bible
In what way were you inferior to the other churches, except that I was not a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong!
Contemporary English Version
You missed out on only one blessing that the other churches received. That is, you didn't have to support me. Forgive me for doing you wrong.
Complete Jewish Bible
Is there any way in which you have been behind any of the other congregations, other than in my not having been a burden to you? For this unfairness, please forgive me!
Darby Translation
For in what is it that ye have been inferior to the other assemblies, unless that I myself have not been in laziness a charge upon you? Forgive me this injury.
Easy-to-Read Version
So you received everything that the other churches have received. Only one thing was different: I was not a burden to you. Forgive me for this!
Geneva Bible (1587)
For what is it, wherein yee were inferiours vnto other Churches, except that I haue not bene slouthfull to your hinderance? forgiue me this wrong.
George Lamsa Translation
For what do you lack that other churches have, except it be that I myself was not burdensome to you? Forgive me this fault!
Good News Translation
How were you treated any worse than the other churches, except that I did not bother you for financial help? Please forgive me for being so unfair!
Lexham English Bible
For in what respect are you made worse off more than the rest of the churches, except that I myself was not a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong!
Literal Translation
For what is it in which you were less than the rest of the assemblies, except that I myself did not burden you? Forgive me this wrong.
American Standard Version
For what is there wherein ye were made inferior to the rest of the churches, except it be that I myself was not a burden to you? forgive me this wrong.
Bible in Basic English
For what is there in which you were made less than the other churches, but in the one thing that I was not a trouble to you? Let me have forgiveness for this wrong.
Hebrew Names Version
For what is there in which you were made inferior to the rest of the assemblies, unless it is that I myself was not a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong.
International Standard Version
How were you treated worse than the other churches, except that I did not bother you for help? Forgive me for this wrong!1 Corinthians 1:7; 9:12; 2 Corinthians 11:7,9;">[xr]
Etheridge Translation
For in what have you been less than the other churches, except in this, that I have not burdened you? Forgive me this offence.
Murdock Translation
For in what fell ye short of the other churches; except in this, that I was not burdensome to you? Forgive me this fault.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
For what is it, wherin ye were inferiour vnto other Churches, except [it be] that I was not chargeable vnto you? Forgeue me this wrong.
English Revised Version
For what is there wherein ye were made inferior to the rest of the churches, except [it be] that I myself was not a burden to you? forgive me this wrong.
World English Bible
For what is there in which you were made inferior to the rest of the assemblies, unless it is that I myself was not a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong.
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
For wherein were ye inferior to the other churches, unless that I myself was not burdensom to you.
Weymouth's New Testament
In what respect, therefore, have you been worse dealt with than other Churches, except that I myself never hung as a dead weight upon you? Forgive the injustice I thus did you!
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And what is it, that ye hadden lesse than othere chirchis, but that Y my silf greuyde you not? Foryyue ye to me this wrong.
Update Bible Version
For what is there wherein you were made inferior to the rest of the churches, except [it is] that I myself was not a burden to you? forgive me this wrong.
Webster's Bible Translation
For what is that in which ye were inferior to other churches, except that I myself was not burdensome to you? forgive me this wrong.
New English Translation
For how were you treated worse than the other churches, except that I myself was not a burden to you? Forgive me this injustice!
New King James Version
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!
New Life Bible
What makes you feel less important than the other churches? Is it because I did not let you give me food and clothing? Forgive me for this wrong!
New Revised Standard
How have you been worse off than the other churches, except that I myself did not burden you? Forgive me this wrong!
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
For what is there wherein ye were made inferior to the rest of the assemblies, - save that, I myself, would not allow myself to be a burden unto you? Forgive me this wrong!
Douay-Rheims Bible
For what is there that you have had less than the other churches but that I myself was not burthensome to you? Pardon me this injury.
Revised Standard Version
For in what were you less favored than the rest of the churches, except that I myself did not burden you? Forgive me this wrong!
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
For what is it wherin ye were inferiors vnto other cogregacions except it be therin that I was not greveous vnto you. Forgeve me this wronge done vnto you.
Young's Literal Translation
for what is there in which ye were inferior to the rest of the assemblies, except that I myself was not a burden to you? forgive me this injustice!
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
For what is it, wherin ye are inferiours to the other congregacions? excepte it be yt I haue not bene greuous vnto you.Forgeue me this wroge.
Mace New Testament (1729)
for in what were ye inferior to other churches, except it be that I myself was not burdensome to you? an injury I hope you will easily forgive.
Simplified Cowboy Version
The only thing I didn't give y'all was the opportunity to support me financially. I think this is the only way I've wronged y'all. Please forgive me for not allowing y'all to help me.

Contextual Overview

11 You have made me act like a fool. You ought to be writing commendations for me, for I am not at all inferior to these "super apostles," even though I am nothing at all. 12 When 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. 13 The 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! 14 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. 15 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. 16 Some of you admit I was not a burden to you. But others still think I was sneaky and took advantage of you by trickery. 17 But how? Did any of the men I sent to you take advantage of you? 18 When I urged Titus to visit you and sent our other brother with him, did Titus take advantage of you? No! For we have the same spirit and walk in each other's steps, doing things the same way. 19 Perhaps you think we're saying these things just to defend ourselves. No, we tell you this as Christ's servants, and with God as our witness. Everything we do, dear friends, is to strengthen you. 20 For I am afraid that when I come I won't like what I find, and you won't like my response. I am afraid that I will find quarreling, jealousy, anger, selfishness, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorderly behavior.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

I myself: 2 Corinthians 12:14, 2 Corinthians 11:8, 2 Corinthians 11:9, 1 Corinthians 9:6, 1 Corinthians 9:12, 1 Corinthians 9:15-18

forgive: 2 Corinthians 11:7

Reciprocal: Numbers 18:31 - your reward Nehemiah 5:15 - so did Acts 20:35 - how that Romans 12:3 - according 1 Corinthians 1:7 - ye 1 Corinthians 9:18 - when 2 Corinthians 10:2 - we walked 2 Corinthians 12:16 - I did not 1 Thessalonians 2:9 - chargeable 3 John 1:7 - taking

Cross-References

Genesis 11:29
Meanwhile, Abram and Nahor both married. The name of Abram's wife was Sarai, and the name of Nahor's wife was Milcah. (Milcah and her sister Iscah were daughters of Nahor's brother Haran.)
Genesis 12:3
I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you."
Genesis 12:5
He took his wife, Sarai, his nephew Lot, and all his wealth—his livestock and all the people he had taken into his household at Haran—and headed for the land of Canaan. When they arrived in Canaan,
Genesis 12:6
Abram traveled through the land as far as Shechem. There he set up camp beside the oak of Moreh. At that time, the area was inhabited by Canaanites.
Genesis 12:8
After that, Abram traveled south and set up camp in the hill country, with Bethel to the west and Ai to the east. There he built another altar and dedicated it to the Lord , and he worshiped the Lord .
Genesis 12:12
When the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife. Let's kill him; then we can have her!'
Genesis 12:13
So please tell them you are my sister. Then they will spare my life and treat me well because of their interest in you."
Genesis 20:2
Abraham introduced his wife, Sarah, by saying, "She is my sister." So King Abimelech of Gerar sent for Sarah and had her brought to him at his palace.
Genesis 20:5
Didn't Abraham tell me, ‘She is my sister'? And she herself said, ‘Yes, he is my brother.' I acted in complete innocence! My hands are clean."
Genesis 26:7
When the men who lived there asked Isaac about his wife, Rebekah, he said, "She is my sister." He was afraid to say, "She is my wife." He thought, "They will kill me to get her, because she is so beautiful."

Gill's Notes on the Bible

For what is it wherein ye were inferior to other churches,.... The apostle here suggests, and appeals to themselves for the truth of it, that in nothing they came short of other churches; that as he was not behind the very chiefest of the apostles, and so they had no reason to be ashamed of him and despise him; neither were they inferior in gifts, grace, and knowledge, to other churches, all which were through his ministry; wherefore they ought to have spoken well of him, and not to have taken the part of the false apostles against him; since all the honour and credit they were in as a church were owing to him as an instrument. The Gospel was first preached to them by an apostle; they were converted under the ministry of an apostle; they were planted and settled as a church by the means of an apostle; and in which respects no church could go beyond them, or boast of more; they had the same Gospel preached to them, and with as much power and purity as other churches; they had received the same Spirit, the same graces, and the same gifts of the Spirit, both ordinary and extraordinary; so that they came behind others in no gift whatever; see 1 Corinthians 1:7, and had the same miraculous works done among them, as were in other places, for the confirmation of the Gospel. There was not one thing the apostle could think of, in which they differed from others, and which he mentions;

except it be that I myself was not burdensome to you? because he freely preached the Gospel to them, took no wages of them, but chose rather to work with his own hands, and supply his necessities, than to be troublesome to them; in this, indeed, they differed from other churches, who liberally contributed to their ministers, and honourably maintained them:

forgive me this wrong; not that the apostle seriously desired this, or thought that he had done them any real injury, and so acknowledges it; for if any wrong was done hereby, it was to himself, and not them; but it is an ironical way of speaking, and was a sharp rebuke to them, for their ignorance, ingratitude, and negligence.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

For what is it ... - This verse contains a striking mixture of sarcasm and irony, not exceeded, says Bloomfield, by any example in Demosthenes. the sense is,” I have given among you the most ample proof of my apostolic commission. I have conferred on you the highest favors of the apostolic office. In these respects you are superior to all other churches. In one respect only are you inferior - it is in this, that you have not been burdened with the privilege of supporting me. If you had had this, you would have been inferior to no others. But this was owing to me; and I pray that you will forgive me this I might have urged it; I might have claimed it; I might have given you the privilege of becoming equal to the most favored in all respects. But I have not pressed it, and you have not done it, and I ask your pardon.” There is a delicate insinuation that they had not contributed to his needs (see the note, 2 Corinthians 11:8); an intimation that it was a privilege to contribute to the support of the gospel, and that Paul might have been “burdensome to them” (see the notes on 1 Corinthians 9:1-12); and an admission that he was in part to blame for this, and had not in this respect given them an opportunity to equal other churches in all respects.

Was not burdensome to you - see this explained in the notes on 2 Corinthians 10:8.

Forgive me this wrong - “If it be a fault, pardon it. Forgive me that I did not give you this opportunity to be equal to other churches. It is a privilege to contribute to the support of the gospel, and they who are permitted to do it should esteem themselves highly favored. I pray you to pardon me for depriving you of any of your Christian privileges.” What the feelings of the Corinthians were about forgiving Paul for this we know not; but most churches would be as ready to forgive a minister for this as for any other offence.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 2 Corinthians 12:13. For what is it wherein you were inferior — This is a fine, forcible, yet delicate stroke. It was your duty and your interest to have supported your apostle; other Churches have done so: I did not require this from you; in this respect all other Churches are superior to you. I am the cause of your inferiority, by not giving you an opportunity of ministering to my necessities: forgive me the wrong I have done you. It is the privilege of the Churches of Christ to support the ministry of his Gospel among them. Those who do not contribute their part to the support of the Gospel ministry either care nothing for it, or derive no good from it.


 
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