11 I have become foolish ; you yourselves compelled me. Actually I should have been commended by you, for in no respect was I inferior to the most eminent apostles , even though I am a nobody . 12 The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with all perseverance , by signs and wonders and miracles . 13 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 !
14 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 . 15 I will most gladly spend and be expended for your souls . If I love you more , am I to be loved less ? 16 But be that as it may, I did not burden you myself ; nevertheless , crafty fellow that I am, I took you in by deceit . 17 Certainly I have not taken advantage of you through any of those whom I have sent to you, have I? 18 I urged Titus to go, and I sent the brother with him. Titus did not take any advantage of you, did he? Did we not conduct ourselves in the same spirit and walk in the same steps ? 19 All this time you have been thinking that we are defending ourselves to you. Actually, it is in the sight of God that we have been speaking in Christ ; and all for your upbuilding , beloved . 20 For I am afraid that perhaps when I come I may find you to be not what I wish and may be found by you to be not what you wish ; that perhaps there will be strife , jealousy , angry tempers , disputes , slanders , gossip , arrogance , disturbances ; 21 I am afraid that when I come again my God may humiliate me before you, and I may mourn over many of those who have sinned in the past and not repented of the impurity , immorality and sensuality which they have practiced .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 2 Corinthians 12:11-21
Commentary on 2 Corinthians 12:11-21
(Read 2 Corinthians 12:11-21)
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 sins commonly found among professors of religion. Falls and misdeeds are humbling to a minister; and God sometimes takes this way to humble those who might be tempted to be lifted up. These vast verses show to what excesses the false teachers had drawn aside their deluded followers. How grievous it is that such evils should be found among professors of the gospel! Yet thus it is, and has been too often, and it was so even in the days of the apostles.