11 I have become a fool—boasting; ye—ye did compel me; for I ought by you to have been commended, for in nothing was I behind the very chiefest apostles—even if I am nothing. 12 The signs, indeed, of the apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds, 13 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!
14 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, 15 and I most gladly will spend and be entirely spent for your souls, even if, more abundantly loving you, less I am loved. 16 And be it 'so', I—I did not burden you, but being crafty, with guile I did take you; 17 any one of those whom I have sent unto you—by him did I take advantage of you? 18 I entreated Titus, and did send with 'him' the brother; did Titus take advantage of you? in the same spirit did we not walk?—did we not in the same steps? 19 Again, think ye that to you we are making defence? before God in Christ do we speak; and the all things, beloved, 'are' for your up-building, 20 for I fear lest, having come, not such as I wish I may find you, and I—I may be found by you such as ye do not wish, lest there be strifes, envyings, wraths, revelries, evil-speakings, whisperings, puffings up, insurrections, 21 lest again having come, my God may humble me in regard to you, and I may bewail many of those having sinned before, and not having reformed concerning the uncleanness, and whoredom, and lasciviousness, that they did practise.
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.