2 Corinthians 12:11-21

Christian Standard Bible

Signs of an Apostle

¹¹ I have been a fool; you forced it on me. You ought to have commended me, since I am not in any way inferior to those “super-apostles,” even though I am nothing.^{(A) 12} The signs^(B) of an apostle^(C) were performed with unfailing endurance among you, including signs and wonders^(D) and miracles.^{(E) 13} 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!

Paul’s Concern for the Corinthians

¹⁴ Look, I am ready to come to you this third time.^(F) I will not burden you, since I am not seeking what is yours, but you. For children ought not save up for their parents, but parents for their children. ¹⁵ I will most gladly spend and be spent for you.^[a](G) If I love you more, am I to be loved less? ¹⁶ Now granted, I did not burden^(H) you; yet sly as I am, I took you in by deceit!^{(I) 17} Did I take advantage of you by any of those I sent you? ¹⁸ I urged Titus^(J) to go, and I sent the brother with him. Titus didn’t take advantage of you, did he? Didn’t we walk in the same spirit^(K) and in the same footsteps?

¹⁹ Have you been thinking all along that we were defending ourselves to you? No, in the sight of God we are speaking in Christ, and everything, dear friends, is for building you up.^{(L) 20} For I fear that perhaps when I come I will not find you to be what I want, and you may not find me to be what you want. Perhaps there will be quarreling,^(M) jealousy,^(N) angry outbursts, selfish ambitions,^(O) slander,^(P) gossip, arrogance, and disorder.^{(Q) 21} I fear that when I come my God will again^[b] humiliate me in your presence, and I will grieve for many who sinned before and have not repented^(R) of the moral impurity, sexual immorality,^(S) and sensuality^(T) they practiced.