14 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. 15 But I will spend and be expended most gladly for your lives. If I love you much more, am I to be loved less? 16 But let it be. I have not been a burden to you, but because I[a] was crafty, I took you by cunning. 17 I have not taken advantage of you through anyone whom I sent to you[b], have I?[c] 18 I urged Titus to go, and I sent the brother with him. Titus did not take advantage of you, did he?[d] Did we not conduct ourselves in the same spirit?[e] Did we not walk in the same footsteps?[f]

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 12:16 Here “because” is supplied as a component of the participle (“was”) which is understood as causal
  2. 2 Corinthians 12:17 Literally “anyone whom I sent to you, through him”
  3. 2 Corinthians 12:17 *The negative construction in Greek anticipates a negative answer here
  4. 2 Corinthians 12:18 *The negative construction in Greek anticipates a negative answer here
  5. 2 Corinthians 12:18 *The negative construction in Greek anticipates a positive answer here
  6. 2 Corinthians 12:18 *The negative construction in Greek anticipates a positive answer here