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

14 Look idou, for the houtos third triton time I am echō ready hetoimōs to come erchomai to pros you hymeis, and kai I will not ou be a burden katanarkaō, because gar I am not ou seeking zēteō what ho you hymeis have , but alla you hymeis. For gar children teknon ought opheilō not ou · ho save up thēsaurizō for their ho parents goneus, but alla the ho parents goneus for the ho children teknon. 15 I egō · de will most gladly hēdeōs spend dapanaō and kai be spent ekdapanaō on behalf hyper of · ho your hymeis souls psychē. If ei I love agapaō you hymeis more perissoterōs, am I to be loved agapaō less hēssōn? 16 But de be that as it may eimi, I egō did not ou burden katabareō you hymeis; yet alla being hyparchō crafty panourgos, I took lambanō you hymeis in lambanō by deceit dolos! 17 I did pleonekteō not take advantage of pleonekteō you hymeis through dia anyone tis I sent apostellō to pros you hymeis, did I? 18 I urged parakaleō Titus Titos to visit you and kai I sent synapostellō the ho brother adelphos with him. Titus Titos did not mēti take advantage pleonekteō of you hymeis, did he? Did we peripateō not ou conduct ourselves peripateō in the ho same autos spirit pneuma? Did we ichnos not ou behave ichnos in the ho same autos way ?

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