Concern for the Corinthian Church

2 Corinthians 12

11 p I have been a fool! You forced me to it, for I ought to have been commended by you. For I was q not at all inferior to these super-apostles, r even though I am nothing. 12 s The signs of a true apostle were performed among you t with utmost patience, with signs and wonders and mighty works. 13 For in what were you less favored than the rest of the churches, except that u I myself did not burden you? Forgive me this wrong!

14 Here v for the third time I am ready to come to you. And I will not be a burden, for w I seek not what is yours but you. For x children are not obligated to save up for their parents, but y parents for their children. 15 z I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If a I love you more, am I to be loved less? 16 But granting that b I myself did not burden you, I was crafty, you say, and got the better of you by deceit. 17 Did I take advantage of you c through any of those whom I sent to you? 18 d I urged Titus to go, and sent e the brother with him. Did Titus take advantage of you? Did we not act in the same spirit? Did we not take the same steps?

19 Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves to you? It is f in the sight of God that we have been speaking in Christ, and g all for your upbuilding, beloved. 20 For I fear that perhaps h when I come I may find you not as I wish, and that you may find me not as you wish - that perhaps there may be quarreling, jealousy, anger, hostility, slander, gossip, conceit, and disorder. 21 I fear that when I come again my God may humble me before you, and I may have to mourn over many of those i who sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, j sexual immorality, and sensuality that they have practiced.

  1. Cross References
    2 Corinthians 12:6
    Though if I should wish to boast, I would not be a fool, for I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain from it, so that no one may think more of me than he sees in me or hears from me.
  2. Cross References
    2 Corinthians 11:5
    Indeed, I consider that I am not in the least inferior to these super-apostles.
    1 Corinthians 15:10
    But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.
  3. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 3:7
    So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.
    1 Corinthians 15:9
    For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
  4. Cross References
    Romans 15:19
    By the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God - so that from Jerusalem and all the way around to Illyricum I have fulfilled the ministry of the gospel of Christ.
    1 Corinthians 9:1
    Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are not you my workmanship in the Lord?
  5. Cross References
    2 Corinthians 6:4
    But as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities.
  6. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 9:12
    If others share this rightful claim on you, do not we even more? Nevertheless, we have not made use of this right, but we endure anything rather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ.
    Acts 20:33
    I coveted no one's silver or gold or apparel.
  7. Cross References
    2 Corinthians 13:1
    This is the third time I am coming to you. Every charge must be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses.
    2 Corinthians 1:15
    Because I was sure of this, I wanted to come to you first, so that you might have a second experience of grace.
    2 Corinthians 13:2
    I warned those who sinned before and all the others, and I warn them now while absent, as I did when present on my second visit, that if I come again I will not spare them -
  8. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 10:24
    Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor.
    1 Corinthians 10:33
    Just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved.
  9. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 4:14 - 15
    I do not write these things to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children.
  10. Cross References
    Proverbs 19:14
    House and wealth are inherited from fathers, but a prudent wife is from the Lord.
    Ezekiel 34:2
    Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy, and say to them, even to the shepherds, Thus says the Lord God : Ah, shepherds of Israel who have been feeding yourselves! Should not shepherds feed the sheep?
  11. Cross References
    2 Corinthians 1:6
    If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer.
    Philippians 2:17
    Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all.
    Colossians 1:24
    Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church.
    1 Thessalonians 2:8
    So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us.
    2 Timothy 2:10
    Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
  12. Cross References
    2 Corinthians 6:11
    We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians; our heart is wide open.
  13. Cross References
    2 Corinthians 11:9
    And when I was with you and was in need, I did not burden anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied my need. So I refrained and will refrain from burdening you in any way.
  14. Cross References
    2 Corinthians 9:5
    So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to go on ahead to you and arrange in advance for the gift you have promised, so that it may be ready as a willing gift, not as an exaction.
  15. Cross References
    2 Corinthians 8:6
    Accordingly, we urged Titus that as he had started, so he should complete among you this act of grace.
  16. Cross References
    2 Corinthians 8:18
    With him we are sending the brother who is famous among all the churches for his preaching of the gospel.
  17. Cross References
    Romans 1:9
    For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I mention you
    Romans 9:1
    I am speaking the truth in Christ - I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit -
  18. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 14:26
    What then, brothers? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up.
  19. Cross References
    2 Corinthians 2:1 - 4
    For I made up my mind not to make another painful visit to you.
    1 Corinthians 4:21
    What do you wish? Shall I come to you with a rod, or with love in a spirit of gentleness?
  20. Cross References
    2 Corinthians 13:2
    I warned those who sinned before and all the others, and I warn them now while absent, as I did when present on my second visit, that if I come again I will not spare them -
    Revelation 2:21
    I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her sexual immorality.
  21. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 5:1
    It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not tolerated even among pagans, for a man has his father's wife.
    1 Corinthians 6:18
    Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.
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