2 Corinthians 12 · Verse 13

2 Corinthians 12:13

For what is it wherein ye were inferior to other churches, except it be that I myself was not burdensome to you? forgive me this wrong.

2 Corinthians 12:13, King James Version

2 Corinthians 12:13 in other translations

BSB	In what way were you inferior to the other churches, except that I was not a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong!
WEB	For what is there in which you were made inferior to the rest of the assemblies, unless it is that I myself was not a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong!
ASV	For what is there wherein ye were made inferior to the rest of the churches, except it be that I myself was not a burden to you? forgive me this wrong.
YLT	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!
DARBY	For in what is it that ye have been inferior to the other assemblies, unless that I myself have not been in laziness a charge upon you? Forgive me this injury.
BBE	For what is there in which you were made less than the other churches, but in the one thing that I was not a trouble to you? Let me have forgiveness for this wrong.
Webster	For what is that in which ye were inferior to other churches, except that I myself was not burdensome to you? forgive me this wrong.

What does 2 Corinthians 12:13 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

13. wherein you were inferior--that is, were treated with less consideration by me than were other churches. I myself--I made a gain of you neither myself, nor by those others whom I sent, Titus and others (2Co 12:17, 18). wrong--His declining support from the Corinthians might be regarded as the denial to them of a privilege, and a mark of their spiritual inferiority, and of his looking on them with less confidence and love (compare 2Co 11:9, 11).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes

Verse 13. For what is it, etc. This verse contains a striking mixture of sarcasm and irony, not exceeded, says Bloomfield, by any example in Demosthenes. The sense is, "I have given among you the most ample proofs of my apostolic commission. I have conferred on you the highest favours of the apostolic office. In these respects you are superior to all other churches. In one respect only are you inferior--it is in this, that you have not been burdened with the privilege of supporting me. If you had had this, you would have been inferior to no others. But this was owing to me; and I pray that you will forgive me this. I might have urged it; I might have claimed it; I might have given you the privilege of becoming equal to the most favoured in all respects. But I have not pressed it, and you have not done it, and I ask your pardon." There is a delicate insinuation that they had not contributed to his wants, 2Cor 11:8; an intimation that it was a privilege to contribute to the support of the gospel, and that Paul might have been "burdensome to them," 1Cor 9:1; and Barnes on 1Cor 9:2-12 and an admission that he was in part to blame for this, and had not in this respect given them an opportunity to equal other churches in all respects.

Was not burdensome to you. 2Cor 10:8.

Forgive me this wrong. "If it be a fault, pardon it. Forgive me that I did not give you this opportunity to be equal to other churches. It is a privilege to contribute to the support of the gospel, and they who are permitted to do it should esteem themselves highly favoured. I pray you to pardon me for depriving you of any of your Christian privileges." What the feelings of the Corinthians were about forgiving Paul for this, we know not; but most churches would be as ready to forgive a minister for this as for any other offence.

(b) "I, myself" 2Cor 11:9

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 13 For what is it wherein you were inferior - This is a fine, forcible, yet delicate stroke. It was your duty and your interest to have supported your apostle; other Churches have done so: I did not require this from you; in this respect all other Churches are superior to you. I am the cause of your inferiority, by not giving you an opportunity of ministering to my necessities: forgive me the wrong I have done you. It is the privilege of the Churches of Christ to support the ministry of his Gospel among them. Those who do not contribute their part to the support of the Gospel ministry either care nothing for it, or derive no good from it.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 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…

Read the full comment on 2 Corinthians 12:11-21 →

2 Corinthians 12:13 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

τίtiIn whatG5101

γάρgarforG1063

ἐστινestinis itG1510

ὃhothatG3739

ἡσσώθητεhēssōthēteyou were inferiorG2274

ὑπὲρhuperbeyondG5228

τὰςtastheG3588

λοιπὰςloipasrestG3062

ἐκκλησίας,ekklēsias[of the] churches,G1577

εἰeionlyG1487

μὴmēexceptG3361

ὅτιhotithatG3754

αὐτὸςautosmyselfG846

ἐγὼegōI myselfG1473

οὐounotG3756

κατενάρκησαkatenarkēsadid burdenG2655

ὑμῶν;humōnyou?G4771

χαρίσασθέcharisasthedo forgiveG5483

μοιmoimeG3165

τὴνtēn<the>G3588

ἀδικίανadikianwrongG93

ταύτην.¶tautēnthis!G3778

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 2 Corinthians 12:13

1 Corinthians 9:6
Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working?
1 Corinthians 9:12
If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ.
2 Corinthians 11:7-9
Have I committed an offence in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I have preached to you the gospel of God freely? I robbed other churches, taking wages of them, to do you service. And when I was present with you, and wanted, I was chargeable to no man: for that which was lacking to me the brethren which came from Macedonia supplied: and in all things I have kept myself from being burdensome unto you, and so will I keep myself.
2 Corinthians 12:14
Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burdensome to you: for I seek not yours, but you: for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.
1 Corinthians 9:15-18
But I have used none of these things: neither have I written these things, that it should be so done unto me: for it were better for me to die, than that any man should make my glorying void. For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel! For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me. What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

I myself.
14; 11:8,9; 1Co 9:6,12,15-18
forgive.
11:7

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

2 Corinthians 12:12
Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.
2 Corinthians 12:13
For what is it wherein ye were inferior to other churches, except it be that I myself was not burdensome to you? forgive me this wrong.
2 Corinthians 12:14
Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burdensome to you: for I seek not yours, but you: for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.

Read all of 2 Corinthians 12

2 Corinthians 12:13 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Porque ¿qué hay en que habéis sido menos que las otras iglesias, sino en que yo mismo no os he sido carga? Perdonadme esta injuria.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Car en quoi avez-vous été inférieurs aux autres assemblées, sinon en ce que moi-même je ne vous ai pas été à charge? Pardonnez-moi ce tort.
German Elberfelder 1871	Denn was ist es, worin ihr verkürzt worden seid gegen die anderen Versammlungen, es sei denn, daß ich selbst euch nicht zur Last gefallen bin? Verzeihet mir dieses Unrecht.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Quid est enim, quod minus habuistis præ ceteris ecclesiis, nisi quod ego ipse non gravavi vos? donate mihi hanc injuriam.