2 Corinthians 12 · Verse 14

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.

2 Corinthians 12:14, King James Version

2 Corinthians 12:14 in other translations

BSB	See, I am ready to come to you a third time, and I will not be a burden, because I am not seeking your possessions, but you. For children should not have to save up for their parents, but parents for their children.
WEB	Behold, this is the third time I am ready to come to you, and I will not be a burden to you; for I seek not your possessions, but you. For the children ought not to save up for the parents, but the parents for the children.
ASV	Behold, this is the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be a burden 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.
YLT	Lo, a third time I am ready to come unto you, and I will not be a burden to you, for I seek not yours, but you, for the children ought not for the parents to lay up, but the parents for the children,
DARBY	Behold, this third time I am ready to come to you, and I will not be in laziness a charge; for I do not seek yours, but you; for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.
BBE	This is now the third time that I am ready to come to you; and I will not be a trouble to you: my desire is for you, not for your property: for it is not the children's business to make store for their fathers, but the fathers for the children.
Webster	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.

What does 2 Corinthians 12:14 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

14. the third time--See Introduction to the first Epistle. His second visit was probably a short one (1Co 16:7), and attended with humiliation through the scandalous conduct of some of his converts (compare 2Co 12:21; 2Co 2:1). It was probably paid during his three years' sojourn at Ephesus, from which he could pass so readily by sea to Corinth (compare 2Co 1:15, 16; 13:1, 2). The context here implies nothing of a third preparation to come; but, "I am coming, and the third time, and will not burden you this time any more than I did at my two previous visits" [Alford]. not yours, but you--(Php 4:17). children ... parents--Paul was their spiritual father (1Co 4:14, 15). He does not, therefore, seek earthly treasure from them, but lays up the best treasure (namely, spiritual) "for their souls" (2Co 12:15).

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

Barnes' Notes

Verse 14. Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you. That is, this is the third time that I have purposed to come and see you, and have made preparation for it. He does not mean that he had been twice with them, and was now coming the third time; but that he had twice before intended to go, and had been disappointed. See 1Cor 16:5, 2Cor 1:15,16. His purpose had been to visit them on his way to Macedonia, and again on his return from Macedonia. lie had now formed a third resolution, which he had a prospect of carrying into execution.

And I will not be burdensome to you. I resolve still, as I have done before, not to receive a compensation that shall be oppressive to you. 2Cor 11:9,10.

For I seek not your's, but you. I desire not to obtain your property, but to save your souls. This was a noble resolution; and it is the resolution which should be formed by every minister of the gospel. While a minister of Christ has a claim to a competent support, his main purpose should not be to obtain such a support. It should be the higher and nobler object of winning souls to the Redeemer. See Paul's conduct in this respect explained in the. Acts 20:33.

For the children, etc. There is great delicacy and address in this sentiment. The meaning is, "It is not natural and usual for children to make provisions for their parents. The common course of events and of duty is for parents to make provision for their offspring. I, therefore, your spiritual father, choose to act in the same way. I make provision for your spiritual wants; I labour and toil for you as a father does for his children. I seek your welfare, as he does, by constant self-denial. In return, I do not ask you to provide for me, any more than a father ordinarily expects his children to provide for him. I am willing to labour as he does, content with doing my duty, and promoting the welfare of those under me." The words rendered "ought not" (ουοφειλει) are to be understood in a comparative sense. Paul does not mean that a child ought never to provide for his parents, or to lay anything up for a sick, a poor, and an infirm father; but that the duty of doing that was slight and unusual compared with the duty of a parent to provide for his children. The one was of comparatively rare occurrence; the other was constant, and was the ordinary course of duty. It is a matter of obligation for a child to provide for an aged and helpless parent; but commonly the duty is that of a parent to provide for his children. Paul felt like a father toward the church in Corinth; and he was willing, therefore, to labour for them without compensation.

(c) "I seek not your's" 1Cor 10:33, 1Thes 2:8

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 14 The third time I am ready - That is, this is the third time that I am ready - have formed the resolution, to visit you. He had formed this resolution twice before, but was disappointed. See 1Cor 16:5, and 2Cor 1:15, 2Cor 1:16. He now formed it a third time, having more probability of seeing them now than he had before. See 2Cor 13:2. I seek not yours, but you - I seek your salvation, I desire not your property; others have sought your property, but not your salvation. See 2Cor 11:20. For the children ought not to lay up for the parents - You may have many teachers, but you have but one Father; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the Gospel; see 1Cor 4:15. Ye are my children, and I am your father. You have not contributed to my support, but I have been labouring for your life. I will act towards you as the loving father who works hard, and lays up what is necessary to enable his children to get their bread.

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 12:14 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.

ἸδοὺIdouBeholdG2400

τρίτονtritonthird timeG5154

ἑτοίμωςhetoimōsreadyG2093

ἔχωechōI amG2192

ἐλθεῖνeltheinto comeG2064

πρὸςprostoG4314

ὑμᾶςhumasyouG4771

καὶkaiandG2532

οὐounotG3756

καταναρκήσωkatanarkēsōI will burdenG2655

οὐounotG3756

γὰρgarforG1063

ζητῶzētōI seekG2212

τὰtawhat [is]G3588

ὑμῶνhumōnyoursG4771

ἀλλ᾽all᾽butG235

ὑμᾶς.humasyou.G4771

οὐouNotG3756

γὰρgarforG1063

ὀφείλειopheileioughtG3784

τὰtatheG3588

τέκναteknachildrenG5043

τοῖςtoisfor theG3588

γονεῦσινgoneusinparentsG1118

θησαυρίζεινthēsaurizeinto treasure upG2343

ἀλλ᾽all᾽butG235

οἱhoitheG3588

γονεῖςgoneisparentsG1118

τοῖςtoisfor theG3588

τέκνοις·teknoischildren;G5043

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

Cross references for 2 Corinthians 12:14

Proverbs 19:14
House and riches are the inheritance of fathers: and a prudent wife is from the Lord.
Genesis 24:35-36
And the Lord hath blessed my master greatly; and he is become great: and he hath given him flocks, and herds, and silver, and gold, and menservants, and maidservants, and camels, and asses. And Sarah my master’s wife bare a son to my master when she was old: and unto him hath he given all that he hath.
1 Corinthians 10:33
Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.
Proverbs 13:22
A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children’s children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.
Genesis 31:14-15
And Rachel and Leah answered and said unto him, Is there yet any portion or inheritance for us in our father’s house? Are we not counted of him strangers? for he hath sold us, and hath quite devoured also our money.
1 Corinthians 10:24
Let no man seek his own, but every man another’s wealth.
2 Corinthians 1:15
And in this confidence I was minded to come unto you before, that ye might have a second benefit;
Ezekiel 34:2
Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God unto the shepherds; Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks?
1 Corinthians 4:14-15
I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you. For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.
Philippians 4:17
Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.
1 Thessalonians 2:11
As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children,
Acts 20:33
I have coveted no man’s silver, or gold, or apparel.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

the third.That is, the third time I have purposed to visit you. See the parallel passages.
1:15; 13:1; 1Co 4:19; 11:34; 16:5
for I.
Pr 11:30; Ac 20:33; 1Co 10:33; Php 4:1,17; 1Th 2:5,6,8,19,20
1Pe 5:2-4
for the.
Ge 24:35,36; 31:14,15; Pr 13:22; 19:14; 1Co 4:14,15; 1Th 2:11

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

Context

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.
2 Corinthians 12:15
And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.

Read all of 2 Corinthians 12

2 Corinthians 12:14 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	He aquí estoy aparejado para ir á vosotros la tercera vez, y no os seré gravoso; porque no busco vuestras cosas, sino á vosotros: porque no han de atesorar los hijos para los padres, sino los padres para los hijos.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Voici, cette troisième fois, je suis prêt à aller auprès de vous; et je ne vous serai pas à charge, car je ne cherche pas vos biens, mais vous-mêmes; car ce ne sont pas les enfants qui doivent amasser pour leurs parents, mais les parents pour leurs enfants.
German Elberfelder 1871	Siehe, dieses dritte Mal stehe ich bereit, zu euch zu kommen, und werde nicht zur Last fallen, denn ich suche nicht das Eure, sondern euch. Denn die Kinder sollen nicht für die Eltern Schätze sammeln, sondern die Eltern für die Kinder.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Ecce tertio hoc paratus sum venire ad vos: et non ero gravis vobis. Non enim quæro quæ vestra sunt, sed vos. Nec enim debent filii parentibus thesaurizare, sed parentes filiis.