2 Corinthians 12 · Verse 18

2 Corinthians 12:18

I desired Titus, and with him I sent a brother. Did Titus make a gain of you? walked we not in the same spirit? walked we not in the same steps?
2 Corinthians 12:18, King James Version

2 Corinthians 12:18 in other translations

BSBI urged Titus to visit you, and I sent our brother with him. Did Titus exploit you in any way? Did we not walk in the same Spirit and follow in the same footsteps?
WEBI exhorted Titus, and I sent the brother with him. Did Titus take any advantage of you? Didn’t we walk in the same spirit? Didn’t we walk in the same steps?
ASVI exhorted Titus, and I sent the brother with him. Did Titus take any advantage of you? walked we not in the same spirit? walked we not in the same steps?
YLTI entreated Titus, and did send with him the brother; did Titus take advantage of you? in the same spirit did we not walk? --did we not in the same steps?
DARBYI begged Titus, and sent the brother with him: did Titus at all make gain of you? have we not walked in the same spirit? have we not in the same steps?
BBEI gave orders to Titus, and I sent the brother with him. Did Titus make any profit out of you? were we not guided by the same Spirit, in the same ways?
WebsterI desired Titus, and with him I sent a brother. Did Titus make a gain of you? walked we not in the same spirit? walked we not in the same steps?

What does 2 Corinthians 12:18 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
18. I desired Titus--namely, to go unto you. Not the mission mentioned 2Co 8:6, 17, 22; but a mission previous to this Epistle, probably that from which he had just returned announcing to Paul their penitence (2Co 7:6-16). a brother--rather "OUR (literally, 'the') brother"; one well known to the Corinthians, and perhaps a Corinthian; probably one of the two mentioned in 2Co 8:18, 22. same spirit--inwardly. steps--outwardly.

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 18. I desired Titus. To go and complete the collection which you had commenced. See 2Cor 8:6.

And with him I sent a brother. 2Cor 8:18.

Did Titus make a gain of you? They knew that he did not. They had received him kindly, treated him with affection, and sent him away with every proof of confidence and respect. 2Cor 7:7. How then could they now pretend that he had defrauded them?

Walked we not in the same spirit? Did not all his actions resemble mine? Was there not the same proof of honesty, sincerity, and love which I have ever manifested? This is a very delicate turn. Paul's course of life when with them they admitted was free from guile and from any attempt to get money by improper means. They charged him only with attempting it by means of others. He now boldly appeals to them, and asks whether Titus and he had not in fact acted in the same manner; and whether they had not alike evinced a spirit free from covetousness and deceit?

(a) "Titus, and with him" 2Cor 7:2 (b) "Did Titus" 2Co 8:6

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 18 I desired Titus - I never sent any to you but Titus and another brother; 2Cor 8:6, 2Cor 8:18. And did Titus make a gain of you? Did he get any thing from you, either for himself or for me? You know he did not. He was actuated by the same spirit, and he walked in the same steps.

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 12:18 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.

παρεκάλεσαparekalesaI urgedG3870
ΤίτονTitonTitus [to go]G5103
καὶkaiandG2532
συναπέστειλαsunapesteilasent with [him]G4882
τὸνtontheG3588
ἀδελφόν·adelphonbrother;G80
μήτιmētisurely not everG3385
ἐπλεονέκτησενepleonektēsendid exploitG4122
ὑμᾶςhumasyouG4771
Τίτος;TitosTitus?G5103
οὐouSurelyG3756
τῷtōin theG3588
αὐτῷautōsameG846
πνεύματιpneumatispiritG4151
περιεπατήσαμεν;periepatēsamendid we walk?G4043
οὐouNotG3756
τοῖςtoisin theG3588
αὐτοῖςautoissameG846
ἴχνεσιν;¶ichnesinsteps?G2487

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

Cross references for 2 Corinthians 12:18

  • 2 Corinthians 8:6

    Insomuch that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also.

  • Romans 4:12

    And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised.

  • 2 Corinthians 7:6

    Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus;

  • Philippians 2:19-22

    But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timotheus shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know your state. For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state. For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ’s. But ye know the proof of him, that, as a son with the father, he hath served with me in the gospel.

  • 2 Corinthians 7:2

    Receive us; we have wronged no man, we have corrupted no man, we have defrauded no man.

  • Acts 20:33-35

    I have coveted no man’s silver, or gold, or apparel. Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me. I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.

  • 1 Peter 2:21

    For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:

  • Nehemiah 5:14

    Moreover from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year even unto the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that is, twelve years, I and my brethren have not eaten the bread of the governor.

  • 2 Corinthians 8:16-23

    But thanks be to God, which put the same earnest care into the heart of Titus for you. For indeed he accepted the exhortation; but being more forward, of his own accord he went unto you. And we have sent with him the brother, whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches; And not that only, but who was also chosen of the churches to travel with us with this grace, which is administered by us to the glory of the same Lord, and declaration of your ready mind: …

  • Numbers 16:15

    And Moses was very wroth, and said unto the Lord, Respect not thou their offering: I have not taken one ass from them, neither have I hurt one of them.

  • 1 Samuel 12:3-4

    Behold, here I am: witness against me before the Lord, and before his anointed: whose ox have I taken? or whose ass have I taken? or whom have I defrauded? whom have I oppressed? or of whose hand have I received any bribe to blind mine eyes therewith? and I will restore it you. And they said, Thou hast not defrauded us, nor oppressed us, neither hast thou taken ought of any man’s hand.

  • 2 Corinthians 2:12-13

    Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ’s gospel, and a door was opened unto me of the Lord, I had no rest in my spirit, because I found not Titus my brother: but taking my leave of them, I went from thence into Macedonia.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Titus.
2:12,13; 7:2,6
with.
8:6,18
walked we not in the same spirit.
8:6,16-23; Php 2:19-22
in the same steps.
Nu 16:15; 1Sa 12:3,4; Ne 5:14; Ac 20:33-35; Ro 4:12; 1Pe 2:21

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

Context

  • 2 Corinthians 12:17

    Did I make a gain of you by any of them whom I sent unto you?

  • 2 Corinthians 12:18

    I desired Titus, and with him I sent a brother. Did Titus make a gain of you? walked we not in the same spirit? walked we not in the same steps?

  • 2 Corinthians 12:19

    Again, think ye that we excuse ourselves unto you? we speak before God in Christ: but we do all things, dearly beloved, for your edifying.

Read all of 2 Corinthians 12

2 Corinthians 12:18 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Rogué á Tito, y envié con él al hermano. ¿Os engañó quizá Tito? ¿no hemos procedido con el mismo espíritu y por las mismas pisadas?
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
J’ai prié Tite et j’ai envoyé le frère avec lui. Tite s’est-il enrichi à vos dépens? N’avons-nous pas marché dans le même esprit? N’avons-nous pas marché sur les mêmes traces?
German
Elberfelder 1871
Ich habe Titus gebeten und den Bruder mit ihm gesandt; hat etwa Titus euch übervorteilt? Haben wir nicht in demselben Geiste gewandelt? nicht in denselben Fußstapfen?
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Rogavi Titum, et misi cum illo fratrem. Numquid Titus vos circumvenit? nonne eodem spiritu ambulavimus? nonne iisdem vestigiis?