2 Corinthians 12:13
in 2 Corinthians 12In what way were you inferior to the other churches, except that I was not a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong!
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
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.
KJV
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.
⋯
This verse in 2 Corinthians 12
Commentary
10 notes on this verseLest anyone should say: true, you are great, but still you have not done what the apostles did in other churches, therefore he says: what do you lack? Did you receive a lesser gift compared to the other churches? He rebukes them with great severity, …
This site's exposition
The true marks of an apostle
on 2 Corinthians 12:12-13
The one point of Corinthian inferiority Paul will grant is bitter irony: except that I was not a burden to you. His rivals had turned his financial independence into an accusation, and he answers: Forgive me this wrong!
This site's exposition
Forgive me this wrong!
The request for pardon is irony. Albert Barnes repeats Bloomfield's judgment that Demosthenes has nothing sharper, since the church's only lack was the burden of supporting its apostle. Adam Clarke draws a plain lesson from it, that supporting the ministry of the gospel is a privilege of the churches.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers3 voices
"For what is there wherein ye were made inferior to the rest of the Churches?" 'Ye were partakers,' he says, 'of no less grace than the others.' But perhaps some one will say, 'What can be the reason that he turns the discourse upon the Apostles, abandoning the contest against the false Apostles?' Because he is desirous to erect their spirits yet further, and to show that he is not only superior to them, but not even inferior to the great Apostles. Therefore, surely, when he is speaking of those he says, "I am more;" but when he compares himself with the Apostles, he considers it a great thing not to be "behind," although he labored more than they. And thence he shows that they insult the Apostles, in holding him who is their equal second to these men. "Except it be that I myself was not a burden to you?" Again he has pronounced their rebuke with great severity. And what follows is of yet more odious import. "Forgive me this wrong." Still, nevertheless, this severity contains both words of love and a commendation of themselves; if, that is, they consider it a wrong done to them, that the Apostle did not consent to receive aught from them, nor relied on them enough to be supported by them. 'If,' says he, 'ye blame me for this:' he did not say, 'Ye blame me wrongly,' but with great sweetness, 'I ask your pardon, forgive me this fault.'
And observe his prudence. For because the mooring this continually tended to bring disgrace upon them, he continually softens it down; saying above, for instance, "As the truth of Christ is in me, this boasting shall not be stopped in me;" then again, "Because I love you not? God knoweth....But that I may cut off occasion from them that desire occasion, and that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we." And in the former Epistle "What is my reward then?" Verily, "that when I preach the Gospel, I may make the Gospel without charge." And here "Forgive me this wrong." For every where he avoids showing that it is on account of their weakness he taketh not from them; and here not to wound them. And therefore here he thus expresses himself; 'If ye think this to be an offense, I ask forgiveness.' Now he spoke thus, at once to wound and to heal. For do not say this, I pray thee; 'If thou meanest to wound, why excuse it? but if thou excusest it, why wound?' For this is wisdom's part, at once to lance, and to bind up the sore.
Paul is telling the Corinthians that they were better off than other churches. Corinth was the only place where he preached the gospel without being paid for it.
The Medieval Church1 voice
Then he excludes an objection, when he says, For in what were you less favored than the rest of the churches? For the Corinthians could answer and say: it is true that you have done many good and great things, but others have done more …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
For what is it wherein ye were inferior to other churches,....
2 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
For what is it ... - 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 proof of my apostolic commission. I have conferred on you the highest favors 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.
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.
The words behind it
22 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| τί | ti | In what | G5101 → | 563 times |
| γάρ | gar | for | G1063 → | 1039 times |
| ἐστιν | estin | is it | G1510 → | 2333 times |
| ὃ | ho | that | G3739 → | 1405 times |
| ἡσσώθητε | hessothete | you were inferior | G2274 → | |
| ὑπὲρ | huper | beyond | G5228 → | 155 times |
| τὰς | tas | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| λοιπὰς | loipas | rest | G3062 → | |
| ἐκκλησίας, | ekklesias | [of the] churches, | G1577 → | 113 times |
| εἰ | ei | only | G1487 → | 508 times |
| μὴ | me | except | G3361 → | 1066 times |
| ὅτι | hoti | that | G3754 → | 1292 times |
| αὐτὸς | autos | myself | G846 → | 5565 times |
| ἐγὼ | ego | I myself | G1473 → | 839 times |
| οὐ | ou | not | G3756 → | 1664 times |
| κατενάρκησα | katenarkesa | did burden | G2655 → | 3 times |
| ὑμῶν; | humon | you? | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| χαρίσασθέ | charisasthe | do forgive | G5483 → | 23 times |
| μοι | moi | me | G3165 → | 1936 times |
| τὴν | ten | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἀδικίαν | adikian | wrong | G93 → | |
| ταύτην.¶ | tauten | this! | G3778 → | 1381 times |
τίIn what
tiG5101 →563 times
γάρfor
garG1063 →1039 times
ἐστινis it
estinG1510 →2333 times
ὃthat
hoG3739 →1405 times
ἡσσώθητεyou were inferior
hessotheteG2274 →
ὑπὲρbeyond
huperG5228 →155 times
τὰςthe
tasG3588 →19766 times
λοιπὰςrest
loipasG3062 →
ἐκκλησίας,[of the] churches,
ekklesiasG1577 →113 times
εἰonly
eiG1487 →508 times
μὴexcept
meG3361 →1066 times
ὅτιthat
hotiG3754 →1292 times
αὐτὸςmyself
autosG846 →5565 times
ἐγὼI myself
egoG1473 →839 times
οὐnot
ouG3756 →1664 times
κατενάρκησαdid burden
katenarkesaG2655 →3 times
ὑμῶν;you?
humonG4771 →2973 times
χαρίσασθέdo forgive
charisastheG5483 →23 times
μοιme
moiG3165 →1936 times
τὴν<the>
tenG3588 →19766 times
ἀδικίανwrong
adikianG93 →
ταύτην.¶this!
tautenG3778 →1381 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
2 Corinthians 12:14See, 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…
it leads to
- Proverbs 19:14
Houses and wealth are inherited from fathers, but a prudent wife is from the LORD.
- Genesis 24:35–36
“The LORD has greatly blessed my master, and he has become rich. He has given him sheep and cattle, silver and gold, menservants and maidservants, camels and donkeys.
- 1 Corinthians 10:33
as I also try to please everyone in all I do. For I am not seeking my own good, but the good of many, that they may be saved.
- Genesis 31:14–15
And Rachel and Leah replied, “Do we have any portion or inheritance left in our father’s house?
- Proverbs 19:14
Through
1 Corinthians 9:12If others have this right to your support, shouldn’t we have it all the more? But we did not exercise this right. Instead, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of…
it leads to
- 1 Corinthians 9:18
What then is my reward? That in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge, and so not use up my rights in preaching it.
- 1 Corinthians 9:15
But I have not used any of these rights. And I am not writing this to suggest that something be done for me. Indeed, I would rather die than let anyone nullify my boast.
- 2 Corinthians 11:12
But I will keep on doing what I am doing, in order to undercut those who want an opportunity to be regarded as our equals in the things of which they boast.
- 1 Corinthians 9:18
Through
1 Corinthians 9:6Or are Barnabas and I the only apostles who must work for a living?
it leads to
- 2 Thessalonians 3:7–9
For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not undisciplined among you,
- 2 Thessalonians 3:7–9
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About 2 Corinthians

This page draws on 9 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Ambrosiaster, COMMENTARY ON PAUL'S EPISTLES; Charles Hodge, An Exposition of the Second Epistle to the Corinthians; John Chrysostom, Homily 27 on 2 Corinthians; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 2 Corinthians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on 2 Corinthians.
