2 Corinthians 12:16

But be it so, I did not myself burden you. But, being crafty, I caught you with deception.

World English Bible

Learn

Your notes

Private to you. Anything you write on this verse, here or while reading, shows up here and in My study.

Other translations

WEBBE

Even so, I myself didn’t burden you. But you might say that being crafty, I caught you with deception.

BSB

Be that as it may, I was not a burden to you; but crafty as I am, I caught you by trickery.

KJV

But be it so, I did not burden you: nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you with guile.

ASV

But be it so, I did not myself burden you; but, being crafty, I caught you with guile.

BBE

But let it be so, that I was not a trouble to you myself; but (someone may say) being false, I took you with deceit.

Original Greek

Look up a word

Tap a word to see what it means and everywhere else it's used.

ἔστω estō it should be G1510 δέ de however G1161 ἐγὼ egō I myself G1473 οὐ ou not G3756 κατεβάρησα katebarēsa did burden G2599 ὑμᾶς humas you G4771 ἀλλ all᾽ but G235 ὑπάρχων huparchōn being G5225 πανοῦργος panourgos crafty G3835 δόλῳ dolō by trickery G1388 ὑμᾶς humas you G4771 ἔλαβον elabon I caught G2983

The early church

Paul has spoken these words very obscurely, but not without a meaning or purpose. For seeing he was speaking about money, and his defence on that score, it is reasonable that what he says must be wrapt in obscureness. What then is the meaning of what he says? He had said, 'I received not, nay I am ready even to give besides, and to spend;' and much discourse is made on this subject both in the former Epistle and in this. Now he says something else, introducing the subject in the form of an objection and meeting it by anticipation. What he says is something like this; 'I indeed have not made a gain of you: but perhaps some one has it to say that I did not receive [of you] indeed myself, but, being crafty, I procured those who were sent by me to ask for something of you as for themselves, and through them I myself received, yet keeping myself clear of seeming to receive, by receiving through others. But none can have this to say either; and you are witnesses.'

John Chrysostom · d. 407Homilies on 2 Corinthians

Commentary

Matthew Henry · Verses 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. Here are noticed several sins commonly found among professors of religion. Falls and misdeeds are humbling to a minister; and God sometimes takes this way to humble those who might be tempted to be lifted up. These vast verses show to what excesses the false teachers had drawn aside their deluded followers. How grievous it is that such evils should be found among professors of the gospel! Yet thus it is, and has been too often, and it was so even in the days of the apostles.

Read Matthew Henry on 2 Corinthians 12 →

Cross-references

Topics

Minister, Christian

Cross-references: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. Hebrew and Greek data from STEPBible.org (Tyndale House, Cambridge), CC BY 4.0. Library: sources.