2 Corinthians 12:15
What does 2 Corinthians 12:15 mean?
A plain-English look at 2 Corinthians 12:15 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What 2 Corinthians 12:15 means
Paul pledges joyful self-giving: he will “most gladly spend and be spent” for their souls. Love drives ministry to pour out resources and life itself. Yet he poignantly asks whether loving them more has made them love him less. This reveals the ache of a shepherd whose devotion is met with suspicion. Still, his resolve stands—he will give regardless of their response. Gospel love does not calculate return on investment; it mirrors Christ’s self-giving. Paul longs for their spiritual good, even if it costs him reputation, comfort, or safety. The measure of his ministry is the health of their souls, not the warmth of their applause.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If I love you more abundantly, am I loved the less?
KJV
King James Version · 1611And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If I love you more abundantly, am I loved the less?
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And I will gladly give all I have for your souls. If I have the more love for you, am I to be loved the less?
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and I most gladly will spend and be entirely spent for your souls, even if, more abundantly loving you, less I am loved.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752But I most gladly will spend and be spent myself for your souls: although loving you more, I be loved less.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Now I shall most gladly spend and be utterly spent for your souls, if even in abundantly loving you I should be less loved.
Context
After promising not to burden them and invoking parental care, Paul intensifies the pledge to sacrificial service. The rhetorical question exposes a strained relationship fueled by false accusations. This prepares the ground for verses 16–18, where he confronts the charge that, while not directly taking money, he allegedly used others to take advantage of them. By stressing his willingness to be spent, he lays a moral framework to evaluate those accusations—does such a man scheme to profit, or does he consistently give himself away?
v.14Behold, 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.
v.15This passage
v.16But be it so, I did not myself burden you; but, being crafty, I caught you with guile.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- 2 Samuel 13:39
And the soul of king David longed to go forth unto Absalom: for he was comforted concerning Amnon, seeing he was dead.
- Galatians 4:10
Ye observe days, and months, and seasons, and years.
- 2 Samuel 18:33
And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!
- 2 Corinthians 1:6
But whether we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; or whether we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which worketh in the patient enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer:
- Colossians 1:24
Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and fill up on my part that which is lacking of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church;
- 2 Samuel 17:1
Moreover Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Let me now choose out twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue after David this night:
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