In what way were you inferior to the other churches, except that I was not a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong!
Parallel translations
- WEB For what is there in which you were made inferior to the rest of the assemblies, unless it is 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.
- NKJV For what is it in which you were inferior to other churches, except that I myself was not burdensome to you? Forgive me this wrong!
- NASB For in what respect were you treated as inferior to the rest of the churches, except that I myself did not become a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong!
- NLT The only thing I failed to do, which I do in the other churches, was to become a financial burden to you. Please forgive me for this wrong!
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Paul asks, with biting irony, how the Corinthians were treated worse than other churches, except that he refused to be a financial burden, and mockingly begs forgiveness for that 'wrong.' It matters because his refusal to take their money was love, not neglect.
Overview
The 'wrong' is sarcastic: by not accepting support, Paul actually treated them more generously, yet his critics twisted this against him. He exposes how his selflessness was misread as a slight. His example warns against measuring ministry by money and models sacrificial service for the gospel's sake.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 5
- 1 Cor 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 Christ.
- 1 Cor 9:6Or are Barnabas and I the only apostles who must work for a living?
- 2 Cor 11:7–9Was it a sin for me to humble myself in order to exalt you, because I preached the gospel of God to you free of charge?
- 2 Cor 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 up for their parents, but parents for their children.
- 1 Cor 9:15–18But 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.
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Christ at the center
In Christ all God's promises are 'Yes and Amen'; though rich, he became poor to make us rich, and in him God reconciles the world, making us new creations.
How 2 Corinthians 12:13 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.