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.
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.
- BSB In what way were you inferior to the other churches, except that I was not a burden 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 be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ.
- 1 Cor 9:6Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working?
- 2 Cor 11:7–9Have I committed an offence in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I have preached to you the gospel of God freely?
- 2 Cor 12:14Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burdensome 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.
- 1 Cor 9:15–18But I have used none of these things: neither have I written these things, that it should be so done unto me: for it were better for me to die, than that any man should make my glorying void.
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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.