Be that as it may, I was not a burden to you; but crafty as I am, I caught you by trickery.
Parallel translations
- WEB But be it so, I did not myself burden you. But, being crafty, I caught you with deception.
- KJV But be it so, I did not burden you: nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you with guile.
- NKJV But be that as it may, I did not burden you. Nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you by cunning!
- NASB But be that as it may, I did not burden you myself; nevertheless, devious person that I am, I took you in by deceit.
- NLT Some of you admit I was not a burden to you. But others still think I was sneaky and took advantage of you by trickery.
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 takes up his opponents' slander that, though he took no money directly, he 'craftily' exploited them by trickery. It matters because he confronts the suspicion that his motives were deceitful.
Overview
Some accused Paul of a cunning scheme, perhaps suggesting his coworkers' collection for Jerusalem was a cover for personal gain. Quoting the charge with irony, he prepares to refute it. His willingness to face the accusation head-on reflects a clear conscience before God.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 9
- 1 Th 2:5As you know, we never used words of flattery or any pretext for greed. God is our witness!
- 2 Cor 10:2–3I beg you that when I come I may not need to be as bold as I expect toward those who presume that we live according to the flesh.
- 2 Cor 1:12And this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in relation to you, in the holiness and sincerity that are from God—not in worldly wisdom, but in the grace of God.
- 1 Th 2:3For our appeal does not arise from deceit or ulterior motives or trickery.
- 2 Cor 12:13In what way were you inferior to the other churches, except that I was not a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong!
- 2 Cor 11:9–10And when I was with you and in need, I was not a burden to anyone; for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied my needs. I have refrained from being a burden to you in any way, and I will continue to do so.
- 2 Cor 4:2Instead, we have renounced secret and shameful ways. We do not practice deceit, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by open proclamation of the truth, we commend ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.
- 2 Cor 7:2Make room for us in your hearts. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have exploited no one.
- 1 Pet 2:3now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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 12:16 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
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