But be that as it may, I did not burden you. Nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you by cunning!
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.
- BSB Be that as it may, I was not a burden to you; but crafty as I am, I caught you by trickery.
- 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 2:5For neither were we at any time found using words of flattery, as you know, nor a cloak of covetousness (God is witness),
- 2 Cor 10:2–3Yes, I beg you that I may not, when present, show courage with the confidence with which I intend to be bold against some, who consider us to be walking according to the flesh.
- 2 Cor 1:12For our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience, that in holiness and sincerity of God, not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God we behaved ourselves in the world, and more abundantly toward you.
- 1 Th 2:3For our exhortation is not of error, nor of uncleanness, nor in deception.
- 2 Cor 12:13For 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.
- 2 Cor 11:9–10When I was present with you and was in need, I wasn’t a burden on anyone, for the brothers, when they came from Macedonia, supplied the measure of my need. In everything I kept myself from being burdensome to you, and I will continue to do so.
- 2 Cor 4:2But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by the manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.
- 2 Cor 7:2Open your hearts to us. We wronged no one. We corrupted no one. We took advantage of no one.
- 1 Pet 2:3if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious:
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
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
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.