¹²^qTruly the signs of an apostle were accomplished among you with all perseverance, in signs and ^rwonders and mighty ^sdeeds. ¹³For what is it in which you were inferior to other churches, except that I myself was not burdensome to you? Forgive me this wrong!

Love for the Church

¹⁴^tNow for the third time I am ready to come to you. And I will not be burdensome to you; for ^uI do not seek yours, but you. ^vFor the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children. ¹⁵And I will very gladly spend and be spent ^wfor your souls; though ^xthe more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved.

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Cross references

q Acts 14:3; Rom. 15:18
r Acts 15:12
s Acts 14:8–10; 16:16–18; 19:11, 12; 20:6–12; 28:1–10
t 2 Cor. 1:15; 13:1, 2
u Acts 20:33; [1 Cor. 10:24–33]
v 1 Cor. 4:14; Gal. 4:19
w John 10:11; Rom. 9:3; 2 Cor. 1:6; Phil. 2:17; Col. 1:24; 1 Thess. 2:8; [2 Tim. 2:10]
x 2 Cor. 6:12, 13

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with utmost patience, with signs and wonders and mighty works. For in what were you less favored than the rest of the churches, except that I myself did not burden you? Forgive me this wrong!

Here for the third time I am ready to come to you. And I will not be a burden, for I seek not what is yours but you. For children are not obligated to save up for their parents, but parents for their children. I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If I love you more, am I to be loved less?

NIVNew International Version (2011)

I persevered in demonstrating among you the marks of a true apostle, including signs, wonders and miracles. How were you inferior to the other churches, except that I was never a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong!

Now I am ready to visit you for the third time, and I will not be a burden to you, because what I want is not your possessions but you. After all, children should not have to save up for their parents, but parents for their children. So I will very gladly spend for you everything I have and expend myself as well. If I love you more, will you love me less?

CSBChristian Standard Bible

The signs of an apostle were performed with unfailing endurance among you, including signs and wonders and miracles. So in what way are you worse off than the other churches, except that I personally did not burden you? Forgive me for this wrong!

Look, I am ready to come to you this third time. I will not burden you, since I am not seeking what is yours, but you. For children ought not save up for their parents, but parents for their children. I will most gladly spend and be spent for you. If I love you more, am I to be loved less?

NLTNew Living Translation

When I was with you, I certainly gave you proof that I am an apostle. For I patiently did many signs and wonders and miracles among you. 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!

Now I am coming to you for the third time, and I will not be a burden to you. I don’t want what you have—I want you. After all, children don’t provide for their parents. Rather, parents provide for their children. I will gladly spend myself and all I have for you, even though it seems that the more I love you, the less you love me.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

Indeed, the signs of an apostle have been done among you with all patient endurance, both signs and wonders and deeds of power. For in what respect are you made worse off more than the rest of the churches, except that I myself was not a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong! Behold, this third time I am ready to come to you, and I will not be a burden to you. For I am not seeking your possessions, but you. For children are not obligated to save up for their parents, but parents for their children. But I will spend and be expended most gladly for your lives. If I love you much more, am I to be loved less?

KJV 1900King James Version

Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds. 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.

Behold, 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. And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.

Public Domain