Teks -- 2 Corinthians 12:14 (NET)

12:14 Look, for the third time I am ready to come to you, and I will not be a burden to you, because I do not want your possessions, but you. For children should not have to save up for their parents, but parents for their children.

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per frasa)

Robertson: 2Co 12:14 - Third time I am ready to come

Third time I am ready to come ( triton touto hetoimōs echō ).

Had he been already twice or only once? He had changed his plans once when he did not go (2Co 1:15.). He will not change his plans now. This looks as if he had only been once (that in Acts 18). Note the third use of katanarkaō (2Co 11:9; 2Co 12:13, 2Co 12:14). They need not be apprehensive. He will be as financially independent of them as before. "I shall not sponge on you."

Robertson: 2Co 12:14 - Not yours, but you

Not yours, but you ( ou ta humōn , alla humas ).

The motto of every real preacher.

Robertson: 2Co 12:14 - To lay up

To lay up ( thēsaurizein ).

For this use of the verb see note on 1Co 16:2 (Mat 6:19-21; Jam 5:3).

Wesley: 2Co 12:14 - The third time

Having been disappointed twice.

Wesley: 2Co 12:14 - I seek not yours

Your goods.

Wesley: 2Co 12:14 - But you

Your souls.

JFB: 2Co 12:14 - the third time

See Introduction to the first Epistle. His second visit was probably a short one (1Co 16:7), and attended with humiliation through the scandalous conduct of some of his converts (compare 2Co 12:21; 2Co 2:1). It was probably paid during his three years' sojourn at Ephesus, from which he could pass so readily by sea to Corinth (compare 2Co 1:15-16; 2Co 13:1-2). The context here implies nothing of a third preparation to come; but, "I am coming, and the third time, and will not burden you this time any more than I did at my two previous visits" [ALFORD].

JFB: 2Co 12:14 - not yours, but you

(Phi 4:17).

JFB: 2Co 12:14 - children . . . parents

Paul was their spiritual father (1Co 4:14-15). He does not, therefore, seek earthly treasure from them, but lays up the best treasure (namely, spiritual) "for their souls" (2Co 12:15).

Clarke: 2Co 12:14 - The third time I am ready

The third time I am ready - That is, this is the third time that I am ready - have formed the resolution, to visit you. He had formed this resolution twice before, but was disappointed. See 1Co 16:5, and 2Co 1:15, 2Co 1:16. He now formed it a third time, having more probability of seeing them now than he had before. See 2Co 13:2

Clarke: 2Co 12:14 - I seek not yours, but you

I seek not yours, but you - I seek your salvation, I desire not your property; others have sought your property, but not your salvation. See 2Co 11:20

Clarke: 2Co 12:14 - For the children ought not to lay up for the parents

For the children ought not to lay up for the parents - You may have many teachers, but you have but one Father; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the Gospel; see 1Co 4:15. Ye are my children, and I am your father. You have not contributed to my support, but I have been labouring for your life. I will act towards you as the loving father who works hard, and lays up what is necessary to enable his children to get their bread.

Calvin: 2Co 12:14 - Behold, this third time // I seek not yours // Parents for their children

14.Behold, this third time He commends his own deed, for which he had received a very poor requital from the Corinthians. For he says, that he refrained from taking their worldly substance for two reasons first, because he sought them, not their wealth; and secondly, because he was desirous to act the part of a father towards them. From this it appears, what commendation was due to his modesty, which occasioned him contempt among the Corinthians.

I seek not yours It is the part of a genuine and upright pastor, not to seek to derive gain from his sheep, but to endeavor to promote their welfare; though, at the same time, it is to be observed, that men are not to be sought with the view of having ⁹³¹ every one his own particular followers. It is a bad thing, to be devoted to gain, or to undertake the office of a pastor with the view of making a trade of it; but for a person to draw away disciples after him, (Act 20:30,) for purposes of ambition, is greatly worse. Paul, however, means, that he is not greedy of hire, but is concerned only for the welfare of souls. There is, however, still more of elegance in what he says, for it is as though he had said: “I am in quest of a larger hire than you think of. I am not contented with your wealth, but I seek to have you wholly, that I may present a sacrifice to the Lord of the fruits of my ministry.” But, what if one is supported by his labors? Will he in that case seek the worldly substance of the people. ⁹³² Unquestionably, if he is a faithful Pastor, he will always seek the welfare of the sheep — nothing else. His pay will, it is true, be an additional thing; but he ought to have no other aim, than what we have mentioned. Woe to those, that have an eye to any thing else!

Parents for their children Was he then no father to the Philippians, who supported him even when absent from them? (Phi 4:15.) Was there no one of the other Apostles that was a father, inasmuch as the Churches ministered to their support? He did not by any means intend this; for it is no new thing for even parents to be supported by their children in their old age. Hence, those are not necessarily unworthy of the honor due to fathers, who live at the expense of the Church; but Paul simply wished to show from the common law of nature, that what he had done proceeded from fatherly affection. This argument, therefore, ought not to be turned in a contrary direction. For he did this as a father; but, though he had acted otherwise, he would, notwithstanding, have been a father still.

TSK: 2Co 12:14 - the third // for I // for the

the third : That is, the third time I have purposed to visit you. See the parallel passages. 2Co 1:15, 2Co 13:1; 1Co 4:19, 1Co 11:34, 1Co 16:5

for I : Pro 11:30; Act 20:33; 1Co 10:33; Phi 4:1, Phi 4:17; 1Th 2:5, 1Th 2:6, 1Th 2:8, 1Th 2:19, 1Th 2:20; 1Pe 5:2-4

for the : Gen 24:35, Gen 24:36, Gen 31:14, Gen 31:15; Pro 13:22, Pro 19:14; 1Co 4:14, 1Co 4:15; 1Th 2:11

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per Ayat)

Poole: 2Co 12:14 - Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you // If the Lord will // 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

Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you: we read in holy writ but of two journeys which the apostle made to Corinth, Act 18:1 20:2 , and the latter is believed to have been after the writing of this Epistle. We must not think that all these motions are set down in Scripture. It is manifest that Paul had thoughts of going oftener, Act 19:21 1Co 16:5 2Co 1:15 . Man purposeth, but God disposeth. For which reason, James adviseth us to add:

If the Lord will to our expressions testifying our resolutions.

And I will not be burdensome to you he lets them know, that he was coming to them with the same resolutions he had before taken up, not to put them to any charge.

For I seek not yours, but you for that, which should be the design of every faithful minister, was his design; viz. the gaining of their souls to Christ, and protecting of them, that in the day of judgment he might present them as a pure and chaste virgin unto Christ. His business was not to enrich himself by them; he sought the good of their souls, not their estates.

For the children ought not to lay up for the parents: he looked upon them as his children, upon himself as their parent. And though indeed children ought to relieve their parents, if in want, yet it is not the course of the world for children to lay up for their parents.

But the parents for the children but, on the contrary, it is the course of parents to maintain their children, and to lay up for them.

Haydock: 2Co 12:14 - Now the third time I am ready to come // I seek not the things that are yours, but you // For the children

Now the third time I am ready to come. So he says again in the next chapter. That is, he was once with them, he had purposed to come a second time, and now a third time. ---

I seek not the things that are yours, but you. That is, says St. John Chrysostom, your souls, not your goods; your salvation, not your gold. ---

For the children. A modest pretty turn in their favour, by saying that fathers and parents are commonly supposed to leave their goods and riches to their children, not children for their parents. (Witham) ---

St. Paul came to Corinth for the first time in the year 52, remaining with them 18 months. (Acts chap. xviii.) He came the second time in 55, but did not remain long with them; on which account it is omitted by St. Luke in the Acts. The date of this letter is in 57, when St. Paul again came to them towards the end of the year. (Calmet) ---

Other interpreters, which no less authority question this sentiment, see ver. 1. of the following chapter, and say he only went twice; the first time as mentioned in Acts xviii. 1.; the second time, as we may draw from Acts xx.2. 3. after this epistle, as it is evident from comparing 2 Corinthians i. 15.

Gill: 2Co 12:14 - 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

Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you,.... Not that he had been twice at Corinth, and was now about to come a third time; for as yet he had been but once there, when he first preached to them, was the means of their conversion, and settled them in a church state; he had promised them to come a second time, but as yet was prevented; see 1Co 16:5, and now a third time he had purposed it in his mind, and had prepared for it, and was just ready to come unto them; when he assures them he had not altered his mind, nor should he change his conduct, but steer the same course he had:

and I will not be burdensome to you; he signifies he would preach the Gospel freely to them, and take nothing of them; and this he says lest they should think with themselves, that though he took no stipend of them before, yet when he came again he would:

for I seek not yours; their money and substance, as did the false apostles:

but you; they themselves, their spiritual good and welfare, the comfort, edification, instruction, and salvation of their immortal souls; like a good and faithful shepherd, who sought not the fleece, but the good of the flock; or rather like a loving tender father, that was affectionately concerned for the good of his children:

for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children; not but that children ought to take care of, and provide for their aged and indigent parents, and churches ought to maintain their faithful ministers; but the apostle argues from a common fact which nature and affection direct unto, and have formed into a sort of a law, that parents not only care for their children, bring them up, and provide for them food and raiment; but as they are blessed by Providence, lay up treasures for them for tithe to come, and not children for their parents; this is neither usual nor necessary, for however, as the case may be, children may be obliged to maintain their parents when grown old and in want, yet not to lay up substance for them for futurity; and by it the apostle suggests, that he was a spiritual father to these Corinthians, and they were his children; for whose spiritual welfare he had the highest concern, and whatever he did was out of no disrespect to them, but from the strongest affection for them.