2 Corinthians 12:16. But be it so, I did not burden you, &c.— But be it so that I did not burden you, yet [perhaps it will be suggested] that, being a crafty deceiver, I circumvented you with guile. read more
16. I did not burden you—The "I" in the Greek is emphatic. A possible insinuation of the Corinthians is hereby anticipated and refuted: "But, you may say, granted that I did not burden you myself; nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you (in my net) with guile"; namely, made a gain of you by means of others ( :-). read more
B. Claims made by Paul 11:1-12:18In this section Paul gave further evidence that he possessed apostolic authority to encourage the whole Corinthian church to continue to respond positively to his ministry. Some writers refer to 2 Corinthians 11:1 to 2 Corinthians 12:13 as Paul’s "Fool’s Speech" because of the recurring "foolishness" terminology in this passage (aphrosyne, aphron, paraphron; cf. 2 Corinthians 11:1; 2 Corinthians 11:16 [twice], 17, 19, 23; 2 Corinthians 12:11; 2 Corinthians... read more
5. Paul’s supernatural miracles and paternal love 12:11-18In this pericope Paul concluded his claims to be a genuine apostle by citing the miracles that God had done and the love that He had manifested to the Corinthians through Paul. He did this to dispel any lingering reservations any of his readers might have had concerning his apostolic credentials. read more
Paul’s proposed conduct in Corinth 12:14-18 read more
Whether the Corinthians showed Paul proper filial love or not he would continue to sacrifice for them.Some in Corinth had evidently accused Paul of craftily obtaining money from the Corinthians indirectly through his agents such as Titus. They may have regarded the collection for the poor Jerusalem saints as one way that Paul was stealthily getting money from them for himself. If that was their charge, he may have used his critics’ terms in irony to show that he had been crafty. However, he was... read more
12:16 guile. (a-17) The apostle is not saying that he did this, but is answering a charge that he had kept up appearances by taking nothing himself, but knew how to indemnify himself by using Titus in order to receive from them. The charge was false, as he proceeds to show. read more
His Privileges and TrialsThe Apostle unwillingly resumes his boasting and tells of a revelation he received from God; but returns again to dwell on his weaknesses, and especially on his bodily infirmity, through which Christ’s grace was manifested.Paraphrase. ’(1) It is not expedient for me to boast again: I have really been compelled to do it. I will now mention my experiences of divine visions and revelations, (2) Fourteen years ago I experienced such a divine ecstasy that I knew not whether... read more
(16) But be it so, I did not burden you.—The pronoun is again emphatic. The word for “burden” is not the same as in 2 Corinthians 12:13-14, but puts the fact less figuratively. The abruptness of the sentence requires us to trace between the lines the under-currents of unexpressed thoughts. The extreme, almost jealous, sensitiveness of the Apostle’s nature leads him to imagine the cynical sneer with which these assertions of disinterested work would be received. “Be it so,” he hears them saying;... read more
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E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - 2 Corinthians 12:16
burden . Greek. katatareo. Only here. being . Greek. huparcho. It means being essentially, from the beginning. See Luke 9:48 . crafty. Greek. panourgos: Only here. Compare Luke 20:23 . These words are spoken ironicelly, quoting what his opponents alleged. read more