2 Corinthians 12:14

Behold, this is the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be a burden 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.

The third time ... Although these words may properly be construed as a reference to planning a third visit, McGarvey said, "Evidently it was to be his third visit."[33] This leads to the conclusion that a second visit, in between the two canonical epistles, was made, the one usually referred to as "the painful visit." While this appears to be true enough, a warning should be sounded against all of the nonsense that has been written about what occurred on that visit, if it really happened. There is not one word of authentic record nor a single hint in any tradition as to what took place. None may deny that a third visit automatically means there had been two others; but not even the approximate time of when it took place may be affirmed from the basis of the scanty references to it here, in 2 Corinthians 2:1; 2 Corinthians 13:1; and 2 Corinthians 12:21. See notes on those references.

I will not be a burden to you ... Paul will not alter his purpose of preaching in Corinth without their financial support.

Not yours, but you ... Paul wanted more than money from them; he wanted them.

Children ought not to lay up for parents ... This teaching should not be misunderstood. As Carver said:

The apostle made use of this analogy only as an illustration of why he did not take advantage of his right as a minister in the gospel. He does not mean by this that grown children have no obligation to their elderly parents when they are in need.[34]

[33] J. W. McGarvey, op. cit., p. 237.

[34] Frank G. Carver, op cit. p. 634.