The Meaning of 2 Corinthians 12:14 Explained

2 Corinthians 12:14

KJV: 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.

YLT: Lo, a third time I am ready to come unto you, and I will not be a burden to you, for I seek not yours, but you, for the children ought not for the parents to lay up, but the parents for the children,

Darby: Behold, this third time I am ready to come to you, and I will not be in laziness a charge; for I do not seek yours, but you; for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.

ASV: 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.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does 2 Corinthians 12:14 Mean?

Context Summary

2 Corinthians 12:11-21 - "i Seek Not Yours, But You"
"The long burst of passionate self-vindication has now at last expended itself," says Dean Stanley, and Paul returns to the point whence he diverged at 2 Corinthians 10:7, where he was avowing his intention to repress the disobedience of those who still resisted his authority at Corinth. "Now," he says, "my folly is over. That I should have indulged in it is your fault, not mine." What a comfort it is that he lays such repeated stress on his weakness! Instead of complaining of it, he used it as an argument with Christ that He should put forth more grace, and as an argument with his converts, that the results of his work had been granted as the divine endorsement of his apostolate.
Paul felt that his paternal relation to this church gave him the right to rebuke them, as a father rebukes his children. But he realized that they did not reciprocate his love, probably because they permitted the evil things enumerated in the closing verses. Often moral obliquity accounts for the decline and failure of love. Among other things, they had even accused him of getting money, if not directly, yet through Titus. But there were worse things still that needed to be dealt with, 2 Corinthians 12:20-21. Would that we were more often humbled to the dust by the sins of our brethren! [source]

Chapter Summary: 2 Corinthians 12

1  For commending of his apostleship, though he might glory of his wonderful revelations,
9  yet he rather chooses to glory of his infirmities;
11  blaming the Corinthians for forcing him to this vain boasting
14  He promises to come to them again; but yet altogether in the affection of a father;
20  although he fears he shall to his grief find many offenders, and public disorders there

Greek Commentary for 2 Corinthians 12:14

Third time I am ready to come [τριτον τουτο ετοιμως εχω]
Had he been already twice or only once? He had changed his plans once when he did not go (2 Corinthians 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 καταναρκαω — katanarkaō (2 Corinthians 11:9; 2 Corinthians 12:13, 2 Corinthians 12:14). They need not be apprehensive. He will be as financially independent of them as before. “I shall not sponge on you.” [source]
Not yours, but you [ου τα υμων αλλα υμας]
The motto of every real preacher. To lay up (thēsaurizein). For this use of the verb see note on 1 Corinthians 16:2 (Matthew 6:19-21; James 5:3). [source]
To lay up [thēsaurizein)]
For this use of the verb see note on 1 Corinthians 16:2 (Matthew 6:19-21; James 5:3). [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for 2 Corinthians 12:14

Acts 21:13 Breaking my heart [συντρυπτοντες μου την καρδιαν]
The verb συντρυπτω — sunthruptō to crush together, is late Koiné{[28928]}š for αποτρυπτω — apothruptō to break off, both vivid and expressive words. So to enervate and unman one, weakening Paul‘s determination to go on with his duty. I am ready (Εγω ετοιμως εχω — Egō hetoimōs echō). I hold (myself) in readiness (adverb, ετοιμως — hetoimōs). Same idiom in 2 Corinthians 12:14. Not only to be bound First aorist passive infinitive of δεω — deō and note ου μονον — ou monon rather than μη μονον — mē monon the usual negative of the infinitive because of the sharp contrast (Robertson, Grammar, p. 1095). Paul‘s readiness to die, if need be, at Jerusalem is like that of Jesus on the way to Jerusalem the last time. Even before that Luke (Luke 9:51) said that “he set his face to go on to Jerusalem.” Later the disciples will say to Jesus, “Master, the Jews were but now seeking to stone thee; and goest thou thither?” (John 11:8). The stature of Paul rises here to heroic proportions “for the name of the Lord Jesus” (υπερ του ονοματος του κυριου Ιησου — huper tou onomatos tou kuriou Iēsou). [source]
Acts 21:13 I am ready [Εγω ετοιμως εχω]
I hold (myself) in readiness (adverb, ετοιμως — hetoimōs). Same idiom in 2 Corinthians 12:14. [source]
Romans 2:5 And impenitent heart [και αμετανοητον καρδιαν]
See μετανοιαν — metanoian just before. “Thy unreconstructed heart,” “with no change in the attitude of thy heart.” Treasurest up for thyself (τησαυριζεις σεαυτωι — thēsaurizeis seautōi). See for τησαυριζω — thēsaurizō on Matthew 6:19.; Luke 12:21; 2 Corinthians 12:14. Dative case σεαυτωι — seautōi (for thyself) with a touch of irony (Vincent). Wrath For such a Jew as already stated for the Gentile (Romans 1:18). There is a revelation See note on 2 Thessalonians 1:5 for δικαιας κρισεως — dikaias kriseōs Paul looks to the judgment day as certain (cf. 2 Corinthians 5:10-12), the day of the Lord (2 Corinthians 1:14). [source]
Romans 2:5 Treasurest up for thyself [τησαυριζεις σεαυτωι]
See for τησαυριζω — thēsaurizō on Matthew 6:19.; Luke 12:21; 2 Corinthians 12:14. Dative case σεαυτωι — seautōi (for thyself) with a touch of irony (Vincent). [source]
2 Corinthians 10:6 Being in readiness [εν ετοιμωι εχοντες]
This very idiom occurs in Polybius, Philo, etc. “Holding in readiness.” In 2 Corinthians 12:14 we have ετοιμως εχω — hetoimōs echō for the same idea (adverb ετοιμως — hetoimōs). [source]
2 Corinthians 12:14 Third time I am ready to come [τριτον τουτο ετοιμως εχω]
Had he been already twice or only once? He had changed his plans once when he did not go (2 Corinthians 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 καταναρκαω — katanarkaō (2 Corinthians 11:9; 2 Corinthians 12:13, 2 Corinthians 12:14). They need not be apprehensive. He will be as financially independent of them as before. “I shall not sponge on you.” [source]
1 Timothy 5:4 Their parents [τοῖς προγόνοις]
N.T.oParents is too limited. The word comprehends mothers and grandmothers and living ancestors generally. The word for parents is γονεῖς , see 2 Timothy 3:2; Romans 1:30; 2 Corinthians 12:14; Ephesians 6:1; Colossians 3:20. Πρόγονοι for living ancestors is contrary to usage. One instance is cited from Plato, Laws, xi. 932. The word is probably selected to correspond in form with ἔκγονα childrenGood and acceptable ( καλὸν καὶ ἀποδεκτὸν )Omit καλὸν καὶ goodand. Ἁπόδεκτος acceptableonly here and 1 Timothy 2:3. See note. [source]
1 Peter 5:2 For filthy lucre [αἰσχροκερδῶς]
From αἰσχρός , disgraceful, and κέρδος ,gain. Only here in New Testament. The word filthy is intended to convey the idea which lies in αἰσχρός , base or dishonorable; becoming such if it is made the motive of the minister's service. Compare 2 Corinthians 12:14. [source]

What do the individual words in 2 Corinthians 12:14 mean?

Behold third time this ready I am to come to you and not I will burden [you] for I seek what [is] yours but ought the children for the parents to treasure up the parents for the children
Ἰδοὺ τρίτον τοῦτο ἑτοίμως ἔχω ἐλθεῖν πρὸς ὑμᾶς καὶ οὐ καταναρκήσω γὰρ ζητῶ τὰ ὑμῶν ἀλλὰ ὀφείλει τὰ τέκνα τοῖς γονεῦσιν θησαυρίζειν οἱ γονεῖς τοῖς τέκνοις

Ἰδοὺ  Behold 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Imperative Active, 2nd Person Singular
Root: ἰδού  
Sense: behold, see, lo.
τρίτον  third  time 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: τρίτον 
Sense: the third.
τοῦτο  this 
Parse: Demonstrative Pronoun, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: οὗτος  
Sense: this.
ἑτοίμως  ready 
Parse: Adverb
Root: ἑτοίμως  
Sense: readily, to be ready.
ἔχω  I  am 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 1st Person Singular
Root: ἔχω  
Sense: to have, i.e. to hold.
ἐλθεῖν  to  come 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Infinitive Active
Root: ἔρχομαι  
Sense: to come.
καταναρκήσω  I  will  burden  [you] 
Parse: Verb, Future Indicative Active, 1st Person Singular
Root: καταναρκάω  
Sense: to cause to grow numb or torpid.
ζητῶ  I  seek 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 1st Person Singular
Root: ζητέω  
Sense: to seek in order to find.
τὰ  what  [is] 
Parse: Article, Accusative Neuter Plural
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
ὑμῶν  yours 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive 2nd Person Plural
Root: σύ  
Sense: you.
ὀφείλει  ought 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: ὀφείλω  
Sense: to owe.
τέκνα  children 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Neuter Plural
Root: τέκνον  
Sense: offspring, children.
τοῖς  for  the 
Parse: Article, Dative Masculine Plural
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
γονεῦσιν  parents 
Parse: Noun, Dative Masculine Plural
Root: γονεύς  
Sense: fathers, parent, the parents.
θησαυρίζειν  to  treasure  up 
Parse: Verb, Present Infinitive Active
Root: θησαυρίζω  
Sense: to gather and lay up, to heap up, store up.
γονεῖς  parents 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: γονεύς  
Sense: fathers, parent, the parents.
τοῖς  for  the 
Parse: Article, Dative Neuter Plural
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
τέκνοις  children 
Parse: Noun, Dative Neuter Plural
Root: τέκνον  
Sense: offspring, children.