2 Corinthians 12:16; I Did Not Burden You

2 Corinthians 12:16 But be it so, I did not burden you: nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you with guile.

Hendriksen insightfully said, “The apostle must address slander that can be counteracted only by confrontation. He alludes to the words spoken by his opponents and which are believed by some members of the church. He realizes that slander can change the relationship between him and the Corinthian church. Therefore, he must deal forthrightly with this evil and eradicate it. Paul knows that an unwholesome sentiment exists in the church. He himself has received no money at all from the Corinthians, and they admit that he has not been a financial burden to them. And that is to his credit… The saying that Paul cannot be trusted has been circulating openly in Corinth. The background is that Paul, who refused to accept money for his services, has sent Titus to them with a request for a collection. The slanderers spread the rumor that under the guise of helping the poverty-stricken saints in Jerusalem, Paul and Titus are working to fill their own pockets. These doubters suspect that the money will not go to the poor but will remain with the apostle.”¹

When the Apostle Paul was in Corinth he stayed with Aquila and Priscilla and through tentmaking supported himself as he preached the gospel on the Sabbath day in the synagogue, Acts 18:1-3 “After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth; And found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla; (because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome:) and came unto them. And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers.” That was how the church began in Corinth. Swindoll highlighted here, “Paul’s honesty and humility is his refusal to take unfair advantage of the Corinthian believers. Everything he did in his conduct remained aboveboard. His words and actions were honest and open.”

1 Thessalonians 2:3 For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile. Amen.

¹Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953–2001). Exposition of the Second Epistle to the Corinthians (Vol. 19, pp. 430–431). Grand Rapids: Baker Book House.

² Swindoll’s Living Insights New Testament Commentary – 1 & 2 Corinthians.