2 Corinthians 12:17

Contextual Overview

¹¹I have been a fool; you forced it on me. You ought to have commended me, since I am not in any way inferior to those “super-apostles,” even though I am nothing. ¹¹ I am become a foole in glorying, ye haue compelled me. For I ought to haue beene commended of you: for in nothing am I behinde the very chiefest Apostles, though I be nothing. ¹¹ I am become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be nothing. ¹¹ I have been a fool! You forced me to it, for I ought to have been commended by you. For I was not at all inferior to these super-apostles, even though I am nothing. ¹¹ I have become foolish; you yourselves compelled me. Actually I should have been commended by you, since I was in no respect inferior to the most eminent apostles, even though I am a nobody. ¹¹ I have been talking like a fool, but you made me do it. You are the ones who should say good things about me. I am worth nothing, but those "great apostles" are not worth any more than I am! ¹¹Now I have become foolish; you have forced me [by questioning my apostleship]. Actually I should have been commended by you [instead of being treated disdainfully], for I was not inferior to those super-apostles, even if I am nobody. ¹¹ I have become foolish; you yourselves compelled me. Actually I should have been commended by you, for in no respect was I inferior to the most eminent apostles, even though I am a nobody. ¹¹I have become foolish; you yourselves compelled me. For I ought to have been commended by you, for in no respect was I inferior to the most-eminent apostles, even if I am nothing. ¹¹I have become a fool, but you drove me to it. In fact, you should have commended me, since I am in no way inferior to those "super-apostles," even though I am nothing.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

2 Corinthians 12:18, 2 Kings 5:16, 2 Kings 5:20-27, 1 Corinthians 4:17, 1 Corinthians 16:10

Reciprocal: Genesis 31:32 - before Acts 20:33 - General 1 Thessalonians 2:5 - a cloak 2 Peter 1:16 - we have 2 Peter 2:3 - through

Cross-References

Genesis 12:14
It happened that when Avram had come into Mitzrayim, the Mitzrim saw that the woman was very beautiful.

Genesis 12:14
And it came to pass, that, when Abram was come into Egypt, the Egyptians beheld the woman that she was very fair.

Genesis 12:14
And it happened that as Abram came into Egypt, the Egyptians saw the woman, that she was very beautiful.

Genesis 12:14
When Abram came to Egypt, the Egyptians saw that Sarai was very beautiful.

Genesis 12:14
When Abram entered Egypt, the Egyptians saw that the woman was very beautiful.

Genesis 12:14
And when Abram entered Egypt, the Egyptians saw that Sarai was very beautiful.

Genesis 12:14
Now it came about, when Abram entered Egypt, that the Egyptians saw that the woman was very beautiful.

Genesis 12:14
Nowe when Abram was come into Egypt, the Egyptians behelde the woman: for she was very faire.

Genesis 12:14
Now it happened when Abram came into Egypt, that the Egyptians saw that the woman was very beautiful.

Genesis 12:14
As soon as Abram and Sarai arrived in Egypt, the Egyptians noticed how beautiful she was.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Did I make a gain of you,.... He appeals to the Corinthians against such calumnies and false insinuations, whether ever he had circumvented them in such a manner, or had ever used such artful methods to pillage them; or whether ever he had discovered any covetous disposition towards anything of theirs; or had employed any persons to draw out their substance from them, and get it for himself: he owns he had sent some persons to them on different errands, and asks if he had dealt fraudulently with them,

by any of them whom, says he,

I have sent to you: he desires them to name one single person of the many who came to them from him, that had received any money from them for him; or that they had any reason to believe he had employed for such purposes; and if they could not pitch on a single instance, they ought therefore to look upon this as a downright slander and calumny.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Did I make a gain ... - In refuting this slander, Paul appeals boldly to the facts, and to what they knew. “Same the man,” says he, “who has thus defrauded you under my instructions. If the charge is well-founded, let him be specified, and let the mode in which it was done be distinctly stated.” The phrase “make a gain” (from πλεονεκτέω pleonekteō), means properly to have an advantage; then to take advantage, to seek unlawful gain. Here Paul asks whether he had defrauded them by means of anyone whom he had sent to them.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 17. Did I make a gain of you — Did any person I ever sent to preach the Gospel to you, or help you in your Christian course, ever get any thing from you for me? Produce the proof if you can.