2 Corinthians 12:11-21 - Paul's Concern For The Christians At Corinth

¹¹ I am become a fool??ou have forced me to; for you yourselves ought to have been my vindicators. In no respect am I inferior to these superapostolic apostles, even though I am nothing. ¹² In truth the signs of the true apostle were wrought among you in all patience by signs and marvels and powers. ¹³ In what respect, then, were you inferior to the other churches, except that I myself was not a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong!

¹⁴ And now for the third time I am preparing to visit you. I will not be a burden to you, for I am not seeking yours, but you. For the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children. ¹⁵ For my part, I will most gladly spend, yea, and will myself be spent, for your souls. If I love you more abundantly, am I to be loved the less? ¹⁶ But though it be granted that I was not a burden to you, yet, you say, this was my cunning with which I caught you by a trick. ¹⁷ Did I make gain of you through any of those whom I sent to you? ¹⁸ I urged Titus to go, and with him I sent our brother. Did Titus make gain of you? And did I not walk in the same spirit as he did? Did I not take the very same steps?

¹⁹ Do you think that all this time I am defending myself to you? It is before the presence of God that I am speaking in Christ; and all, beloved, for your upbuilding. ²⁰ For I dread that perhaps, when I come, I may not find you to be such as I wish, and that I may be found by you such as you do not wish; I dread lest there should be quarrels, jealousy, tempers, party spirit, slandering, gossip, arrogance, tumults; ²¹ and lest when I come again my God may humble me before you, and lest I shall mourn for many those who have sinned before, and have not repented of the impurity and immorality and wantonness which they have practised.