Daily Devotions
2 Corinthians
"I did not burden you."
Text: 2 Corinthians 12:16
A FIRM RESOLUTION
Paul had firmly resolved that he would not be a burden to the Corinthian Church. He held fast to this firm resolution to the very end.
“But be that as it may, I did not burden you.
Nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you by cunning!”
2 Corinthians 12:16
1. “But be that as it may”
a) This is an attempt to translate what Paul wrote in modern language.
b) The literal translation: “But as it stands”.
i) Paul loved the Corinthians but they did not reciprocate appropriately.
ii) The more he loved them, the more they seem to alienate themselves from Paul.
2. “I did not burden you”
a) This was the principle Paul worked with right from the start.
b) He determined not to burden the Corinthian Church.
i) He would not ask for support.
ii) He would rather find work that would provide for his necessities.
iii) He maintained this stance right from the beginning.
3. The heavy use of sarcasm
a) This is to be noted.
b) It was used to help the Corinthians to realise that they had been deceived by the false teachers.
4. “Nevertheless, being crafty”
a) Paul was never crafty.
b) The false teachers were the crafty ones.
c) He employed sarcasm in the hope that it would jolt the Corinthians to their senses.
5. “I caught you by cunning”
a) Paul never used cunning
i) In life.
ii) In ministry.
b) I caught you
i) The false teachers were the ones who used cunning.
ii) Did Paul use cunning to catch the Corinthians?
Paul used heavy sarcasm as a literary device! The power for his life and ministry came from God!