2 Corinthians 12:14-15 Here for the third time I am ready to come to you. And I will not be a burden, for I seek not what is yours but you. For children are not obligated to save up for their parents, but parents for their children. 15 I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If I love you more, am I to be loved less?
Paul begins to apply his strong rhetoric in a personal way to the Corinthians. He tells them he is planning a third visit. The first time was when he started the church in Acts 18. The second visit is known as the “painful visit” (2 Corinthians 2:1). This statement in v. 14 shows his intent and concern for the church. This visit could result in two ways: it could be a pleasant reunion and joyous celebration of friends, or it could be confrontational because the church is listening to these opponents. This puts some pressure on the church. It will take leadership within the church to reject these false teachers. That is usually not an easy thing for any group or church. It may be divisive because some people may have become followers of the false apostles. There may have been some type of leadership cult. Paul is asking them to do a challenging thing in this letter, but he does this because he thinks the stakes are high.
Paul does not want to be a burden to them with this third visit. This is likely referring to any financial support they might give him. He was independent as a tent maker and could support himself as needed with this. It was likely not an easy thing to do, much physical labor and challenging long hours, but it also gave him an opportunity to meet people in the market place. He is not interested in what the Corinthians can give him but what he can do for them. Like previous visits and correspondence, he would seek to impart to them some spiritual gift (like Romans 1:11) in the form of encouragement and teaching. The opponents came to Corinth for something for themselves but Paul would come with something for the Corinthians.
To support this, he gives a proverbial statement. This proverb is simple and logical, that parents do what they can to support their children and help them succeed in life. It is interesting that this is still true today, making it a universal truth that applies across time and culture. Parents support children when they are young and parents pass on their inheritance to children when they are old. We should not press this illustration too far. Paul is simply saying that he will support them and spend anything he needs to to help them grow spiritually. This commitment to their well-being shows how much he loves this church. He is just asking them to love him back and listen to what he is saying to them.
Paul is showing a committed type of leadership in this letter. Even though he is far away, he still has influence upon this situation. His personal presence will add even more influence, but this letter goes a long ways. Since he only has this letter and words, he uses strong rhetoric to convince this church to listen and correct their ways lest they depart from the truth. It can be challenging for leaders to keep a group like a church going in the right direction. There always seems to be at least one or more people who have their own ideas and even unorthodox ideas, which can make fulfilling the mission challenging. Paul did not give up but trusted in and relied upon the grace of Christ.
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