2 Corinthians 12:15 Meaning and Explanation
“And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Paul will gladly spend himself entirely for them, even though his greater love seems to be met with lesser love in return.
What Does 2 Corinthians 12:15 Mean?
Paul declares his willingness to spend and be spent for the Corinthians, pouring out not only his resources but his very self. He does this very gladly, even while acknowledging a painful imbalance: the more abundantly he loves them, the less he seems to be loved in return.
This is love that does not keep accounts. Paul gives without measuring what comes back, because his model is Christ, who loved to the uttermost and was so often met with rejection. To love this way is costly and sometimes lonely, yet it reflects the very heart of God. Such love is not weakened by being unreturned; it keeps spending itself for the good of others.
2 Corinthians 12:15 in the Original Language
dapanao (δαπανάω), 'spend' -- to expend or use up fully, here of pouring out one's resources and self for another.
Frequently Asked Questions About 2 Corinthians 12:15
What does 2 Corinthians 12:15 mean?
Paul will gladly spend himself entirely for them, even though his greater love seems to be met with lesser love in return.