2 Corinthians 12:14 (KJV)

Passage

Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burdensome to you: for I seek not yours, but you: for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.

Nearby Context

2 Corinthians 12:12 Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.

2 Corinthians 12:13 For what is it wherein ye were inferior to other churches, except it be that I myself was not burdensome to you? forgive me this wrong.

2 Corinthians 12:14 Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burdensome to you: for I seek not yours, but you: for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.

2 Corinthians 12:15 And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.

2 Corinthians 12:16 But be it so, I did not burden you: nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you with guile.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "behold", "third", "time", "ready", "come", "burdensome", "seek", and "yours". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "behold" and "third", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 13's "For what is it wherein ye were..." into verse 15's "And I will very gladly spend and...", so "behold" and "third" belong inside that flow. In 2 Corinthians context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "behold" and "third" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.