2 Corinthians 12:18 (KJV)

Passage

I desired Titus, and with him I sent a brother. Did Titus make a gain of you? walked we not in the same spirit? walked we not in the same steps?

Nearby Context

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

2 Corinthians 12:17 Did I make a gain of you by any of them whom I sent unto you?

2 Corinthians 12:18 I desired Titus, and with him I sent a brother. Did Titus make a gain of you? walked we not in the same spirit? walked we not in the same steps?

2 Corinthians 12:19 Again, think ye that we excuse ourselves unto you? we speak before God in Christ: but we do all things, dearly beloved, for your edifying.

2 Corinthians 12:20 For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults:

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "Spirit", "desired", "titus", "sent", "brother", "make", "gain", and "walked". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "Spirit" and "desired", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 17's "Did I make a gain of you..." into verse 19's "Again think ye that we excuse ourselves...", so "Spirit" and "desired" 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 "Spirit" and "desired" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.