2 Corinthians 12:18 (DBY)

Passage

I begged Titus, and sent the brother with [him]: did Titus at all make gain of you? have we not walked in the same spirit? [have we] not in the same steps?

Nearby Context

2 Corinthians 12:16 But be it so. *I* did not burden you, but being crafty I took you by guile.

2 Corinthians 12:17 Did I make gain of you by any of those whom I have sent to you?

2 Corinthians 12:18 I begged Titus, and sent the brother with [him]: did Titus at all make gain of you? have we not walked in the same spirit? [have we] not in the same steps?

2 Corinthians 12:19 Ye have long been supposing that we excuse ourselves to you: we speak before God in Christ; and all things, beloved, for your building up.

2 Corinthians 12:20 For I fear lest perhaps coming I find you not such as I wish, and that *I* be found by you such as ye do not wish: lest [there might be] strifes, jealousies, angers, contentions, evil speakings, whisperings, puffings up, disturbances;

Study Lenses

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

The nearby context moves from verse 17's "Did I make gain of you by..." into verse 19's "Ye have long been supposing that we...", so "Spirit" and "begged" 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 "begged" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.