2 Corinthians 12:18 (YLT)

Passage

I entreated Titus, and did send with <FI>him<Fi> the brother; did Titus take advantage of you? in the same spirit did we not walk? --did we not in the same steps?

Nearby Context

2 Corinthians 12:16 And be it <FI>so<Fi> , I--I did not burden you, but being crafty, with guile I did take you;

2 Corinthians 12:17 any one of those whom I have sent unto you--by him did I take advantage of you?

2 Corinthians 12:18 I entreated Titus, and did send with <FI>him<Fi> the brother; did Titus take advantage of you? in the same spirit did we not walk? --did we not in the same steps?

2 Corinthians 12:19 Again, think ye that to you we are making defence? before God in Christ do we speak; and the all things, beloved, <FI>are<Fi> for your up-building,

2 Corinthians 12:20 for I fear lest, having come, not such as I wish I may find you, and I--I may be found by you such as ye do not wish, lest there be strifes, envyings, wraths, revelries, evil-speakings, whisperings, puffings up, insurrections,

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "Spirit", "entreated", "titus", "send", "brother", "take", "advantage", and "same". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "Spirit" and "entreated", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 17's "any one of those whom I have..." into verse 19's "Again think ye that to you we...", so "Spirit" and "entreated" 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 "entreated" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.