What does 2 Corinthians 12:14 mean?
The issue of Paul's refusal to receive financial support for himself from the Corinthians has come up once again (1 Corinthians 9:11–12; 2 Corinthians 11:7–12). This is something they seem to have taken poorly, desiring to pay Paul in order not to leave their obligation to him unmet. He has insisted, however, that he not be a financial burden to them. This is partly because he does not want to give anyone a reason to question his motives for serving them as Christ's representative.Now he writes that he will continue to insist on this when he comes to see them in person for the third time. The first time was when he came to Corinth and planted the church there (Acts 18:1–18). The second time was his "painful visit" which was resolved at the beginning of this letter. Paul is coming once more to, in part, receive their contribution to the suffering Christians in Jerusalem.
Paul restates once more his reason for not wanting to take any money for himself. He sees himself as their spiritual father in Christ. He doesn't want what is theirs. He wants them. As the parent in their spiritual relationship, he is the one who is obligated to provide for their needs, not the other way around. He seems to say that if they give him money for his personal needs, it will distort that parent-child relationship they share.
It's important to note that Paul is not, at all, indicating that spiritual leaders should never take support from those they serve. Quite the opposite view is presented in the New Testament (1 Corinthians 9:7–11; 1 Timothy 5:17–18).
Second Corinthians 12:11–21 describes Paul's disappointment that the Corinthians did not defend him against attacks from false apostles. The believers of Corinth saw the signs and wonders God performed through him. Paul declares once again that he will not receive payment from them. A father provides for his children, not the other way around. He rejects an accusation that he or Titus plan to swindle them and expresses his concern that when he arrives in Corinth, he will find some still unrepentant of specific sins.
With as much humility as possible, Paul describes an astounding experience. He was caught up to the ''third heaven'' and received a revelation from God that he cannot reveal on earth. He refuses to brag about it, but mentions it in order to introduce the consequences of that experience. To keep Paul humble, God gave him a ''thorn in the flesh,'' some malady which the Bible does not explicitly explain. Paul has learned to be content in his suffering since God's power is made perfect in his weakness. He chastises the Corinthians for not commending him since they know him. He defends himself against a charge of crafty swindling, and he expresses concern that he will find some still living in sin when he arrives in Corinth.
