I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If I love you more, am I to be loved less?
English Standard Version (ESV)
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2 Corinthians 12:15
What does 2 Corinthians 12:15 mean?
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2 Corinthians 12:15
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Paul doesn't just offer his resources; he offers himself, willing to be "spent," meaning exhausted or even depleted, for the sake of the Corinthian believers. His rhetorical question isn't about deserving applause, but about the natural reciprocity of genuine love—if he pours himself out, a measure of that affection should return.
I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If I love you more, am I to be loved less?
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul is defending his apostleship against detractors who are questioning his authority and questioning his love for the Corinthian church. He's contrasting his selfless service and genuine care for them with the manipulative tactics of false apostles, willing to sacrifice his own well-being for their spiritual growth. He's essentially asking if his sacrificial love means he deserves less affection in return.
What does it really mean to 'spend and be spent' for someone? Paul uses a striking image here.
Paul uses two powerful verbs: 'spend' and 'be spent'.
To Spend Freely
This refers to giving generously, like pouring out resources or time. It's an active, outward motion of giving.
To Be Spent Completely
This implies being exhausted, depleted, even consumed in the process. It’s not just about giving what you have, but giving yourself – your energy, your well-being – until there’s nothing left. Paul’s commitment wasn't superficial; it was total.
He willingly embraced this sacrificial love because his ultimate goal was the spiritual well-being of the Corinthians.
Paul asks a poignant question about love. What is he getting at?
Paul's closing question, 'If I love you more, am I to be loved less?', isn't just a rhetorical flourish. It touches on the natural human desire for mutual affection and recognition.
The Value of Love
He’s saying, 'My love for you is immense, it’s sacrificial. Surely, that kind of love deserves a response, or at least a fair evaluation, not less affection.' He’s not demanding equal love, but questioning why his profound love might be met with suspicion or diminished regard by some in the Corinthian church.
Security in Christ's Love
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Ultimately, this also points us to the security we have in Christ's love, which is perfect and never wavers, regardless of our response. While Paul seeks a loving response from the Corinthians, our standing with God is secure in Christ's boundless love for us.
Understand the original words
psychē · Greek Noun
The immaterial, immortal part of a person; the seat of life and the center of an individual's personality, which is the primary object of God's redemptive work.
agapaō/agapē · Greek Verb/Noun
The self-sacrificial, committed, and unconditional affection derived from God, which seeks the highest good of another person regardless of the cost.
Paul writes this letter in a period of intense relational strain with the Corinthian church, where his apostolic authority and genuine love are being questioned by rivals. His words here are a passionate defense of his commitment, born from deep affection and a desire for their spiritual well-being.
c. AD 48-49
Paul's First Missionary Journey
Paul, along with Barnabas, travels through Asia Minor, establishing churches and facing opposition. This journey plants the seeds for future relationships and challenges.
c. AD 50
Council of Jerusalem
A crucial meeting where leaders decide that Gentile believers do not need to be circumcised. This affirms a more inclusive gospel but also creates ongoing theological discussions.
c. AD 52-57
Paul's Ministry in Ephesus
Paul spends a significant amount of time in Ephesus, a major Roman city. He faces intense opposition but also sees great success, ministering to a diverse group of people.
c. AD 55-56
Writing of 1 Corinthians
During his time in Ephesus, Paul writes his first letter to the Corinthian church to address divisions and doctrinal issues.
c. AD 56
The 'Severe Letter' and Painful Visit
Following 1 Corinthians, Paul visits Corinth again. This visit is difficult, and he later writes a 'severe letter' (possibly the lost 'letter of tears') expressing his deep sorrow over their response.
c. AD 56-57— this verse
Writing of 2 Corinthians
Paul writes his second letter to the Corinthians, likely from Macedonia. This letter is complex, addressing ongoing challenges, defending his apostolic authority, and revealing his deep emotional struggle and love for the church.
Paul echoes this self-sacrificial love, willing to be poured out like a drink offering for the Philippian believers' faith.
1 Thessalonians 2:8This passage reveals a similar depth of affection, where Paul longed to share not only the gospel but his very life with the Thessalonians.
John 10:11Jesus expresses the ultimate example of laying down His life for His sheep, mirroring Paul's readiness to be 'spent' for the spiritual well-being of others.
Galatians 4:19Paul uses the imagery of childbirth to describe his deep longing and sacrificial effort to see believers mature in Christ, showing the personal cost of his love.
Paul doesn't just offer his resources; he offers himself, willing to be "spent," meaning exhausted or even depleted, for the sake of the Corinthian believers. His rhetorical question isn't about deserving applause, but about the natural reciprocity of genuine love—if he pours himself out, a measure of that affection should return.
Paul is defending his apostleship against detractors who are questioning his authority and questioning his love for the Corinthian church. He's contrasting his selfless service and genuine care for them with the manipulative tactics of false apostles, willing to sacrifice his own well-being for their spiritual growth. He's essentially asking if his sacrificial love means he deserves less affection in return.
Paul is defending his apostleship against detractors who are questioning his authority and questioning his love for the Corinthian church. He's contrasting his selfless service and genuine care for them with the manipulative tactics of false apostles, willing to sacrifice his own well-being for their spiritual growth. He's essentially asking if his sacrificial love means he deserves less affection in return.
"I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If I love you more, am I to be loved less?" — Paul doesn't just offer his resources; he offers himself, willing to be "spent," meaning exhausted or even depleted, for the sake of the Corinthian believers. His rhetorical question isn't about dese…
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Last reviewed October 2026