It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord. He illustrates the 'glorying in infirmities' (2 Corinthians 11:30). He gave one instance which might expose him to ridicule (2 Corinthians 11:33): he now gives another, connected with a glorious rev... [ Continue Reading ]
I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven. Oida (G1492) - 'I know;' not "I knew." A MAN - meaning himself. He distinguishes between the rapt and glorifie... [ Continue Reading ]
And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) 'I know.' OUT OF. So G [ ektos (G1622)]. B Delta [ chooris (G5565)] read 'apart from.'... [ Continue Reading ]
How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. UNSPEAKABLE - not in themselves, otherwise Paul could not have heard them; but "which it is not lawful for a man to utter." They were designed for Paul's own consolation, not for comm... [ Continue Reading ]
Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities. OF MYSELF - concerning myself. Self is put in the background, except his infirmities. His glorying in his other self, to which the revelations were vouchsafed, was not to give glory to his fleshly self, but to... [ Continue Reading ]
For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me. FOR - Not but that I might glory as to "myself" (2 Corinthians 12:5); 'FOR if I should desire to gl... [ Continue Reading ]
And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. EXALTED ABOVE MEASURE, [ huperairoomai (G5229)] - 'overmuch uplifted.' How dangerous must... [ Continue Reading ]
For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. FOR - `concerning this thing.' THRICE. To his first and second prayer no answer came. To his third the answer satisfied his faith, and led him to bow his will to God's will. So Paul's master, Jesus, thrice prayed on the m... [ Continue Reading ]
And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. SAID - literally, 'He hath said:' His answer satisfies Paul. IS SUFFICIENT. The trial must... [ Continue Reading ]
Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. TAKES, PLEASURE IN. Too strongly. Rather [ eudokoo (G2106)], 'I am well-contented in.' INFIRMITIES - the genus. Two pairs of species... [ Continue Reading ]
I am become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be nothing. IN GLORYING. Omitted in A B Delta G 'Aleph (') f g, Vulgate. YE - emphatic. 'It is YE who have compelled me; for I ought... [ Continue Reading ]
Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds. TRULY ... There is understood some such clause as, 'yet I have not been commended by you.' IN ALL PATIENCE [ hupomonee (G5281 )] IN SIGNS ... A B Delta G 'Aleph (') f g, Vulgate, omit... [ Continue Reading ]
For what is it wherein ye were inferior to other churches, except it be that I myself was not burdensome to you? forgive me this wrong. WHEREIN YOU WERE INFERIOR - i:e., were treated with less consideration by me than other churches. I MYSELF - I made a gain of you neither myself, nor by those... [ Continue Reading ]
Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burdensome to you: for I seek not yours, but you: for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children. THE THIRD TIME - (see 'Introduction' to 1 Corinthians.) His second visit was probably short... [ Continue Reading ]
And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved. I WILL VERY GLADLY SPEND - all I have. BE SPENT - all that I am; more than even natural parents do. They 'lay up treasures for their children;' but I spend not merely my treasures, bu... [ Continue Reading ]
But be it so, I did not burden you: nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you with guile. I DID NOT BURDEN YOU. The "I" (Greek) is emphatic. A possible insinuation of the Corinthians is anticipated and refuted. 'You may say, granted that I did not burden you myself; nevertheless, being crafty, I... [ Continue Reading ]
Did I make a gain of you by any of them whom I sent unto you? Paul's reply: You know well I did not. My associates were as disinterested as myself. An important rule to all who would influence others for good.... [ Continue Reading ]
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? I DESIRED TITUS - namely, to go unto you. Not the mission (; ; ), but previous to this letter; probably that from which he had just returned, announcin... [ Continue Reading ]
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. AGAIN. So C Delta g [ palin (G3825)]: a correction from 2 Corinthians 3:1; 2 Corinthians 5:12. But 'Aleph (') A B f, Vulgate [ palai (G3819)], 'This long time y... [ Continue Reading ]
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: FOR - cause why they needed to be thus spoken to "for their edification" -... [ Continue Reading ]
And lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall bewail many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed. MY GOD - implying resignation to the will of God, as being his God, however... [ Continue Reading ]