It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord. Ver. 1. _It is not expedient for me_] Because it carries a show at least of pride and folly; and Christians must be shy of the very shows and shadows of sin, ministers especially, whose practice easil... [ 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. Ver. 2. _I knew a man in Chirst_] _i.e._ A Christian and approved, 2 Corinthians 13:5 . _ Above fourteen years a... [ Continue Reading ]
And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) Ver. 3. _Whether in the body, &c._] So far did he forget and neglect his own body, which is so dear and near a thing, in comparison of that incomparable delight he then took in the Lord. "Oh that joy! O my... [ Continue Reading ]
How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. Ver. 4. _How that he was caught up_] Not locally (likely) but in spirit, as Acts 7:56; Ezekiel 8:3 . _ into Paradise_] Heaven, whereof that earthly paradise was but a dark shadow. Jerom... [ Continue Reading ]
Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities. Ver. 5. _Yet of myself I will not glory_] _Non nisi coactus, ut supra._ Paul was a model of modesty, a very crucifix of mortification, as one calleth him. _ But in mine infirmities_] _i.e._ My troubles, so called... [ 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. Ver. 6. _Lest any men should think of me_] Let no man, saith Gregory, desire to seem more than... [ 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. Ver. 7. _And lest I should be exalted_] So lest Ezekiel should be lifted up with his many rar... [ Continue Reading ]
For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. Ver. 8. _I besought the Lord thrice_] _i.e._ Frequently and fervently. God respecteth not the arithmetic of our prayers, how many they are; not the rhetoric of our prayers, how neat they are; nor the geometry of our prayers, h... [ 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. Ver. 9. _My grace is sufficient for thee_] God sometimes gives pardoning grace where yet he deni... [ 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. Ver. 10. _Therefore I take pleasure_] ευδοκω, I am well paid by them, I reckon them among God's love tokens, pledges of his love, and badg... [ 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. Ver. 11. _For in nothing am I behind_] And yet there were a sort of silly souls (that thought themselves jolly fellows) in the... [ Continue Reading ]
Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds. Ver. 12. _In all patience_] A grace to be gloried in; Job is crowned and chronicled for it.... [ 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. Ver. 13. _Forgive me this wrong_] A pleasant irony, such as whereof this Epistle is full. It is said of a wise man, _Quod obiecta probra ut visus nocturnos, et v... [ 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. Ver. 14. _For I seek not yours_] Not the fleece, but the flock. He had not those instruments... [ 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. Ver. 15. _Spend and be spent_] If like clouds we do sweat ourselves to death, so souls may be brought home to God, it is a blessed way of dying. Mr Samuel Cook's motto was _Impendam et exp... [ Continue Reading ]
But be it so, I did not burden you: nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you with guile. Ver. 16. _Being crafty I caught_] A blessed craft, a high point of heavenly wisdom, Daniel 12:3. It is written of the fox, that when he is very hungry after prey, and can find none, he lieth down and feigneth h... [ Continue Reading ]
Did I make a gain of you by any of them whom I sent unto you? Ver. 17. _Whom I sent unto you_] It is said of the pope, that he can never lack money so long as he can hold a pen in his hand; he can command it and have it. But St Paul could not skill of those arts.... [ 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? Ver. 18. _In the same spirit_] Who worketh with his own tools only, and is ever like himself in all the saints; through whose whole course godliness r... [ 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. Ver. 19. _That we excuse ourselves_] And so yield a fault. _ I speak before God_] The witness of my innocence,Job 16:19; Genesis 20:6 . _ For your edifying_... [ 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: Ver. 20. _And that I shall be found_] _Crudelem medicum intemperans aeger... [ 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. Ver. 21. _That have not repented_] Impenitence maketh sin mortal, saith St... [ Continue Reading ]