Now I Paul myself — — A strongly emphatical expression. Who when present am base among you — So, probably, some of the false teachers affirmed. Copying after the meekness and gentleness of Christ, entreat — Though I might command you.... [ Continue Reading ]
Do not constrain me when present to be bold — To exert my apostolical authority. Who think of us as walking after the flesh — As acting in a cowardly or crafty manner.... [ Continue Reading ]
Though we walk in the flesh — In mortal bodies, and, consequently, are not free from human weakness. Yet we do not war — Against the world and the devil. After the flesh — By any carnal or worldly methods. Though the apostle here, and in several other parts of this epistle, speaks in the plural numb... [ Continue Reading ]
For the weapons of our warfare — Those we use in this war. Are not carnal — But spiritual, and therefore mighty to the throwing down of strong holds — Of all the difficulties which men or devils can raise in our way. Though faith and prayer belong also to the Christian armour, Ephesians 6:15, &c., y... [ Continue Reading ]
Destroying all vain reasonings, and every high thing which exalteth itself — As a wall or rampart. Against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought — Or, rather, faculty of the mind. Into captivity to the obedience of Christ — Those evil reasonings are destroyed. The mind itself, being overc... [ Continue Reading ]
Being in readiness to avenge all disobedience — Not only by spiritual censure, but miraculous punishments. When your obedience is fulfilled — When the sound part of you have given proof of your obedience, so that I am in no danger of punishing the innocent with the guilty.... [ Continue Reading ]
Do ye look at the outward appearance of things — Does any of you judge of a minister of Christ by his person, or any outward circumstance? Let him again think this of himself — Let him learn it from his own reflection, before I convince him by a severer method.... [ Continue Reading ]
I should not be ashamed — As having said more than I could make good.... [ Continue Reading ]
I say this, that I may not seem to terrify you by letters — Threatening more than I can perform.... [ Continue Reading ]
His bodily presence is weak — His stature, says St. Chrysostom, was low, his body crooked, and his head bald.... [ Continue Reading ]
For we presume not — A strong irony. To equal ourselves — As partners of the same office. Or to compare ourselves — As partakers of the same labour. They among themselves limiting themselves — Choosing and limiting their provinces according to their own fancy.... [ Continue Reading ]
But we will not, like them, boastingly extend ourselves beyond our measure, but according to the measure of the province which God hath allotted us — To me, in particular, as the apostle of the gentiles. A measure which reaches even unto you — God allotted to each apostle his province, and the measu... [ Continue Reading ]
We are come even to you — By a gradual, regular process, having taken the intermediate places in our way, in preaching the gospel of Christ.... [ Continue Reading ]
Having hope, now your faith is increased — So that you can the better spare us. To be enlarged by you abundantly — That is, enabled by you to go still further.... [ Continue Reading ]
In the regions beyond you — To the west and south, where the gospel had not yet been preached.... [ Continue Reading ]