Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

2 Corinthians 2:17

οἱ πολλοί (אABCK, most versions) rather than οἱ λοιποί (DFGL, Syr., Arm.); and κατέναντι θεοῦ (א1ABC) rather than κατενώπιον τοῦ θεοῦ (FGKL) or κατέναντι τοῦ θεοῦ (P) or κατενώπιον θεοῦ (D).

2 Corinthians 2:1-17. THE VINDICATION CONTINUED

There should be no break here. The first chapter should have ended at 2 Corinthians 1:22, or still better at 2 Corinthians 2:14. There is the closest connexion between 2 Corinthians 1:23-24 and what follows, and from 2 Corinthians 1:15 to 2 Corinthians 2:4 the answer to the charge of “lightness” continues unbroken.

17. οὐ γάρ ἐσμεν ὡς οἱ πολλοί. The answer to the question is lost in the contrast between the Apostle and the other teachers: but the answer which is implied is that ‘we are sufficient’; for we are not as the many. The article is again ignored in the A.V., as in 2 Corinthians 2:6. But, unless the Apostle is here comparing the Judaizing teachers with himself, Silvanus, and Timothy, οἱ πολλοί can hardly have its common meaning of ‘the majority.’ Even in his most desponding moods S. Paul would scarcely say that in the Church at large false teachers were ‘the majority.’ But οἱ πολλοί may mean a definite group which is large, ‘the many’ who are well known, as in Polycarp 2, 7. In any case it retains the tone of contempt with which οἱ πολλοί are often mentioned.

καπηλεύοντες τὸν λόγον τοῦ θεοῦ. Corrupting the word of God. The participle goes with ἐσμέν: ‘such is not our manner of teaching.’ But ‘corrupt is an inadequate rendering of καπηλεύω, which means ‘corrupt for sordid gain.’ Their corrupting or falsifying of the word is spoken of as δολοῦντες (2 Corinthians 4:2): and the Vulgate has adulterantes in both places. Erasmus suggested cauponati; and this is used by Cassiodorus; quod verbum veritatis videantur esse cauponati (Hist. Eccl. iv. 24). A κάπηλος is one who sells by retail, a huckster, especially a retailer of wine; and hence one who makes gain by petty traffic, with or without the additional notion of cheating by adulteration or otherwise: comp. οἱ κάπηλοί σου μίσγουσι τὸν οἶνον ὕδατι (Isaiah 1:22). In the only other passage in the LXX. in which κάπηλος occurs, ‘An huckster shall not be judged free from sin’ (Sir 26:29), there is the same idea of cheating. Here καπηλεύοντες means ‘adulterating for the sake of pitiful gain.’

ἀλλʼ ὡς ἐξ εἰλικρινίας, ἀλλʼ ὡς ἐκ θεοῦ. ‘Sincerity (2 Corinthians 1:12) is in our hearts; nay more, God is in our hearts; and therefore what comes from sincerity comes from Him.’ The second ἀλλά marks a climax: in 2 Corinthians 7:11 and 1 Corinthians 6:11 we have a series. Both sources (ἐκ) of the Apostle’s teaching are in marked contrast to καπηλεύοντες.

κατέναντι θεοῦ. This consciousness of the Divine presence (2 Corinthians 12:19; Romans 4:17) is a guarantee for sincerity. See critical note. Neither κατέναντι (2 Corinthians 12:19; Romans 4:17, &c.) nor κατενώπιον (Ephesians 1:4; Colossians 1:22; Jude 1:24) are found in classical authors: both occur several times in the LXX.

ἐν Χριστῷ. As being His members and ministers. In Him our teaching lives and moves. Comp. 2 Corinthians 5:17; Romans 16:10.

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Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

2 Corinthians 2:17

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