2 Corinthians 12:1-6. The Visions and Revelations vouchsafed to St Paul 1. _It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come_ The Greek text here is in the most utter confusion. Out of the seven Greek words which commence this chapter, the genuineness of only three is guaranteed by the ag... [ Continue Reading ]
_I knew a man_ That this is the Apostle is proved by 2 Corinthians 12:7. The word _knew_should, both here and in 2 Corinthians 12:3, be rendered know. _in Christ_ i.e. after his conversion, when he had become united to Christ. _above fourteen years ago_ And yet, as Chrysostom and Calvin remark, he... [ Continue Reading ]
_how that he was caught up into paradise_ Was this a second vision, or only an extension of the first? St Paul's language makes the latter more probable. Early tradition is not very clear upon the subject, but the general opinion seems to have been that St Paul was not only caught up to the highest... [ Continue Reading ]
_Of such a one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory_ St Paul desires to put the fact in the background that it is of himself he is speaking (see next verse). He has been compelled by the folly and perversity of certain among the Corinthians to touch on these proofs of Divine favour, but he j... [ Continue Reading ]
_For though I would desire to glory_ St Paul here identifies himself with the man who saw the visions. -I shall not be foolish, even if I do boast, for I shall only be speaking the truth. But I refrain." _forbear_ See ch. 2 Corinthians 1:23; 2 Corinthians 9:6; 2 Corinthians 13:2, where the word is... [ Continue Reading ]
The Thorn in the Flesh 7. _And lest I should be exalted above measure_ Rather, -lest I should be TOO MUCH exalted." _a thorn in the flesh_ See Introduction. _the messenger of Satan_ Or, AN ANGEL of Satan. Cf. Matthew 12:45; Matthew 25:41; Revelation 12:7; Revelation 12:9.... [ Continue Reading ]
_For this thing I besought the Lord thrice_ Literally, CONCERNING this. For the word translated _besought_see ch. 2 Corinthians 1:3; 2 Corinthians 8:6, and 2 Corinthians 12:18 of this chapter. With St Paul's prayer here compare Matthew 26:39-44 and the parallel passages in the other Gospels. It is n... [ Continue Reading ]
_And he said unto me_ Jesus Christ said it, "but _how_the answer from Christ was received, whether through an inner voice or by means of a vision, is entirely unknown to us." Meyer. _My grace is sufficient for thee_ "Gratia mea, id est, favor ac benevolentia mea qua tibi volo benefacere," Estius, w... [ Continue Reading ]
_in reproaches_ Rather, perhaps, INSULTS. _in distresses_ See note on ch. 2 Corinthians 6:4. _for Christ's sake_ This refers to _all_the preceding list of things endured. _strong_ Perhaps better, POWERFUL (_migty_, Wiclif), as the word is cognate with _power_above. The word _strong_is scarcely ad... [ Continue Reading ]
Continuation of the Defence 11. _I am become a fool in glorying_ Or perhaps, with some, _Have_I become a fool? The words in _glorying_are not in the best MSS. and versions. Thus Wiclif, following the Vulgate, translates, _I am made unwitti, ye constreineden me_. _ye have compelled me_ Literally, Y... [ Continue Reading ]
_Truly the signs of an apostle_ Rather, of THE Apostle, i.e. of him who is an Apostle. These are of two kinds, (1) inward, consisting in endurance for the Gospel's sake, and (2) outward, in credentials of his mission given from on high. _signs, and wonders_ These words are continually conjoined in... [ Continue Reading ]
_For what is it wherein ye were inferior to other churches (hadden lesse than_, Wiclif). There is no need to regard this, with some commentators, as "bitter irony." There is nothing bitter about it. Ironical indeed it is, but it is irony of the very gentlest kind. -Everything that an Apostle can do... [ Continue Reading ]
_Behold, the third time_ We can either interpret this (1) with most commentators, of some unrecorded visit to Corinth, or (2) with Paley, that St Paul is speaking here and in ch. 2 Corinthians 13:1 of the _intention_merely of visiting Corinth, such as we know (ch. 2 Corinthians 1:15-17) was frustrat... [ Continue Reading ]
_very gladly_ Or _most_gladly. _spend and be spent_ St Paul regards himself but as a gift of Christ's love, in that he has been made a channel of His grace. Simply as such, as a means whereby Christ is enriching them with Himself, he will not only spend himself, but be spent by others, just as mone... [ Continue Reading ]
_But be it so_ St Paul returns to the charge in 2 Corinthians 12:13. He supposes his antagonists to admit that, as far as he himself is concerned, he has given it a satisfactory answer. But he is prepared for any amount of unjust insinuations. He expects (see note on 2 Corinthians 12:13, on the word... [ Continue Reading ]
_make a gain of you_ See ch. 2 Corinthians 2:11. _by any of them whom I sent unto you_ They may have been maintained at the expense of the Churches, but they certainly made no attempt to enrich St Paul by their mission. In their disinterested labours they followed implicitly the example of the great... [ Continue Reading ]
_I desired Titus_ See ch. 2 Corinthians 8:6. This has also been thought to be the Epistolary aorist, and to have a present signification, as though the present letter had been sent by Titus, but the rest of the verse seems to point to some _past_occasion. See also ch. 2Co 13:2; 2 Corinthians 13:10,... [ Continue Reading ]
2 Corinthians 12:19 to 2 Corinthians 13:10. The Apostle's intentions on his arrival 19. _Again, think you that we excuse ourselves_. Rather, DO YE THINK THAT WE ARE DEFENDING OURSELVES AGAIN? Many MSS. and versions read, _Do you think_(or _You think) that we have been defending ourselves to you thi... [ Continue Reading ]
_For_ The connection of thought is, -I do this for your edification, of which there is much need, for there are many disorders among you." _such as ye would not_ "He here completely and finally throws off the apologist and puts on the Apostle." Alford. He will rule by love rather than by fear, if p... [ Continue Reading ]
_among you_ Or, with some interpreters, _in reference to_you. The literal translation is TO you. _which have sinned already_ Literally, those who have sinned BEFORE, i.e. either (1) before their conversion and who did not cast off their evil habits when they became Christians, or (2) those who sinn... [ Continue Reading ]