Having finished his exhortation, he now proceeds partly to refute the calumnies with which he had been defamed by the false apostles, and partly to repress the insolence (740) of certain wicked persons, who could not bear to be under restraint. Both parties, with the view of destroying Paul’s author... [ Continue Reading ]
2._I beseech you, that I may not be bold, when I am present. _Some think, that the discourse is incomplete, and that he does not express the matter of his request. (746) I am rather of opinion, however, that what was wanting in the former clause is here completed, so that it is a general exhortation... [ Continue Reading ]
3._For though we walk in the flesh. Walking in the flesh _means here — _living it the world; _or, as he expresses it elsewhere, being at home in the body. (2 Corinthians 5:6.) For he was shut up in the prison of his body. This, however, did not prevent the influence of the Holy Spirit from showing... [ Continue Reading ]
4._For the weapons of our warfare. _The warfare corresponds with the kind of weapons. He glories in being furnished with _spiritual _weapons. The warfare, accordingly, is _spiritual. _Hence it follows by way of contraries, (755) that it is _not according to the flesh _In comparing the ministry of th... [ Continue Reading ]
5._And bring into captivity _I am of opinion, that, having previously spoken more particularly of the conflict of spiritual armor, along with the hinderances that rise up in opposition to the gospel of Christ, he now, on the other hand, speaks of the ordinary preparation, by which men must be brough... [ Continue Reading ]
6._And are in readiness to avenge. _This he adds, lest insolent men should presumptuously lift themselves up in opposition to his ministry, as if they could do so with impunity. Hence he says, that power had been given him — not merely for constraining voluntary disciples to subjection to Christ, bu... [ Continue Reading ]
7._That are according to appearance. _In the first place, the clause _according to appearance_, may be taken in two ways: either as meaning the reality itself, visible and manifest, or an outward mask, (765) that deceives us. The sentence, too, may be read either interrogatively or affirmatively: na... [ Continue Reading ]
8._For though I should boast more largely of my authority_. It was a sign of modesty, that he put himself into the number of those, whom he greatly excelled. At the same time, he was not disposed to show such modesty, as not to retain his authority unimpaired. He accordingly adds, that he has said l... [ Continue Reading ]
9_That I may not seem to terrify_. Again he touches on the calumny which he had formerly refuted, (2 Corinthians 10:2,) that he was bold in his writings, while in their presence his courage failed him. On this pretext they disparaged his writings. (769) “What!” Said they, “will he terrify us by lett... [ Continue Reading ]
12._For we dare not. _He says this by way of _irony, _for afterwards he does not merely compare himself boldly with them, but, deriding their vanity, he leaves them far behind him. Now by this _irony _he gives a stroke, not merely to those foolish boasters, (772) but also to the Corinthians, who enc... [ Continue Reading ]
13._But we will not boast beyond our measure _He now contrasts his own moderation with the folly of the false Apostles, (780) and, at the same time, he shows what is the true measure of glorying — when we keep within the limits that have been marked out for us by the Lord. “Has the Lord given me suc... [ Continue Reading ]
14._For we do not overstretch. _He alludes to persons who either forcibly stretch out their arms, or raise themselves up on their feet, when wishing to catch hold of what is not at their hand, (784) for of this nature is a greedy thirst for glory, nay more, it is often more disgusting. For ambitious... [ Continue Reading ]
15._In the labors of others. _He now reproves more freely the false Apostles, who, while they had put forth their hand in the reaping of another man’s harvest, had the audacity at the same time to revile those, who had prepared a place for them at the expense of sweat and toil. Paul had built up the... [ Continue Reading ]
17._But he that glorieth _This statement is made by way of correction, as his glorying might be looked upon as having the appearance of empty boasting. Hence he cites himself and others before the judgment-seat of God, saying, that those glory on good grounds, who are approved by God. To _glory in t... [ Continue Reading ]
_For not he that commendeth himself is approved _“For it is easy to impose upon men by a false impression, and this is matter of every day occurrence. Let us, therefore, leaving off all other things, aim exclusively at this — that we may be approved by God, and may be satisfied to have his approbati... [ Continue Reading ]