Paul, having finished the subject of the duty of alms-giving in the previous chapter, enters into this on a vindication of himself from the charges of his enemies. His general design is to vindicate his apostolic authority, and to show that he had a right, as well as others, to regard himself as sen... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW I PAUL MYSELF BESEECH YOU - I entreat you who are members of the church not to give me occasion for the exercise of severity in discipline. I have just expressed my confidence in the church in general, and my belief that you will act in accordance with the rules of the gospel. But I cannot thus... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT I MAY NOT BE BOLD - I entreat you so to act that I may not have occasion to exercise the severity which I fear I shall be compelled to use against those who accuse me of being governed wholly by worldly motives and policy. In other words, that I may not be compelled to be bold and decisive in m... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THOUGH WE WALK IN THE FLESH - Though we are mortal like other people; though we dwell like them in mortal bodies, and necessarily must devote some care to our temporal needs; and though, being in the flesh, we are conscious of imperfections and frailties like others. The sense is, that he did no... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE WEAPONS OF OUR WARFARE - The means by which we hope to achieve our victory. ARE NOT CARNAL - Not those of the flesh. Not such as the people of the world use. They are not such as are employed by conquerors; nor are they such as people in general rely on to advance their cause. We do not dep... [ Continue Reading ]
CASTING DOWN IMAGINATIONS - Margin, reasonings. The word is probably used here in the sense of device, and refers to all the plans of a wicked world; the various systems of false philosophy; and the reasonings of the enemies of the gospel. The various systems of false philosophy were so intrenched t... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HAVING IN A READINESS ... - I am ready to punish all disobedience, notwithstanding all that is said to the contrary; see the notes on 2 Corinthians 10:1. Clothed as I am with this power; aiming to subdue all things to Christ, though the weapons of my warfare are not carnal, and though I am modes... [ Continue Reading ]
DO YE LOOK ON THINGS AFTER THE OUTWARD APPEARANCE? - This is addressed evidently to the members of the church, and with reference to the claims which had been set up by the false teachers. There can be no doubt that they valued themselves on their external advantages, and laid claim to special honor... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THOUGH I SHOULD BOAST ... - If I should make even higher claims than I have done to a divine commission. I could urge higher evidence than I have done that I am sent by the Lord Jesus. OF OUR AUTHORITY - Of my authority as an apostle, my power to administer discipline, and to direct the affairs... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT I MAY NOT SEEM ... - The meaning of this verse seems to be this. “I say that I might boast more of my power in order that I may not appear disposed to terrify you with my letters merely. I do not threaten more than I can perform. I have it in my power to execute all that I have threatened, and... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR HIS LETTERS - The letters which he has sent to the church when absent. Reference is had here probably to the First Epistle to the Corinthians. They might also have seen some of Paul’s other epistles, and been so well acquainted with them as to he able to make the general remark that he had the p... [ Continue Reading ]
LET SUCH AN ONE THINK THIS ... - Let them not flatter themselves that there will be any discrepancy between my words and my deeds. Let them feel that all which has been threatened will be certainly executed unless there is repentance. Paul here designedly contradicts the charge which was made agains... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR WE DARE NOT MAKE OURSELVES OF THE NUMBER - We admit that we are not bold enough for that. They had accused him of a lack of boldness and energy when present with them, 2Co 10:1, 2 Corinthians 10:10. Here in a strain of severe but delicate irony, he says he was not bold enough to do things which... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT WE WILL NOT BOAST OF THINGS WITHOUT OUR MEASURE - Tyndale renders this:” But we will not rejoice above measure.” There is great obscurity in the language here, arising from its brevity. But the general idea seems to be plain. Paul says that he had not boldness as they had to boast of things whol... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR WE STRETCH NOT OURSELVES BEYOND OUR MEASURE - In coming to preach to you we have not gone beyond the proper limits assigned us. We have not endeavored to enlarge the proper boundaries, to stretch the line which limited us, but have kept honestly within the proper limits. AS THOUGH WE REACHED NO... [ Continue Reading ]
NOT BOASTING OF THINGS WITHOUT OUR MEASURE - There is here probably an allusion to the false teachers at Corinth. They had come after Paul had been there, and had entered into his labors. When he had founded the church; when he had endured trials and persecutions in order to reach Corinth; when he h... [ Continue Reading ]
TO PREACH THE GOSPEL IN THE REGIONS BEYOND YOU - What regions are referred to here can be only a matter of conjecture. It may be that he wished to preach in other parts of Greece, and that he designed to go to Arcadia or Lacedaemon. Rosenmuller supposes that as the Corinthians were engaged in commer... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT HE THAT GLORIETH - He that boasts. Whatever may be the occasion of his boasting, whether in planting churches or in watering them; whether in his purposes, plans, toils, or success. Paul himself did not deem it improper on some occasions to boast 2 Corinthians 11:16; 2 Corinthians 12:5, but it w... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR NOT HE THAT COMMENDETH HIMSELF ... - Not he who boasts of his talents and endowments. He is not to be judged by the estimate which he shall place on himself, but by the estimate which God shall form and express. IS APPROVED - By God. It is no evidence that we shall be saved that we are prone to... [ Continue Reading ]