2 Corinthians 12:19

Again, think ye that we excuse, &c.— He had before given the reason, ch. 2 Corinthians 1:23 for his not coming to them, with the same asseveration as in the present verse. If we trace the thread of St. Paul's discourse, we may observe that, having concluded the justification of himself and his apostleship by his past actions, 2 Corinthians 12:13 he had it in his thoughts to tell them how he would deal with the false apostle and his adherents when he came, as he was now ready to do; and therefore he solemnly begins, 2 Corinthians 12:14 with Behold; and tells them, that now the third time he was ready to come to them: to which joining what was much upon his mind, that he would not be burdensome to them when he came, an objection was presented to his thoughts, namely, that this personal shyness in him was but cunning, for that he designed to draw gain from them by other hands; from which he clears himself by the instance of Titus, and a brother, whom he had sent together with him; who were as far from receiving any thing from them as he himself. Titus and his other messenger being thus mentioned, he thought it necessary to obviate another suspicion which might be raised in the minds of some of them, as if he mentioned the sending of those two as an apology for his not coming himself. This he utterly disclaims; and, to prevent any thoughts of that kind, solemnly protests to them, that, in all hisconduct towards them, he had done nothing but for their edification; that he had no other aim in any of his actions; and that he forbore coming, merely out of respect and good-will to them. So that the whole, from 2 Corinthians 12:14 to ch. 2 Corinthians 13:1 must be looked upon as a discourse which fell in occasionally, though tending to the same purpose with the rest:—a way of writing very usual withour Apostle, and with other writers, who abound in quickness and variety of thoughts, as he did. Such men, by new matter rising in their way, are often put by from what they were going, and had begun to say; which therefore they are obliged to take up again, and continue at a distance, as St. Paul does here, after the interposition of eight verses. But we must never forget that, however the Holy Spirit was pleased to operate on the Apostle's mind, the whole was written under his infallible direction.