2 Corinthians 11:21

I speak as concerning reproach, as though we had been weak. Howbeit whereinsoever any is bold, (I speak foolishly,) I am bold also. AS CONCERNING REPROACH - rather, 'by way of self-disparagement.' I speak as though the allegation were true, that [ legoo (G3004) hoos (G5613) hoti (G3754)] WE 'were weak' when with you, in not, like them, exalting ourselves at your expense (2 Corinthians 11:20). Irony. Billroth, 'By way of reproach (he does not add to you and your teachers, leaving their own self-respect to supply the ellipsis), I speak in consequence of the allegation that [ hoos...

21._Nay, in whatsoever. _Paul had asked, why the Corinthians showed more respect to others than to him, while he had not been by any means weak, that is, contemptible. He now confirms this, because, if a comparison had been entered upon, he would not have been inferior to any one in any department of honor....

16-21 It is the duty and practice of Christians to humble themselves, in obedience to the command and example of the Lord; yet prudence must direct in what it is needful to do things which we may do lawfully, even the speaking of what God has wrought for us, and in us, and by us. Doubtless here is reference to facts in which the character of the false apostles had been shown. It is astonishing to see how such men bring their followers into bondage, and how they take from them and insult them....

Verse 21. _I SPEAK AS CONCERNING REPROACH_] Dr. Whitby thus paraphrases this verse: "That which I said of _smiting you upon the_ _face, I speak as concerning_ the _reproach_ they cast upon you as profane and uncircumcised, whereas _they_ all profess to be a holy nation; _as though we had been weak_-inferior to them in these things, not able to ascribe to ourselves those advantages as well as they. _Howbeit, whereinsoever any is bold_, and can justly value himself on these advantages, _I am bold also_, and can claim the same distinctions, though _I speak foolishly_ in setting any value on those things; but it is necessary that I should show that such men have not even one _natural good_ that they can boast of beyond _me_....

I SPEAK AS CONCERNING REPROACH - I speak of disgrace. That is, says Rosenmuller, “I speak of your disgrace, or, as others prefer it, of the disgrace of the false apostles.” Doddridge regards it as a question. “Do I speak this by way of dishonor, from an envious desire to derogate from my superiors so as to bring them down to my own level?” But to me it seems that Paul refers to what he had been admitting respecting himself - to what he had evinced in rudeness of speech 2 Corinthians 11:6, and to his not having urged his claims to the support which an apostle had a right to receive - to things, in short, which they esteemed to be disgraceful or reproachful. And his idea, it seems to me, is this: “I have been speaking of reproach or disgrace as if I was weak, that is, as if I was disposed to admit as true all that has been said of me as reproachful or d

AN APOSTLE DRIVEN AGAINST HIS WILL INTO A SEMBLANCE OF BOASTING. EXPOSITION An apology for the "foolishness" of boasting (2 Corinthians 11:1). He is not afraid of comparisons (2 Corinthians 11:5, 2 Corinthians 11:6). He will not recede from his despised practice of teaching gratuitously (2 Corinthians 11:7). A second apology, drawn from the outrageous conduct of his opponents ...

I SPEAK AS CONCERNING REPROACH,.... These words may be considered either as explanative of the latter part of the former verse, "if a man smite you on the face"; that is not to be understood strictly and literally, of one man's striking another on the face, but of reproach and contumelious language, used by the false apostles to the Corinthians; or they may have reference to the apostle's design in the whole, which was partly to reproach, the Corinthians for acting such a stupid part, in patiently bearing so many and such indignities from these men; and partly to expose the scandalous and reproachful usage of them by the false apostles, that if possible their eyes might be opened to see through them, and discard them: or else these words may be regarded in connection with what follows, AS THOUGH WE HAD BEEN WEAK; and then the apostle's meaning is, that as to the business of scandal and...

2 CORINTHIANS 11:21 hvsqenh,kamen {B} The Committee considered the witnesses that support the perfect tense to be of greater weight than those that support the aorist tense. After hvsqenh,samen, a few witnesses (D E _al_) add the gloss evn tou,tw| tw|/ me,rei (“in this matter”)....

2. ANSWERING HIS ADVERSARIES. HIS BOASTINGS. CHAPTER 11 _ 1. The Danger Through False Teachers. (2 Corinthians 11:1)_ 2. Answering His Adversaries. (2 Corinthians 11:7) 3. His Boastings of Labors and Sufferings. (2 Corinthians 11:16 .) Inasmuch as he did not want to boast, he tells the Corinthians to bear with him a little while he acts foolishly in speaking of himself. It had become necessary to do so in order to answer his adversaries, who were making havoc among the Corinthians, but he looks upon his vindication and boasting as nothing less than folly. He is about to do what he had exposed in others in the previous chapter ...

COMPARISON BETWEEN PAUL AND HIS OPPONENTS (_cf._ 2 Corinthians 11:6). Under the pressure of intense feeling he will break through his inclination and self-imposed resolve of silence, to let his character and his sufferings in the cause of Christ speak for themselves. But in doing so, he makes it clear that he waives all authority of one who speaks in the Lord. Speaking simply as a frail man, he pleads that he may receive at least such a hearing as the Corinthians have given to the other men who have tyrannised over them, exploited them, even buffeted them. If such high-handed arrogance as they have practised be what they mean by strength, then he admits (ironically adding to my disgrace) that he had been weak. The passage which follows (2 Corinthians 11:22 to...