2 Corinthians 12:19

Again, think ye that we excuse ourselves unto you? we speak before God in Christ: but we do all things, dearly beloved, for your edifying. AGAIN. So C Delta g [ palin (G3825)]: a correction from 2 Corinthians 3:1; 2 Corinthians 5:12. But 'Aleph (') A B f, Vulgate [ palai (G3819)], 'This long time ye think that we are excusing ourselves unto you? (Nay.) It is before God that we speak in Christ' (2 Corinthians 2:17)....

19._Do you again think. _As those that are conscious to themselves of something wrong are sometimes more anxious than others to clear themselves, it is probable, that this, also, was turned into a ground of calumny — that Paul had in the former Epistle applied himself to a defense of his ministry. Farther, it is a fault in the servants of Christ, to be too much concerned as to their own reputation. With the view, therefore, of repelling those calumnies, he declares in the _first _place, that he speaks in the presence of God, whom evil consciences always dread. In the _second _place, he maintains, that he has not so much a _view _to himself, as to them. He was prepared to go through _good report and bad report, _(2 Corinthians 6:8,) nay, even to be reduced to nothing; but it was of advantage to the Corinthians, that he should retain the reputation that he deserved,

11-21 We owe it to good men, to stand up in the defence of their reputation; and we are under special obligations to those from whom we have received benefit, especially spiritual benefit, to own them as instruments in God's hand of good to us. Here is an account of the apostle's behaviour and kind intentions; in which see the character of a faithful minister of the gospel. This was his great aim and design, to do good. Here are noticed several sins commonly found among professors of religion. Falls and misdeeds are humbling to a minister; and God sometimes takes this way to humble those who might be tempted to be lifted up. These vast verses show to what excesses the false teachers had drawn aside their deluded followers. How grievous it is that such evils should be found among professors of the gospel! Yet thus it is, and has been too often, and it was so even in the days of the apostl...

Verse 19. _THINK YE THAT WE EXCUSE OURSELVES_] απολογουμεθα; That we make an apology for our conduct; or, that I have sent Titus and that brother to you because I was ashamed or afraid to come myself? _WE SPEAK BEFORE GOD IN CHRIST_] I have not done so; I speak the truth before God; he is judge whether I was actuated in this way by any sinister or unworthy motive. _FOR YOUR EDIFYING._] Whatever I have done in this or any other way, I have done for your _edifying_; not for any _emolument_ to myself or friends....

AGAIN, THINK YE THAT WE EXCUSE OURSELVES UNTO YOU? - see the note on 2 Corinthians 5:12. The sense is, Do not suppose that this is said from mere anxiety to obtain your favor, or to ingratiate ourselves into your esteem. This is said doubtless to keep himself from the suspicion of being actuated by improper motives. He had manifested great solicitude certainly in the previous chapter to vindicate his character; but he here says that it was not from a mere desire to show them that his conduct was right; it was from a desire to honor Christ. WE SPEAK BEFORE GOD IN CHRIST - We declare the simple and undisguised truth as in the presence of God. I have no mere desire to palliate my conduct; I disguise nothing; I conceal nothing; I say nothing for the mere purpose of self-vindication, but I can appeal to the Searc

EXPOSITION The revelations vouchsafed to him (2 Corinthians 12:1). The counteracting "thorn in the flesh" (2 Corinthians 12:7). One more apology for glorying (2 Corinthians 12:11, 2 Corinthians 12:12). His disinterestedness (2 Corinthians 12:13). Indignant refutation of the charge that he had made gain of them through the agency of subordinates (2 Corinthians 12:16)

AGAIN, THINK YOU THAT WE EXCUSE OURSELVES TO YOU?.... The apostle would not have the Corinthians imagine, that by what he had said once and again in this epistle, he meant to excuse himself from coming to them, for he really and sincerely intended it; or that by this long defence of himself against the false apostles, he designed so much an apology for himself, or that he used any feigned words, or artful methods, to exculpate himself from any charge against him, particularly that of covetousness just mentioned; for he had no view to cover himself by studied apologies, and set orations, and evade anything exhibited against him, and make himself look innocent when guilty; it was not with any such intention he had dwelt so long on this subject: WE SPEAK BEFORE GOD IN CHRIST; in all sincerity and uprightness of soul, without colour, guile, or deceit, calling God and Christ to witness the t...

2 CORINTHIANS 12:19 pa,lai {A} The Textus Receptus, following ac Dgr K L P Y 104 326 642 1835 itg Syrp, h copbo goth arm, reads the easier pa,lin. The more difficult reading pa,lai is strongly supported by î46 (ouv pa,lai) a* A B F Ggr 33 330 424c 1319 1845 2127 itd vg....

3. REVELATION IN WHICH HE MIGHT GLORY. HIS APOSTLESHIP. CHAPTER 12 _ 1. Caught up to the Third Heaven. (2 Corinthians 12:1)_ 2. The Thorn in the Flesh. (2 Corinthians 12:7) 3. The Marks of His Apostleship. (2 Corinthians 12:11) 4. His Continued Deep Concern. (2 Corinthians 12:16 .) In the previous chapter the apostle gloried in that which in the eyes of man has no glory at all. From the ignominious experience of being let down in a basket he turns to another experience in which he was caught into the third heaven. “I will come to visions

RETROSPECT OF THE BOASTING. This paragraph is marked by rapid oscillation of feeling. Now that he has made and proved his claim, the same doubt seizes him as when he began (2 Corinthians 11:1; 2 Corinthians 11:16). Has he not been foolish? It was the duty of the Corinthians to testify to his legitimate authority. And they had quite sufficient ground for doing so in what they had seen (2 Corinthians 12:12; _cf._ 2 Corinthians 12:6), the signs of an apostle (_cf._ Acts 2:22 *), wrought by Paul. Corinth h