2 Corinthians 2:17

For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ. NOT AS MANY (2 Corinthians 11:13; Philippians 2:21) - rather, 'the many;' namely, the false teachers (2 Corinthians 10:1; 2 Corinthians 12:1; 1 Thessalonians 2:3). WHICH CORRUPT, [ kapeeleuontes (G2585)] - 'adulterating,...

17._For we are not. _He now contrasts himself more openly with the false apostles, and that by way of amplifying, and at the same time, with the view of excluding them from the praise that he had claimed to himself. “It is on good grounds,” says he, “that I speak in honorable terms of my apostleship, for I am not afraid of being convicted of vanity, if proof is demanded. But many on false grounds arrogate the same thing to themselves, who will be found to have nothing in common with me. For they _adulterate the word of the Lord, _which I dispense with the greatest faithfulness and sincerity for the edification of the Church.” I do not think it likely, however, that those, who are here reproved, preached openly wicked or false doctrines; but am rather of opinion, that they corrupted the right use of doctrine, for the sake either of gain or of ambition, so as utterly to deprive it of energ...

12-17 A believer's triumphs are all in Christ. To him be the praise and glory of all, while the success of the gospel is a good reason for a Christian's joy and rejoicing. In ancient triumphs, abundance of perfumes and sweet odours were used; so the name and salvation of Jesus, as ointment poured out, was a sweet savour diffused in every place. Unto some, the gospel is a savour of death unto death. They reject it to their ruin. Unto others, the gospel is a savour of life unto life: as it quickened them at first when they were dead in trespasses and sins, so it makes them more lively, and will end in eternal life. Observe the awful impressions this matter made upon the apostle, and should also make upon us. The work is great, and of ourselves we have no strength at all; all our sufficiency is of God. But what we do in religion, unless it is done in sincerity, as in the sight of God, is n...

Verse 2 Corinthians 2:17. _FOR WE ARE NOT AS MANY, WHICH CORRUPT THE WORD OF_ _GOD_] God has made US _sufficient for these things_ by giving us his own pure _doctrine_, the _ministry of reconciliation_, which we conscientiously preserve and preach; and we act, not like _many_ among you, who, having received that doctrine, _corrupt_ it; _mingling_ with it their own inventions, and explaining away its force and influence, so as to accommodate it to men of carnal minds. The word καπηλευοντες, from καπηλος, a _tavernkeeper_, signifies acting like an unprincipled vintner; for this class of men have ever been _notorious_ for _adulterating_ their wines, mixing them with liquors of no worth, that thereby they might increase their quantity; and thus the _mixture_ was sold for the same price as the

FOR WE ARE NOT AS MANY - This refers doubtless to the false teachers at Corinth; and to all who mingled human philosophy or tradition with the pure word of truth. Paul’s design in the statement in this verse seems to be to affirm that he had such a deep sense of the responsibility of the ministerial office, and of its necessary influence on the eternal destiny of man, that it led him to preach the simple gospel, the pure word of God. He did not dare to dilute it with any human mixture. He did not dare to preach philosophy, or human wisdom. He did not dare to mingle with it the crude conceptions of man. He sought to exhibit the simple truth as it was in Jesus; and so deep was his sense of the responsibility of the office, and so great was his desire on the subject, that he had been enabled to do it. and to triumph always in Christ. So that, although he was conscious that he was in himself...

EXPOSITION Continuation of his reasons for not coming to them direct from Ephesus (2 Corinthians 2:1). Their treatment of the incestuous offender (2 Corinthians 2:5). His thankfulness at the news which Titus had brought from Corinth (verses 12-17). 2 CORINTHIANS 2:1 BUT I DETERMINED THIS. The division of chapters is here unfortunate, since this and the next three verses belong to the paragraph which began at 2 Corinthians 1:23. The verb means, literally, "I judged," but is rightly rendered "determined," as in...

FOR WE ARE NOT AS MANY,.... The apostle here removes from himself, and other ministers of the Gospel, a character which belonged not to them, but to the false apostles; who are described by their number many; there were great swarms of false teachers in the early times of Christianity; see 1 John 2:18; some copies read, "as the rest": and so the Syriac and Arabic versions; and also by their quality, WHICH CORRUPT THE WORD OF GOD; by "the word of God", may be meant the Scriptures in general, which are from God, contain his will, and which he uses for the good of men, and his own glory, and may be corrupted by false glosses, and human mixtures, and by adding to them, or taking from them; or the Gospel in particular, which is the word of truth, of faith, righteousness, reconciliation, and salvation, and which was corrupted by these false teachers, by making merchandise of it; t

2 CORINTHIANS 2:17 polloi, {B} On the basis of a A B C K P Y 88 1739 _Byz_ itd, ar vg copsa, bo eth _al_ the Committee preferred the reading polloi,. The reading loipoi,, supported by î46 Dgr Ggr 326 614 _Lect_ syrp, h arm Marcion _al,_ appears to be of Western origin; in any case, however, oi` loipoi, seems to be too offensive an expression for Paul to have used in the context....

3. HIS DEEP EXERCISE CONCERNING THEM. YET OVERCOMING. CHAPTER 2 _ 1. The Burden of his Soul. (2 Corinthians 2:1 .)_ 2. Concerning the Brother who had been Disciplined. (2 Corinthians 2:5 .) 3. Overcoming. (2 Corinthians 2:12 .) In the previous chapter we read the reason why he had not gone to Corinth. “To spare you I came not to Corinth “ (2 Corinthians 1:23). He feared, that on account of their deplorable condition; exercising his God-given apostolic authority, he might appear as dominating over them. He had determined that he would not come again to them wi

This will complete the joyful reconciliation already accomplished. Paul had found himself at Troas, restless and uneasy till he heard the result of his letter to Corinth. Even the great opportunity for preaching which he had found there could neither satisfy nor detain him. He had crossed to Europe and was already in Macedonia when at last Titus arrived, bringing better news than he had dared to hope (see further, 2 Corinthians 7:5). At the recollection of that moment of unspeakable relief he breaks out into a rhapsody of thanksgiving. God is advancing like a mighty conqueror in his Triumph. The apostles of Christ are swept along in the triumphal procession. And the incense belonging to such a procession is not wanting. It is found in that knowledge of God which rises from every place as a result of their labour. Then, by a changed application of the same figure, he represents God's mess...