2 Corinthians 12:11-21

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 had enjoyed all the privileges conferred by him on any church except the privilege of supporting him (cf. 2 Corinthians 11:7). Once more, he can make no alteration in that policy. He will act in the same way on his approaching third visit as he has done on the previous ones. He will set no limits to his self-sacrifice on their behalf. Once more (cf. 2 Corinthians 11:6), is it reasonable that he should receive less affection from those to whom he shows affection even in excess? In 2 Corinthians 12:16 ff. he waives this criticism as disposed of, and deals with a subtler insinuation, viz. that in accordance with his native deceitfulness of character he has indeed abstained from drawing reward from the Corinthians, but has done it nevertheless indirectly through his agents. But where was the evidence? Had not Titus and the unnamed brother [106] shown the same spirit as their master?

[106] [For the theory that Luke and Titus were actual brothers see ET, 18285, 335, 380 against it, Exp., May 1917. A. J. G.]

Once more the old anxiety seizes him, lest in thus defending himself he should seem to be submitting himself to the Corinthians and to their judgment. So far from that, his fear is that when he comes he may find such a situation, such evidence of moral unfaithfulness, that he will be himself humiliated before God through the failure of his work and compelled in God's name to exercise severe discipline on the backsliders.