I wish ye would bear — So does he pave the way for what might otherwise have given offence. With my folly — Of commending myself; which to many may appear folly; and really would be so, were it not on this occasion absolutely necessary.... [ Continue Reading ]
For — The cause of his seeming folly is expressed in this and the following verse; the cause why they should bear with him, 2 Corinthians 11:4.... [ Continue Reading ]
But I fear — Love is full of these fears. Lest as the serpent — A most apposite comparison. Deceived Eve — Simple, ignorant of evil. By his subtilty — Which is in the highest degree dangerous to such a disposition. So your minds — We might therefore be tempted, even if there were no sin in us. Might... [ Continue Reading ]
If indeed — Any could show you another Saviour, a more powerful Spirit, a better gospel. Ye might well bear with him — But this is impossible.... [ Continue Reading ]
If I am unskilful in speech — If I speak in a plain, unadorned way, like an unlearned person. So the Greek word properly signifies.... [ Continue Reading ]
Have I committed an offence — Will any turn this into an objection? In humbling myself — To work at my trade. That ye might be exalted — To be children of God.... [ Continue Reading ]
I spoiled other churches — I, as it were, took the spoils of them: it is a military term. Taking wages (or pay, another military word) of them — When I came to you at first. And when I was present with you, and wanted — My work not quite supplying my necessities. I was chargeable to no man — Of Cori... [ Continue Reading ]
For — I choose to receive help from the poor Macedonians, rather than the rich Corinthians! Were the poor in all ages more generous than the rich?... [ Continue Reading ]
This my boasting shall not be stopped — For I will receive nothing from you.... [ Continue Reading ]
Do I refuse to receive anything of you, because I love you not? God knoweth that is not the case.... [ Continue Reading ]
Who desire any occasion — To censure me. That wherein they boast, they may be found even as we — They boasted of being "burdensome to no man." But it was a vain boast in them, though not in the apostle.... [ Continue Reading ]
Satan himself is transformed — Uses to transform himself; to put on the fairest appearances.... [ Continue Reading ]
Therefore it is no great, no strange, thing; whose end, notwithstanding all their disguises, shall be according to their works.... [ Continue Reading ]
I say again — He premises a new apology to this new commendation of himself. Let no man think me a fool — Let none think I do this without the utmost necessity. But if any do think me foolish herein, yet bear with my folly.... [ Continue Reading ]
I speak not after the Lord — Not by an express command from him; though still under the direction of his Spirit. But as it were foolishly — In such a manner as many may think foolish.... [ Continue Reading ]
After the flesh — That is, in external things.... [ Continue Reading ]
Being wise — A beautiful irony.... [ Continue Reading ]
For ye suffer — Not only the folly, but the gross abuses, of those false apostles. If a man enslave you — Lord it over you in the most arbitrary manner. If he devour you — By his exorbitant demands; not — withstanding his boast of not being burdensome. If he take from you — By open violence. If he e... [ Continue Reading ]
I speak with regard to reproach, as though we had been weak — I say, "Bear with me," even on supposition that the weakness be real which they reproach me with.... [ Continue Reading ]
Are they Hebrews, Israelites, the seed of Abraham — These were the heads on which they boasted.... [ Continue Reading ]
I am more so than they. In deaths often — Surrounding me in the most dreadful forms.... [ Continue Reading ]
Five times I received from the Jews forty stripes save one — Which was the utmost that the law allowed. With the Romans he sometimes pleaded his privilege as a Roman; but from the Jews he suffered all things.... [ Continue Reading ]
Thrice I have been shipwrecked — Before his voyage to Rome. In the deep — Probably floating on some part of the vessel.... [ Continue Reading ]
In cold and nakedness — Having no place where to lay my head; no convenient raiment to cover me; yet appearing before noble — men, governors, kings; and not being ashamed.... [ Continue Reading ]
Beside the things which are from without — Which I suffer on the account of others; namely, the care of all the churches — A more modest expression than if he had said, the care of the whole church. All — Even those I have not seen in the flesh. St. Peter himself could not have said this in so stron... [ Continue Reading ]
Who — So he had not only the care of the churches, but of every person therein. Is weak, and I am not weak — By sympathy, as well as by condescension. Who is offended — Hindered in, or turned out of, the good way. And I burn not — Being pained as though I had fire in my bosom.... [ Continue Reading ]
I will glory of the things that concern my infirmities — Of what shows my weakness, rather than my strength.... [ Continue Reading ]
The governor under Aretas — King of Arabia and Syria of which Damascus was a chief city, willing to oblige the Jews, kept the city — Setting guards at all the gates day and night.... [ Continue Reading ]
Through a window — Of an house which stood on the city wall.... [ Continue Reading ]