2 Corinthians 12:19

πάλαι (אABFG, Latt.) rather than πάλιν (א3DKLP, g Syrr. Copt. Arm. Goth.), which Rec. adopts: also κατέναντι (אABFG) rather than κατενώπιον (DKLP), which Rec. adopts.

19. Πάλαι δοκεῖτε ὅτι ὑμῖν�; See critical note. All this time are you thinking that it is to you that I am making my defence? Almost all English Versions (except Wiclif and the R.V.) make the sentence a question; as also do Beza, Calvin and Luther: comp. 2 Corinthians 12:11; 2 Corinthians 12:15, and 2 Corinthians 10:7, where similar doubts may be raised. For πάλαι in the sense of ‘for some time past’ comp. ταῦτα καὶ θαυμάζων πάλαι ἐρωτῶ (Plat. Gorg. 456 A); also πάλαι ἡμεῖς, πρὶν καὶ σὲ παρελθεῖν, τυγχάνομεν λέγοντες (Phaedr. 273 c). Excepting this and Romans 2:15, ἀπολογεῖσθαι in the N.T. is peculiar to S. Luke (Luke 12:11; Luke 21:14; Acts 24:10, &c.). For the dat. comp. Acts 19:33.

κατὲναντι θεοῦ ἐν Χριστῷ λαλοῦμεν. It is in the sight of God that we speak in Christ. We have almost the same asseveration 2 Corinthians 2:17; comp. 2 Corinthians 1:18; 2 Corinthians 1:23; 2 Corinthians 4:2; 2 Corinthians 5:11; 2 Corinthians 7:12; 2 Corinthians 11:11; 2 Corinthians 11:31; 1 Corinthians 2:15; 1 Corinthians 4:3-4. “This sense of saying and doing everything in the sight of God and in union with Christ, Who will avenge all deceit by unmasking the deceiver, is a characteristic of St Paul’s whole nature” (Lias).

τὰ δὲ πάντα, ἀγαπητοί, ὑπὲρ τῆς ὑμῶν οἰκοδομῆς. No verb: the A.V. supplies ‘we do,’ the R.V. ‘are.’ Perhaps ‘we speak,’ from the previous clause, is more probable than either. The affectionate statement softens the preceding words, and smooths the way for the sorrowful words that follow. This is the only ἀγαπητοί in the last four Chapter s, as that in 2 Corinthians 7:1 is the only one in the first nine. Once more it is plain that he is addressing all his converts at Corinth, not merely the recalcitrant minority. For οἰκοδομή comp. 2 Corinthians 10:8; 2 Corinthians 13:10. For ὑμῶν between the article and the noun, which is peculiar to S. Paul, comp. 2 Corinthians 1:6 (bis), 2 Corinthians 7:7 (ter), 15, 2 Corinthians 8:13-14; 2 Corinthians 13:9; 1 Corinthians 7:35; 1 Corinthians 9:12; 1 Corinthians 16:17 : in the last case the reading is doubtful.