2 Corinthians 11:2

with godly jealousy Literally, with a jealousy of God, i.e. either (1) which comes from Him, or (2) which is pleasing in His sight, or (3) as Chrysostom, with the jealousy with which God is jealous, or (4) with a jealousy for God "like that of the paranymph," Estius (see next note). The literal rendering in this verse is zealous, zeal. See notes on ch. 2Co 7:7; 2 Corinthians 7:11; 2 Corinthians 9:2.

for I have espoused you Rather, I espoused you, i.e. at your conversion, it being the act, rather than its completion, to which St Paul asks attention. Cf. Matthew 22:2; John 3:29; Ephesians 5:25; Ephesians 5:27; Revelation 21:2; Revelation 21:9; Revelation 12:17. Also Isaiah 54:5; Jeremiah 3:14; Ezekiel 16:8; Hosea 2:19-20. St Paul, like St John the Baptist, here represents himself as the friend of the bridegroom, who often (see Art. Marriage in the Dictionary of the Bible) took a prominent part in the negotiation of the marriage.

to one husband The reference is to such passages as Jeremiah 3:1; Ezekiel 16:15. St Paul betrothed them to Christ, but they gave heed to -divers and strange doctrines," Hebrews 13:8-9.

present you as a chaste virgin to Christ i.e. at His coming. Cf. Ephesians 5:27, where Christ is said Himselfto present the Church to Himself. The betrothal, in St Paul's day, as in some Christian countries at the present time, preceded the marriage sometimes by a considerable interval. There is a reference here also to the passages from the O.T. cited above, and to Ezekiel 23 &c.