CHAPTER X. _The apostle vindicates himself against the aspersions cast on_ _his person by the false apostle; and takes occasion to mention_ _his spiritual might and authority_, 1-6. _He shows them the impropriety of judging after the outward_ _appearance_, 7. _Again refers to his apostolical a... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Corinthians 10:2. _SOME, WHICH THINK OF US AS IF WE WALKED ACCORDING TO_ _THE FLESH._] As it is customary for _cowards_ and _overbearing men_ to _threaten_ the _weak_ and the _timid_ when _present_; to _bluster_ when _absent_; and to be very _obsequious_ in the presence of the _strong_ and _... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Corinthians 10:3. _THOUGH WE WALK IN THE FLESH_] That is: Although I am in the common condition of human nature, and must live as a human being, yet I do _not war after the flesh_-I do not act the coward or the poltroon, as they insinuate. I have a good cause, a good captain, strength at wil... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Corinthians 10:4. _THE WEAPONS OF OUR WARFARE_] The apostle often uses the metaphor of a _warfare_ to represent the life and trials of a Christian minister. See Ephesians 6:10; 1 Timothy 1:18; 2 Timothy 2:3. _ARE NOT CARNAL_] Here he refers to the means used by the false apostle in order to... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Corinthians 10:5. _CASTING DOWN IMAGINATIONS_] δογισμους. _Reasonings_ or _opinions_. The Greek philosophers valued themselves especially on their _ethic systems_, in which their reasonings appeared to be very _profound_ and _conclusive_; but they were obliged to _assume_ _principles_ which... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Corinthians 10:6. _AND HAVING IN A READINESS TO REVENGE ALL_ _DISOBEDIENCE_] I am ready, through this mighty armour of God, to punish those opposers of the doctrine of Christ, and the disobedience which has been produced by them. _WHEN YOUR OBEDIENCE IS FULFILLED._] When you have in the ful... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Corinthians 10:7. _DO YE LOOK ON THINGS AFTER THE OUTWARD APPEARANCE?_] Do not be carried away with _appearances_; do not be satisfied with _show_ and _parade_. _IF ANY MAN TRUST TO HIMSELF THAT HE IS CHRIST'S_] Here, as in several other places of this and the preceding epistle, the τις, _a... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Corinthians 10:8. _FOR, THOUGH I SHOULD BOAST_, c.] I have a greater authority and spiritual power than I have yet shown, both to _edify_ and to _punish_ but I employ this for your _edification in_ _righteousness_, and not for the _destruction_ of any delinquent. "This," says Calmet, "is the... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Corinthians 10:9. _THAT I MAY NOT SEEM_, c.] This is an elliptical sentence, and may be supplied thus: "I have not used this authority nor will I add any more concerning this part of the subject, lest I should seem, as my adversary has insinuated, to wish to terrify you by my letters.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Corinthians 10:10. _FOR HIS LETTERS, SAY THEY_, ARE _WEIGHTY AND POWERFUL_] He boasts of high powers, and that he can do great things. See on 2 Corinthians 10:1. _BUT HIS BODILY PRESENCE_ IS _WEAK_] When you behold the _man_, you find him a feeble, contemptible mortal; and when ye hear him... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Corinthians 10:11. _SUCH AS WE ARE IN WORD_] A threatening of this kind would doubtless alarm the false apostle; and it is very likely that he did not await the apostle's coming, as he would not be willing to try the fate of _Elymas_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Corinthians 10:12. _WE DARE NOT MAKE OURSELVES_, c.] As if he had said: I dare neither associate with, nor compare myself to, those who are full of self-commendation. Some think this to be an _ironical_ speech. _BUT THEY, MEASURING THEMSELVES BY THEMSELVES_] They are not sent of God they a... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Corinthians 10:13. _THINGS WITHOUT_ OUR _MEASURE_] There is a great deal of difficulty in this and the three following verses, and there is a great diversity among the MSS.; and _which_ is the _true reading_ can scarcely be determined. Our version is perhaps the plainest that can be made of... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 14. _FOR WE STRETCH NOT OURSELVES BEYOND_] We have not proceeded straight from Macedonia through Thessaly, and across the Adriatic Gulf into Italy, which would have led us _beyond_ you _westward_; but knowing the mind of our God we left this direct path, and came _southward_ through _Greece_,... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 15. _NOT BOASTING OF THINGS WITHOUT_ OUR _MEASURE_] We speak only of the work which God has done by us; for we have never attempted to enter into other men's labours, and we study to convert those regions assigned to us by the Holy Spirit. We enter the course lawfully, and _run_ according to _... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 16. _TO PREACH THE GOSPEL IN THE_ REGIONS _BEYOND YOU_] He probably refers to those parts of the _Morea_, such as _Sparta_, c., that lay _southward_ of them and to _Italy_, which lay on the _west_; for it does not appear that he considered his _measure_ or _province_ to extend to _Libya_, or a... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 17. _HE THAT GLORIETH, LET HIM GLORY IN THE LORD._] Instead of boasting or exulting even in your own success in preaching the Gospel, as none can be successful without the especial blessing of God, let God who gave the blessing have the glory. Even the genuine apostle, who has his commission i... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Corinthians 10:18. _NOT HE THAT COMMENDETH HIMSELF_] Not the person who makes a parade of his own _attainments_; who preaches _himself_, and not _Christ Jesus the Lord_; and, far from being your _servant_ for Christ's sake, affects to be your _ruler_; not such a one shall be _approved of God... [ Continue Reading ]