1Paul entreateth the Corinthians not to leave him cause to exert against them that spiritual power, with which he was armed, and meant to chastise those, who undervalued his person and apostolical character. 12He pointeth out the difference between those, who for want of looking beyond themselves were arrogant and vain, intruding into, and taking merit from, the labours of others, and himself, who kept strictly within the province allotted him by God, and avoiding self-commendation, sought honour from the commendation of Christ.
1NOW I Paul myself 1beseech you by the meekness and 2gentleness of Christ, who in 3presence am 4base among you, but being absent am bold toward you:
1 Or, exhort.
2 Gr. equity, moderation.
3 Gr. according to the face, that is, present, or, according to the outward appearance.
4 Or, low. These words Paul quote as out of the mouth of some apostles, who in this wise sought to make the earnest exhortations of the apostle, set down in the previous epistle, of none effect.
2But I beseech you, that I may 5not be bold when I am present with that confidence, wherewith I think to be 6bold against some, which think of us as if we walked according 7to the flesh.
5 That is, may not be constrained by the disobedience of them, being present, really to use such boldness in reproving.
6 Namely, in writing and threatening when I am not present.
7 That is, used carnal or human ways to get us respect with man.
3For though we 8walk in the flesh, we do not 9war 10after the flesh:
8 That is, in this life, as a weak and poor person. See Heb. 5:7.
9 As such he calls his dealing and walking amongst men in the spreading abroad of the Holy Gospel. See 1 Tim. 1:18; 2 Tim. 4:7.
10 That is, after the manner of carnal or deceitful men. See 2 Cor. 1:17, for so the apostle is wont to use this word, after the flesh, in several places.
4(Fora the 11weapons of our warfare are not 12carnal, but 13mighty through God tob the pulling down 14of strong holds;)
a Eph. 6:13, etc.
11 That is, the means, which we use to convert men through the Gospel of Christ, and to bring them under the Kingdom and obedience of Christ.
12 That is, such as natural men are wont to make use of, either by eloquence, or by deceit, or by force to bring others under them.
13 Gr. powerful to God, that is, by the power which God joins with it, in working of miracles, Mark 16:20, as well as in the moving and convincing of the hearts by His Spirit, Acts 16:14, and also likewise in punishing of them who sought to withstand this. See an example in Bar-jesus, Acts 13:6, 7, 8.
b Jer. 1:10.
14 So the apostle calls, whatsoever Satan and the world, whether by persecution or by worldly wisdom and eloquence, cast in the way to hinder the course of the Gospel, as the two following verses declare. See also Jer. 1:10, 18, 19.
515Casting down 16imaginations, and every 17high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience 18of Christ;
15 That is, subject to Christ and His Word. For human reason must be no judge over the Gospel, but bow and yield itself captive under it, as the following words also declare.
16 Namely, which the natural reason of man brings forth, to deprive the Gospel of its esteem.
17 Namely, of reputed wisdom or valor.
18 That is, of the Gospel of Christ, which is indeed foolishness to them that perish, but to them that are saved it is the power of God, 1 Cor. 1:18.
6And having in a readiness 19to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is 20fulfilled.
19 This the apostle speaks not of any outward or worldly revenge. This Christ has forbidden His apostles, Mat. 20:25; 26:52, but of the declaration of the wrath of God upon the stubborn ones, and of the exercise of excommunication against them, who, giving themselves out for members of the congregation, nevertheless teach or live in an unchristian manner.
20 That is, be accomplished, or demonstrated to the full. And this the apostle says for mollifying of the foregoing threat, to move them to prevent this punishment by amendment of such offenses; forasmuch as there must also be given convenient time and means for repentance to such, before the last punishment may be used.
7Do ye look on things after 21the outward appearance? If any man trust to himself that he is Christ's, let him of himself think this again, that, as he is Christ's, even so are we Christ's.
21 Gr. the things which are according to the face, that is, that which has an outward show before men; or, whereof anyone would boast outwardly.
8For though I should boast somewhat more 22of our authority, which the Lord hath given us forc23edification, and not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed:
22 Namely, which we as apostles of Christ have received from Christ more than other disciples.
c 2 Cor. 13:10.
23 That is, to use it so, that the sinner may thereby be brought to repentance, and not to despair. See 1 Cor. 5:5; 2 Cor. 2:6, 7, 8.
9That I may not seem as if I would terrify you 24by letters.
24 That is, would make you afraid only by the weightiness and authority of the letters. And so the apostle answers another slander of some false apostles, as is hereafter declared by him in more detail.
10For his letters, 25say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his 26speech contemptible.
25 Namely, the false apostles. Others read, (saith he), as if he spoke of someone special among them.
26 That is, his speech and words have nothing of worth or excellence, when he is present.
11Let such an one think this, that, such as we are in word by letters when we are absent, such will we be also 27in deed when we are present.
27 That is, in executing of what we threaten by letters.
12Ford we dare not make ourselves of the number, or 28compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by 29themselves, and comparing themselves among 30themselves, are not 31wise.
d 2 Cor. 3:1; 5:12.
28 Or, join, that is, not reckon or judge ourselves to be among such.
29 Gr. in themselves, that is, will be esteemed according to their own opinions or conceits of self.
30 Namely, without looking upon others, to whom the Lord has imparted greater gifts and power, as were the apostles of Christ.
31 Or, understand not.
13But we will not boast of things 32without our measure, bute according to the measure of the rule 33which God hath distributed to us, a measure 34to reach even unto you.
32 Gr. to, or in things which are without measure, that is, above the measure which God has imparted to us, even as these others do.
e Eph. 4:7.
33 Or, which God hath imparted to us for a measure; that is, which God has prescribed to us, and wherewith He has bounded our ministry. A similitude taken from them, who divide each his inheritance to build there, or his field to sow thereon, or to plant his vineyard thereon.
34 Namely, in the dissemination of the Holy Gospel, and the propagation of the congregation of Christ.
14For we stretch not ourselves beyond our measure, 35as though we reached not unto you: for we are come as far as to you also in preaching the gospel of Christ:
35 That is, as if we must not come unto you. Gr. as not coming unto you.
15Not boasting of things 36without our measure, that is, 37of other men's labours; but having hope, when your faith is 38increased, that we shall be 39enlarged by you 40according to our rule abundantly,
36 Namely, prescribed or determined to us by Christ.
37 That is, where the Gospel of Christ is already propagated by others.
38 That is, has grown or strengthened.
39 Or, spread forth, namely, in the prescribed bounds of our preaching. Others join these words together thus, when your faith shall be grown or strengthened among you, that we shall be abundantly enlarged, that is, spread forth.
40 That is, in the spreading abroad of our prescribed bound, so that the word rule is here taken for the limits or the determined portion of countries and cities, where each apostle was to bestow his labor. And this agrees well with the following verse. For this it is which the apostle here declares that their weaknesses and faults were yet an impediment, that he could not as yet travel into the countries located beyond them to plant the Gospel there, but when they would have amended those faults and be duly strengthened in the faith, that then he might boldly and without suspicion go forward unto others.
16To preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast 41in another man's line of things made ready to our hand.
41 That is, where another already had the borders of his calling and preached. See Rom. 15:20.
17Butf he that glorieth, let him glory 42in the Lord.
f Isa. 65:16; Jer. 9:23; 1 Cor. 1:31.
42 That is, ascribe all the praise of his labor to the Lord, also the strength to labor by himself, and the fruits thereof proceed only from His blessing. See 1 Cor. 3:5; 15:10.
18Forg not he that commendeth himself is approved, but 43whom the Lord commendeth.
g Prov. 27:2.
43 That is, known, examined and found to be faithful and upright after trial.