23 But I call God to witness upon my soul that to spare you I have not yet come to Corinth.
Now what I write to you, behold, before God, I do not lie.
What will ye? that I come to you with a rod; or in love, and [in] a spirit of meekness?
On this account I write these things being absent, that being present I may not use severity according to the authority which the Lord has given me for building up, and not for overthrowing.
I have declared beforehand, and I say beforehand as present the second time, and now absent, to those that have sinned before, and to all the rest, that if I come again I will not spare.
of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have delivered to Satan, that they may be taught by discipline not to blaspheme.
For we have not at any time been [among you] with flattering discourse, even as ye know, nor with a pretext for covetousness, God [is] witness;
I say [the] truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience bearing witness with me in [the] Holy Spirit,
The God and Father of the Lord Jesus knows -- he who is blessed for ever -- that I do not lie.
and having in readiness to avenge all disobedience when your obedience shall have been fulfilled. Do ye look at what concerns appearance? If any one has confidence in himself that he is of Christ, let him think this again in himself, that even as he [is] of Christ, so also [are] we. For and if I should boast even somewhat more abundantly of our authority, which the Lord has given [to us] for building up and not for your overthrowing, I shall not be put to shame; that I may not seem as if I was frightening you by letters: because his letters, he says, [are] weighty and strong, but his presence in the body weak, and his speech naught. Let such a one think this, that such as we are in word by letters [when] absent, such also present in deed.
but I beseech that present I may not be bold with the confidence with which I think to be daring towards some who think of us as walking according to flesh.
But I have judged this with myself, not to come back to you in grief. For if *I* grieve you, who also [is] it that gladdens me, if not he that is grieved through me? And I have written this very [letter] [to you], that coming I may not have grief from those from whom I ought to have joy; trusting in you all that my joy is [that] of you all.
Now God [is] faithful, that our word to you is not yea and nay.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on 2 Corinthians 1
Commentary on 2 Corinthians 1 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 1
After the introduction (v. 1, 2) the apostle begins with the narrative of his troubles and God's goodness, which he had met with in Asia, by way of thanksgiving to God (v. 3-6), and for the edification of the Corinthians (v. 7-11). Then he attests his and his fellow-labourers' integrity (v. 12-14), and afterwards vindicates himself from the imputation of levity and inconstancy (v. 15-24).
2Cr 1:1-2
This is the introduction to this epistle, in which we have,
2Cr 1:3-6
After the foregoing preface, the apostle begins with the narrative of God's goodness to him and his fellow-labourers in their manifold tribulations, which he speaks of by way of thanksgiving to God, and to advance the divine glory (v. 3-6); and it is fit that in all things, and in the first place, God be glorified. Observe,
2Cr 1:7-11
In these verses the apostle speaks for the encouragement and edification of the Corinthians; and tells them (v. 7) of his persuasion or stedfast hope that they should receive benefit by the troubles he and his companions in labour and travel had met with, that their faith should not be weakened, but their consolations increased. In order to this he tells them,
2Cr 1:12-14
The apostle in these verses attests their integrity by the sincerity of their conversation. This he does not in a way of boasting and vain-glory, but as one good reason for desiring the help of prayer, as well as for the more comfortably trusting in God (Heb. 13:18), and for the necessary vindication of himself from the aspersions of some persons at Corinth, who reproached his person and questioned his apostleship. Here,
2Cr 1:15-24
The apostle here vindicates himself from the imputation of levity and inconstancy, in that he did not hold his purpose of coming to them at Corinth. His adversaries there sought all occasions to blemish his character, and reflect upon his conduct; and, it seemed, they took hold of this handle to reproach his person and discredit his ministry. Now, for his justification,