23 And I for a witness on God do call upon my soul, that sparing you, I came not yet to Corinth;
And the things that I write to you, lo, before God -- I lie not;
what do ye wish? with a rod shall I come unto you, or in love, with a spirit also of meekness?
because of this, these things -- being absent -- I write, that being present, I may not treat `any' sharply, according to the authority that the Lord did give me for building up, and not for casting down.
I have said before, and I say `it' before, as being present, the second time, and being absent, now, do I write to those having sinned before, and to all the rest, that if I come again, I will not spare,
of whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I did deliver to the Adversary, that they might be instructed not to speak evil.
for at no time did we come with speech of flattery, (as ye have known,) nor in a pretext for covetousness, (God `is' witness!)
Truth I say in Christ, I lie not, my conscience bearing testimony with me in the Holy Spirit,
the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ -- who is blessed to the ages -- hath known that I do not lie! --
and being in readiness to avenge every disobedience, whenever your obedience may be fulfilled. The things in presence do ye see? if any one hath trusted in himself to be Christ's, this let him reckon again from himself, that according as he is Christ's, so also we `are' Christ's; for even if also anything more abundantly I shall boast concerning our authority, that the Lord gave us for building up, and not for casting you down, I shall not be ashamed; that I may not seem as if I would terrify you through the letters, `because the letters indeed -- saith one -- `are' weighty and strong, and the bodily presence weak, and the speech despicable.' This one -- let him reckon thus: that such as we are in word, through letters, being absent, such also, being present, `we are' in deed.
and I beseech `you', that, being present, I may not have courage, with the confidence with which I reckon to be bold against certain reckoning us as walking according to the flesh;
And I decided this to myself, not again to come in sorrow unto you, for if I make you sorry, then who is he who is making me glad, except he who is made sorry by me? and I wrote to you this same thing, that having come, I may not have sorrow from them of whom it behoved me to have joy, having confidence in you all, that my joy is of you all,
and God `is' faithful, that our word unto you became not Yes and No,
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,