1 And I, Paul, myself, do call upon you -- through the meekness and gentleness of the Christ -- who in presence, indeed `am' humble among you, and being absent, have courage toward you,
`because the letters indeed -- saith one -- `are' weighty and strong, and the bodily presence weak, and the speech despicable.'
take up my yoke upon you, and learn from me, because I am meek and humble in heart, and ye shall find rest to your souls,
I call upon you, therefore, brethren, through the compassions of God, to present your bodies a sacrifice -- living, sanctified, acceptable to God -- your intelligent service;
and I, in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling, was with you;
Of such an one I will boast, and of myself I will not boast, except in my infirmities,
if to boast it behoveth `me', of the things of my infirmity I will boast;
and that by the exceeding greatness of the revelations I might not be exalted overmuch, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of the Adversary, that he might buffet me, that I might not be exalted overmuch. Concerning this thing thrice the Lord did I call upon, that it might depart from me, and He said to me, `Sufficient for thee is My grace, for My power in infirmity is perfected;' most gladly, therefore, will I rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of the Christ may rest on me:
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, since a proof ye seek of the Christ speaking in me, who to you is not infirm, but is powerful in you, for even if he was crucified from infirmity, yet he doth live from the power of God; for we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him from the power of God toward you.
and ye have known that through infirmity of the flesh I did proclaim good news to you at the first,
The salutation by the hand of me, Paul, which is a sign in every letter; thus I write;
because of the love I rather entreat, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ;
who did not commit sin, nor was guile found in his mouth, who being reviled -- was not reviling again, suffering -- was not threatening, and was committing himself to Him who is judging righteously,
I, John, who also `am' your brother, and fellow-partner in the tribulation, and in the reign and endurance, of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, because of the word of God, and because of the testimony of Jesus Christ;
in reference to dishonour I speak, how that we were weak, and in whatever any one is bold -- in foolishness I say `it' -- I also am bold.
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;
great `is' my freedom of speech unto you, great my glory on your behalf; I have been filled with the comfort, I overabound with the joy on all our tribulation,
And working together also we call upon `you' that ye receive not in vain the grace of God --
Having, then, such hope, we use much freedom of speech,
The salutation of `me' Paul with my hand; if any one doth not love the Lord Jesus Christ -- let him be anathema! The Lord hath come!
and the more boldly I did write to you, brethren, in part, as putting you in mind, because of the grace that is given to me by God,
and Isaiah is very bold, and saith, `I was found by those not seeking Me; I became manifest to those not inquiring after Me;'
`Tell ye the daughter of Zion, Lo, thy king doth come to thee, meek, and mounted on an ass, and a colt, a foal of a beast of burden.'
he shall not strive nor cry, nor shall any hear in the broad places his voice, a bruised reed he shall not break, and smoking flax he shall not quench, till he may put forth judgment to victory,
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on 2 Corinthians 10
Commentary on 2 Corinthians 10 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 10
There was no place in which the apostle Paul met with more opposition from false apostles than at Corinth; he had many enemies there. Let not any of the ministers of Christ think it strange if they meet with perils, not only from enemies, but from false brethren; for blessed Paul himself did so. Though he was so blameless and inoffensive in all his carriage, so condescending and useful to all, yet there were those who bore him ill-will, who envied him, and did all they could to undermine him, and lesson his interest and reputation. Therefore he vindicates himself from their imputation, and arms the Corinthians against their insinuations. In this chapter the apostle, in a mild and humble manner, asserts the power of his preaching, and to punish offenders (v. 1-6). He then proceeds to reason the case with the Corinthians, asserting his relation to Christ, and his authority as an apostle of Christ (v. 7-11), and refuses to justify himself, or to act by such rules as the false teachers did, but according to the better rules he had fixed for himself (v. 12-18).
2Cr 10:1-6
Here we may observe,
2Cr 10:7-11
In these verses the apostle proceeds to reason the case with the Corinthians, in opposition to those who despised him, judged him, and spoke hardly of him: "Do you,' says he, "look on things after the outward appearance? v. 7. Is this a fit measure or rule to make an estimate of things or persons by, and to judge between me and my adversaries?' In outward appearance, Paul was mean and despicable with some; he did not make a figure, as perhaps some of his competitors might do: but this was a false rule to make a judgment by. It should seem that some boasted mighty things of themselves, and made a fair show. But there are often false appearances. A man may seem to be learned who has not learned Christ, and appear virtuous when he has not a principle of grace in his heart. However, the apostle asserts two things of himself:-
2Cr 10:12-18
In these verses observe,