2 Corinthians 11

1. The Apostle testifies his zeal for the Corinthians, to keep them to the simplicity which is an Christ, 3. and exhorts them that they suffer not themselves to be seduced from it, as Eve was seduced by the serpent, 4. forasmuch as not only no false Apostles, but even no other Apostle of Christ, could contribute anything to them which they had received by him. 6. For that he had not boasted among them as these, but carried himself humbly, and not so much as received maintenance, as he had indeed done of other churches, 11 was not done because he did not love them, 12. but to deprive the false Apostles of their boasting, who changed themselves into Angels of light. 16. And although it be not wisely done to boast much, 18. yet nevertheless he shows that none of these can boast of anything, of which he cannot also boast, 23. yea that in suffer and labouring for the things of Christ he went beyond them all, 28. besides the care that he had for all the churches, 32. and the troubles which in the beginning of his ministry he had endured at Damascus, where he escaped in a basket over the walls of the City.

1. Oh if you would bear with me a little in imprudence: [This the Apostle saith, not because he would do unwisely, but because he would do as the unwise sometimes use to do, who willingly spread abroad their own praise. But the Apostle was constrained to do it here, to stop the mouths of the false Apostles, who lifted themselves up above Paul, that so they might make his Gospel suspected, and commend their own, and might make his Gospel suspected, and commend their own, and might the better gain audience with Corinthians] yea also bear with me. [or but ye also bear with me.]

2. For I am zealous for you, [Or jealous] with a zeal [or jealousy] of God. For I have prepared you, [or adorned, fitted, i.e. by the preaching of the Gospel brought you to faith, and by faith to Christ, and as it were betrothed you to him, whereupon the spiritual marriage must follow. See Psalms 45:10, 11. Ezekiel 16:8. Hosea 2:18. Ephesians 5:23. etc] (as) a pure virgin to present (you) to one husband, (namely) to Christ.

3. But I fear lest in any wise as the serpent [That is, Satan by the serpent] beguiled Eve by its Subtlety, [Gr. in, i.e. under show of friendship, and that he would bring them to greater honour and esteem] so your senses should be corrupted to turn away from the simplicity [that is, uprightness, without ostentation of human eloquence, or adjoining of human wisdom, wherewith these false Apostles sought by little and little to seduce them, and to draw them away from Christ] which is in Christ.

4. For if he that cometh [Hereby some think that he signifieth the principal among them, yet it may also be understood in general for any one whosoever it be] should preach another Jesus, [namely, of whom he should feel the power and fruits greater, then those of the true Jesus, whom I have preached to you: and so in that which followeth. Otherwise the Apostle curseth even an Angel from heaven, who should preach any other thing, Galatians 1:8. Therefore he speaketh this by way of concession of a thing, which nevertheless cannot be, to bring them to greater consideration] whom we have not preached, or if ye should receive another Spirit, whom ye have not received, or another Gospel which ye have not received, ye might justly [Gr. well] bear with (him).

5. For I Judge that in nothing I was less than most excellent Apostles. [Some take this as spoken by the false Apostles, who accounted themselves more excellent than the Apostles themselves, But it may also be well be understood of the true Apostles, who excelled amongst the rest, whose authority and imitation these at Corinth falsely pretended, wherefore the Apostle compares himself with these, See the like Galatians 2:6, 9.]

6. And if I am also mean in words, [Gr. Idiots. See of this word, 1 Cor. 14. 16. Namely, as these boasters of their eloquence and human wisdom backbite me. For otherwise the simple stile of the Apostle in power and divineness, goes far beyond all human eloquence and writings. See 1 Cor. 1. 25. and chapter 2. v. 4, 5.] yet am I not in knowledge: but every way in all things we are become manifest among you. [or to you, in you, namely, by the virtues, gifts, and operations which ye have received by our gospel.]

7. Have I committed sin when I humbled my self, [Namely, to maintain my self with mine own hands, without burdening you, Acts 18:3. And it seems that these false Apostles raised an ill report thence of Paul, as if thereby he had carried himself contemptibly among them, or had not enough esteemed the Corinthians that he would not receive his maintenance from them: unto both which he afterward answers distinctly] that ye might be exalted? Forasmuch as I have declared [Gr. Evangelized] unto you the Gospel of God for nothing?

8. I robbed other churches, [That is, received from them that which ye ought to have given] taking wages (of them) to minister unto you: [Gr. into your ministry] and when I was present with you, and had want, I became burdensome to no man. [the Greek word properly signifies so to oppress any one that he looseth his feelings as a member that sleepeth or is benumbed. Others translate it, to be idle to any ones hindrance. See of the same word, 2 Cor. 12. v. 13, 14.]

9. For my want the brethren supplied, [Namely, who were fellow ministers with Paul, 2 Cor. 8. 16. and chapter 9. 3. See also Philippians 4:15.] who came from Macedonia: and I have in all things kept myself without burdening you, and shall (still so) keep (my self.) [namely, so also henceforward, as the following words declare.]

10. The truth of Christ is in me, [That is, as true as the truth of Christ is in me. A form of taking an oath. See Romans 9:1.] that this boasting shall not be hindered [Gr. stopped, obstructed, or stopped up, as a way is stopped up with a mound or hedge, i.e. hindered or taken away, or suspended. The reason why Paul would do the same no otherwise in Achaia, whereof Corinth is the Chief City, is declared in the 12 verse following] in me, in the coasts of Achaia.

11. Wherefore? It is because I love you not? [Namely, as if I despised you thereby, as these men would make you believe] God knoweth it. [namely, that I love you.]

12. But what I do, that will I yet do to cut off occasion from them that would (have) occasion, that in that of which they boast, they may be found even as we. [Some interpret this thus, as if these false Apostles served the churches for naught also as Paul did: but this is contrary to that which is testified of them, v. 20. The meaning therefore is, that Paul would therefore also serve in the churches of Achaia without recompense, left if he should change his doing and receive wages of them, these men should boast that they therein did even as Paul and his (companions) who indeed at the first seemed to have served for naught, when as yet they were become bolder and of greater esteem, took their wages also as well as they: to which boasting he would give them no occasion.]

13. For such false Apostles are deceitful labourers, changing themselves into Apostles of Christ. [That is, taking upon them the show and appearance of Apostles of Christ, as if they would imitate them.]

14. And it is no wonder: for Satan himself changeth himself into an Angel of Light. [That is, into the shape of a Holy Angel, which dwelleth with God in the eternal light as on the contrary the Kingdom of Satan is called a Kingdom of darkness, and his habitation, darkness, Colos. 1. 13. 2 Pet. 2. 4. Jud. Ver. 6.]

15. If is therefore no great thing, if his Ministers also change themselves, as (if they were) Ministers of righteousness: whose end [That is, the final recompense or final or reward. See Matthew 25:41. so this word also is also taken, 1 Pet. 1. 9.] Shall be according to their works.

16. I say again, let no man think that I am unwise: [Namely, If I go to compare myself with these men, seeing by their boasting they compel me thereunto] yet if not, [that is, if ye judge that I do not wisely herein, hear me at least in my folly even as ye hear others. A phrase taken by concession] receive me (then) as an unwise one, that I also may boast a little.

17. What I speak not after the Lord, [That is, not as is worthy of the Lord or his Ministers. Namely, if ye look upon the outward words only, and do not mark the scope or end why I do thus, which is to vindicate my Apostleship among you against these boasters, which I am also bound to do for the Lords sake] but as it were in folly, in this firm ground of boasting. [Gr. substantial ness of boasting, or confidence, boldness. See chapter 9. v. 4.]

18. Seeing many boast after the flesh, [That is, of things which concern the outward state of man] I will boast also.

19. For ye gladly suffer the unwise, seeing ye are wise. [That is, think your selves to be wise. A manner of speaking when a man saith one thing and understands the contrary, for the reprehension and amendment of such.]

20. For ye suffer it, if any man make you bond-men, [This the Apostle saith, as also that which follows, of the false Apostles, who spoke high, and carried themselves as Lords among them, with a great train and pomp, and in the mean time despised and exhausted the church] if any one devour you, if any one take (from you, if any one exalt himself, if any one smite you in the face. [that is, do you the greatest dishonour, despite and contempt: spoken by similitude.]

21. I speak (this) according to dishonour, [That is, as concerning dishonour, or because of dishonour, or unto dishonour] as if we had been weak; [that is, as if it were true which these say, that we had been weak and contemptible among you. Others translate it, even as we were weak, i.e. we were contemptible among you, which they also backbite us with to our dishonour] but wherein any one is bold. [that is, deals or speaks boldly] (I speak in folly) (therein) am I bold also.

22. Are they Hebrews? I also : are they Israelites? I also: are they the seed of Abraham? I also:

23. Are they Ministers of Christ? ( I speak being unwise) I am above (them:) [That is, I have in the service of Christ, done, suffered and endured more than they, which he proves by the following examples] in labour more abundant, in stripes more exceeding, in prisons more abundant, in (danger) of death [Gr. deaths i.e. notable dangers of death. See the like phrase, 1 Cor. 15. 31. and 2 Cor. 1. v. 10.] oftentimes.

24. Of the Jews I received five times, forty stripes save one. [Paul here alludeth to the Law, Deuteronomy 25:3. Where it is commanded that the Judges should not cause more than forty stripes to be given in punishing, which number the Jews that they might not exceed they gave one less.]

25. Thrice was I scourged with rods [Or beaten with staves. Namely, of the Gentile Magistrates, besides the five times that I was so beaten by the Jews, whereof he spoke in the former verse] I was once stoned, thrice suffered I shipwreck; a (whole) night and day I passed over in the deep.

26. In journeying often, in perils of rivers, in perils of murderers, [Or robbers.] in perils of (mine own) kindred, [Gr. out of my kindred, namely, of the Jews, as appears by the opposition of the Gentiles] in perils of [Gr. out of] the Gentiles, in perils in the City, [that is, in the Cities: except men should hereby understand the City of Jerusalem, which for its excellency may be so called here] in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the Sea, in perils among false brethren.

27. In labour and trouble, in watching often, in hunger and thirst, in fasting often, in cold and nakedness.

28. Besides the things which are from without, [That is, which are done to me by those which are without the churches. Or which are done to me according to the outward man] there falls upon me daily [Gr. my falling upon, which is daily] the care of all the churches.

29. Who is weak [Or who is distressed, or hath trouble procured to him] that I am not weak? [He speaks not here of weakness in mind or in the faith, seeing he must comfort and strengthen them all, but of the anguish and compassion which he had in their behalf] who is offended, that I burn not? [namely, with a burning zeal for the glory of God; and the salvation of those that are offended.]

30. If men must boast, I will boast of the things of mine infirmity. [That is, of mine adversities and distresses: namely, because thereby I am brought to the feeling and experience of Gods grace, which more and more strengthens me therein.]

31. The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is praised for ever, knoweth that I lie not. [A manner of taking an oath, or calling upon God for a witness of that which he saith, as 2 Cor. 1. 23.]

32. The Governor of King Aretas [Gr. the ruler of the people. Namely, being stirred up against me by the Jews. See Acts 9:24, 25.] in Damascus, beset the City of the Damascenes, intending to take me.

33. And I was let down through a window in a basket over [Or by] the wall, and escaped his hands.