2 Corinthians 12

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 2 Corinthians 12:15

And I will very gladly spend - I am willing to spend my strength, and time, and life, and all that I have, for your welfare, as a father cheerfully does for his children. Any expense which may be necessary to promote your salvation I am willing to submit to. The labor of a father for his children is cheerful and pleasant. Such is his love for them that he delights in toil for their sake, and that he may make them happy. The toil of a pastor for his flock should be cheerful. He should be willing... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 2 Corinthians 12:16

But be it so - This is evidently a charge of his enemies; or at least a charge which it might be supposed they would make. Whether they ever in fact made it, or whether the apostle merely anticipates an objection, it is impossible to determine. It is clearly to be regarded as the language of objectors; for:(1) It can never be supposed that Paul would state as a serious matter that he had caught them with deceit or fraud.(2) He answers it as an objection in the following verse. The meaning is,... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 2 Corinthians 12:17

Did I make a gain ... - In refuting this slander, Paul appeals boldly to the facts, and to what they knew. “Same the man,” says he, “who has thus defrauded you under my instructions. If the charge is well-founded, let him be specified, and let the mode in which it was done be distinctly stated.” The phrase “make a gain” (from πλεονεκτέω pleonekteō), means properly to have an advantage; then to take advantage, to seek unlawful gain. Here Paul asks whether he had defrauded them by means of... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 2 Corinthians 12:18

I desired Titus - To go and complete the collection which you had commenced; see 2 Corinthians 8:6.And with him I sent a brother - see note on 2 Corinthians 8:18.Did Titus make a gain of you - They knew that he did not. They had received him kindly, treated him with affection, and sent him away with every proof of confidence and respect; see 2 Corinthians 7:7. How then could they now pretend that he had defrauded them?Walked we not in the same spirit? - Did not all his actions resemble mine?... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 2 Corinthians 12:19

Again, think ye that we excuse ourselves unto you? - see the note on 2 Corinthians 5:12. The sense is, Do not suppose that this is said from mere anxiety to obtain your favor, or to ingratiate ourselves into your esteem. This is said doubtless to keep himself from the suspicion of being actuated by improper motives. He had manifested great solicitude certainly in the previous chapter to vindicate his character; but he here says that it was not from a mere desire to show them that his conduct... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 2 Corinthians 12:20

For I fear, lest, when I come - see 2 Corinthians 12:14.I shall not find you such as I would - That is, walking in the truth and order of the gospel. He had feared that the disorders would not be removed, and that they would not have corrected the errors which prevailed, and for which he had rebuked them. It was on this account that he had said so much to them. His desire was that all these disorders might be removed, and that he might be saved from the necessity of exercising severe discipline... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 2 Corinthians 12:21

And lest, when I come again, my God will humble me ... - Lest I should be compelled to inflict punishment on those whom I suppose to have been converted under my ministry. I had rejoiced in them as true converts: I had counted them as among the fruit of my ministry. Now to be compelled to inflict punishment on them as having no religion would mortify me and humble me. The infliction of punishment on members of the church is a sort of punishment to him who inflicts it as well as to him who is... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 2 Corinthians 12

A.M. 4064. A.D. 60. In this chapter, (1,) The apostle, with great plainness and freedom, yet at the same time with great modesty, gives an account of some extraordinary revelations which he had received from God, and of those experiences which taught him to glory even in his infirmities, 2 Corinthians 12:1-10 . (2,) He intimates that the signs of apostleship, which the Corinthians might have perceived in him, ought to have induced them to speak well of him, that he might not have been... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 2 Corinthians 12:1

2 Corinthians 12:1. After enumerating, in the former chapter, his almost incredible labours and sufferings for the gospel, the apostle, in this, proceeds to speak of some visions and revelations that had been made to him, as a further proof of his apostleship, and of the regard which ought to be paid to his doctrines, his advices, exhortations, or reproofs. It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory Or boast of any thing I have done or suffered, as a minister of Christ, unless on so... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 2 Corinthians 12:2-3

2 Corinthians 12:2-3. I knew a man in Christ That is, a Christian. He must undoubtedly have meant himself, or the whole article had been quite foreign to his purpose. Indeed, that he meant himself is plain from 2 Corinthians 12:6-7. Fourteen years ago So long, it seems, the apostle had concealed this extraordinary event; a circumstance which shows how little disposed he was to speak vauntingly of himself. Whether in the body And by the intervention of its senses; or out of the body ... read more

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 2 Corinthians 12:15

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 2 Corinthians 12:16

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 2 Corinthians 12:17

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 2 Corinthians 12:18

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 2 Corinthians 12:19

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 2 Corinthians 12:20

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 2 Corinthians 12:21

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 2 Corinthians 12

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 2 Corinthians 12:1

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 2 Corinthians 12:2-3

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