2 Corinthians 11:1-33

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Corinthians 11:4

For if he that cometh ,.... Meaning either some particular man, the apostle might have had some information of, who came from Judea to Corinth, under the character of a true apostle; or anyone of the false apostles whatever, who came of their own accord, and was never sent by Christ, or by any of his churches: preacheth another Jesus whom we have not preached ; that is, if he proposes and recommends in his ministry, a better Saviour and Redeemer than had been preached by the apostles;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Corinthians 11:5

For I suppose I was not a whit behind ,.... This is very modestly expressed by the apostle; for he does not assert, and in a haughty and confident way affirm, but only supposes, or thinks that this might be admitted, that he was not inferior to, or did not come short of, in gifts, grace, and usefulness, the very chiefest of the apostles : such as Peter, James, and John; who seemed to be pillars, were eminent apostles, of great note among them, and such as Christ, in the days of his... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Corinthians 11:6

But though I be rude in speech ,.... Which might be objected to him, setting himself upon a level with men so famous for their diction, and elegance of style; and to this he answers, not by owning he was so, but granting it to be so; for the Apostle Paul was not an unlearned man, an idiot in speech, unskilful in language, his writings testify the contrary; he did not indeed, in his public ministry, dress his sermons with the flowers of rhetoric, or adorn his discourses with the words of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Corinthians 11:7

Have I committed an offence in abasing myself ,.... Either by behaving among them, when he was first with them, in a very modest and humble manner, in much fear and trembling, without pride and haughtiness, or affectation of power and authority over them; or by using a popular style, suited to the capacity of the common people; or by labouring with his own hands, exercising his trade of tent making among them, that he might provide food for himself, and not be chargeable to them; and which... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Corinthians 11:8

I robbed other churches ,.... Meaning the churches of Macedonia; not that what he had of them was by force and rapine, or by plundering of them, and spoiling of their substance, and living upon them against their wills, as soldiers use a conquered people, though the allusion is to such a custom; for what he had of theirs was freely communicated to him; as appears from the following verse: but because these churches from whom he received were poor, and the Corinthians whom he served were... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Corinthians 11:9

And when I was present with you, and wanted ,.... Whilst he was among them, preaching the Gospel to them, he wanted the common necessaries of life: and yet, says he, I was chargeable to no man , or "benumbed no man"; a metaphor, as some think, taken from the torpedo, or cramp fish; which is of such a cold and benumbing nature, as that, when even at the hook, it will strike the fisherman with its cold, and so benumb him as to take away his feeling, and the use of his limbs: now the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Corinthians 11:10

As the truth of Christ is in me ,.... To show the firmness of his resolution, and how determined he was to abide by it, he joins an oath to it; for these words are the form of an oath; and it is as if he should say, as sure as Christ is truth, who is in me; or as that the truth of grace, or the truth of the Gospel of Christ is in my heart and mouth, so sure will I constantly persevere in this determination; or let the truth of Christ never be thought to be in me, if I do not: no man shall... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Corinthians 11:11

Wherefore? because I love you not ?.... Why did the apostle do this? why did he take nothing, and resolve to take nothing of the Corinthians, for preaching the Gospel to them? why did he determine, that no man should prevent his glorying of this, in all the country of Achaia? was it because he did not love the Corinthians? some might insinuate this was the reason of it, that he had no true affection for them, and therefore would take none of their gifts, but despised both them and theirs,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Corinthians 11:12

But what I do, that I will do ,.... As he preached the Gospel freely at Corinth and in Achaia, so he was determined to do it for the future, for this reason only, or chiefly: that , says he, I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion : meaning the false apostles, who sought for, and were desirous of every occasion and opportunity of exalting themselves, and reproaching him: that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we; the sense of which according to some... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Corinthians 11:13

For such are false apostles ,.... Such as those he had in view, who sought an occasion to depress him, and exalt themselves, and to get money from the Corinthians; these were "false apostles", or apostles falsely so called; they had the name, but not the thing; they were not called and sent forth by Christ; they had not the grace of apostleship, or gifts qualifying them for that high office; the power and authority they exercised was usurped by them; they could not prove their mission by... read more

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