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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Corinthians 11:22-33

Here the apostle gives a large account of his own qualifications, labours, and sufferings (not out of pride or vain-glory, but to the honour of God, who had enabled him to do and suffer so much for the cause of Christ), and wherein he excelled the false apostles, who would lessen his character and usefulness among the Corinthians. Observe, I. He mentions the privileges of his birth (2 Cor. 11:22), which were equal to any they could pretend to. He was a Hebrew of the Hebrews; of a family among... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 2 Corinthians 11:16-33

11:16-33 Again I say, let no one think me a fool. But, even if you do, bear with me, even if it is as a fool that you do bear with me, so that I too may boast a little. I am not saying what I am saying as if talk like this was inspired by the Lord, but I am talking with boastful confidence as in foolishness. Since many boast about their human qualifications I too will boast, for you--because you are sensible people--suffer fools gladly. I know that this is true because you suffer it if... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Corinthians 11:27

In weariness and painfulness ,.... Through long journeys and frequent preaching; or "in labour and trouble"; or in troublesome labour, for all labour is not so; as hunting, hawking, &c.; though laborious, yet delightful; but the labours of the apostle were painful and troublesome to the flesh, though he had much inward spiritual delight and pleasure in them: in watchings often ; being sometimes engaged at midnight, either in preaching, or praying, or staging psalms, and sometimes... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Corinthians 11:28

Besides those things that are without ,.... Or are omitted, which he had passed by, and had not mentioned in the account and enumeration of things he had given; for otherwise the things he had taken notice of and instanced in, were things external; but besides them and many other things which would be too tedious to relate, that which cometh upon me daily , is not to be forgotten; meaning the prodigious deal of business which was every day upon his hands, through the continual coming of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Corinthians 11:29

Who is weak, and I am not weak .... What church is so? or what particular believer is so? for he had not only the care of all the churches, but of all believers upon him; whoever was weak in the faith he was concerned for them, to instruct, establish, and strengthen them; and suited his discourses, reasonings, and language, to their capacity, that they might understand him, and take in right notions of things: or whoever was of a weak and scrupulous conscience about things indifferent, and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Corinthians 11:30

If I must needs glory .... The apostle signifies that glorying was not agreeable to him; he was not fond of it, it was a subject he did not delight to dwell upon; what he had done was by force, and through necessity; he was compelled to it by the boasts of the false apostles: and since he must needs glory in order to stop their mouths; will glory says he, of things which concern mine infirmities; meaning not his sins, for these cause shame; but his afflictions and sufferings for Christ,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Corinthians 11:31

he God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ .... These words are in the form of an oath, and are a solemn appeal to God, that knows all things, for the truth of the whole that he had declared in the foregoing verses, and of the remarkable deliverance related in the following. "God", says he, who is the searcher of hearts, and an omniscient being, to whom all things are open and manifest, knoweth that I lie not ; in anyone single instance he had mentioned, nor in what he was about to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Corinthians 11:32

In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king ,.... Aretas or Al-Hareth was a king of Arabia, of the family of the Gassanii; among whom were many of this name F18 Pocock. Specimen Hist. Arab. p. 76, 77, 78. ; and who for some hundreds of years ruled over Syria, of which Damascus was the metropolis. The fourth king of that family was of this name, and perhaps is the person here meant; and after him there were four more of the same family so called; it was a name of Arabian kings in... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Corinthians 11:27

In weariness and painfulness - Tribulations of this kind were his constant companions. Lord Lyttleton and others have made useful reflections on this verse: "How hard was it for a man of a genteel and liberal education, as St. Paul was, to bear such rigours, and to wander about like a vagabond, hungry and almost naked, yet coming into the presence of persons of high life, and speaking in large and various assemblies on matters of the utmost importance!" Had not St. Paul been deeply convinced... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Corinthians 11:28

Beside those things that are without - Independently of all these outward things, I have innumerable troubles and mental oppressions. Which cometh upon me - Ἡ επισυατασις· This continual press of business; this insurrection of cases to be heard, solved, and determined, relative to the doctrine, discipline, state, persecution, and supply of all the Churches. All his perils were little in comparison of what he felt relative to the peace, government, and establishment of all the... read more

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