2 Corinthians 12:16

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Corinthians 12:11-21

In these verses the apostle addresses himself to the Corinthians two ways:? I. He blames them for what was faulty in them; namely, that they had not stood up in his defence as they ought to have done, and so made it the more needful for him to insist so much on his own vindication. They in manner compelled him to commend himself, who ought to have been commended of them 2 Cor. 12:11. And had they, or some among them, not failed on their part, it would have been less needful for him to have... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 2 Corinthians 12:11-18

12:11-18 I have become a fool--you forced me to it. I ought to have been commended by you, not by myself. I am in no way inferior to the super-apostles, even if I am nothing. The signs of an apostle have been wrought among you in all endurance, with signs and wonders and deeds of power. In what have you been surpassed by the rest of the churches, except that I have not squeezed charity out of you? Forgive me for this sin. Look you! I am ready to come to you for the third time, and I still... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Corinthians 12:16

But be it so, I did not burden you ,.... These words are not spoken by the apostle in his own person of himself, but in the person of his adversaries, and contain a concession and an objection of theirs, but be it so; they granted that he had not burdened the Corinthians, that he had took nothing of them himself for preaching the Gospel; they owned that he had preached it freely; this was so clear a point, and so flagrant a case, that they could not deny it; yet they insinuated to the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Corinthians 12:16

But be it so, I did not burden you - That is: You grant that I did not burden you, that I took nothing from you, but preached to you the Gospel freely; but you say that, Being Crafty, I caught you with guile; i.e. getting from you, by means of others, what I pretended to be unwilling to receive immediately from yourselves. Many persons suppose that the words, being crafty, I caught you with guile, are the words of the apostle and not of his slanderers; and therefore have concluded that it... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Corinthians 12:16

Verse 16 16.But be it so. These words intimate, that Paul had been blamed by malevolent persons, as though he had in a clandestine way procured, through means of hired persons, what he had refused to receive with his own hands (934) — not that he had done any such thing, but they “measure others,” as they say, “by their own ell.” (935) For it is customary for the wicked impudently to impute to the servants of God, whatever they would themselves do, if they had it in their power. Hence, Paul is... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Corinthians 12:1-21

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Corinthians 12:16

But be it so, I did not burden you. The "I" is emphatic. It is shocking to think that, even after Paul has so triumphantly cleared himself from the disgraceful charge of trying to make gain out of the Corinthians, he should still be obliged to meet the slanderous innuendo that, even if he had not personally tried to get anything out of them, still he had done so indirectly through the agency of Titus. Being crafty, I caught you with guile. He is here quoting the sneer of his enemies (see... 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

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 2 Corinthians 12:16-18

2 Corinthians 12:16-18. Be it so, &c. But some may object; though I did not burden you Though I did not take any thing of you myself; yet being crafty, I caught you with guile I did secretly by my messengers what I would not do openly or in person. I answer this lying accusation by appealing to plain fact. Did I make a gain of you by any of my messengers? You know the contrary. It should be carefully observed that St. Paul does not allow, but absolutely denies, that he had caught... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 2 Corinthians 12:11-21

Plan to visit Corinth again (12:11-21)The Corinthians have forced Paul to this foolish boasting through their believing the accusations that the false apostles made against him. He reminds them also of the miracles and wonders he performed among them, in spite of great difficulties. All these examples should make them see clearly that he is not a second-class apostle (11-12). His refusal to live at the Corinthians’ expense was for the purpose of helping them. But instead of being thankful to... read more

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