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Matthew Henry

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

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 2 Corinthians 12:19-21

12:19-21 You have been thinking for a long time that it is to you that we have been making our defence. It is before God, in Christ, that we speak. All that we have said, beloved, is for your upbuilding, for I am afraid, in case, when I come, I may find you not such as I wish that you should be, and that I should be found by you not such as you wish me to be. I am afraid that, when I come, there may be amongst you strife, envy, outbursts of anger, the factious spirit, slanderings,... 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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Corinthians 12:17

Did I make a gain of you ,.... He appeals to the Corinthians against such calumnies and false insinuations, whether ever he had circumvented them in such a manner, or had ever used such artful methods to pillage them; or whether ever he had discovered any covetous disposition towards anything of theirs; or had employed any persons to draw out their substance from them, and get it for himself: he owns he had sent some persons to them on different errands, and asks if he had dealt fraudulently... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Corinthians 12:18

I desired Titus, and with him I sent a brother ,.... The apostle proceeds to mention one or two persons that he had sent unto them, and desires to know whether they could charge them with any such practices. He had desired, exhorted, and encouraged Titus to go unto them, and collect money from them; but not for either of themselves, but for the poor saints at Jerusalem; and he sent another brother along with him, who is by some supposed to be Luke, to be a companion of him, and an assistant... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Corinthians 12:19

Again, think you that we excuse ourselves to you? .... The apostle would not have the Corinthians imagine, that by what he had said once and again in this epistle, he meant to excuse himself from coming to them, for he really and sincerely intended it; or that by this long defence of himself against the false apostles, he designed so much an apology for himself, or that he used any feigned words, or artful methods, to exculpate himself from any charge against him, particularly that of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Corinthians 12:20

For I fear lest when I come ,.... This fear arose from his fatherly affection for them, and care of them: I shall not find you such as I would ; truly penitent for former sins, thoroughly reformed in life and manners, zealous for God, Christ, and the Gospel, and hearty lovers of one another: and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not ; sharp in his reproofs and admonitions, severe in his corrections and censures, and lawfully using the authority he had from Christ, to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Corinthians 12:21

And lest when I come again ,.... Another thing which he feared would be the case when he came again to them, that he himself should be afflicted and distressed, seeing them in a disorderly and dissolute course of life, be obliged to punish them, which would be an humiliation and matter of grief to him: my God will humble me ; instead of rejoicing in the fruit of his labours, that they were not in vain, he signifies that he should have great sorrow of heart; and whereas he had promised... 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

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