The MacArthur Study Bible, NKJV, page 589
13For such tare false apostles, udeceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ.
14And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into van angel of light.
15Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, wwhose end will be according to their works.
Reluctant Boasting
16I say again, let no one think me a fool. If otherwise, at least receive me as a fool, that I also may boast a little.
17What I speak, xI speak not according to the Lord, but as it were, foolishly, in this confidence of boasting.
18Seeing that many boast according to the flesh, I also will boast.
19For you put up with fools gladly, ysince you yourselves are wise!
20For you put up with it zif one brings you into bondage, if one devours you, if one takes from you, if one exalts himself, if one strikes you on the face.
21To our shame aI say that we were too weak for that! But bin whatever anyone is bold—I speak foolishly—I am bold also.
Suffering for Christ
22Are they cHebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? So am I.
23Are they ministers of Christ?—I speak as a fool—I am more: din labors more abundant, ein stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, fin deaths often.
24From the Jews five times I received gforty hstripes minus one.
25Three times I was ibeaten with rods; jonce I was stoned; three times I kwas shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep;
26in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, lin perils of my own countrymen, min perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;
27in weariness and toil, nin sleeplessness often, oin hunger and thirst, in pfastings often, in cold and nakedness—
28besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: qmy deep concern for all the churches.
29rWho is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn with indignation?
30If I must boast, sI will boast in the things which concern my 4infirmity.
31tThe God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, uwho is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying.
32vIn Damascus the governor, under Aretas the king, was guarding the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desiring to arrest me;
33but I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall, and escaped from his hands.
2 Corinthians 12
The Vision of Paradise
1It is 1doubtless not profitable for me to boast. I will come to avisions and brevelations of the Lord:
2I know a man cin Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a one dwas caught up to the third heaven.
3And I know such a man—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows—
4how he was caught up into eParadise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
5Of such a one I will boast; yet of myself I will not fboast, except in my infirmities.
6For though I might desire to boast, I will not be a fool; for I will speak the truth. But I refrain, lest anyone should think of me above what he sees me to be or hears from me.
The Thorn in the Flesh
7And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a gthorn in the flesh was given to me, ha messenger of Satan to 2buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure.
8iConcerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me.
9And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly jI will rather boast in my infirmities, kthat the power of Christ may rest upon me.
10Therefore lI take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. mFor when I am weak, then I am strong.
Signs of an Apostle
11I have become na fool 3in boasting; you have compelled me. For I ought to have been commended by you; for oin nothing was I behind the most eminent apostles, though pI am nothing.
12qTruly the signs of an apostle were accomplished among you with all perseverance, in signs and rwonders and mighty sdeeds.
13For what is it in which you were inferior to other churches, except that I myself was not burdensome to you? Forgive me this wrong!
Love for the Church
14tNow for the third time I am ready to come to you. And I will not be burdensome to you; for uI do not seek yours, but you. vFor the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.
15And I will very gladly spend and be spent wfor your souls; though xthe more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved.
16But be that as it may, yI did not burden you. Nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you by cunning!
17Did I take advantage of you by any of those whom I sent to you?
18I urged Titus, and sent our zbrother with him. Did Titus take advantage of you? Did we not walk in the same spirit? Did we not walk in the same steps?
19aAgain,4 do you think that we excuse ourselves to you? bWe speak before God in Christ. cBut we do all things, beloved, for your edification.
20For I fear lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I wish, and that dI shall be found by you such as you do not wish; lest there be contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, backbitings, whisperings, conceits, tumults;
21lest, when I come again, my God ewill humble me among you, and I shall mourn for many fwho have sinned before and have not repented of the uncleanness, gfornication, and lewdness which they have practiced.
2 Corinthians 13
Coming with Authority
1This will be athe third time I am coming to you. b“By the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established.”
2cI have told you before, and foretell as if I were present the second time, and now being absent 1I write to those dwho have sinned before, and to all the rest, that if I come again eI will not spare—
3since you seek a proof of Christ fspeaking in me, who is not weak toward you, but mighty gin you.
4hFor though He was crucified in weakness, yet iHe lives by the power of God. For jwe also are weak in Him, but we shall live with Him by the power of God toward you.
5Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, kthat Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you 2are ldisqualified.
6But I trust that you will know that we are not disqualified.
Paul Prefers Gentleness
7Now 3I pray to God that you do no evil, not that we should appear approved, but that you should do what is honorable, though mwe may seem disqualified.
8For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.
9For we are glad nwhen we are weak and you are strong. And this also we pray, othat you may be made complete.
10pTherefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the qauthority which the Lord has given me for edification and not for destruction.
Greetings and Benediction
11Finally, brethren, farewell. Become complete. rBe of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love sand peace will be with you.
12tGreet one another with a holy kiss.
13All the saints greet you.
14uThe grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and vthe 4communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.
2 Corinthians Commentaries
2 Corinthians 1
1:1 apostle. This refers to Paul’s official position as a messenger sent by Christ (see note on Rom. 1:1; Introduction to 1 Corinthians: Author and Date). by the will of God. Paul’s mission was not a self-appointed one, or based on his own achievements. Rather, his credentials were by divine appointment and his letter reflected not his own message but the words of Christ (see Introduction to Romans: Author and Date; cf. Acts 26:15–18). Timothy our brother. Paul’s cherished son in the faith and a dominant person in Paul’s life and ministry (see Introduction to 1 Timothy: Background and Setting; see note on 1 Tim. 1:2). Paul first met Timothy in Derbe and Lystra on his first missionary journey (Acts 16:1–4). Timothy was with him during the founding of the church in Corinth (Acts 18:1–5), which, along with Paul’s mention of Timothy in 1 Corinthians (4:17; 16:10, 11), indicated the Corinthians knew Timothy. Perhaps Paul mentioned him here to remind them Timothy was indeed a brother and to smooth over any hard feelings left from his recent visit (see notes on 1 Cor. 16:10).
1:2 Grace…peace. Part of Paul’s normal salutation in his letters (see note on Rom. 1:7). “Grace” is God’s unmerited favor, and “peace” one of its benefits.
1:3 God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Paul praised the true God who revealed Himself in His Son, who is of the same essence with the Father (see notes on John 1:14, 18; 17:3–5; cf. John 5:17; 14:9–11; Eph. 1:3; Heb. 1:2, 3; 2 John 3). He is the anointed one (Christ) and sovereign (Lord) Redeemer (Jesus). Although the Son enjoyed this lofty position, He was willing to become a servant and submit Himself in His incarnation (see notes on Phil. 2:5–8). This great benediction comprehends the entire gospel. Father of mercies. Paul borrowed from Jewish liturgical language and a synagogue prayer that called for God to treat the sinful individual with kindness, love, and tenderness (see note on Rom. 12:1; cf. 2 Sam. 24:14; Ps. 103:13, 14; Mic. 7:18–20). God of all comfort. An OT description of God (cf. Is. 40:1; 51:3, 12; 66:13), who is the ultimate source of every true act of comfort. The Gr. word for “comfort” is related to the familiar word paraclete, “one who comes alongside to help,” another name for the Holy Spirit (see notes on John 14:26; Phil. 2:1). “Comfort” often connotes softness and ease, but that is not its meaning here. Paul was saying that God came to him in the middle of his sufferings and troubles to strengthen him and give him courage and boldness (cf. vv. 4–10).
1:4 tribulation. This term refers to crushing pressure, because in Paul’s life and ministry there was always something attempting to weaken him, restrict or confine his ministry, or even crush out his life. But no matter what confronted him, Paul knew God would sustain and strengthen him (see notes on 12:9, 10; Rom. 8:31–38; cf. Phil. 1:6). that we may be able to comfort. Comfort from God is not an end in itself. Its purpose is that believers also might be comforters. Having humiliated and convicted the Corinthians, God used Paul to return to them with a strengthening message after he himself had received divine strengthening (6:1–13; 12:6–11; cf. Luke 22:31, 32).
1:5 sufferings of Christ abound. God’s comfort to believers extends to the boundaries of their suffering for Christ. The more they endure righteous suffering, the greater will be their comfort and reward (cf. 1 Pet. 4:12–14). Paul knew firsthand that these many sufferings would seem never-ending (4:7–11; 6:5–10; 11:23–27; cf. Gal. 6:17; Phil. 3:10; Col. 1:24), and all genuine believers should expect the same (cf. Matt. 10:18–24).
1:6 Paul was referring to the body of Christ’s partnership of suffering, which mutually builds godly patience and endurance (1 Cor. 12:26). All believers need to realize this process, avoid any sense of self-pity when suffering for Him, and share in each others’ lives the encouragement of divine comfort they receive from their experiences. consolation. Comfort (see note on v. 3). salvation. This refers to the Corinthians’ ongoing perseverance to final, completed salvation when they will be glorified (see note on Rom. 13:11). Paul’s willingness, by God’s grace and the Spirit’s power, to suffer and be comforted and then comfort and strengthen the Corinthians enabled them to persevere.
1:7 partakers of the sufferings. Some in the church at Corinth, perhaps the majority, were suffering for righteousness, as Paul was. Although that church had caused him much pain and concern, Paul saw its members as partners to be helped, because of their faithfulness in mutual suffering.
1:8 our. An editorial plural, which Paul used throughout the letter. It usually was a humble reference to Paul himself, but in this instance it could include others as well. trouble which came to us in Asia. This was a recent occurrence (following the writing of 1 Corinthians) that happened in or around the city of Ephesus. The details of this situation are not known. despaired even of life. Paul faced something that was beyond human survival and was extremely discouraging because he believed it threatened to end his ministry prematurely. The Gr. word for “despaired” lit. means “no passage,” the total absence of an exit (cf. 2 Tim. 4:6). The Corinthians were aware of what had happened to Paul, but did not realize the utter severity of it, or what God was doing through those circumstances.
1:9 the sentence of death. The word for “sentence” is a technical term that indicated the passing of an official resolution, in this case the death sentence. Paul was so absolutely sure he was going to die for the gospel that he had pronounced the sentence upon himself. not trust in ourselves but in God. God’s ultimate purpose for Paul’s horrible extremity. The Lord took him to the point at which he could not fall back on any intellectual, physical, or emotional human resource (cf. 12:9, 10). who raises the dead. A Jewish descriptive term for God used in synagogue worship language (see note on v. 3). Paul understood that trust in God’s power to raise the dead was the only hope of rescue from his extreme circumstances.
1:10 He will still deliver us. See notes on 2 Tim. 4:16, 17; 2 Pet. 2:9.
1:11 helping together in prayer. Intercessory prayer is crucial to the expression of God’s power and sovereign purpose. In this regard, Paul wanted the faithful Corinthians to know he needed their prayers then and in the future (cf. Eph. 6:18; James 5:16). thanks may be given. Prayer’s duty is not to change God’s plans, but to glorify Him and give thanks for them. Paul was confident that God’s sovereign purpose would be accomplished, balanced by the prayerful participation of believers. the gift. Probably better translated “favor,” or “blessing,” as in God’s undeserved favor or the divine answer to prayer Paul would receive in being delivered from death.
1:12 Paul faced his critics’ many accusations against his character and integrity (they had accused him of being proud, self-serving, untrustworthy and inconsistent, mentally unbalanced, incompetent, unsophisticated, and an incompetent preacher) by appealing to the highest human court, his conscience. boasting. Paul often used this word, and it can also be rendered “proud confidence.” Used negatively, it refers to unwarranted bragging about one’s own merits and achievements; but Paul used it positively to denote legitimate confidence in what God had done in his life (cf. Jer. 9:23, 24; Rom. 15:18; 1 Cor. 1:31; 15:9, 10; 1 Tim. 1:12–17). conscience. The soul’s warning system, which allows human beings to contemplate their motives and actions and make moral evaluations of what is right and wrong (see note on Rom. 2:14, 15). In order to work as God designed it, the conscience must be informed to the highest moral and spiritual level and best standard, which means submitting it to the Holy Spirit through God’s Word (cf. Rom. 12:1, 2; 1 Tim. 1:19; 2 Tim. 2:15; Heb. 9:14; 10:22). Paul’s fully enlightened conscience exonerated him completely (cf. Acts 23:1; 24:16; 1 Tim. 1:5; 3:9; 2 Tim. 1:3). But ultimately, only God can accurately judge a man’s motives (1 Cor. 4:1–5). fleshly wisdom. Wisdom that is based on worldly, human insight (see note on James 3:15).
1:13 This broadly answers the accusation that Paul had engaged in deceptive personal relationships (cf. 7:2; 11:9). His continuing flow of information to the Corinthians was always clear, straightforward and understandable, consistent, and genuine. Paul wanted them to know that he was not holding anything back, nor did he have any secret agenda (10:11). He simply wanted them to understand all that he had written and spoken to them.
1:14 in part. As the Corinthians read and heard Paul’s unfolding instruction to them, they continued to understand more. we are your boast. More clearly translated, “we are your reason to be proud” (see note on v. 12). the day of the Lord Jesus. When He returns (see notes on Phil. 1:6; 2 Tim. 1:12; 4:8). Paul eagerly longed for the Lord’s coming when they would rejoice over each other in glory (cf. 1 Thess. 2:19, 20).
1:15 a second benefit. Or, “twice receive a blessing.” Paul’s original plan was to visit the Corinthians twice so that they might receive a double blessing. His travel plans were not the result of selfishness, but of the genuine relationship he enjoyed with the Corinthians and their mutual loyalty and godly pride in each other.
1:16 come again. Paul had planned to leave Ephesus, stop at Corinth on the way to Macedonia, and return to Corinth again after his ministry in Macedonia (cf. 1 Cor. 16:5–7). For some reason, Paul’s plans changed and he was unable to stop in Corinth the first time. The false apostles who had invaded the church seized upon that honest change of schedule as evidence of his untrustworthiness and tried to use it to discredit him.
1:17 Paul is probably quoting some actual accusations of dishonesty brought by his opponents. Therefore…did I do it lightly? The Gr. words that introduce this question call for an indignant, negative answer. Paul declared that he was in no way operating as a vacillating, fickle, unstable person who could not be trusted. according to the flesh. Purely from a human viewpoint, apart from the leading of the Holy Spirit, this is someone who is unregenerate (see notes on Gal. 5:19–21). He affirmed that his “yes” and “no” words to them really meant what they said.
1:18 as God is faithful. Paul may have been making an oath and calling God to give testimony (cf. 11:10, 31; Rom. 1:9; Gal. 1:20; Phil. 1:8; 1 Thess. 2:5, 10). Whatever the case, he refers to God’s trustworthiness and the fact that he represented such a God as an honest spokesman. not Yes and No. He was not saying “yes” and meaning “no.” There was no duplicity with Paul (nor with Timothy and Silas). He said what he meant and did what he said, unless there was compelling reason to change his plans.
