Albert Barnes

Now by the mildness and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you—I, Paul, who am humble when face to face with you, but bold when away.

“Now I Paul myself beseech you - I entreat you who are members of the church not to give me occasion for the exercise of severity in discipline.”

For though we live in the flesh, we do not wage war according to the flesh.

“For though we walk in the flesh - Though we are mortal like other people; though we dwell like them in mortal bodies, and necessarily must devote some care to our temporal needs; and though, being in the flesh, we are conscious of imperfections and…”

We tear down arguments and every presumption set up against the knowledge of God; and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

“Casting down imaginations - Margin, reasonings. The word is probably used here in the sense of device, and refers to all the plans of a wicked world; the various systems of false philosophy; and the reasonings of the enemies of the gospel.”

You are looking at outward appearances. If anyone is confident that he belongs to Christ, he should remind himself that we belong to Christ just as much as he does.

“Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? - This is addressed evidently to the members of the church, and with reference to the claims which had been set up by the false teachers.”

I do not want to seem to be trying to frighten you by my letters.

“That I may not seem ... - The meaning of this verse seems to be this. “I say that I might boast more of my power in order that I may not appear disposed to terrify you with my letters merely.”

Such people should consider that what we are in our letters when absent, we will be in our actions when present.

“Let such an one think this ... - Let them not flatter themselves that there will be any discrepancy between my words and my deeds. Let them feel that all which has been threatened will be certainly executed unless there is repentance.”

Neither do we boast beyond our limits in the labors of others. But we hope that as your faith increases, our area of influence among you will greatly increase as…

“Not boasting of things without our measure - There is here probably an allusion to the false teachers at Corinth. They had come after Paul had been there, and had entered into his labors.”

Rather, “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.”

“But he that glorieth - He that boasts. Whatever may be the occasion of his boasting, whether in planting churches or in watering them; whether in his purposes, plans, toils, or success.”

I hope you will bear with a little of my foolishness, but you are already doing that.

“Would to God - Greek, “I would” (Ὄφελον Ophelon). This expresses earnest desire, but in the Greek there is no appeal to God. The sense would be well expressed by “O that,” or “I earnestly wish.””

I am afraid, however, that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may be led astray from your simple and pure devotion to Christ.

“But I fear - Paul had just compared the church to a virgin, soon to be presented as a bride to the Redeemer.”

I consider myself in no way inferior to those “super-apostles.”

“For I suppose ... - I think that I gave as good evidence that I was commissioned by God as the most eminent of the apostles.”

Was it a sin for me to humble myself in order to exalt you, because I preached the gospel of God to you free of charge?

“Have I committed an offence - Have I done wrong. Greek, “Have I committed a sin.” There is here a somewhat abrupt transition from the previous verse; and the connection is not very apparent. Perhaps the connection is this.”

And when I was with you and in need, I was not a burden to anyone; for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied my needs.

“And when I was present with you - When I was laboring in order to build up the church in Corinth.”

Why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do!

“Wherefore ... - It is not because I do not love you. It is not from pride, or because I would not as willingly receive aid from you as from any other.”

It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their actions.

“Therefore it is no great thing ... - It is not to be deemed surprising. You are not to wonder if people of the basest, blackest character put on the appearance of the greatest sanctity, and even become eminent as professed preachers of righteousness.”

In this confident boasting of mine, I am not speaking as the Lord would, but as a fool.

“That which I speak - In praise of myself. I speak it not after the Lord - see the note on 1Co 7:12.”

Since many are boasting according to the flesh, I too will boast.

“Seeing that many glory ... - The false teachers in Corinth. They boasted of their birth, rank, natural endowments, eloquence, etc.; see 2Co 11:22. Compare Php 3:3-4.”

For you gladly tolerate fools, since you are so wise.

“For ye suffer fools gladly - You tolerate or endure those who are really fools. This is perhaps, says Dr. Bloomfield, the most sarcastic sentence ever penned by the apostle Paul. Its sense is, “You profess to be wondrous wise.”

Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked. I spent a night and a day in the open sea.

“Thrice was I beaten with rods - In the Acts of the Apostles there is mention made of his being beaten in this manner but once before the time when this Epistle was written. That occurred at Philippi; Act 16:22-23.”

in labor and toil and often without sleep, in hunger and thirst and often without food, in cold and exposure.

“In weariness - Resulting from traveling, exposure, labor, and want. The word κόπος kopos (from κόπτω koptō, “to beat, to cut”) means, properly, “wailing and grief,” accompanied with beating the breast. Hence, the word means “toil, labor, wearisome effort.””

Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not burn with grief?

“Who is weak ... - I sympathize with all. I feel where others feel, and their sorrows excite deep sympathetic emotions in my bosom. Like a tender and compassionate friend I am affected when I see others in circumstances of distress.”

The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is forever worthy of praise, knows that I am not lying.

“The God and Father ... - Paul was accustomed to make solemn appeals to God for the truth of what he said, especially when it was likely to be called in question; see 2Co 11:10; compare Rom 9:1.”

But I was lowered in a basket through a window in the wall and escaped his grasp.

“And through a window - That is, through a little door or aperture in the wall; perhaps something like an embrasure, that might have been large enough to allow a man to pass through it.”

I must go on boasting. Although there is nothing to gain, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord.

“It is not expedient - It is not well; it does not become me. This may either mean that he felt and admitted that it did not become him to boast in this manner; that there was an impropriety in his doing it though circumstances…”

I will boast about such a man, but I will not boast about myself, except in my weaknesses.

“Of such an one will I glory - Of such a man it would be right to boast. It would be admitted that it is right to exult in such a man, and to esteem him to be uniquely favored by God.”