Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

You will be enriched in every way to be generous on every occasion, so that through us your giving will produce thanksgiving to God.

“Compare 2Co 9:8. bountifulness--Greek, "single-minded liberality." Translated "simplicity," Ro 12:8. causeth through us--literally, "worketh through us"; that is, through our instrumentality as the distributors. thanksgiving--on the part of the recipients.”

For this ministry of service is not only supplying the needs of the saints, but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanksgiving to God.

“Greek, "The ministration of this public service (on your part) is not only still further supplying the wants of the saints (besides the supplies from other quarters), but is abounding also (namely, in respect to relieving the necessities of others in poverty) through many thanksgivings…”

And their prayers for you will express their affection for you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you.

“Translate, "Themselves also with prayer for you, longing after you on account of the exceeding grace of God (resting) upon you." English Version is, however, good sense: They glorify God (2Co 9:13) by the experimental proof, &c., "and by their prayer for you."”

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.

“Even in outward bearing when I shall be present with you (in contrast to "by letters," 2Co 10:9) I will show that I am more really armed with the authority of Christ, than those who arrogate to themselves the title of being peculiarly "Christ's" (1Co…”

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

“I say this lest I should seem to be terrifying you, as children, with empty threats [BENGEL]. ESTIUS explains, "I might boast more of my authority, but I forbear to do so, that I may not seem as if," &c.”

We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they show their ignorance.

“The one-eyed is easily king among the blind. are not wise--with all their boasted "wisdom" (1Co 1:19-26), they are anything but "wise."”

We, however, will not boast beyond our limits, but only within the field of influence that God has assigned to us—a field that reaches even to you.

“Paul's "measure" is the apportionment of his sphere of Gospel labors ruled for him by God. A "rule" among the so-called "apostolic canons" subsequently was, that no bishop should appoint ministers beyond his own limits.”

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 to unmeasured bounds (that is, not exceeding our own bounds by boasting) of (literally, 'in') other men's labors." when--"As your faith goes on increasing."”

For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.

“(Pr 27:2). whom the Lord commendeth--to whom the Lord has given as His "Epistle of commendation," the believers whom he has been the instrument of converting: as was Paul's case (2Co 3:1-3). is approved--can stand the test of the final trial.”

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

“Would to God--Translate as Greek, "I would that." bear with me--I may ask not unreasonably to be borne with; not so the false apostles (2Co 11:4, 20). my--not in the oldest manuscripts. folly--The Greek is a milder term than that for "foolishness" in 1Co 3:19;”

I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. For I promised you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ.

“What Paul here says he desires to do, namely, "present" the Church as "a chaste virgin" to Christ, Christ Himself is said to do in the fuller sense. Whatever ministers do effectively, is really done by Christ (Eph 5:27-32).”

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.

“The same Greek stands for "minds" as for "thoughts" (2Co 10:5, also see on 2Co 10:5); intents of the will, or mind. The oldest manuscripts after "simplicity," add, "and the purity" or "chastity." in Christ--rather, "that is towards Christ."”

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

“For--My claim is superior to that of the false teachers, "For," &c. I suppose--I reckon [ALFORD]. I was not--Greek, "That I have not been, and am not." the very chiefest apostles--James, Peter, and John, the witnesses of Christ's transfiguration and agony in Gethsemane.”

As surely as the truth of Christ is in me, this boasting of mine will not be silenced in the regions of Achaia.

“Greek, "There is (the) truth of Christ in me that," &c. (Ro 9:1). no man shall stop me of--The oldest manuscripts read, "This boasting shall not be shut (that is, stopped) as regards me." "Boasting is as it were personified . . .”

For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ.

“For--reason why he is unwilling they should be thought like him [BENGEL]. such--they and those like them. false apostles--those "overmuch apostles" (see on 2Co 11:5) are no apostles at all. deceitful workers--pretending to be "workmen" for the Lord, and really seeking their own gain.”

I repeat: Let no one take me for a fool. But if you do, then receive me as a fool, so that I too may boast a little.

“The Greek denotes one who does not rightly use his mental powers; not having the idea of blame necessarily attached to it; one deceived by foolish vanities, yet boasting himself [TITTMANN], (2Co 11:17, 19).”

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

“Therefore this passage gives no proof that any portion of Scripture is uninspired. It merely guards against his boasting being made a justification of boasting in general, which is not ordinarily "after the Lord," that is, consistent with Christian humility. foolishly--Greek, "in foolishness."”

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

“A plea why they should "bear with" (2Co 11:1) him in his folly, that is, boasting; ye are, in sooth, so "wise" (1Co 4:8, 10; Paul's real view of their wisdom was very different, 1Co 3:1-4) yourselves that ye can "bear with" the folly of…”

In fact, you even put up with anyone who enslaves you or exploits you or takes advantage of you or exalts himself or strikes you in the face.

“Translate "brings," not "bring"; for the case is not merely a supposed case, but a case actually then occurring. Also "devours" (namely, by exactions, Mt 23:24; Ps 53:4), "takes," "exalts," "smites."”

To my shame I concede that we were too weak for that! Speaking as a fool, however, I can match what anyone else dares to boast about.

“The "we" is emphatically contrasted with the false teachers who so oppressively displayed their power. I speak so as though WE had been weak when with you, because we did not show our power this way.”

Are they servants of Christ? I am speaking like I am out of my mind, but I am so much more: in harder labor, in more imprisonments, in worse beatings…

“I speak as a fool--rather, as Greek, "I speak as if beside myself"; stronger than "as a fool." I am more--namely, in respect to the credentials and manifestations of my ministry, more faithful and self-denying; and richer in tokens of God's recognition of my ministry.”

Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one.

“De 25:3 ordained that not more than forty stripes should be inflicted To avoid exceeding this number, they gave one short of it: thirteen strokes with a treble lash [BENGEL].”

In my frequent journeys, I have been in danger from rivers and from bandits, in danger from my countrymen and from the Gentiles, in danger in the city and in…

“So the traveller Sport lost his life. robbers--perhaps in his journey from Perga to Antioch in Pisidia. Pisidia was notorious for robbers; as indeed were all the mountains that divided the high land of Asia from the sea. the heathen--Gentiles.”

Apart from these external trials, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.

“But the oldest manuscripts for "that which cometh," read, "the pressure": "the pressing care-taking" or "inspection that is upon me daily." ALFORD translates, "Omitting what is BESIDES"; namely, those other trials besides those recounted. But the Vulgate, ESTIUS, and BENGEL, support English Version.”

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

“This solemn asseveration refers to what follows. The persecution at Damascus was one of the first and greatest, and having no human witness of it to adduce to the Corinthians, as being a fact that happened long before and was known to few, he appeals…”