Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

“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]. This is one of those minute agreements with Jewish usage, which a forger would have …”

“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. in the city--…”

“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, ESTI…”

“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 to God fo…”

“He proceeds to illustrate the "glorying in infirmities" (2Co 11:30). He gave one instance which might expose him to ridicule (2Co 11:33); he now gives another, but this one connected with a glorious revelation of which it was the sequel: but he dwells not o…”

“But he purposely thus distinguishes between the rapt and glorified person of 2Co 12:2, 4, and himself the infirmity-laden victim of the "thorn in the flesh" (2Co 12:7). Such glory belonged not to him, but the weakness did. Nay, he did not even know whether …”

“The thorn seems (from 2Co 12:9, and Greek, 2Co 12:7, "that he may buffet me") to have continued with Paul when he wrote, lest still he should be "overmuch lifted up." the Lord--Christ. Escape from the cross is not to be sought even indirectly from Satan (…”

“The Lord puts the words into Paul's mouth, that following them up he might say, "O Lord, Thy grace is sufficient for me" [BENGEL]. my strength--Greek, "power." is made perfect--has its most perfect manifestation. in weakness--Do not ask for sensible strengt…”

“"I am become a fool." He sounds a retreat [BENGEL]. ye--emphatic. "It is YE who have compelled me; for I ought to have been commended by you," instead of having to commend myself. am I behind--rather as Greek, "was I behind" when I was with you? the very ch…”

“And then you have a greater difficulty than ever, namely, to account for the rise of Christianity; so that the infidel has something infinitely more difficult to believe than that which he rejects, and which the Christian more rationally accepts.”

“The context here implies nothing of a third preparation to come; but, "I am coming, and the third time, and will not burden you this time any more than I did at my two previous visits" [ALFORD]. not yours, but you-- (Php 4:17). children . . . parents--Paul …”

“I will . . . spend--all I have. be spent--all that I am. This is more than even natural parents do. They "lay up treasures for their children." But I spend not merely my treasures, but myself. for you--Greek, "for your souls"; not for your mere bodies. the …”

“I did not burden you--The "I" in the Greek is emphatic. A possible insinuation of the Corinthians is hereby anticipated and refuted: "But, you may say, granted that I did not burden you myself; nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you (in my net) with guile"; …”

“Again--The oldest manuscripts read, "This long time ye think that we are excusing ourselves unto you? It is before God (as opposed to 'unto you') that we speak in Christ" (2Co 2:17). English Version Greek text was a correction from 2Co 3:1;”

“Ambitious self-seeking; from a Greek root, "to work for hire." backbitings, whisperings--open "slanderings," and "whispering backbitings" (Ga 5:20). swellings--arrogant elation; puffing up of yourselves.”

“The faithful pastor is "humbled" at, and "bewails" the falls of his people, as though they were his own. sinned already--before my last coming [BENGEL], that is, before the second visit which he paid, and in which he had much at Corinth to rebuke. have not r…”

“This is the third time I am coming to you--not merely preparing to come to you. This proves an intermediate visit between the two recorded in Ac 18:1; In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established--Quoted from De 19:15, Septuagint.”

“The antithesis between "the second time" and "now" is palpable. if I come again, &c.--that is, whensoever I come again (Ac 20:2). These were probably the very words of his former threat which he now repeats again.”

“Since--The reason why he will not spare: Since ye challenge me to give a "proof" that Christ speaks in me. It would be better if ye would "prove your own selves" (2Co 13:5).”

“Examine--Greek, "Try (make trial of) yourselves." prove your own selves--This should be your first aim, rather than "seeking a proof of Christ speaking in me" (2Co 13:3). your own selves--I need not speak much in proof of Christ being in me, your minister …”

“"I trust that" your own Christianity will be recognized by you (observe, "ye shall know," answers to "know your own selves," 2Co 13:5) as sufficient "proof" that ye are not reprobates, but that "Christ speaks in me," without needing a proof from me more tryi…”

“I pray--The oldest manuscripts read, "we pray." not that we should appear approved--not to gain credit for ourselves, your ministers, by your Christian conduct; but for your good [ALFORD].”

“Our apostolic power is given us that we may use it not against, but for the furtherance of, the truth. Where you are free from fault, there is no scope for its exercise: and this I desire.”

“"The grace of Christ" comes first, for it is only by it we come to "the love of God" the Father (Joh 14:6). The variety in the order of Persons proves that "in this Trinity none is afore or after other" [Athanasian Creed]. communion--joint fellowship, or par…”