2 Corinthians 11:12
in 2 Corinthians 11But I will keep on doing what I am doing, in order to undercut those who want an opportunity to be regarded as our equals in the things of which they boast.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them that desire an occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we.
KJV
But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we.
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This verse in 2 Corinthians 11
Commentary
10 notes on this verseBut what I do, etc. - I act thus that I may cut off occasion of glorying, boasting, or calumniating from them - the false prophets and his partisans, who seek occasion - who would be glad that I should become chargeable to you, that it might in some sort vindicate them who exact much from you; for they bring you into bondage, and devour you, 2Co 11:20. Nothing could mortify these persons more than to find that the apostle did take nothing, and was resolved to take nothing; while they were fleecing the people.
This site's exposition
the truth of Christ is in me
on 2 Corinthians 11:10-12
The false apostles apparently boasted of ministering on Paul's terms. By refusing pay he denies them the standing of those who want an opportunity to be regarded as our equals.
This site's exposition
those who want an opportunity
The rivals wanted Paul on their own footing. Adam Clarke reads them as men who took much from the church and would have been glad to see Paul take support too.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
"That I may cut off occasion from them that desire an occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we." For since this they sought earnestly, to find some handle against him, it is necessary to remove this also. For this is the one point on which they pique themselves. Therefore that they might not have any advantage whatever, it was necessary to set this right; for in other things they were inferior. For, as I have said, nothing doth so edify worldly people as the receiving nothing from them. Therefore the devil in his craftiness dropped this bait especially, when desirous to injure them in other respects. But it appears to me that this even was in hypocrisy. And therefore he did not say, "wherein they have well done," but what? "wherein they glory;" which also was as jeering at their glorying; for they gloried also of that which they were not. But the man of noble spirit not only ought not to boast of what he has not, but not even of what he possesses; as this blessed saint was wont to do.
The Medieval Church2 voices
Here he states quite clearly the reason why he did not take anything. Since the devil knew that people of this age especially love those teachers who take nothing, he taught the false apostles to interpret even this in their own way. For they did …
Therefore, having removed the false cause, he gives the true one, And what I do I will continue to do. First he states the true cause; secondly, the reason for it (v. 13). In regard to the first it should be noted that the false …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Who desire any occasion - To censure me. That wherein they boast, they may be found even as we - They boasted of being "burdensome to no man." But it was a vain boast in them, though not in the apostle.
But what I do, that I will do,....
2 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
It is not improbable to suppose that the chief of the false teachers at Corinth, or some among them, were rich, and taught (or deceived) the people freely, and might accuse the apostle or his fellow-labourers as mercenary men, who received hire or wages, and therefore the apostle kept to his resolution not to be chargeable to any of the Corinthians.
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
But what I do - The course of life which I have been pursuing I will continue to pursue. That is, I will continue to preach as I have done without demanding a support. I will labor with my own hands if necessary; I will preach without demanding rigidly what I might be entitled to. That I may cut off occasion - That I might give them no opportunity of accusing me of desiring to grow rich, and of calumniating me. Paul meant that they should have no plausible pretext even for accusing him; that no man should be able to say that he was preaching merely for the hire. Which desire occasion - No doubt his enemies eagerly sought opportunities of accusing him, and greatly wished for some plausible reason for charging him with that which would be disgraceful and ruinous to his character. Or it may mean that they desired opportunity from the example of Paul to justify themselves in their course; that they took wages from the church at Corinth largely, and desired to be able to say that they had his example. That wherein they glory - Probably meaning that they boasted that they preached the gospel for free (gratis); that they received nothing for their labors. Yet while they did this, it is not improbable that they received presents of the Corinthians, and under various pretences contrived to get from them an ample support, perhaps much more than would have been a reasonable compensation. People who profess to preach the gospel gratis, usually contrive in various ways to get more from the people than those who receive a regular and stipulated compensation. By taxing pretty liberally their hospitality; by accepting liberal presents; by frequent proclamation of their self-denial and their poverty, they usually filch large amounts from the people. […]
The words behind it
20 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ὃ | ho | What | G3739 → | 1405 times |
| δὲ | de | however | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| ποιῶ, | poio | I do, | G4160 → | 569 times |
| καὶ | kai | also | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ποιήσω, | poieso | I will do, | G4160 → | 569 times |
| ἵνα | ina | so that | G2443 → | 668 times |
| ἐκκόψω | ekkopso | I may cut off | G1581 → | |
| τὴν | ten | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἀφορμὴν | aphormen | opportunity | G874 → | 7 times |
| τῶν | ton | of those | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| θελόντων | thelonton | desiring | G2309 → | 208 times |
| ἀφορμήν, | aphormen | an opportunity | G874 → | 7 times |
| ἵνα | ina | that | G2443 → | 668 times |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| ᾧ | ho | what | G3739 → | 1405 times |
| καυχῶνται, | kauchontai | they are boasting, | G2744 → | 37 times |
| εὑρεθῶσιν | heurethosin | they may be found | G2147 → | 175 times |
| καθὼς | kathos | even as | G2531 → | 182 times |
| καὶ | kai | also | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ἡμεῖς. | hemeis | we ourselves. | G3165 → | 1936 times |
ὃWhat
hoG3739 →1405 times
δὲhowever
deG1161 →2765 times
ποιῶ,I do,
poioG4160 →569 times
καὶalso
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ποιήσω,I will do,
poiesoG4160 →569 times
ἵναso that
inaG2443 →668 times
ἐκκόψωI may cut off
ekkopsoG1581 →
τὴνthe
tenG3588 →19766 times
ἀφορμὴνopportunity
aphormenG874 →7 times
τῶνof those
tonG3588 →19766 times
θελόντωνdesiring
thelontonG2309 →208 times
ἀφορμήν,an opportunity
aphormenG874 →7 times
ἵναthat
inaG2443 →668 times
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
ᾧwhat
hoG3739 →1405 times
καυχῶνται,they are boasting,
kauchontaiG2744 →37 times
εὑρεθῶσινthey may be found
heurethosinG2147 →175 times
καθὼςeven as
kathosG2531 →182 times
καὶalso
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ἡμεῖς.we ourselves.
hemeisG3165 →1936 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Job 23:13But He is unchangeable, and who can oppose Him? He does what He desires.
it leads to
- Psalms 115:3
Our God is in heaven; He does as He pleases.
- Proverbs 19:21
Many plans are in a man’s heart, but the purpose of the LORD will prevail.
- Daniel 4:35
All the peoples of the earth are counted as nothing, and He does as He pleases with the army of heaven and the peoples of the earth. There is no one who can restrain…
- Isaiah 46:10
I declare the end from the beginning, and ancient times from what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and all My good pleasure I will accomplish.’
- Job 12:14
What He tears down cannot be rebuilt; the man He imprisons cannot be released.
- Psalms 115:3
Through
2 Corinthians 1:17When I planned this, did I do it carelessly? Or do I make my plans by human standards, so as to say “Yes, yes” when I really mean “No, no”?
it leads to
- Matthew 5:37
Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ Anything more comes from the evil one.
- James 5:12
Above all, my brothers, do not swear, not by heaven or earth or by any other oath. Simply let your “Yes” be yes, and your “No,” no, so that you will not fall under…
- Matthew 5:37
Through
1 Corinthians 9:12If others have this right to your support, shouldn’t we have it all the more? But we did not exercise this right. Instead, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of…
it leads to
- 1 Corinthians 9:18
What then is my reward? That in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge, and so not use up my rights in preaching it.
- 1 Corinthians 9:18
Where this verse is studied
About 2 Corinthians
This page draws on 10 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Second Epistle to the Corinthians; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Frederic Godet, Commentary on the Epistles to the Corinthians; John Chrysostom, Homily 23 on 2 Corinthians; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 2 Corinthians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on 2 Corinthians.