2 Corinthians 12:19
in 2 Corinthians 12Have you been thinking all along that we were making a defense to you? We speak before God in Christ, and all of this, beloved, is to build you up.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Ye think all this time that we are excusing ourselves unto you. In the sight of God speak we in Christ. But all things, beloved, are for your edifying.
KJV
Again, think ye that we excuse ourselves unto you? we speak before God in Christ: but we do all things, dearly beloved, for your edifying.
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This verse in 2 Corinthians 12
Commentary
10 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Again, think ye that we excuse ourselves unto you? - see the note on 2Co 5:12. The sense is, Do not suppose that this is said from mere anxiety to obtain your favor, or to ingratiate ourselves into your esteem. This is said doubtless to keep himself from the suspicion of being actuated by improper motives. He had manifested great solicitude certainly in the previous chapter to vindicate his character; but he here says that it was not from a mere desire to show them that his conduct was right; it was from a desire to honor Christ.
This site's exposition
making a defense to you
Paul names the court he answers to: We speak before God in Christ. The purpose of every hard word in the letter is oikodome, building up: all of this, beloved, is to build you up.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
Paul wants the Corinthians to love and respect him, without becoming a burden on their finances.
"Again, think ye that we are excusing ourselves unto you?" Seest thou how he is continually in fear, lest he should incur the suspicion of flattery? Seest thou an Apostle's prudence, how constantly he mentions this? For he said before, "We commend not ourselves again, but give you occasion to glory;" and in the commencement of the Epistle, "Do we need letters of commendation?" "But all things are for your edifying." Again he is soothing them. And he does not here either say clearly, 'on this account we receive not, because of your weakness;' but, 'in order that we may edify you;' speaking out indeed more clearly than he did before, and revealing that wherewith he travailed; but yet without severity. For he did not say, 'because of your weakness;' but, 'that ye may be edified.'
The Medieval Church2 voices
He was afraid of bringing upon himself the reproach of flattery, and therefore says: we say this not in order to win your favor, nor in order to justify ourselves, but before the face of God, "in Christ," that is, for the sake of Christ. …
Then he adds the reason, which excludes their opinion. First, he states their opinion; secondly, he excludes it (v. 19). Their opinion was that the Apostle, as one guilty and culpable, was writing all the words of this epistle to justify himself, and that they …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
This was his great aim and design, to do good, to lay the foundation well, and then with care and diligence to build the superstructure. He would not shrink from his duty for fear of displeasing them, though he was so careful to make himself easy to them. Therefore he was resolved to be faithful in reproving sin, though he was therein found to be such as they would not,
3 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
Again, think you that we excuse ourselves to you?....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
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;
Think ye that we excuse ourselves - Απολογουμεθα; That we make an apology for our conduct; or, that I have sent Titus and that brother to you because I was ashamed or afraid to come myself? We speak before God in Christ - I have not done so; I speak the truth before God; he is judge whether I was actuated in this way by any sinister or unworthy motive. For your edifying - Whatever I have done in this or any other way, I have done for your edifying; not for any emolument to myself or friends.
The words behind it
18 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Πάλαι | palai | Previously | G3819 → | |
| δοκεῖτε | dokeite | you have been thinking | G1380 → | 62 times |
| ὅτι | hoti | that | G3754 → | 1292 times |
| ὑμῖν | humin | to you | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| ἀπολογούμεθα. | apologoumetha | we are presenting a defense. | G626 → | |
| κατέναντι | katenanti | before | G2713 → | |
| θεοῦ | theou | God | G2316 → | 1312 times |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| Χριστῷ | christo | Christ | G5547 → | 523 times |
| λαλοῦμεν. | laloumen | we speak. | G2980 → | 294 times |
| τὰ | ta | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| δὲ | de | but | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| πάντα, | panta | all things, | G3956 → | 1235 times |
| ἀγαπητοί, | agapetoi | beloved, | G27 → | |
| ὑπὲρ | huper | for | G5228 → | 155 times |
| τῆς | tes | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ὑμῶν | humon | your | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| οἰκοδομῆς. | oikodomes | edification. | G3619 → | 18 times |
ΠάλαιPreviously
palaiG3819 →
δοκεῖτεyou have been thinking
dokeiteG1380 →62 times
ὅτιthat
hotiG3754 →1292 times
ὑμῖνto you
huminG4771 →2973 times
ἀπολογούμεθα.we are presenting a defense.
apologoumethaG626 →
κατέναντιbefore
katenantiG2713 →
θεοῦGod
theouG2316 →1312 times
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
ΧριστῷChrist
christoG5547 →523 times
λαλοῦμεν.we speak.
laloumenG2980 →294 times
τὰ<the>
taG3588 →19766 times
δὲbut
deG1161 →2765 times
πάντα,all things,
pantaG3956 →1235 times
ἀγαπητοί,beloved,
agapetoiG27 →
ὑπὲρfor
huperG5228 →155 times
τῆς<the>
tesG3588 →19766 times
ὑμῶνyour
humonG4771 →2973 times
οἰκοδομῆς.edification.
oikodomesG3619 →18 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
1 Corinthians 14:26What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a psalm or a teaching, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. All of these must be done to build up the…
it leads to
- Ephesians 5:19
Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your hearts to the Lord,
- 1 Corinthians 12:7–10
Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.
- Romans 14:19
So then, let us pursue what leads to peace and to mutual edification.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:11
Therefore encourage and build one another up, just as you are already doing.
- Ephesians 4:16
From Him the whole body, fitted and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love through the work of each individual part.
- Ephesians 5:19
Through
1 Corinthians 10:14Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.
it leads to
- Revelation 21:8
But to the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and sexually immoral and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their place will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur. This…
- 1 John 5:21
Little children, keep yourselves from idols.
- 2 Corinthians 7:1
Therefore, beloved, since we have these promises, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that defiles body and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
- Revelation 21:8
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About 2 Corinthians
This page draws on 11 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Ambrosiaster, COMMENTARY ON PAUL'S EPISTLES; James Denney, The Second Epistle to the Corinthians; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily 28 on 2 Corinthians; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 2 Corinthians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on 2 Corinthians.