1.
Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you:
Verse 1
Am base. This expression is supposed to refer to some personal peculiarities of the apostle, such as have often characterized men of uncommon intellect, and which are more distinctly alluded to in 2 Corinthians 10:10.
2.
But I beseech you, that I may not be bold when I am present with that confidence, wherewith I think to be bold against some, which think of us as if we walked according to the flesh.
Verse 2
That I may not be bold; that I may not have cause to be bold.--Confidence; severity.--Walked according to the flesh; acted in an unchristian manner.
3.
For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
Verse 3
Walk in the flesh; have our sphere of labor and warfare in this world.
4.
(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
5.
Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
6.
And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.
Verse 6
To revenge; to condemn and punish.
7.
Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? If any man trust to himself that he is Christ's, let him of himself think this again, that, as he is Christ's, even so are we Christ's.
8.
For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord hath given us for edification, and not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed:
9.
That I may not seem as if I would terrify you by letters.
10.
For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.
Verse 10
Say they; that is, the enemies of Paul among the Corinthians.--His bodily presence, &c. Tradition states that Paul was small of stature, pale and emaciated in countenance, and of a form bent and unsymmetrical. This seems to have been made matter of reproach against him by his enemies.
11.
Let such an one think this, that, such as we are in word by letters when we are absent, such will we be also in deed when we are present.
12.
For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.
13.
But we will not boast of things without our measure, but according to the measure of the rule which God hath distributed to us, a measure to reach even unto you.
Verse 13
The measure of the rule; the extent of the commission.
14.
For we stretch not ourselves beyond our measure, as though we reached not unto you: for we are come as far as to you also in preaching the gospel of Christ:
Verse 14
Beyond our measure; beyond our proper sphere.
15.
Not boasting of things without our measure, that is, of other men's labours; but having hope, when your faith is increased, that we shall be enlarged by you according to our rule abundantly,
Verse 15
That we shall be enlarged by you, &c. The meaning, is that, when their faith was established, he hoped that, through their instrumentality, there would be an extension of the kingdom of Christ into the surrounding regions.
16.
To preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man's line of things made ready to our hand.
17.
But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
18.
For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.