2 Corinthians 12

11. in glorying--omitted in the oldest manuscripts. "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 chiefest--rather, as in 2 Corinthians 11:5 , "those overmuch apostles."
though I be nothing--in myself ( 1 Corinthians 15:9 1 Corinthians 15:10 ).

12. Truly, &c.--There is understood some such clause as this, "And yet I have not been commended by you."
in all patience, in signs, &c.--The oldest manuscripts omit "in." "Patience" is not one of the "signs," but the element IN which they were wrought: endurance of opposition which did not cause me to leave off working [ALFORD]. Translate, "IN . . . patience, BY signs," &c. His mode of expression is modest, putting himself, the worker, in the background, "were wrought," not "I wrought." As the signs have not been transmitted to us, neither has the apostleship. The apostles have no literal successors (compare Acts 1:21 Acts 1:22 ).
mighty deeds--palpable works of divine omnipotence. The silence of the apostles in fourteen Epistles, as to miracles, arises from the design of those Epistles being hortatory, not controversial. The passing allusions to miracles in seven Epistles prove that the writers were not enthusiasts to whom miracles seem the most important thing. Doctrines were with them the important matter, save when convincing adversaries. In the seven Epistles the mention of miracles is not obtrusive, but marked by a calm air of assurance, as of facts acknowledged on all hands, and therefore unnecessary to dwell on. This is a much stronger proof of their reality than if they were formally and obtrusively asserted. Signs and wonders is the regular formula of the Old Testament, which New Testament readers would necessarily understand of supernatural works. Again, in the Gospels the miracles are so inseparably and congruously tied up with the history, that you cannot deny the former without denying the latter also. 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.

13. wherein you were inferior--that is, were treated with less consideration by me than were other churches.
I myself--I made a gain of you neither myself, nor by those others whom I sent, Titus and others ( 2 Corinthians 12:17 2 Corinthians 12:18 ).
wrong--His declining support from the Corinthians might be regarded as the denial to them of a privilege, and a mark of their spiritual inferiority, and of his looking on them with less confidence and love (compare 2 Corinthians 11:9 2 Corinthians 11:11 ).

14. the third to the first Epistle. His second visit was probably a short one ( 1 Corinthians 16:7 ), and attended with humiliation through the scandalous conduct of some of his converts (compare 2 Corinthians 12:21 , 2 Corinthians 2:1 ). It was probably paid during his three years' sojourn at Ephesus, from which he could pass so readily by sea to Corinth (compare 2 Corinthians 1:15 2 Corinthians 1:16 , 2 Corinthians 13:1 2 Corinthians 13:2 ). 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--( Philippians 4:17 ).
children . . . parents--Paul was their spiritual father ( 1 Corinthians 4:14 1 Corinthians 4:15 ). He does not, therefore, seek earthly treasure from them, but lays up the best treasure (namely, spiritual) "for their souls" ( 2 Corinthians 12:15 ).

15. 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 less I be loved--Love rather descends than ascends [BENGEL]. Love him as a true friend who seeks your good more than your good will.

16. 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"; namely, made a gain of you by means of others ( 1 Thessalonians 2:3 ).

17. Paul's reply: You know well I did not. My associates were as distinterested as myself. An important rule to all who would influence others for good.

18. I desired Titus--namely, to go unto you. Not the mission mentioned 2 Corinthians 8:6 2 Corinthians 8:17 2 Corinthians 8:22 ; but a mission previous to this Epistle, probably that from which he had just returned announcing to Paul their penitence ( 2 Corinthians 7:6-16 ).
a brother--rather "OUR (literally, 'the') brother"; one well known to the Corinthians, and perhaps a Corinthian; probably one of the two mentioned in 2 Corinthians 8:18 2 Corinthians 8:22 .
same spirit--inwardly.
steps--outwardly.

19. Again--The oldest manuscripts read, "This long time ye think that we are excusing ourselves unto you? (Nay). It is before God (as opposed to 'unto you') that we speak in Christ" ( 2 Corinthians 2:17 ). English Version Greek text was a correction from 2 Corinthians 3:1 , 5:12 .

20. For--Assigning cause why they needed to be thus spoken to "for their edification"; namely, his fear that at his coming he should find them "not such as he would," and so he should be found by them "such as they would not" like, namely, severe in punishing misconduct.
debates--Greek, "strifes," "contentions."
envyings--The oldest manuscripts read "envying," singular.
strifes--"factions," "intrigues," "factious schemes" [WAHL]. Ambitious self-seeking; from a Greek root, "to work for hire."
backbitings, whisperings--open "slanderings," and "whispering backbitings" ( Galatians 5:20 ).
swellings--arrogant elation; puffing up of yourselves. Jude 1:16 , "great swelling words" ( 2 Peter 2:18 ).

21. my God--his God, however trying the humiliation that was in store for him.
will humble me--The indicative implies that the supposition will actually be so. 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 repented--shall not have repented [ALFORD].
uncleanness--for example, of married persons ( 1 Thessalonians 4:7 ).
fornication--among the unmarried.