2 Corinthians 11:29

29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is stumbled, and I burn not?

2 Corinthians 11:29 Meaning and Commentary

2 Corinthians 11:29

Who is weak, and I am not weak?
&c.] What church is so? or what particular believer is so? for he had not only the care of all the churches, but of all believers upon him; whoever was weak in the faith he was concerned for them, to instruct, establish, and strengthen them; and suited his discourses, reasonings, and language, to their capacity, that they might understand him, and take in right notions of things: or whoever was of a weak and scrupulous conscience about things indifferent, and fearful of using them lest they should sin in so doing, he was cautious of offending them, or doing anything by which their consciences should be defiled, and their peace be broken: or whoever was afflicted, either in body or mind, he sympathized and bore a part with them: "who is offended, and I burn not?" whoever was stumbled and made to fall by anything he said or did, or by the words and actions of others, it gave him sensible pain, it made him very uneasy; he was as one in a flame, all on fire, full of grief and trouble till the cause of the offence was removed, and the person offended made easy and restored; the word here used answers to the Hebrew word (Mge) , used in ( Job 30:25 ) where it is said, "was not my soul grieved for the poor?" which Mr. Broughton renders, "did not my soul burn for the poor?" Now by all this which the apostle did and suffered, by all actions and sufferings, care and sympathy, he fully appeared to be a true and faithful minister of Christ, and abundantly more than the false apostles, who could produce none of these things as testimonies in their favour.

2 Corinthians 11:29 In-Context

27 in labour and toil, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.
28 Besides those things that are without, the crowd [of cares] pressing on me daily, the burden of all the assemblies.
29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is stumbled, and I burn not?
30 If it is needful to boast, I will boast in the things which concern my infirmity.
31 The God and Father of the Lord Jesus knows -- he who is blessed for ever -- that I do not lie.
The Darby Translation is in the public domain.