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1 Would to God you could beare with mee a little in my folly, & in deede beare with me.
2 For I am iealous ouer you with godly iealousie, for I haue espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
3 But I feare lest by any meanes, as the Serpent beguiled Eue through his subtilty, so your mindes should bee corrupted from the simplicitie that is in Christ.
4 For if he that commeth preacheth another Iesus whome wee haue not preached, or if yee receiue another spirit, which ye haue not receiued, or another Gospel, which ye haue not accepted, yee might well beare with him.
5 For, I suppose, I was not a whit behinde the very chiefest Apostles.
6 But though I be rude in speach, yet not in knowledge; but we haue bene throughly made manifest among you in all things.
7 Haue I committed an offence in abasing my selfe, that you might be exalted, because I haue preached to you the Gospel of God freely?
8 I robbed other Churches, taking wages of them to doe you seruice.
9 And when I was present with you, and wanted, I was chargeable to no man: For that which was lacking to mee, the brethren which came from Macedonia supplied, and in all things I haue kept my selfe from being burthensome to you, and so will I keepe my selfe.
10 As the trueth of Christ is in mee, no man shall stop mee of this boasting in the regions of Achaia.
11 Wherefore? because I loue you not? God knoweth.
12 But what I doe, that I wil doe, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion, that wherein they glory, they may bee found euen as we.
13 For such are false Apostles, deceitfull workers, transforming themselues into the Apostles of Christ.
14 And no marueile, for Sathan himselfe is transformed into an Angel of light.
15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also bee transformed as the ministers of righteousnesse, whose end shall be according to their workes.
16 I say againe, Let no man thinke mee a foole; if otherwise, yet as a foole receiue me, that I may boast my selfe a little.
17 That which I speake, I speake it not after the Lord, but as it were foolishly in this confidence of boasting.
18 Seeing that many glory after the flesh, I will glory also.
19 For ye suffer fooles gladly, seeing ye your selues are wise.
20 For ye suffer if a man bring you into bondage, if a man deuoure you, if a man take of you, if a man exalt himselfe, if a man smite you on the face.
21 I speake as concerning reproch, as though we had bene weake: howbeit, wherein soeuer any is bold, I speake foolishly, I am bold also.
22 Are they Hebrewes? so am I: are they Israelites? so am I: are they the seed of Abraham? so am I:
23 Are they ministers of Christ? I speake as a foole, I am more: in labors more abundant: in stripes aboue measure: in prisons more frequent: in deaths oft.
24 Of the Iewes fiue times receiued I forty stripes saue one.
25 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned: thrice I suffered shipwracke: a night and a day I haue bene in the deepe.
26 In iourneying often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by my owne countreymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the citie, in perils in the wildernesse, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren,
27 In wearinesse and painfulnesse, in watchings often, in hunger & thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakednes.
28 Besides those things that are without, that which commeth vpon me dayly, the care of all the Churches.
29 Who is weake, and I am not weake? who is offended, and I burne not?
30 If I must needes glory, I will glory of the things which concerne mine infirmities.
31 The God and Father of our Lord Iesus Christ, which is blessed for euermore, knoweth that I lie not.
32 In Damascus the gouernour vnder Aretas the King, kept the citie with a garison, desirous to apprehend mee.
33 And through a window in a basket was I let downe, by the wall, and escaped his hands.
The apostle gives the reasons for speaking in his own commendation. (1-14) Shows that he had freely preached the gospel. (5-15) Explains what he was going to add in defence of his own character. (16-21) He gives an account of his labours, cares, sufferings, dangers, and deliverances. (22-33)1-4 The apostle desired to preserve the Corinthians from being corrupted by the false apostles. There is but one Jesus, one Spirit, and one gospel, to be preached to them, and received by them; and why should any be prejudiced, by the devices of an adversary, against him who first taught them in faith? They should not listen to men, who, without cause, would draw them away from those who were the means of their conversion.
5-15 It is far better to be plain in speech, yet walking openly and consistently with the gospel, than to be admired by thousands, and be lifted up in pride, so as to disgrace the gospel by evil tempers and unholy lives. The apostle would not give room for any to accuse him of worldly designs in preaching the gospel, that others who opposed him at Corinth, might not in this respect gain advantage against him. Hypocrisy may be looked for, especially when we consider the great power which Satan, who rules in the hearts of the children of disobedience, has upon the minds of many. And as there are temptations to evil conduct, so there is equal danger on the other side. It serves Satan's purposes as well, to set up good works against the atonement of Christ, and salvation by faith and grace. But the end will discover those who are deceitful workers; their work will end in ruin. Satan will allow his ministers to preach either the law or the gospel separately; but the law as established by faith in Christ's righteousness and atonement, and the partaking of his Spirit, is the test of every false system.
16-21 It is the duty and practice of Christians to humble themselves, in obedience to the command and example of the Lord; yet prudence must direct in what it is needful to do things which we may do lawfully, even the speaking of what God has wrought for us, and in us, and by us. Doubtless here is reference to facts in which the character of the false apostles had been shown. It is astonishing to see how such men bring their followers into bondage, and how they take from them and insult them.
22-33 The apostle gives an account of his labours and sufferings; not out of pride or vain-glory, but to the honour of God, who enabled him to do and suffer so much for the cause of Christ; and shows wherein he excelled the false apostles, who tried to lessen his character and usefulness. It astonishes us to reflect on this account of his dangers, hardships, and sufferings, and to observe his patience, perseverance, diligence, cheerfulness, and usefulness, in the midst of all these trials. See what little reason we have to love the pomp and plenty of this world, when this blessed apostle felt so much hardship in it. Our utmost diligence and services appear unworthy of notice when compared with his, and our difficulties and trials scarcely can be perceived. It may well lead us to inquire whether or not we really are followers of Christ. Here we may study patience, courage, and firm trust in God. Here we may learn to think less of ourselves; and we should ever strictly keep to truth, as in God's presence; and should refer all to his glory, as the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is blessed for evermore.
Commentary by Matthew Henry, 1710.