Verse 1. The jealousy of divine love in the apostle toward the Corinthian saints is seen here. He longed to see them delivered from the influence of false teachers. He calls it folly to speak of himself, yet finds it necessary that he might deliver them, to speak about his experiences and sufferings, and thus make manifest that those who were speaking against him, were opposing the truth. He begs them to bear with him in this folly.
Verse 2. He was jealous over them with jealousy that was of God. He had espoused them to one Husband, to present them as a chaste virgin to Christ, and reminds them that they were His only—a blessed and important truth for all Christ’s redeemed ones to know. What have they to do with the world, and its lusts and pleasures since they are His alone? The Bridegroom appeals to His spouse to recall her heart to His longings after her (Song of Sol. 2:1111For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone; (Song of Solomon 2:11)); so it is here, and it may be with us also.
The saints of this present time must be reminded that we are the body and bride of Christ, joined to Him by the Holy Spirit—One spirit with the Lord—and should therefore be found with loins girded and lights burning, waiting the moment when He will present us to Himself, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, holy and without blemish.
Verses 3-10. The apostle was afraid, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, their minds were being corrupted from the simplicity of the truth in Christ. If these teachers were bringing something better to them—another Jesus, or another Spirit, or another gospel, better than what they had received—they might bear with them. The apostle had fully unfolded the truth; he was not behind the most renowned apostles. If he was rude in speech, as they said, he was not in knowledge, and in everything he made the truth manifest to them in all things. If it was a fault that they might blame him for, making the gospel free to them, this was done intentionally to close the mouths of those who might say that he was after their money. He worked with his hands to supply his own, and the needs of others (Acts 18:3; 20:343And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers. (Acts 18:3)
34Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me. (Acts 20:34)), and what was lacking, other brethren supplied. He took from other assemblies. This is what is meant by “robbing other churches, taking wages from them” (verse 8). The apostle is determined that it was right for him so to do, and none could stop him in this.
Verses 11, 12. Did he not love them? It was because he loved them that he did it. God knew.
But he must show out these false teachers, and take away from them any occasion that they could use against the truth.
Verses 13-15. They were false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ, and in this they were like Satan himself, who appears as an angel of light, therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness: whose end shall be according to their works. These were seen before in Israel (Deut. 13:1-51If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder, 2And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them; 3Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the Lord your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. 4Ye shall walk after the Lord your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him. 5And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death; because he hath spoken to turn you away from the Lord your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, to thrust thee out of the way which the Lord thy God commanded thee to walk in. So shalt thou put the evil away from the midst of thee. (Deuteronomy 13:1‑5); 2 Peter 2:11But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. (2 Peter 2:1)).
Verses 16-29. Again he will speak, though as a fool, to show the folly of these empty boasters whom they suffered to bring them into bondage, and to smite them on the face. Were they bold? so was he. Were they Hebrews? So was he. Were they Israelites, the seed of Abraham? so was he. Were they ministers of Christ? So was he. In labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. Of the Jews five times received he forty stripes save one. Thrice was he beaten with rods, once was he stoned, thrice he suffered shipwreck, a night and a day he was in the deep. In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by his own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. Besides those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches (assemblies). He said, “Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is offended, and I burn not?” Did ever mortal man follow his Master in such a path before, or since? (compare Acts 9:1616For I will show him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake. (Acts 9:16); Gal. 6:1717From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus. (Galatians 6:17); Phil. 1:29, 30; 4:11,1229For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake; 30Having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me. (Philippians 1:29‑30)
11Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. 12I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. (Philippians 4:11‑12); Col. 1:2424Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church: (Colossians 1:24); 1 Thess. 1:6; 2:2; 3:3, 46And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost: (1 Thessalonians 1:6)
2But even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention. (1 Thessalonians 2:2)
3That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto. 4For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know. (1 Thessalonians 3:3‑4); 2 Tim. 2:9,109Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound. 10Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. (2 Timothy 2:9‑10)). This gives the true character of Christianity in this ungodly world, and is what the godly man may expect, though the manner of it may be for the present with some toleration, for it is a day of terrible indifference to the claims of Christ.
The apostle will have his sure reward from God in glory, not in speaking of it before men, yet it was profitable to them and to us, and rebukes us not a little for our want of true devotedness to Christ. The folly of these false teachers is used for our instruction.
Through troubles and dangers outside the assembly, and fears and anxieties within, in conflict with the enemy; with a courage that faced every peril, and a love for sinners to bring their need to their view, and also love to the saints and could not be chilled by their failures, on he went as a hireling fills his day, knowing that suffering was before him.
These verses sketch for us a life of such absolute devotedness, that it should touch the coldest heart, and make us ashamed of our own selfishness, and bow our knees to Him who is so worthy, who passed through the suffering for sin from God, as well as from man, and who gave the apostle the courage and strength for such a life of devotedness to Him, whose glory inspired it.
How simply is the story told. And if he must needs glory, he will glory of the things which concern his infirmities. It is outside his usual way of speaking. The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is blessed for evermore, is called to witness that he speaks the truth. The chapter closes with telling of his escape from Damascus when the governor sought to apprehend him, and through a window in a basket he was let down by the wall, and so escaped his hands.