2 Corinthians 10
1599 Geneva Bible
10 2 He showeth with what confidence, 4 with what weapons, 6 and with what revenge he is armed against the cavillations of the wicked, 7 and that, when he is present, his deeds have no less power, 11 than his words have force when he is absent.
1 Now [a]I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness, and [b]gentleness of Christ, which when I am present among you am base, but am bold toward you being absent:
2 And this I require you, that I need not to be bold when I am present, with that same confidence, wherewith I think to be bold against some, which esteem us as though we walked [c]according to the flesh.
3 [d]Nevertheless, though we walk in the flesh, yet we do not war after the flesh.
4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not [e]carnal, but mighty through [f]God, to cast down holds.)
5 Casting down the imaginations, and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God, [g]and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ,
6 And having ready the vengeance against all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.
7 [h]Look ye on things after the [i]appearance? If any man trust in himself that he is Christ’s, let him consider this again of [j]himself, 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 have no shame.
9 This I say, that I may not seem as it were to fear you with letters.
10 For the letters, saith [k]he, are sore and strong, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech is of no value.
11 Let such 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 [l]For we [m]dare not make ourselves of the number, or to compare ourselves to them, which praise themselves: but they understand not that they measure themselves with [n]themselves, and [o]compare themselves with themselves.
13 But we will not rejoice of things, which are not within our [p]measure, (A)but according to the measure of the line, whereof God hath distributed unto us a measure to attain even unto you.
14 For we stretch not ourselves beyond our measure, as though we had not attained unto you: for even to you also have we come in preaching the Gospel of Christ.
15 Not boasting of things which are [q]without our measure: that is, of other men’s labors: and we hope, when your faith shall increase, to be magnified by you according to your line abundantly,
16 And to preach the Gospel in those regions which are beyond you: not to rejoice in [r]another man’s line: that is, in the things that are prepared already.
17 (B)[s]But let him that rejoiceth, rejoice in the Lord.
18 For he that praiseth himself, is not allowed, but he whom the Lord praiseth.
Footnotes
- 2 Corinthians 10:1 He returneth to the defense of his Apostleship, but so that he useth this authority therein: for he warneth them earnestly and gravely, using also terrible threatenings to show themselves such as are apt to be instructed. And he refelleth certain proud men which made no better accompt of him, than of a bragging Thraso, in that he used to be sharp against them when he was absent, because they saw no great majesty in him after the manner of men, and besides, had proved his lenity, notwithstanding that in his absence, he had written to them sharply. Therefore first of all he professeth that he was gentle and moderate, but after the example of Christ: but if they continue, still to despise his gentleness, he protesteth unto them that he will show indeed how far they are deceived, which make that accompt of the office of an Apostle, that they do of worldly offices, that is, according to the outward appearance.
- 2 Corinthians 10:1 That nature which is inclined to mercy, rather than to rigor of justice.
- 2 Corinthians 10:2 As though I had no other aid and help than that which outwardly I seem to have: and therefore Paul setteth his flesh, that is, his weak condition and state, against his spiritual and Apostolic dignity.
- 2 Corinthians 10:3 Secondly he witnesseth, that although he be like unto other men, yet he cometh furnished with that strength, which no holds of man can match, whether they resist by craft and deceit, or by force and might, because he warrioreth with divine weapons.
- 2 Corinthians 10:4 Are not such as men get them authority withall one of another, and do great acts.
- 2 Corinthians 10:4 Stand upon that infinite power of God.
- 2 Corinthians 10:5 An amplification of this spiritual virtue, which in such sort conquereth the enemies be they never so crafty and mighty, that it bringeth some of them by repentance unto Christ, and justly revengeth others, that are stubbornly obstinate, separating them from the others which suffer themselves to be ruled.
- 2 Corinthians 10:7 He beateth into their heads that same matter, with great weight of words and sentences.
- 2 Corinthians 10:7 Do ye judge of things according to the outward show.
- 2 Corinthians 10:7 Not being told of it by me.
- 2 Corinthians 10:10 He noteth out someone that was the seeds man of this speech.
- 2 Corinthians 10:12 Being constrained to refel the foolish brags of certain ambitious men, he witnesseth, that they are able to bring nothing, but that they falsely persuade themselves of themselves: and as for himself, although he brags of excellent things, yet he will not pass the bounds which God hath measured him out, according whereunto he came even unto them in preaching the Gospel of Christ, and trusteth that he shall go further, when they have so profited that he shall not need to tarry any longer amongst them to instruct them. And hereunto is added an amplification, in that he never succeeded other men in their labors.
- 2 Corinthians 10:12 This is spoken after a taunting sort.
- 2 Corinthians 10:12 Upon a vain persuasion that they have of themselves, they take upon them they care not what.
- 2 Corinthians 10:12 They condemn all others, and measure all their doings only by themselves.
- 2 Corinthians 10:13 Of those things which God hath not measured to me.
- 2 Corinthians 10:15 As though God had divided the whole world among the Apostles, to be husbanded.
- 2 Corinthians 10:16 In countries which other men have prepared and husbanded with the preaching of the Gospel.
- 2 Corinthians 10:17 He somewhat mitigateth that which he spake of himself and therewith also prepareth the Corinthians to hear other things, witnessing that he seeketh nothing else but to approve himself to God, whose glory he only seeketh.
2 Corinthians 12
1599 Geneva Bible
12 1 He doth even unwillingly make rehearsal, 3 of the heavenly visions, 4 that were revealed unto him, 6 for which though he might indeed glory, yet he will not, 10 being privy of his own infirmities: 11 but they drive him to this kind of folly, 20 in that they give ear to certain vainglorious persons, who draw them from Christ.
1 It [a]is not expedient for me no doubt to rejoice: for I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.
2 I know a man [b]in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether he were in the body, I cannot tell, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth) which was taken up into the [c]third heaven.
3 And I know such a man (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth.)
4 How that he was taken up into [d]Paradise, and heard words which [e]cannot be spoken, which are not [f]possible for man to utter.
5 [g]Of such a man will I rejoice: of myself will I not rejoice, except it be of mine infirmities.
6 For though I would rejoice, I should not be a fool, for I will say the truth: but I refrain, lest any man should think of me above that he seeth in me, or that he heareth of me.
7 [h]And lest I should be exalted out of measure through the abundance of revelations, there was given unto me a [i]prick in the flesh, the messenger of [j]Satan to buffet me, because I should not be exalted out of measure.
8 For this thing I besought the Lord [k]thrice, that it might depart from me.
9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my power is made perfect through weakness. [l]Very gladly therefore will I rejoice rather in mine infirmities, that the power of Christ may [m]dwell in me.
10 Therefore I take [n]pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in anguish for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
11 I was a fool to boast myself: ye have compelled me: [o]for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing was I inferior unto the very chief Apostles, though I be nothing.
12 The [p]signs of an Apostle were wrought among you with all patience, with signs, and wonders and great works.
13 For what is it, wherein ye were inferiors unto other Churches, (A)except that I have not been [q]slothful to your hindrance? forgive me this wrong.
14 Behold, the third time I am ready to come unto you, and yet will I not be slothful to your hindrance: for I seek not yours, but you: for the children ought not to lay up for the fathers, but the fathers for the children.
15 And I will most gladly bestow, and will be bestowed for your souls: though the more I love you, the less I am loved.
16 [r]But be it that I charged you not: yet for as much as I was crafty, I took you with guile.
17 Did I pill you by any of them whom I sent unto you?
18 I have desired Titus, and with him I have sent a brother: did Titus pill you of any things? walked we not in the selfsame spirit? walked we not in the same steps?
19 [s]Again, think ye that we excuse ourselves unto you? we speak before God in [t]Christ. But we do all things, dearly beloved, for your edifying.
20 [u]For I fear lest when I come, I shall not find you such as I would: and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: and lest there be strife, envying, wrath, contentions, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, and discord.
21 I fear lest when I come again, my God abase me among you, and I shall bewail many of them which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness, and fornication, and wantonness which they have committed.
Footnotes
- 2 Corinthians 12:1 He goeth forward in his purpose, and because those bragging mates boasted of revelations, he reckoneth up those things which lift him up above the common capacity of men: but he useth a preface, and excuseth himself advisedly.
- 2 Corinthians 12:2 I speak this in Christ, that is, be it spoken without vainglory, for I seek nothing but Christ Jesus only.
- 2 Corinthians 12:2 Into the highest heaven: for we need not to dispute subtly upon the word (Third) but yet this place is to be marked against them which would make heaven to [be] everywhere.
- 2 Corinthians 12:4 So the Grecians name that which we call a park, that is to say, a place where trees are planted, and wild beasts kept, by which name they that translated the old Testament out of the Hebrew into Greek, called the garden Eden, whereunto Adam was put straight after his creation, as a most delicate and pleasant place. And hereunto grew it, that that blessed seat of the glory of God is called by that name.
- 2 Corinthians 12:4 Which no man is able to utter.
- 2 Corinthians 12:4 Which the Saints themselves are not by any means able to express, because it is God himself. Thus doth Clement Alexandria expound this place, Strom. 5.
- 2 Corinthians 12:5 To remove all suspicion of ambition he witnesseth that he braggeth not of those things as his own, but as out of himself, and yet notwithstanding faineth nothing, lest by this occasion other men should attribute more unto him than indeed he is: and therefore he had rather glory in his miseries.
- 2 Corinthians 12:7 An excellent doctrine: why God will have even his best servants to be vexed of Satan and by all kinds of temptations, to wit, lest they should be too much puffed up, and also that they may be made perfect by that continual exercise.
- 2 Corinthians 12:7 He meaneth concupiscence, that sticketh fast in us, as it were a prick, insomuch that it constrained Paul himself being regenerate, to cry out, I do not that good that I would, etc. And he calleth it a prick, by a borrowed kind of speech taken from thorns, or stumps, which are very dangerous and hurtful for the feet, if a man walks through woods that are cut down.
- 2 Corinthians 12:7 Which setteth those lusts on fire.
- 2 Corinthians 12:8 Oft.
- 2 Corinthians 12:9 He concludeth, that he will only see his miseries against the vain brags of the false apostles, and therewith also excuseth himself, for that by their importunity, he was constrained to speak so much of these things as he did: to wit, because that if his Apostleship were subverted his doctrine must needs fall.
- 2 Corinthians 12:9 That I might feel the virtue of Christ more and more: For the weaker that our tabernacles are, the more doth Christ’s virtue appear in them.
- 2 Corinthians 12:10 I do not only take them patiently and with a good heart, but also I take great pleasure in them.
- 2 Corinthians 12:11 Again he maketh the Corinthians witnesses of those things whereby God had sealed his Apostleship amongst them, and again he desireth by certain arguments, how far he is from all covetousness, and also how he is affectioned towards them.
- 2 Corinthians 12:12 The arguments whereby it may well appear, that I am indeed an Apostle of Jesus Christ.
- 2 Corinthians 12:13 I was not slothful in getting my living with mine own hands, that I might not be burdensome to you.
- 2 Corinthians 12:16 He putteth away another most grievous slander, to wit, that he did subtly and by others, make his gain and profit of them.
- 2 Corinthians 12:19 He concludeth, that he writeth not these things unto them, as though he needed to defend himself, for he is guilty of nothing: but because it is behoovable for them to doubt nothing of his fidelity who instructed them.
- 2 Corinthians 12:19 As it becometh him to speak truly and sincerely, that professeth himself to be in Christ, that is to say, to be a Christian.
- 2 Corinthians 12:20 Having confirmed his authority unto them, he rebuketh them sharply, and threateneth them also like an Apostle, showing that he will not spare them hereafter, unless they repent, seeing that this is the third time that he hath warned them.
2 Corinthians 13
1599 Geneva Bible
13 1 Coming the third time, 2 he denounceth the sharper vengeance toward them, 4 who have a perfect trial of the power of Christ in his Apostleship: 7 At length he prayeth for their repentance, 11 And wisheth them prosperity.
1 Lo this is the third time that I come unto you. (A)In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word stand.
2 I told you before, and tell you before: as though I had been present the second time, so write I now being absent to them, which heretofore have sinned, and to all others, that if I come again, I will not spare,
3 [a]Seeing that ye seek experience of Christ, that speaketh in me, which toward you is not weak, but is [b]mighty in you.
4 For though he was crucified concerning [c]his infirmity, yet liveth he through the power of God. And we no doubt are weak in him, but we shall live with him, through the power of God toward you.
5 (B)[d]Prove yourselves whether ye are in the faith: examine yourselves: know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
6 [e]But I trust that ye shall know that we are not reprobates.
7 Now I pray unto God that ye do none evil, not that we should seem approved, but that ye should do that which is honest: though we be as [f]reprobates.
8 For we cannot do anything against the truth, but for the truth.
9 For we are glad when we are weak, and that ye are strong: this also we wish for, even your [g]perfection.
10 Therefore write I these things being absent, lest when I am present, I should use sharpness, according to the power which the Lord hath given me, to edification, and not to destruction.
11 [h]Finally brethren, fare ye well: be perfect: be of good comfort: be of one mind: live in peace, and the God of love and peace shall be with you.
12 [i]Greet one another with an (C)holy kiss. All the Saints salute you.
13 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the holy Ghost be with you all, Amen.
¶ The second Epistle to the Corinthians, written from Philippi, a city in Macedonia, and sent by Titus and Lucas.
Footnotes
- 2 Corinthians 13:3 A most sharp reprehension, for that, while they despise the Apostle’s admonitions, they tempt Christ’s own patience: and also while they condemn him as wretched and miserable, they lay nothing herein against him, which is not common to him with Christ.
- 2 Corinthians 13:3 And will be most mighty to be revenged of you, when need shall be.
- 2 Corinthians 13:4 As touching that base form of a servant which he took upon him when he abased himself.
- 2 Corinthians 13:5 He confirmeth that which he spake of the virtue of God appearing in his ministry, and he gathereth by the mutual relation between the people’s faith and the minister’s preaching, that they must either reverence his Apostleship, upon whose doctrine their faith is grounded, or they must condemn themselves of infidelity, and must confess themselves not to be of Christ’s body.
- 2 Corinthians 13:6 He mitigateth that sharpness, trusting that they will show themselves towards their faithful Apostle, apt and willingly to be taught: adding this moreover, that he passeth not for his own fame and estimation, so that he may serve to their salvation, which is the only mark that he shooteth at.
- 2 Corinthians 13:7 In men’s judgment.
- 2 Corinthians 13:9 That all things may be in good order amongst you, and the members of the Church restored into their place, which have been shaken and out of place.
- 2 Corinthians 13:11 A brief exhortation, but yet such an one as comprehendeth all the parts of a Christian man’s life.
- 2 Corinthians 13:12 He saluteth them familiarly, and in conclusion wisheth well unto them.
Geneva Bible, 1599 Edition. Published by Tolle Lege Press. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations in articles, reviews, and broadcasts.
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