Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley, [1754-65], at sacred-texts.com
2 Corinthians 11:1
co2 11:1
I wish ye would bear - So does he pave the way for what might otherwise have given offence. With my folly - Of commending myself; which to many may appear folly; and really would be so, were it not on this occasion absolutely necessary.
2 Corinthians 11:2
co2 11:2
For - The cause of his seeming folly is expressed in this and the following verse; the cause why they should bear with him, Co2 11:4.
2 Corinthians 11:3
co2 11:3
But I fear - Love is full of these fears. Lest as the serpent - A most apposite comparison. Deceived Eve - Simple, ignorant of evil. By his subtilty - Which is in the highest degree dangerous to such a disposition. So your minds - We might therefore be tempted, even if there were no sin in us. Might be corrupted - Losing their virginal purity. From the simplicity that is in Christ - That simplicity which is lovingly intent on him alone, seeking no other person or thing.
2 Corinthians 11:4
co2 11:4
If indeed - Any could show you another Saviour, a more powerful Spirit, a better gospel. Ye might well bear with him - But this is impossible.
2 Corinthians 11:6
co2 11:6
If I am unskilful in speech - If I speak in a plain, unadorned way, like an unlearned person. So the Greek word properly signifies.
2 Corinthians 11:7
co2 11:7
Have I committed an offence - Will any turn this into an objection? In humbling myself - To work at my trade. That ye might be exalted - To be children of God.
2 Corinthians 11:8
co2 11:8
I spoiled other churches - I, as it were, took the spoils of them: it is a military term. Taking wages (or pay, another military word) of them - When I came to you at first. And when I was present with you, and wanted - My work not quite supplying my necessities. I was chargeable to no man - Of Corinth.
2 Corinthians 11:9
co2 11:9
For - I choose to receive help from the poor Macedonians, rather than the rich Corinthians! Were the poor in all ages more generous than the rich?
2 Corinthians 11:10
co2 11:10
This my boasting shall not be stopped - For I will receive nothing from you.
2 Corinthians 11:11
co2 11:11
Do I refuse to receive anything of you, because I love you not? God knoweth that is not the case.
2 Corinthians 11:12
co2 11:12
Who desire any occasion - To censure me. That wherein they boast, they may be found even as we - They boasted of being "burdensome to no man." But it was a vain boast in them, though not in the apostle.
2 Corinthians 11:14
co2 11:14
Satan himself is transformed - Uses to transform himself; to put on the fairest appearances.
2 Corinthians 11:15
co2 11:15
Therefore it is no great, no strange, thing; whose end, notwithstanding all their disguises, shall be according to their works.
2 Corinthians 11:16
co2 11:16
I say again - He premises a new apology to this new commendation of himself. Let no man think me a fool - Let none think I do this without the utmost necessity. But if any do think me foolish herein, yet bear with my folly.
2 Corinthians 11:17
co2 11:17
I speak not after the Lord - Not by an express command from him; though still under the direction of his Spirit. But as it were foolishly - In such a manner as many may think foolish.
2 Corinthians 11:18
co2 11:18
After the flesh - That is, in external things.
2 Corinthians 11:19
co2 11:19
Being wise - A beautiful irony.
2 Corinthians 11:20
co2 11:20
For ye suffer - Not only the folly, but the gross abuses, of those false apostles. If a man enslave you - Lord it over you in the most arbitrary manner. If he devour you - By his exorbitant demands; not - withstanding his boast of not being burdensome. If he take from you - By open violence. If he exalt himself - By the most unbounded self - commendation. If he smite you on the face - (A very possible case,) under pretence of divine zeal.
2 Corinthians 11:21
co2 11:21
I speak with regard to reproach, as though we had been weak - I say, "Bear with me," even on supposition that the weakness be real which they reproach me with.
2 Corinthians 11:22
co2 11:22
Are they Hebrews, Israelites, the seed of Abraham - These were the heads on which they boasted.
2 Corinthians 11:23
co2 11:23
I am more so than they. In deaths often - Surrounding me in the most dreadful forms.
2 Corinthians 11:24
co2 11:24
Five times I received from the Jews forty stripes save one - Which was the utmost that the law allowed. With the Romans he sometimes pleaded his privilege as a Roman; but from the Jews he suffered all things.
2 Corinthians 11:25
co2 11:25
Thrice I have been shipwrecked - Before his voyage to Rome. In the deep - Probably floating on some part of the vessel.
2 Corinthians 11:27
co2 11:27
In cold and nakedness - Having no place where to lay my head; no convenient raiment to cover me; yet appearing before noble - men, governors, kings; and not being ashamed.
2 Corinthians 11:28
co2 11:28
Beside the things which are from without - Which I suffer on the account of others; namely, the care of all the churches - A more modest expression than if he had said, the care of the whole church. All - Even those I have not seen in the flesh. St. Peter himself could not have said this in so strong a sense.
2 Corinthians 11:29
co2 11:29
Who - So he had not only the care of the churches, but of every person therein. Is weak, and I am not weak - By sympathy, as well as by condescension. Who is offended - Hindered in, or turned out of, the good way. And I burn not - Being pained as though I had fire in my bosom.
2 Corinthians 11:30
co2 11:30
I will glory of the things that concern my infirmities - Of what shows my weakness, rather than my strength.
2 Corinthians 11:32
co2 11:32
The governor under Aretas - King of Arabia and Syria of which Damascus was a chief city, willing to oblige the Jews, kept the city - Setting guards at all the gates day and night.
2 Corinthians 11:33
co2 11:33
Through a window - Of an house which stood on the city wall.