2 Corinthians 10

2 Corinthians 10:1

GEntlenesse of Christ] Here he beginneth to vindicate his ministery from the contempt and scorn which the false Apostles put upon on it; and first of all he professeth that he was gentle and moderate after the example of Christ: but if they continued still to delpile his gentlenese, he protesteth unto them that he will shew indeed how farre they are deceived, who make no other account of the office of an Apostle then they do of worldly offices, that is, according to outward appearance. The word in the Originall 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 is derived from 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 to give place, or to yeeld; and it signifieth a condescending to the infirmitie of others, and a moderating the Page [unnumbered] <>rigour and severitie of the law by equitie; for 〈◊〉 est 〈◊〉 injuria.

in presence] Or, in outward appearance.

in presence am base among you] Gr. lowly. This he speaketh ironically: not that he was vile not base when he was present with them; or as if he carried not himself according to the dignitie of his place; but as it were, by way of concession for the present, as if he had said, If my bodily presence be weake, and my speech contemptiable, as the false Apostles would have you presence, yet I desire you not to provoke me to shew what I am, and exercise boldly that power which Christ hath given me.

2 Corinthians 10:2

think] Or, reckon.

walked according to the flesh] As though I had no other aid and help then that which outwardly I seeme to have. Hesh here, that is, his weak condition and state in respect of outward means, he setteth against his spirituall and Apostolicall dignitie.

2 Corinthians 10:3

For though we walk in the fleth] Gr. For walking in. Though we be like unto other frail men, yet we come furnished with that strength which no force of man can match: whether they resist by craft and deceit, or by force and might; because we fight with divine weapons, although we be men and live in respect of this life and the actions thereof according to the manner of other men with a great deale of weaknesse and meannesse: yet notwithstanding in our publique office, and chiefly against our Adversaries who oppose the Gospel, we are armed with a divine and invincible power to confront all daring boldnesse; and to beat down all rebelion, and to discover and confound all plots and machinations against the truth. Hereof we have an evident proof in the historie of the Acts. in which the miraculous judgements of God are executed by the hands of the Apostles upon enemies of the truth; as namely, Act. 5.5.10. and 13. 11. 1 Timothy 1:20. Others do understand it of the efficacie of the Aposticall preaching, by denoucing and sealing unto the wicked their condemnaiton, and making sensible impressions upon their consciences, whereupon there followed many remarkable judgements, Acts 8:20. 21. and 24. 26. 2 Corinthians 13:3.

2 Corinthians 10:4

the weapons of our warsare] The means we employ to defend the cause of God, and to fight against Satan and his instruments.

are not carnall] That is, such as naturall men have recourse unto, and gain authoritie withall, and do great things. As namely, riches, friends, honour, eloquence, favour of princes, and the like: we conquer not our enemies by any of these, but rather by the contrarie; povertie, weaknesse, infamie, rudenesse, and plainnesse of speech; and foolishnesse in the words account. These weapons are made mightly through Gods power, who in nothing more shewth his glory, then by confounding glory by infamie; nor his power, then by confounding power by weaknesse; nor his wisedome, then by confounding wisedome by that which in the worlds account is folly. 1 Corinthians 1:26. 27.

but mightie through God] Or, to God. Oecumenius will have us observe how farre the Apostle is from all kind of arrogancie, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 he saith not, We are mightie through God, but our Weapons are mighty through God, that is, by the virtue and power which God doth adae thereunto, both in working of miracles, Mark 16:20. and in moving the heart and convincing the conscience by the spirit, Acts 16:14. and in punishing those that withstand the Gospel, Acts 13:11. In the Originall it is 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 mightie to God; that is, accomplish his will, who is the great Warrier the Lord of Host, that manageth this warre for the Church.

2 Corinthians 10:5

iinations] Or, reasoning.

every high thing that] Gr. every height that.

bringing into captivite] An amplification of the spirituall vertue of the weapons above mentioned, which in such sort conquer the enemies of the truth, be they never so craftie and mightie, that it bringeth some of them by repentance unto Christ, and justly punisheth others that are stubbornly obstinate, separating them from others who yeeld obedience to the Gospel.

2 Corinthians 10:8

for edistication, and not for your destruction] Though the power of the Church proveth destuctive unto some, namely, to such as by the censures thereof are not brought to repentance and an humble confession of their sinnes, and submission to the Governours of the Church; but stand out in their obstiancie: For they are cut off from Christs mysticall body, and from the means of grace and the communion of Saints: yet this power was given for edisication, and even this tendeth much to the edification of the church, that all scandals be removed, and those persons severed from the Congregation, who would otherwise infect it with heresie, schisme, or scandalous converisation.

2 Corinthians 10:10

his bodily presence is weak] Gr. the presence of his body is weak.

2 Corinthians 10:11

think this] Or, make account.

2 Corinthians 10:12

For we dare not make our selves of the number] Being constrained to resell the foolish brags of the false Apostles, he professeth that they are able to do nothing answerable to their great brags; but that they arrogated falsly to themselves those things which they neither did, nor could do: and as for himself, though he might boast of excellent things, yet he will not passe 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 father when they have so profited that he shall not need to tarry any longer amongst them to instruct them.

measuring themselves by themselves] Gr in. They contemne others, and measure all their actions by the line which they have drawn to themselves.

amongst] Gr. with or to.

are not wise] Or, understand not.

2 Corinthians 10:13

without our measure] Through the whole world were the Apostles Diocesses and they had commission to preach to all nations; yet they took their journeys into servrall parts, where God chalked them out the way, and they were carefull as not to interrpt or hinder one another; so neither to enter upon one anothers labours; on the contray, the false Apostles ranging wheresoever they list wrought upon advantage, and arrogated to themselves the conversion of those countries, where the true Apostles had before planted the faith.

2 Corinthians 10:15

of other means labours] Gr. in.

enlarged by you] Or, magnified in you.

2 Corinthians 10:16

not to boast in another mans line] Or, rule. A metaphor taken from builders who stretch their line out where they mean to build; and the Apostles meaning is, that he would not intruode into any other mans work; nor desire to sow the seed of the word in those Regions and Countries which other men had prepared and husbanded with the preaching of the Gospel.

2 Corinthians 10:17

But he that glorieth, &c.] See Jeremiah 9:24. 1 Corinthians 1:31.

glory in the Lord] He somewhat mitigateth that which he spake of himself, and therewith also prepareth the Corinthians to hear other things of the like kind, professing that he seeketh nothing else but to approve himself to God whose glory he onely seeketh.