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2Co_10:14. A parenthetical (see on 2Co_10:15) confirmation of ἐφικέσθαι ἄχρι καὶ ὑμῶν : for not, as though we were such as do not reach to you, do we overstretch ourselves, i.e., dropping the figure: for we do not usurp for ourselves any extension of our working at variance with its destined limit, as would be the case, if you lay beyond the measured-off province which is divinely assigned to us. Paul abides by his figure: for if he were not destined to extend his official working even to Corinth, and yet wished to do so, he would resemble a man who stretches himself beyond the boundary-line drawn for him, in order to reach to a point that lies beyond the limits which he is forbidden to overpas.
ὡς μὴ ἐφικν . εἰς ὑμᾶς ] ἐφικν . is to be taken in no other sense than the previous ἐφικέσθαι . The present, however, denotes: as though we were persons, in whose case the reaching to you does not occur, i.e. whose position within their measured local district implies that you are not capable of being reached by them, because, forsooth, you lie beyond the limits of this district. Luther, Beza, and many others, overlooking this continuation of the figure, and taking ἐφικνούμενοι , in spite of the present (and in spite of the present ὑπερεκτείνομεν ), historically, have explained it: ut si non pervenissemus, from which error there has sprung the participle of the second aorist, supported by very weak evidence, and yet preferred by Billroth. Regarding μή , Winer, p. 442 [E. T. 595], very correctly remarks: “a mere conception; in point of fact, the state of the case is otherwise; compare, on the other hand, 1Co_9:26.”
ἄχρι γὰρ καὶ ὑμῶν κ . τ . λ .] This is now the historical position of the case, in confirmation of what was just figuratively expressed by οὐ γὰρ … ἑαυτούς . How fraught with shame must the sum of recollections, which this simple historical fact embraced, have been for the misled portion of the church! ἐφθάσαμεν is simply: we have arrived at (Rom_9:31; Php_3:16; Mat_12:28; 1Th_2:16), not: we have arrived before (sooner than the opponents, Osiander, comp. Ewald). This important point Paul must have denoted by some such expression as ἐφθάσ . ἐκείνους (comp. 1Th_4:15).
ἐν τῷ εὐαγγ . τ . Χ .] The gospel of Christ is conceived as the official element in which the ἐφθάσαμεν took place: in the matter of the gospel, i.e. in functione evangelica (Bengel). Comp. Rom_1:9; 2Co_8:18; Php_4:3; 1Th_3:2.