Online Resource Library
Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadWilliam Burkitt Notes and Observations - 2 Corinthians 11:18 - 11:18
(Show All Books | Show All Chapters)
This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
Here our apostle, with some kind of salt and smartness, reflects upon the Corinthians (whom ironically he calls wise men) for suffering themselves to be imposed upon by their false teachers, to be tyrannized over, to be spunged upon and exhausted, to be brought again into bondage to Jewish ceremonies, to be smitten on the face; that is, to be upbraided to their very faces, because they had subjected themselves to so mean and weak a person as Paul, a tentmaker. However, he assures them, that in any thing according to the flesh, wherein the false apostles could glory, he could glory also.
Here note, That by glorying after the flesh, is meant glorying in any external privileges and outward advantages, particularly in glorying that they were the seed of Abraham according to the flesh; for the Jews had a very high opinion of themselves, as being the seed of Abraham, and the only people of God, by visible profession, at that time in the world; having contemptible thoughts of all others, whom they called the profane, and the people of the earth, likening them to dogs.
Now the apostle tells the Corinthians plainly, That although there is nothing after the flesh which deserves greatly to be gloried in, yet seeing that the false apostles did pride themselves in these things, he could boast of the same carnal privileges with them, and glory after the flesh as well as themselves; and accordingly, thus he speaks in the following verses: