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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadCambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges - 2 Corinthians 11:29 - 11:29
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29. Two illustrations of his all-embracing μέριμνα, each exhibiting the Apostle’s intense sympathy. Among new converts there would be many who would be weak in faith, or in judgment, or in conduct; and in every case he felt the weakness as if it were his own: ἐγενόμην τοῖς ἀσθενέσιν ἀσθενής (1Co 9:22). Comp. Rom 15:1. In οὐκ ἀσθενῶ the emphasis is on οὐκ: in οὐκ ἐγὼ πυροῦμαι on ἐγώ. Hence Cyprian (Ep. xvii. 1) changes the order, ego non … non ego: the Vulgate has ego non in both places. For ἀσθενῶ comp. Rom 4:19; Rom 14:1-2; 1Co 8:11-12. The verb is specially frequent in these last chapters (2Co 11:21, 2Co 12:10, 2Co 13:3-4; 2Co 13:9): so also ἀσθένεια (2Co 11:30, 2Co 12:5; 2Co 12:9-10, 2Co 13:4). Neither word, nor ἀσθενής (2Co 10:10), is found in chapters 1–9. How little such facts prove is pointed out in the Introduction § 7 (e).
τίς σκανδαλίζεται; Who is made to offend (1Co 8:13), or Who is made to stumble (R.V.), and I burn not (1Co 7:9) with distress? It is the fire of intense pain that is meant, rather than of indignation. The Apostle feels the agony of shame and sorrow which consumes the sinner (1Co 12:26): καθʼ ἕκαστον ὠδυνᾶτο μέλος (Chrysostom): quanto major caritas, tanto majores plagae de peccatis alienis (Augustine). There is nothing of Stoic indifference in S. Paul. The Christian does not dissemble his feelings, but tries to school and consecrate them. Comp. στεναγμοῖς πεπυρωμένης πάντοθεν αὐτῶν τῆς καρδίας (3Ma 4:2), and faces doloris (Cic. Tusc. Disp. II. xxv. 1). In all cases the exact meaning of πυροῦσθαι (in the N.T. πυροῦν is not found) is determined by the context (1Co 7:9; Eph 6:16; 2Pe 3:12; Rev 1:15; Rev 3:18). Note the balanced climax between ἀσθενεῖ and σκανδαλίζεται, and between ἀσθενῶ and πυροῦμαι.