Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges - 2 Corinthians 6:5 - 6:5

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Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges - 2 Corinthians 6:5 - 6:5


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5. ἐν πληγαῖς, ἐν φυλακαῖς, ἐν ἀκαταστασίαις. Another field in which the ὑπομονή is manifested. These are the troubles which are inflicted on him by men. The πληγαί refer to scourgings or beatings from Jews or Rom 11:23-25; Act 16:23. We know of only one imprisonment of the Apostle previous to this letter, viz. the one at Philippi; but evidently there had been others (2Co 11:23). He was expelled from Antioch in Pisidia, and was stoned at Lystra; and he may have been put in prison previous to these indignities. What might be called ἀκαταστασίαι (2Co 12:20; Luk 21:9; Pro 26:28) are frequent in Acts (Act 13:50; Act 14:5; Act 14:19; Act 16:19; Act 16:22; Act 17:5; Act 18:12; Act 19:23).

ἐν κόποις, ἐν ἀγρυπνίαις, ἐν νηστείαις. The third field in which ὑπομονή is exhibited;—the troubles which he laid upon himself as a necessary part of his work. By κόποι (2Co 11:23; 2Co 11:27; 1Co 15:28) is meant all that involves great toil and weariness; by ἀγρυπνίαι (2Co 11:27; often in Ecclus.) all that interferes with sleep. The two cover all his energy, working with his hands, travelling, teaching, praying, ‘anxiety about all the Churches.’ Usage (Luk 2:37; Act 14:23; Act 27:9) almost requires us to understand νηστεῖαι of voluntary abstinence, rather than of inability to obtain food. In 2Co 11:27 he distinguishes νηστεῖαι from hunger and thirst (1Co 4:11). We pass on from the fields in which ὑπομονή is manifested to characteristics which are coordinate with ὑπομονή: but ἐν must still be rendered ‘in,’ not ‘by.’