Word Pictures in the New Testament - David Cox

Word Pictures in the NT [2 Corinthians: Chapter 10].
[Table of Contents]
[Previous] [Next]
10:1 {Now I Paul myself} (\Autos de eg• Paulos\). Cf. Ga 5:2.
Paul now turns to the third part of the epistle in chapters
10-13 in which he vigorously defends himself against the
accusations of the stubborn minority of Judaizers in Corinth.
Great ministers of Christ through the ages have had to pass
through fiery trials like these. Paul has shown the way for us
all. He speaks of himself now plainly, but under compulsion, as
is clear. It may be that at this point he took the pen from the
amanuensis and wrote himself as in Ga 6:11. {By the meekness
and gentleness of Christ} (\dia tes praut•tos kai epieikias tou
Christou\). This appeal shows (Plummer) that Paul had spoken to
the Corinthians about the character of Christ. Jesus claimed
meekness for himself (Mt 11:29) and felicitated the meek (Mt
5:5) and he exemplified it abundantly (Lu 23:34). See on ¯Mt
5:15; 1Co 4:21 for this great word that has worn thin with us.
Plutarch combines \praut•s\ with \epieikia\ as Paul does here.
Matthew Arnold suggested "sweet reasonableness" for \epieikeia\
in Plato, Aristotle, Plutarch. It is in the N.T. only here and
Ac 24:4 (\to epieikes\ in Php 4:5). In Greek Ethics the
equitable man was called \epieik•s\, a man who does not press for
the last farthing of his rights (Bernard). {Lowly among you}
(\tapeinos en humin\). The bad use of \tapeinos\, the old use,
but here alone in N.T. in that meaning. Socrates and Aristotle
used it for littleness of soul. Probably Paul here is quoting one
of the sneers of his traducers in Corinth about his humble
conduct while with them (1Co 2:23; 2Co 7:6) and his boldness
(\ap•n tharr•\) when away (1Co 7:16). "It was easy to satirize
and misrepresent a depression of spirits, a humility of
demeanour, which were either the direct results of some bodily
affliction, or which the consciousness of this affliction had
rendered habitual" (Farrar). The words stung Paul to the quick.
10:2 {I beseech} (\deomai\). So here, but \parakal•\ in verse
1. Perhaps, "I beg" suits the new turn here. {That I may not
when present show courage} (\to m• par•n tharr•sai\). Articular
infinitive (aorist active of \tharre•\) in the accusative case
with negative \m•\ the direct object of \deomai\. Literally, "I
beg the not when present (\par•n\ nominative present participle
http://www.ccel.org/r/robertson_at/wordpictures/htm/2CO10.RWP.html (1 of 6) [28/08/2004 09:12:15 a.m.]
Word Pictures in the New Testament
(2 Corinthians: Chapter 10)