2 Corinthians 11:7-9 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Have I committed an offence Will any turn this into an objection; in abasing myself Stooping to work at my trade; that ye might be exalted To the dignity of being the children of God; because I have preached the gospel to you free of expense. “This the apostle's enemies said was a presumption, that he knew himself to be no apostle; or, if he was an apostle, it showed that he did not love the Corinthians. The first of these objections he had answered in his former epistle, (1 Corinthians 9:3-19,) by proving his right to a maintenance, and by declaring that he declined using that right, merely to make his preaching the more acceptable and successful. The second objection he answers in this chapter, 2 Corinthians 11:11-15.” I robbed Greek, εσολησα, I spoiled, as it were, other churches (It is a military term;) taking wages Οψωνιον, pay, (another military word,) of them, when I first came to you; to do you service To serve your best interests by converting you to, and instructing you in, the faith of the gospel. It appears from Philippians 4:15-16, that it was from the church at Philippi that he received the support here spoken of. For the brethren there, “being strongly impressed with a sense of the advantages which mankind derived from the gospel, were so anxious to render the apostle's preaching in Corinth successful, that, during his residence there, they sent him money, to prevent his being burdensome to the Corinthians. His acceptance of these presents he called a spoiling of the Philippians, because, as he was not labouring among them, he took their money without giving them any thing in return for it; and a taking of wages: but it was for a service performed, not to the Philippians, but to the Corinthians.” And when I was present with you and wanted The gains of my labour not quite supplying my necessities; I was chargeable to no man Of your church, or of Corinth. The word here used, κατεναρκησα, appears to be derived from ναρκη, which, Elian says, is the name of a fish, called by the Latins torpedo, because it deprives those who touch it of the sense of feeling. According to this derivation of the word, the apostle's meaning is, I benumbed, or oppressed, or hurt, no one. See the notes of Joach. Camerar. For what was lacking For my support; the brethren from Macedonia supplied Though it seems the apostle generally maintained himself by his own labour, he was sometimes so occupied in preaching, and in the other functions of his ministry, that he had little time for working. This was the case when he was first at Corinth, at which time the Philippians relieved him. For he chose to receive help from the poor of that place, rather than from the rich Corinthians. In all things I have kept myself from being burdensome to you In any way whatever; and will keep myself So long as God shall enable me.