Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Corinthians 11:28
Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.
28. Besides those things that are without ] The six principal English versions interpret this expression (1) of external trials, of which the Apostle has hitherto been speaking “the thynges which out wardly happen unto me” (Tyndale). As the Apostle now begins to speak of inward troubles this rendering would seem quite natural. But Chrysostom (2) interprets it of things left out of the enumeration. And this interpretation is supported by the only two other passages in which the word occurs in the N. T., namely, Mat 5:32; Act 26:29. Cf. Heb 11:32. If this interpretation be followed, we must connect the words, not only with what follows, but with what precedes. ‘And besides a host of other things, which I cannot now mention, there is the daily pressure of anxiety arising from the Churches under my care.’
that which cometh upon me daily ] There is a various reading here. If we follow the received text, which is that of the Peshito Syriac in the second century and is followed by Chrysostom, we must understand it of the daily concourse of troubles arising from this source. If we follow that which is proposed to be substituted for it, which is that of the Vulgate and of the most ancient MSS. (though it may not improbably have arisen from the copyist’s eye having passed from to ), it must be rendered “that which presseth on me” ( instantia, Vulgate; my daily instance, Rhemish). Tyndale, Cranmer and the Geneva render, I am combred dayly.
the care ] Rather perhaps, the anxiety, as we speak of care in the abstract, the Greek word being derived from a verb signifying to part asunder, and implying that the mind is torn asunder as it were by conflicting emotions.
of all the churches ] This must not perhaps be pressed (as Dllinger in his Last Age of the Church) so far as to assert that each Apostle considered himself individually responsible for the care of the whole Church of Christ. That there was some division of responsibility appears from Gal 2:7. St Paul probably means the care of all the Churches which he had planted, surely no inconsiderable burden.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Besides those things that are without – In addition to these external trials, these trials pertaining to the body, I have mental trials and anxieties resulting from the necessary care of all the churches, But on the meaning of these words commentators are not agreed. Rosenmuller supposes that the phrase means besides those things that come from other sources, that I may omit other things. Beza, Erasmus, Bloomfield, and some others suppose that the passage means those things out of the regular routine of his office. Doddridge, besides foreign affairs. Probably the sense is, Apart from the things beside ( Choris ton parektos); not to mention other matters; or if other matters should be laid aside, there is this continually rushing anxiety arising from the care of all the churches. That is, this would be enough in itself. Laying aside all that arises from hunger, thirst, cold, etc., this continual care occupies my mind and weighs upon my heart.
That which cometh upon me daily – There is great force in the original here. The phrase rendered that which cometh upon me means properly, that which rushes upon me. The word ( episustasis) means properly a concourse, a crowd, hence, a tumult; and the idea here is, that these cares rushed upon him, or pressed upon him like a crowd of people or a mob that bore all before it. This is one of Pauls most energetic expressions, and denotes the incessant anxiety of mind to which he was subject.
The care of all the churches – The care of the numerous churches which he had established, and which needed his constant supervision. They were young; many of them were feeble; many were made up of heterogeneous materials; many composed of Jews and Gentiles mingled together, with conflicting prejudices, habits, preferences; many of them were composed of those who had been gathered from the lowest ranks of life; and questions would be constantly occurring relating to their order and discipline in which Paul would feel a deep interest, and which would naturally be referred to him for decision. Besides this, they had many trials. They were persecuted, and would suffer much. In their sufferings Paul would feel deep sympathy, and would desire, as far as possible, to afford them relief. In addition to the churches which he had planted, he would feel an interest in all others, and doubtless many cases would be refered to him as an eminent apostle for counsel and advice. No wonder that all this came rushing on him like a tumultuous assembly ready to overpower him.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 28. Beside those things that are without] Independently of all these outward things, I have innumerable troubles and mental oppressions.
Which cometh upon me] This continual press of business; this insurrection of cases to be heard, solved, and determined, relative to the doctrine, discipline, state, persecution, and supply of all the Churches.
All his perils were little in comparison of what he felt relative to the peace, government, and establishment of all the Churches among the Gentiles; for as he was the apostle of the Gentiles, the government of all the Churches among these fell in some sort on him, whether they were of his own planting or of the planting of others. See Col 2:1. None but a conscientious minister, who has at heart the salvation of souls, can enter into the apostle’s feelings in this place.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
By the things that are without, the apostle meaneth either those evils which happened to him from persons that had nto relation to the Christian church, but were persons without, ( as the phrase is used, 1Co 5:13), or else such kinds of troubles and afflictions as very little influenced his mind, but only affected his outward man: such were his labours, travels, journeyings, imprisonment, stripes before mentioned.
Beside these (he saith) there lay upon him an inward care and solicitude for
all the Christian churches; and this was a daily care. For an apostle differed from an ordinary pastor, not only in his immediate call from Christ, but also in his work; there lay an obligation upon such to go up and down preaching the gospel, and they further had, both a power, and also an obligation, to superintend all other churches, and to direct the affairs of them relating to order and government: and thereupon they were mightily concerned about their doing well or ill.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
28. without“Beside”trials falling on me externally, just recounted, there is”that which cometh upon me (literally, the impetuousconcourse to me of business; properly, a crowd rising upagainst one again and again, and ready to bear him down), thecare of all the churches” (including those not yet seen in theflesh, Col 2:1): an internaland more weighty anxiety. But the oldest manuscripts for “thatwhich cometh,” read, “the pressure“: “thepressing care-taking” or “inspection that is upon medaily.” ALFORDtranslates, “Omitting what is BESIDES”;namely, those other trials besides those recounted. But theVulgate, ESTIUS,and BENGEL, supportEnglish Version.
the careThe Greekimplies, “my anxious solicitude for all the churches.”
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Besides those things that are without,…. Or are omitted, which he had passed by, and had not mentioned in the account and enumeration of things he had given; for otherwise the things he had taken notice of and instanced in, were things external; but besides them and many other things which would be too tedious to relate,
that which cometh upon me daily, is not to be forgotten; meaning the prodigious deal of business which was every day upon his hands, through the continual coming of brethren to him, either for advice, or comfort, or instruction; and through the multiplicity of letters from divers parts, which he was obliged to give answers to; and the several duties of the day, as prayer, meditation, reading, praising, preaching, c. and to sum up the whole, and which is explanative of the phrase,
the care of all the churches not of ten, or twenty, or some only; but of all of them, he being the apostle of the Gentiles, and was concerned in planting, and raising them, and preaching the Gospel to most of them; and who continually stood in need of his watch and care over them, to provide ministers for some, to prevent schisms and heat divisions in others; to preserve others from errors and heresies, and warn them of the dangers to which they were exposed by false teachers; and to animate, strengthen, and support others under violent persecutions, lest their faith should fail, and they be tempted to desert the Gospel, and drop their profession of religion.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Besides those things that are without ( ). Probably, “apart from those things beside these just mentioned.” Surely no man ever found glory in such a peck of troubles as Paul has here recounted. His list should shame us all today who are disposed to find fault with our lot.
That which presseth upon me daily ( ‘ ). For this vivid word see Ac 24:12, the only other place in the N.T. where it occurs. It is like the rush of a mob upon Paul.
Anxiety for all the churches ( ). Objective genitive after (distractions in different directions, from ) for which word see on Mt 13:22. Paul had the shepherd heart. As apostle to the Gentiles he had founded most of these churches.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Those things that are without [ ] . Some explain, external calamities; others, the things which are left out in the enumeration, as Mt 5:32; Act 26:29. Better, the latter, so that the literal meaning is, apart from the things which are beside and outside my enumeration : or, as Alford, not to mention those which are beside these. The word does not occur in classical Greek, and no instance of its usage in the former sense occurs in the New Testament or in the Septuagint. See Rev., margin.
That which cometh upon me [] . Lit., a gathering together against. Both here and Act 24:12, the best texts read ejpistasiv onset. Rev., that which presseth upon me. “The crowd of cares.”
Farrar remarks upon vers. 23 – 28, that it is “the most marvelous record ever written of any biography; a fragment beside which the most imperiled lives of the most suffering saints shrink into insignificance, and which shows us how fractional at the best is our knowledge of the details of St. Paul ‘s life.” Eleven of the occurrences mentioned here are not alluded to in Acts.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “Beside those things that are without,” (charis ton parektos) “apart from (or beside) the things that are without,” from without, meaning the kind of deprivations and sufferings just enumerated, and like things I omit, as in Heb 11:32.
2) “That which cometh upon me daily,” (he epistasis moi he kath’ hemeran) “the conspiring against me daily,” or things pressing upon me daily, calls and demands for my attention, in so many forms, reports of hostility from both secular and religious sources, much as the rebellion of Korah against Moses, Num 16:40; Act 24:12.
3) “The care of all the churches,” (he merimna pason ton ekklesion) “The care of all the churches,” which Paul had helped so much, Act 15:36; 2Co 12:13. None could say of Paul, “no man cared for my soul,” Rom 1:14-16; Psa 142:4.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
28. Besides those things that are without “ Besides those things, ” says he, “which come upon me from all sides, and are as it were extraordinary, what estimate must be formed of that ordinary burden that constantly presses upon me — the care that I have of all the Churches.” The care of all the Churches he appropriately calls his ordinary burden. For I have taken the liberty of rendering ἐπισύστασιν in this way, as it sometimes means — whatever presses upon us. (865)
Whoever is concerned in good earnest as to the Church of God, stirs up himself and bears a heavy burden, which presses upon his shoulders. What a picture we have here of a complete minister, embracing in his anxieties and aims not one Church merely, or ten, or thirty, but all of them together, so that he instructs some, confirms others, exhorts others, gives counsel to some, and applies a remedy to the diseases of others! Now from Paul’s words we may infer, that no one can have a heartfelt concern for the Churches, without being harassed with many difficulties; for the government of the Church is no pleasant occupation, in which we may exercise ourselves agreeably and with delight of heart, (866) but a hard and severe warfare, as has been previously mentioned, (2Co 10:4,) — Satan from time to time giving us as much trouble as he can, and leaving no stone unturned to annoy us.
(865) The word ( ἐπισύστασις) is translated or rather paraphrased by Beza as follows: “ Agmen illud in me consurgens;” — “That troop which rises up together against me.” He adds by way of explanation: “ Certum est enim ἐπισύστασιν dici multitudinem quae adversus aliquem coierit, idque non semel, sed repetitis vicibus. Quia igitur multiplices erant curae, quarum tanquam agmine magis ac magis veluti obruebatur, Apostolus usus est translatitie hoc vocabulo, admodum significanter;” — “For it is certain that ἐπισύστασιν denotes a multitude that has come together against any one, and that not once merely, but in repeated instances. As, therefore, there were manifold cares, by which rushing upon him like a troop, more and more, he was in a manner overwhelmed, the Apostle, by way of metaphor, made use of this term very significantly.” Raphelius considers the term to be synonymous with an expression made use of by Cicero: “ concursus occupationum;” — “a crowding together of engagements.” — (Cic. Fam. 7:33.) — Ed.
(866) “ Car le gouernement de l’Eglise n’est pas vne occupation ioyeuse pour nous exercer tout doucement, et par manicrc de passe-temps et exercice gracieux pour recreer nos esprits;” — “For the government of the Church is not a pleasant occupation for exercising ourselves quite agreeably, and by way of pass-time, and an agreeable exercise for refreshing our minds.”
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(28) That which cometh upon me daily . . .The word so translated primarily signifies a rush or tumult, and is so used in Act. 24:12. Here that meaning is excluded by the fact that perils of that nature had been already specified, and that he now manifestly speaks of something differing in kind as well as in degree. But there is, as our modern phraseology shows, such a thing as a rush of business almost as trying as the ugly rush of a crowd, and that is manifestly what he means here. The daily visits of inquirers, the confessions of sin-burdened souls, the craving of perplexed consciences for guidance, the reference of quarrels of the household or the church to his arbitration as umpire, the arrival of messengers from distant churches, each with their tidings of good or evilthis is what we have to think of as present to St. Pauls thoughts as the daily routine of his life; and the absence of any conjunction between the two clauses clearly points to the fact that, in his mind, the care (or anxiety) of all the churches was all but identical with the rush of which he had just spoken.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
28. Are without Are outside this list of physical trials, and which are outside my proper apostolic endurances.
That daily The onslaught, or rush, upon me daily; namely, the distracting care of all. The word care has the same Greek as the word thought in Mat 6:25, where see note.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘Besides those things that are without (or ‘that I have left out’), there is that which presses on me daily, anxiety for all the churches.’
And there were other difficulties too, but he could not include them all. And as hard as all these troubles put together was the burden of care he bore for all the churches, which pressed on him daily. Always thinking of them, always praying for them, always wondering how he can encourage them, always trying to work out the best way that he can help them. ‘All the churches.’ That is, those that he and his companions have founded. (How are his opponents comparing now? Do they have many churches that they constantly bear a burden for?)
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
2Co 11:28. Beside those things that are without, Beside foreign affairs, the care of all the churches is rushing in upon me every day. Doddridge. Others would read, besides what is exclusive of these things, the care of all the churches, is, &c. for what he had before mentioned were no other than external things. That which cometh upon me daily, Mr. Saurin would read; what besiegeth me daily. The original is very emphatical; that daily insurrection upon me,the care, &c. The word ‘ properly signifies a tumult, or crowd of people rising up against a man at once, and ready to bear him down.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
2Co 11:28 . Apart from that which occurs beside (beside what had been mentioned hitherto), for me the daily attention is the care for all the churches . [340] He will not adduce more particulars than he has brought forward down to , but will simply mention further a general fact, that he has daily to bear anxiety for all the churches. On with the genitive: apart from , see Stallbaum, ad Plat. Apol. S. p. 35 C. The emphasis is on . Theodoret: . Nevertheless, this is not, with Bellarmine and other Roman Catholic writers, as well as Ewald et al. , to be limited merely to Pauline churches, nor is it to be pressed in its full generality, but rather to be taken as a popular expression for his unmeasured task. He has to care for all . Chrysostom, Theophylact, and others attach . . to what precedes, and separate it from what follows by a full stop; but this only makes the latter unnecessarily abrupt. Luther, Castalio, Bengel, and many others, including Flatt, Billroth (but uncertainly), and Olshausen, consider . . . (or, according to their reading: . . . ) as an abnormal apposition to : not to mention what still occurs besides, namely, etc. This is unnecessarily harsh, and would withal only be an empty formul.
is: quae praeterea eveniunt, [341] not, as Beza and Bengel, following the Vulgate, hold: “quae extrinsecus eum adoriebantur” (Beza), so that either what follows is held to be in apposition (Bengel: previously he has described the proprios labores , now he names the alienos secum communicatos ), or is referred to what precedes, and what follows now expresses the inward cares and toils (Beza, comp. Erasmus). Linguistic usage is against this, for never means extrinsecus , but always beside , in the sense of exception . See Mat 5:32 ; Act 26:29 ; Aq. Deu 1:36 ; Test. XII. Patr. p. 631; Geopon. xiii. 15. 7; Etym. M. p. 652, 18. This also in opposition to Ewald: “without the unusual things,” with which what is daily is then put in contrast (comp. Calvin). Hofmann, following the reading , would, instead of , write , which is, in his view, masculine , and denotes those coming on to the apostle from without (the Christian body), whose attacks on his doctrine he must continually withstand. With this burden he associates the care of all the many churches , which lie continually on his soul. These two points are introduced by , which is the adverbial besides . This new interpretation (even apart from the reading , which is to be rejected on critical grounds) cannot be accepted, (1) because , for which Paul would have written (1Co 5:12 ; Col 4:5 ; 1Th 4:12 ) or (1Ti 3:7 ), is an expression without demonstrable precedent, since even Greek writers, while doubtless using , extranei (Polyb. ii. 47. 10, v. 37. 6; comp. Ecclus. Praef. I.), do not use ; (2) because the two parts of the verse, notwithstanding their quite different contents, stand abruptly (without , or , or other link of connection) side by side, so that we have not even (overagainst the ) instead of the bare ; and (3) because the adverbial m the sense assumed is foreign to the N. T., and even in the classical passages in question (see from Thucydides, Krger on i. 61. 3) it does not mean praeterea generally, but more strictly scorsim, separatim, specially and taken by itself . [342] See Ellendt, Lex. Soph. II. p. 974. But the two very general categories, which it is to introduce, would not suit this sens.
] may mean either: the daily halting (comp. Xen. Anab . ii. 4. 26; Polyb. xiv. 8. 10; Soph. Ant 225: , multas moras deliberationibus effectas ), or: the daily attention . [343] See Lobeck, ad Phryn. p. 527; Schweigh. Lex. Polyb. p. 265. This signification is most accordant with the context on account of the following . . . Rckert, without any sanction of linguistic usage, makes it: the throng towards me, the concourse resorting to me on official business. [344] So also Osiander and most older and more recent expositors explain the Recepta or . . But likewise at variance with usage, since is always (even in Num 26:9 ) used in the hostile sense: hostilis concursio, tumultus , as it has also been taken here by Chrysostom, Theodoret, Theophylact, Beza, [345] Bengel, and others. See Act 24:12 , and the passages in Wetstein and Loesner, p. 230.
The , which, in the interpretation of . as concourse , would have to be taken as appropriating dative (Bernhardy, p. 89), is, according to our view of ., to be conceived as dependent on the to be supplied.
[340] Accordingly the comma after is to be deleted. If . . . be (as is the usual view) taken as a clause by itself, the to be supplied is not a copula, but: exists . But according to the right reading and interpretation, . , as an independent point, would thus be too general.
[341] The Armenian version gives instead of ; . A correct interpretation. Chrysostom exaggerates: .
[342] So, too, in the passage, Thuc. ii. 31. 2, adduced in Passow’s Lexicon by Rost and by Hofmann, where further introduces a separate army contingent, which is counted by itself .
[343] Gregory of Nazianzus has , which is to be regarded as a good gloss. See Lobeck, l.c. ; Khner, ad Xen. Mem . i. 5. 2, var.
[344] does not once mean the pressing on (active), the crowding . In 2Ma 6:3 (in opposition to Grimm in loc. ), is the setting in , the coming on, i.e. the beginning of misfortune (Polyb. i. 12. 6, ii. 40. 5, al. ). In Dion. Halicarn. vi. 31, the reading is to be changed into . In Polyb. i. 26. 12, it means the position . Nevertheless, Buttm. neut. Gr . p. 156 [E. T. 180], agrees with Rckert.
[345] Chrys.: , , . Beza renders the whole verse: “Absque iis, quae extrinsecus eveniunt, urget agmen illud in me quotidie consurgens, i.e. solicitudo de omnibus ecclesiis.” Comp. Ewald: “the daily onset of a thousand troubles and difficulties on him .” Bengel: “obturbatio illorum, qui doctrinae vitaeve perversitate Paulo molestiam exhibebant, v. gr. Gal 6:17 .”
Fuente: Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer’s New Testament Commentary
28 Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.
Ver. 28. That which cometh, &c. ] Quasi agmine facto, et repetitis vicibus, His care came upon him, as an armed man, and gave him no rest or respite. The Greek word holds out the cumber; he had as it were all care numbered, and mustered together, and that with anxiety, , with the same solicitude that a man hath about business of his own: yet held he out his whole race without cessation or respiration.
The care of all the Churches ] Calvin was not otherwise affected toward the Churches though far remote, than if he had borne them upon his shoulders, saith Beza. He often sighed out, Usque quo Domine, over the poor afflicted Churches of Christ, with the miseries whereof he was much more affected than with any of his own private miseries. I could not but love the man (said Theodosius of Ambrose) for that, while he lived, and when he died, he took more care for the Church than for himself, Magis de ecclesiarum statu, quam de suis periculis angebatur.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
28. ] He passes from particulars, omitting others which might have been specified, to the weight of apostolic care and sympathy which was on him. Not to mention those (afflictions) which are besides (these) (the Vulg, E. V., Beza, Estius, Bengel, understand as = , ‘ the things that are without ,’ a meaning which it never has, always implying exception , see reff.
Chrys., al, , join . . . with the foregoing, and put a period after ., interpreting it rightly, , Hom. xxv. p. 613: but this seems to break the connexion too abruptly, besides giving a strange and unlikely termination to the long sentence preceding), my care ( . may be either ‘delay,’ ‘hindrance,’ as Soph. Antig. 225, , and Xen. Anab. ii. 4. 26, , , or, as very frequently in Polybius, see Schweigh., Lex. Polyb., ‘care,’ ‘attention,’ ‘matter of earnest thought:’ e.g. . , viii. 30. 13, ‘curam summ rei,’ , , iii. 58. 3, , ‘attentionem alicujus excitare,’ ix. 22. 17, al. The rec. reading, (which has perhaps been introduced from not being understood (see digest here and on ref. Acts) and then has been altered to as easier; but substantives derived from verbs which govern a dative are sometimes followed by this case, see Winer, edn. 6, 31. 3, and Moulton’s note), can only mean concursus , in a hostile sense, see ref. and examples in Wetst.: and so Chrys. (see var. readd.), &c., take it here: others metaphorically, as Beza, ‘agmen illud in me quotidie consurgens, i.e. sollicitudo de omnibus ecclesiis:’ somewhat similarly De W., ‘that which sets upon me, importunes me, daily:’ and so E.V. Stanley, with Est. al., renders it, ‘the concourse of people to see me:’ but this is doubtful, as departing from the hostile sense. In Beza’s sense, there is something Pauline in the rec., “the daily outbreak against me,” and the reading cannot be considered certain) day by day , (viz.) my anxiety for all the churches (the construction is an anacoluthon: not, as Meyer, . the subject and the predicate, which would be a very flat sentence, ‘ my daily care is, anxiety &c., ’ As it stands, . is general, and . particularizes it. Nothing need be supplied. . occurs to the Apostle’s mind, and is uttered, in the nominative, the construction being disregarded).
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
2Co 11:28 . . . . .: besides the things which I omit (see reff., and cf. Heb 11:32 ; the A.V. “those things that are without” = vulg. quae sunt extrinsecus , is wrong), there is that which presseth upon me daily, anxiety for all the churches (see on 2Co 8:18 ). of the rec. text means a combination for hostile purposes, and is used of Korah’s rebellion in Num 16:40 ; Num 26:9 , in which latter place we have the same textual variants as here ( cf. also: 1Es 5:73 ). This may be the true reading, both here and at Act 24:12 , for the syllable might readily drop out in transcription. If it be adopted here it would refer to the cabals of the Apostle’s adversaries = “the daily combination against me,” and would thus indicate a trial distinct from “the care of all the churches,” which is next mentioned. But, although this gives a good sense, we prefer to read as better supported both here and at Act 24:12 (the only places of its occurrence in N.T.). Polybius uses the word as = “attention,” “close observation,” but this will not suit Act 24:12 . It is found in 2Ma 6:3 as = “visitation” or “pressure,” and the latter rendering seems best to satisfy the context here. We have therefore followed the Revisers in adopting the Vulgate rendering instantia = “that which presseth,” and in taking . . . as in apposition with .
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
Beside = Apart from.
those . . . are = the things.
without. Greek parektos. Compare Act 26:29.
that which . . . me. Literally my crowd. Greek. epieustasis. Only here and Act 24:12.
daily. Greek. kath (App-104.) hemeran. The daily crowd of matters demanding his attention. Besides the letters which have come down to us, he must have written many others in answer to those from his convents. See, Cor. 2Co 5:9; 2Co 7:1.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
28.] He passes from particulars, omitting others which might have been specified, to the weight of apostolic care and sympathy which was on him. Not to mention those (afflictions) which are besides (these) (the Vulg, E. V., Beza, Estius, Bengel, understand as = , the things that are without,-a meaning which it never has, always implying exception, see reff.
Chrys., al,, join . . . with the foregoing, and put a period after ., interpreting it rightly, , Hom. xxv. p. 613:-but this seems to break the connexion too abruptly, besides giving a strange and unlikely termination to the long sentence preceding),-my care (. may be either delay, hindrance, as Soph. Antig. 225, , and Xen. Anab. ii. 4. 26, , ,-or, as very frequently in Polybius, see Schweigh., Lex. Polyb.,-care, attention, matter of earnest thought: e.g. . , viii. 30. 13, curam summ rei,- , , iii. 58. 3,- , attentionem alicujus excitare, ix. 22. 17, al. The rec. reading, (which has perhaps been introduced from not being understood (see digest here and on ref. Acts) and then has been altered to as easier; but substantives derived from verbs which govern a dative are sometimes followed by this case, see Winer, edn. 6, 31. 3, and Moultons note), can only mean concursus, in a hostile sense, see ref. and examples in Wetst.: and so Chrys. (see var. readd.), &c., take it here: others metaphorically, as Beza, agmen illud in me quotidie consurgens, i.e. sollicitudo de omnibus ecclesiis:-somewhat similarly De W.,-that which sets upon me, importunes me, daily: and so E.V. Stanley, with Est. al., renders it, the concourse of people to see me: but this is doubtful, as departing from the hostile sense. In Bezas sense, there is something Pauline in the rec., the daily outbreak against me, and the reading cannot be considered certain) day by day, (viz.) my anxiety for all the churches (the construction is an anacoluthon: not, as Meyer, . the subject and the predicate, which would be a very flat sentence,-my daily care is, anxiety &c., As it stands, . is general, and . particularizes it. Nothing need be supplied. . occurs to the Apostles mind, and is uttered, in the nominative, the construction being disregarded).
Fuente: The Greek Testament
2Co 11:28. , beside) The particle serves the purpose of connection.- ) It is thus he terms external labours and troubles. Hitherto he describes his own; he now refers to those of others, that had been shared with him.-) The Apposition of the oblique and nominative case, such as that of Basil of Seleucia, , : comp. note on Chrys. de Sacerd. p. 504.- , that which cometh upon me) The LXX. often use the verb , and the verbal noun , of the sedition of Korah and his associates: comp. Act 24:12. Here therefore we remark the disorderly conduct of those, who troubled Paul by the perverseness of their doctrine or life; for example, Gal 6:17.- , daily) A large extent of time; and of place, in the words, of all.-, of all) This is more modest than if he had said , of the whole church. Of all, of those even, to whom I have not come, Col 2:1. Peter could not have alleged that of himself in an equal degree.[81]
[81] Since Peter was the apostle of the circumcision peculiarly. Whereas Paul was, of all the numerous churches of the uncircumcision.-ED.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
2Co 11:28
2Co 11:28
Besides those things that are without, there is that which presseth upon me daily, anxiety for all the churches.-In addition to all these bodily afflictions, one harder to be borne was that he, as the apostle to the Gentiles, felt the care of all the churches resting upon him. The anxiety which he had for them was more real and intense than that which the ordinary man has about food and raiment. This came as a daily and a constant burden-to see that they were properly taught and trained in the way of the Lord. Each epistle which he wrote manifested different causes of anxieties, and different admonitions, and different thanksgivings, so that he must have kept himself perfectly alive to the spiritual necessities of each.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
those: 2Co 11:23-27
the care: Act 15:36, Act 15:40, Act 15:41, Act 18:23, Act 20:2, Act 20:18-35, Rom 1:14, Rom 11:13, Rom 15:16, Rom 16:4, Col 2:1
Reciprocal: Num 11:11 – Wherefore hast thou Psa 51:18 – Do 1Co 7:17 – so ordain 1Co 7:34 – careth 1Co 10:33 – General 1Co 12:26 – General 2Co 7:12 – that our
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
2Co 11:28. Things that are without. Most of the trials Just recorded affected Paul’s body externally, and were the direct result of his work for Christ, and of the activities of his enemies. On top of all those tribulations, he was daily burdened with the care of all the churches. The word means anxiety or worry for the spiritual condition of all the congregations, not only those with whom he was permitted to labor personally. (See Col 2:1.)
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
2Co 11:28. Besides those things that are withoutover and above all such external things,there is that which cometh upon me daily, anxiety for all the churchesof which see note at close of this chapter.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
The apostle’s burden of outward troubles was discovered before: His burden of inward care is declared now. Besides, those things which were afflicting to him from without, the care and business of all the new-planted churches was daily upon his heart and hand; besides all his bodily labours by journeying and travelling incessantly from place to place, his solicitous care and thoughtfulness of mind, for the prosperity and happiness of all the churches of Christ, both near and afar off, was great and pressing; the holy man felt as much by sympathy as he did by sense. Many were the personal troubles which he had felt, but more were the churches troubles of which he had feeling; concerning which, he thus expresses himself in the next verse:
Fuente: Expository Notes with Practical Observations on the New Testament
Verse 28 Not only did he suffer physically, he also worried about the churches and wrongs he was called upon to right within them.
Fuente: Gary Hampton Commentary on Selected Books
2Co 11:28-31. Besides those things that are without These external troubles which I have mentioned; that which cometh upon me daily Greek, , that which rusheth upon me daily, or that which is my daily pressure. The expression denotes a crowd of people surrounding and pressing upon a person, in order to bear him down, and trample upon him; an idea which is elegantly applied to his cares respecting the churches; crowding in upon his mind, and ready to overwhelm it. And this is very properly mentioned here among his sufferings, being certainly not one of the least of them, as may be easily inferred from the account which he has given in this and in his former epistle, of the exceeding grief which the errors and irregularities of the single church of Corinth caused him. In saying, the care of all the churches, he signified he was deeply concerned for the prosperity, even of those which he had not seen in the flesh. St. Peter himself could not have said this in so strong a sense. Who is weak Namely, in grace, and therefore oppressed with a variety of doubts and fears, and cast down; and I am not weak By sympathy, as well as by condescension, manifested in complying with their weakness. Who is offended Hindered in or turned out of the good way; and I burn not With zeal and desire to restore him: or am not pained, as though I had fire in my bosom? So that he had not only the care of the churches, but every person therein. If I must needs glory And I am heartily sorry that any such necessity is laid upon me; I will glory of the things that concern my infirmities In my sufferings for Christ, of various kinds, such as I have specified, (see 2Co 12:10,) sufferings which show my weakness, and his strength, and therefore humble me, and exalt him. And in what I have said, I have only spoken the exact truth, without reigning or aggravating any one circumstance; for God knoweth that I lie not Even that eternal Majesty of heaven and earth; who is blessed for evermore. This clause is added to increase the solemnity of his appeal to God for the truth of what he had said, and was going further to say; and that not only concerning his deliverance at Damascus, but concerning the visions and revelations of the Lord, to be mentioned in the next chapter.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Besides those things that are without, there is that which presseth upon me daily, anxiety for all the churches. [Besides the things which I have already mentioned–trials which come from external circumstances–there are others which attack me daily; I mean the wranglings, disputes, backslidings and apostasies of all the churches which are constantly brought to my attention that I may instruct, arbitrate or discipline according as the cases may demand. This verse may also be taken to mean that there were trials other than those mentioned, which came upon Paul from without.]
Fuente: McGarvey and Pendleton Commentaries (New Testament)
Verse 28
The care; that is, the solicitude and interest which he felt in them all.
Fuente: Abbott’s Illustrated New Testament
11:28 {9} Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.
(9) He further adds this in conclusion, that the Corinthians should be ashamed to despise him upon whose care almost all churches depended, as it was plainly seen by experience.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
All the previous trials that Paul enumerated were temporary, but what follows remained with him always. Internal pressure (2Co 11:28) harassed Paul on top of all the external difficulties that he endured. Specifically, concern for the weak and the moral failures of his converts disturbed Paul (2Co 11:29).
"And so it should be with every faithful pastor of Christ’s flock: he should lovingly identify himself with those who have been committed to his care, showing himself deeply anxious for their spiritual well-being, compassionate with them in their frailties and temptations, and resisting and resenting every one who seeks to entice them away from the purity of their devotion to Christ. This compassion is not of man: it is the divine compassion of Christ Himself, burning in the heart of His servant, and blazing forth in love to reach and to bind to the one Bridegroom the hearts of those to whom he ministers." [Note: Hughes, p. 418.]