Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Corinthians 10:10
For [his] letters, say they, [are] weighty and powerful; but [his] bodily presence [is] weak, and [his] speech contemptible.
10. his bodily presence is weak ] The bodily weakness of the Apostle seems clearly indicated by many passages in Scripture. We may perhaps gather from Act 14:12 (though this is doubtful) that he was of less dignified presence than St Barnabas. He refers to his infirmity in 1Co 2:3. It was probably the thorn in the flesh of which he speaks in ch. 2Co 12:7 (see Introduction), and the ‘temptation’ which was ‘in his flesh’ in Gal 4:13-14. There is an admirable note on St Paul’s personal appearance at the end of Dr Plumptre’s Commentary on the Acts of the Apostles in the Bishop of Gloucester’s New Testament for English Readers.
and his speech contemptible ] Literally, despised. Rude, Tyndale. Wiclif, worthi to be dispisid. This is the proper meaning of the word contemptible. Whatever St Paul’s fervour and mental and spiritual power may have been, it is evident that he lacked the conventional gifts of the orator, the powerful voice, the fluent and facile delivery, the arts whereby to enchain attention. It was not the manner of his speech, but its matter, which attracted his hearers to him.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
For his letters – The letters which he has sent to the church when absent. Reference is had here probably to the First Epistle to the Corinthians. They might also have seen some of Pauls other epistles, and been so well acquainted with them as to he able to make the general remark that he had the power of writing in an authoritative and impressive manner.
Say they – Margin, Said he. Greek ( phesin) in the singular. This seems to have referred to some one person who had uttered the words – perhaps some one who was the principal leader of the faction opposed to Paul.
Are weighty and powerful – Tyndale renders this: Sore and strong. The Greek is, heavy and strong ( bareiai kai ischurai. The sense is, that his letters were energetic and powerful. They abounded with strong argument, manly appeals, and impressive reproof. This even his enemies were compelled to admit, and this no one can deny who ever read them. Pauls letters comprise a considerable portion of the New Testament; and some of the most important doctrines of the New Testament are those which are advocated and enforced by him; and his letters have done more to give shape to the theological doctrines of the Christian world than any other cause whatever. He wrote 14 epistles to churches and individuals on various occasions and on a great variety of topics; and his letters soon rose into very high repute among even the inspired ministers of the New Testament (see 2Pe 3:15, 2Pe 3:16), and were regarded as inculcating the most important doctrines of religion. The general characteristics of Pauls letters are:
(1) They are strongly argumentative. See especially the Epistles to the Romans and the Hebrews.
(2) They are distinguished for boldness and vigor of style.
(3) They are written under great energy of feeling and of thought – a rapid and impetuous torrent that bears him forcibly along.
(4) They abound more than most other writings in parentheses, and the sentences are often involved and obscure.
(5) They often evince rapid transitions and departures from the regular current of thought. A thought strikes him suddenly, and he pauses to illustrate it, and dwells upon it long, before he returns to the main subject. The consequence is, that it is often difficult to follow him.
(6) They are powerful in reproof – abounding with strokes of great boldness of denunciation, and also with specimens of most withering sarcasm and most delicate irony.
(7) They abound in expressions of great tenderness and pathos. Nowhere can be found expressions of a heart more tender and affectionate than in the writings of Paul.
(8) They dwell much on great and profound doctrines, and on the application of the principles of Christianity to the various duties of life.
(9) They abound with references to the Saviour. He illustrates everything by his life, his example, his death, his resurrection. It is not wonderful that letters composed on such subjects and in such a manner by an inspired man produced a deep impression on the Christian world; nor that they should be regarded now as among the most important and valuable portions of the Bible. Take away Pauls letters, and what a chasm would be made in the New Testament! What a chasm in the religious opinions and in the consolations of the Christian world!
But his bodily presence – His personal appearance.
Is weak – Imbecile, feeble ( asthenes) – a word often used to denote infirmity of body, sickness, disease; Mat 25:39, Mat 25:43-44; Luk 10:9; Act 4:9; Act 5:15-16; 1Co 11:30. Here it is to be observed that this is a mere charge which was brought against him, and it is not of necessity to be supposed that it was true, though the presumption is, that there was some foundation for it. It is supposed to refer to some bodily imperfections, and possibly to his diminutive stature. Chrysostom says that his stature was low, his body crooked, and his head bald. Lucian, in his Philopatris, says of him, Corpore erat parvo, contracto, incurvo, tricubitali – probably an exaggerated description, perhaps a caricature – to denote one very diminutive and having no advantages of personal appearance. According to Nicephorus, Paul was a little man, crooked, and almost bent like a bow; with a pale countenance, long and wrinkled; a bald head; his eyes full of fire and benevolence; his beard long, thick, and interspersed with gray hairs, as was his head, etc. But there is no certain evidence of the truth of these representations. Nothing in the Bible would lead us to suppose that Paul was remarkably diminutive or deformed; and though there may be some foundation for the charge here alleged that his bodily presence was weak, yet we are to remember that this was the accusation of his enemies, and that it was doubtless greatly exaggerated. Nicephorus was a writer of the sixteenth century, and his statements are worthy of no regard. That Paul was eminently an eloquent man may be inferred from a great many considerations; some of which are:
(1) His recorded discourses in the Acts of the Apostles, and the effect produced by them. No one can read his defense before Agrippa or Felix and not be convinced that as an orator he deserves to be ranked among the most distinguished of ancient times. No one who reads the account in the Acts can believe that he had any remarkable impediment in his speech or that he was remarkably deformed.
(2) Such was somehow his grace and power as an orator that he was taken by the inhabitants of Lycaonia as Mercury, the god of eloquence; Act 16:12. Assuredly the evidence here is, that Paul was not deformed.
(3) It may be added, that Paul is mentioned by Longinus among the principal orators of antiquity. From these circumstances, there is no reason to believe that Paul was remarkably deficient in the qualifications requisite for an orator, or that he was in any way remarkably deformed.
And his speech contemptible – To be despised. Some suppose that he had an impediment in his speech. But conjecture here is vain and useless. We are to remember that this is a charge made by his adversaries, and that it was made by the fastidious Greeks, who professed to be great admirers of eloquence, but who in his time confided much more in the mere art of the rhetorician than in the power of thought, and in energetic appeals to the reason and conscience of people. Judged by their standard it may be that Paul had not the graces in voice or manner, or in the knowledge of the Greek language which they esteemed necessary in a finished orator; but judged by his power of thought, and his bold and manly defense of truth, and his energy of character and manner, and his power of impressing truth on mankind, he deserves, doubtless, to be ranked among the first orators of antiquity. No man has left the impress of his own mind on more other minds than Paul.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 10. For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful] He boasts of high powers, and that he can do great things. See on 2Co 10:1-2.
But his bodily presence is weak] When you behold the man, you find him a feeble, contemptible mortal; and when ye hear him speak, his speech, , probably, his doctrine, , is good for nothing; his person, matter, and manner, are altogether uninteresting, unimpressive, and too contemptible to be valued by the wise and the learned. This seems to be the spirit and design of this slander.
Many, both among the ancients and moderns, have endeavoured to find out the ground there was for any part of this calumny; as to the moral conduct of the apostle, that was invulnerable; his motives, it is true, were suspected and denounced by this false apostle and his partisans; but they could never find any thing in his conduct which could support their insinuations.
What they could not attach to his character, they disingenuously attached to his person and his elocution.
If we can credit some ancient writers, such as Nicephorus, we shall find the apostle thus described:
, , , , . . .
-Nicephor., lib. ii., cap. 17.
“Paul was a little man, crooked, and almost bent like a bow; with a pale countenance, long and wrinkled; a bald head; his eyes full of fire and benevolence; his beard long, thick, and interspersed with grey hairs, as was his head, c.” I quote from Calmet, not having Nicephorus at hand.
An old Greek writer, says the same author, whose works are found among those of Chrysostom, tom. vi. hom. 30, page 265, represents him thus:- , “Paul was a man of about three cubits in height, (four feet six,) and yet, nevertheless, touched the heavens.” Others say that “he was a little man, had a bald head, and a large nose.” See the above, and several other authorities in Calmet. Perhaps there is not one of these statements correct: as to Nicephorus, he is a writer of the fourteenth century, weak and credulous, and worthy of no regard. And the writer found in the works of Chrysostom, in making the apostle little more than a pigmy, has rendered his account incredible.
That St. Paul could be no such diminutive person we may fairly presume from the office he filled under the high priest, in the persecution of the Church of Christ and that he had not an impediment in his speech, but was a graceful orator, we may learn from his whole history, and especially from the account we have, Ac 14:12, where the Lycaonians took him for Mercury, the god of eloquence, induced thereto by his powerful and persuasive elocution. In short, there does not appear to be any substantial evidence of the apostle’s deformity, pigmy stature, bald head, pale and wrinkled face, large nose, stammering speech, &c., &c. These are probably all figments of an unbridled fancy, and foolish surmisings.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
There are some amongst you that tell you, that indeed (when absent) I write severely, and with authority; but when I am there with you, neither my behaviour, nor my speech, speaks any such authority.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
10. lettersimplying thatthere had been already more letters of Paul received by theCorinthians than the one we have, namely, First Corinthians; and thatthey contained strong reproofs.
say theyGreek,“says one,” “such a one” (2Co10:11) seems to point to some definite individual. Compare Ga5:10; a similar slanderer was in the Galatian Church.
weak (2Co 12:7;1Co 2:3). There was nothing ofmajesty or authority in his manner; he bore himself tremblingly amongthem, whereas the false teachers spoke with authoritative bearing andlanguage.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful,…. These words contain the reason why he did not choose to say any more of his authority as an apostle to punish offenders, that he might give no occasion for such a calumny, some among them, or the false apostles, had cast upon him; that his epistles, referring particularly to his former epistle, and that part of it which respected the incestuous person, and his delivery to Satan, were blustering and thundering; were laden with sharp reproofs and severe menaces; were heavy with charges, were filled with great swelling words, with boasts of power and authority, and with threatenings what he would do, when he came among them; whereas when present, as at his first coming to them, he was mild and gentle, even to a degree of meanness and baseness, as they suggested; and so they concluded he would be, should he come again; and therefore his letters were not to be regarded:
but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible: he made a mean figure, being of a low stature, and having an infirm body: the account the historian m gives of him is this, that
“he had a small and contracted body, somewhat crooked and bowed, a pale face, looked old, and had a little head; he had a sharp eye; his eyebrows hung downwards; his nose was beautifully bent, somewhat long; his beard thick and pretty long; and that, as the hair of his head, had a sprinkling of gray hairs:”
hence one in Lucian n scoffingly says of him,
“when the bald headed Galilean met me, with his hook nose, who went through the air to the third heaven:”
though the words of this text rather regard his mind and mien than the make of his body; and suggest that he was not a man of that greatness of soul, and largeness of mind, not possessed of those abilities and gifts, and of that freedom of speech, and flow of words, his letters promised; but instead of that, was a man of a mean spirit, very abject and servile, and to be despised; his conduct weak, and carrying no majesty and authority with his presence, his words without weight, his language vulgar, and style neglected; and, upon all accounts, a person worthy of no notice, and not at all to be either feared or regarded.
m Nicephorus, l. 2. c. 37. n In Philopatr.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
They say (). Reading of B old Latin Vulgate, but Westcott and Hort prefer (says one, the leader). This charge Paul quotes directly.
Weighty and strong ( ). These adjectives can be uncomplimentary and mean “severe and violent” instead of “impressive and vigorous.” The adjectives bear either sense.
His bodily presence ( ). This certainly is uncomplimentary. “The presence of his body.” It seems clear that Paul did not have a commanding appearance like that of Barnabas (Ac 14:12). He had some physical defect of the eyes (Ga 4:14) and a thorn in the flesh (2Co 12:7). In the second century Acts of Paul and Thecla he is pictured as small, short, bow-legged, with eye-brows knit together, and an aquiline nose. A forgery of the fourth century in the name of Lucian describes Paul as “the bald-headed, hook-nosed Galilean.” However that may be, his accusers sneered at his personal appearance as “weak” ().
His speech of no account ( ). Perfect passive participle of , to treat as nothing (cf. 1Co 1:28). The Corinthians (some of them) cared more for the brilliant eloquence of Apollos and did not find Paul a trained rhetorician (1Cor 1:17; 1Cor 2:1; 1Cor 2:4; 2Cor 11:6). He made different impressions on different people. “Seldom has any one been at once so ardently hated and so passionately loved as St. Paul” (Deissmann, St. Paul, p. 70). “At one time he seemed like a man, and at another he seemed like an angel” (Acts of Paul and Thecla). He spoke like a god at Lystra (Ac 14:8-12), but Eutychus went to sleep on him (Ac 20:9). Evidently Paul winced under this biting criticism of his looks and speech.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
They say [] . The correct reading is fhsi says he. The Revisers retain they say, but read fhsi he says in their text. The reference is to some well – known opponent. Compare one, any one in ch. 2Co 10:7; 2Co 11:20. The only instance of the very words used by Paul ‘s adversaries.
Weighty [] . In classical Greek, besides the physical sense of heavy, the word very generally implies something painful or oppressive. As applied to persons, severe, stern. In later Greek it has sometimes the meaning of grave or dignified, and by the later Greek rhetoricians it was applied to oratory, in the sense of impressive, as here.
Weak. “No one can even cursorily read St. Paul ‘s epistles without observing that he was aware of something in his aspect or his personality which distressed him with an agony of humiliation – something which seems to force him, against every natural instinct of his disposition, into language which sounds to himself like a boastfulness which was abhorrent to him, but which he finds to be more necessary to himself than to other men. It is as though he felt that his appearance was against him…. His language leaves on us the impression of one who was acutely sensitive, and whose sensitiveness of temperament has been aggravated by a meanness of presence which is indeed forgotten by the friends who know him, but which raises in strangers a prejudice not always overcome” (Farrar).
Bodily presence. All the traditions as to Paul ‘s personal appearance are late. A bronze medal discovered in the cemetery of St. Domitilla at Rome, and ascribed to the first or second century, represents the apostle with a bald, round, well – developed head; rather long, curling beard; high forehead; prominent nose; and open, staring eye. The intellectual character of the face is emphasized by the contrast with the portrait of Peter, which faces Paul ‘s. Peter’s forehead is flat, the head not so finely developed, the face commonplace, the cheek bones high, the eye small, and the hair and beard short, thick, and curling. An ivory diptych of the fourth century, reproduced in Mr. Lewin’s “Life of Paul,” contains two portraits. In the one he is sitting in an official chair, with uplifted hand and two fingers raised, apparently in the act of ordination. The face is oval, the beard long and pointed, the moustache full, the forehead high, the head bald, and the eyes small and weak. The other portrait represents him in the act of throwing off the viper. A forgery of the fourth century, under the name of Lucian, alludes to him as “the bald – headed, hooknosed Galilean.” In the “Apocryphal Acts of the Apostles” mention is made of one Dioscorus, the bald shipmaster, who followed Paul to Rome, and was mistaken for him and beheaded in his stead. In the “Acts of Paul and Thekla,” a third – century romance, he is described as “short, bald, bowlegged, with meeting eyebrows, hook – nosed, full of grace.” John of Antioch, in the sixth century, says that he was round – shouldered, with aquiline nose, greyish eyes, meeting eyebrows, and ample beard. 154 Contemptible [] . Lit., made nothing of. Rev., of no account.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “For his letters, say they,” (hoti hai epistoloi men phesin) “Because indeed the letters, they say,” says he, the accuser, the disaffecters at Corinth, the snipers, faultfinders, and hypercritical of Paul, those who judged outward appearance only.
2) “Are weighty and powerful “ (bareiai kai ischurai) “are weighty and strong,” logical, convincing, with content, unity of thought, and coherent, for anyone to evaluate, hard for men to withstand or reject, Eph 6:13; Act 13:8-12; Gal 2:11; 1Pe 3:15.
3) “But his bodily presence is weak,” (he de parousia tou somatos asthenes) “But his body presence is weak,” or his bodily presence is weak, perhaps short of stature, 1Co 2:3-4; Gal 4:13; 2Co 11:30; 2Co 12:5; 2Co 12:9-10.
4) “And his speech contemptible,” (kai ho logos eksouthemeneos) “and his speech is despicable, despised, or very unpleasant;” not excelling, not refined, in diction and voice quality, a matter that seemed to offend the unregenerate elite of the Greeks who doted on art, 1Co 1:17; 1Co 2:1-4; 1Co 2:13.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
(10) For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful.Allusive references to what had been said of him at Corinth have already appeared frequently. Here, for the first time, we have the very words quoted. The scorn conveyed in them had wounded the Apostles sensitive nature like a poisoned arrow; and we have here the nearest approach which the New Testament presents to the passionate complaints poured forth by some of the Psalmists of the Old (Psalms 69, 109). We note the common element of a burning indignation under the sense of wrong. We note also the absence from the Apostles feelings of the maledictory element which is so prominent in theirs. The meekness and gentleness of Christ had not been without their effect in tempering even the most vehement emotions.
The great majority of MSS. give the verb in the singular: For his letters, saith he . . . This may be taken, like the French on dit, as used impersonally, and possibly this is the meaning which the English version was intended to convey. The context, however, the definite such a man as that of the next verse, is obviously decisive. St. Paul has in his thoughts here, and through the rest of the chapter, one conspicuous antagonist,the head of a clique and cabal of opponents.
His bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.As with other antithetical epigrams, the sting was found in the tail. It would seem all but incredible that any doubt could ever have been expressed as to the fact that the words point to physical infirmities. They can, indeed, refer to nothing else. For the tradition as to the Apostles personal appearance, see Excursus at the end of the Acts of the Apostles. The contemptible speech (literally, speech of no value; counted as nought) may refer either to a weak or unmusical voice, or to the absence of the rhetorical artifices, the exordium, divisions, perorations, in which Greek audiences delighted. It may be noted that these words give a fresh significance to a remarkable passage in an Epistle written, in the judgment of many critics, within a few weeks of this. You, he says to the Galatians (Gal. 4:13-14), though I came to you with that infirmity of the flesh which others sneer at, the chronic trial of my life, you did not contemn (the self-same verb as that used here) nor loathe me. There is manifestly a contrast present to his thoughts between the mean insults of his rivals at Corinth and the affection which the Galatians had once manifested, and which made their subsequent alienation all the more painful to him.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
10. Letters How many letters of St. Paul’s had they seen? Perhaps but one, the first epistle to the Corinthians. But he may have written to Corinth a second. Nay, he may have written, and doubtless did write, many letters that form no part of the sacred canon, and have not been preserved. A divine guidance directed the Church in selecting the New Testament books. Not every casual note of an apostle was treasured for future ages. Two powerful epistles had been written to Thessalonica; and it is by no means improbable that copies of them were already read and revered in the Church of Corinth.
Say they The Christines, whose names are mercifully spared.
Bodily presence Literally, the presence of his body. The expression is too decided to admit a just doubt that Paul’s bodily person is meant, and is described as weak in its impression. Without referring to the uniform traditions on this subject, we gather from Scripture itself due proof of this fact. The Lystrans (Act 14:12) styled Barnabas Jupiter, and Paul Mercurius. This clearly indicates that Barnabas had a majestic presence and Paul had not. ( See note on the passage.) But more, as Mercurius was god of eloquence, so it is clear Paul was held by them to be eloquent, and was called chief speaker; and as Mercurius was, in mythology, held to be small and nimble, such was, doubtless, at this, his young manhood, Paul’s person. As years, toils, dangers, ecstasies, operated upon his original powerful bilious-nervous temperament, he became, for a period, over nervous and epileptic. This epileptic tendency overcame him at moments when all his powers of oratory were needed, overthrowing and discrediting him at the decisive moment. At other times it affected and weakened his utterance, so as to make his speech contemptible. This tendency disclosed itself soon after his great ecstasies described in 1Co 13:1-5, (where see note,) and became that thorn in the flesh which he prayed in vain to have withdrawn. It was this overwhelming nervousness which, under pressure of his anxiety for his dear Corinthians, made him darkly doubt whether his first inspired epistle was not a mistake whether all his foundations were not broken up, and the abyss of death were not opening beneath him. 2Co 1:8-10.
Yet there was some periodicity in these fits. Some of his grandest efforts of oratory took place after this. In particular, his speech before Festus and Agrippa was the product of his whole nature rallied to the top of its powers. Such persistence as his, through long years of such unparalleled trials, infallibly presupposes a powerful bilious base. This, overlaid with an intense nervous tendency, made him an apparent semi-invalid, often unimpressive in his presence, seemingly incapable of endurance, and yet very hardy and hard to kill.
Contemptible Alford refers this to Paul’s not bringing the power of words and rhetoric to bear on his speeches. But all that was true of his letters. Nay, it was in his abjuring rhetoric and philosophy, and flinging himself upon his pure, deep evangelism, that his power and impressiveness, when present, consisted. The defeat of Paul in his masterly effort at Athens, and his loneliness there and after he went to Corinth, did for awhile all but paralyze him. That was one of his weak periods. And probably all his first residence at Corinth was characterized by alternate feebleness and power. The thorn in the flesh rendered his utterance at times contemptible.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘For his letters, they say, are weighty and strong, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech of no account.’
Using letters to exert his authority would indeed only serve to justify the words of his opponents who accuse him of being able to issue powerful written edicts, but when present among them, of being weak and a deliverer of ‘no account’ words, the raging lion turning out to be a mouse. So he will certainly not do that.
The Corinthians had undoubtedly shown Paul’s severe letter to the newcomers. And this had been their contemptuous reply as they supported each other’s authority, ‘Weighty and strong when absent. Weak and unimpressive when present.’ They were well aware of Paul’s physical weaknesses and sought to use them as an instrument with which to degrade him. This is a question that Paul will deal with later (2Co 12:7-10).
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
2Co 10:10. His bodily presence is weak, &c. Chrysostome, Nicephorus, and Lucian, relate of St. Paul, that his stature was low, his body crooked, and his head bald; which seem to be the infirmities here referred to. See on ch. 2Co 12:7.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
2Co 10:10 . For his letters, it is said, are weighty and strong; his bodily presence, however, is powerless (when present in body, he acts without power and energy), and his speech despised , his oral teaching, exhortation, etc., find no respect, are held of little account. Comp. 2Co 10:1 . For the apostle’s own commentary on the second part of this assertion of his opponents, see 1Co 2:3-4 . Quite at variance with the context, some have found here also bodily weakness (Witsius in Wolf; recently, in particular, Holsten, zum Ev. d. Paul. u. Petr. p. 85), and a weak utterance (Er. Schmid). Besides, the tradition is very uncertain and late, which pronounces Paul to have been (Niceph. Call. ii. 37). Comp. on Act 14:12 .
The opposite of , powerful , is .
On , comp. Wetstein. The gravitas is imposing and instils respect; hence the opposite .
] it is said , impersonal, as often with the Greeks. See Bernhardy, p. 419. The reading (Lachmann, following B, Vulg.) is a rash correction. Comp. Fritzsche, ad Thesmoph. p. 189; Buttmann, neut. Gram. p. 119 [E. T. 136].
Fuente: Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer’s New Testament Commentary
10 For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.
Ver. 10. Weighty and powerful ] As often as I read Paul’s Epistles, Non verba, sed tonitrua audire mihi videor, saith Jerome, Methinks I hear not words, but thunderclaps. But that his bodily presence was not weak, nor his speech contemptible, see Act 13:10 . See Trapp on “ Act 13:10 “
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
10. ] , taken by Winer (edn. 6, 58. 9. b . [ ]), De W., and Meyer, as impersonal heit es , ‘ men say :’ but why should not the of 2Co 10:7 , and of 2Co 10:11 , be the subject?
] see in Wetst., definitions from the rhetoricians of in discourse. Among other illustrations of it, Aristides mentions , (see 1Co 9:15 ), and , , (see 1Co 15:18 ).
] No countenance is given by these words to the idea that Paul was of weak physical constitution, or short in stature. His own explanation of them is sufficient as given in 1Co 2:1 ff. It is, that when he was present among them, he brought, not the strength of presence or words of the carnal teachers, but abjured all such influence and in fear and trembling preached Christ crucified. It was this, and not weakness of voice, which made his to be . At the same time, the contrast being between his epistles and his word of mouth , his authority as unaccompanied or accompanied by his presence, it must be assumed, that there was something (see on ch. 2Co 12:7 ) which discommended his appearance and delivery. See the traditional authorities for the Apostle’s personal appearance, in Winer’s Realw. vol. ii. p. 221, note.
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
2Co 10:10 . , . . .: for “his letters” they say “are weighty and powerful but,” etc. The reading is doubtful (see crit. note); if we follow the rec. text = “one says” or “he says” ( cf. Wis 15:12 ), the reference will be to an individual opponent (the f1 of 2Co 10:11 ) who would be readily recognised by the Corinthians; but we must then suppose to have dropped out. It is simpler therefore to read with the A.V. and R.V., and to take the words as reproducing the charge against the Apostle commonly made by those who were disaffected at Corinth. They are “remarkable as giving a contemporary judgment on his Epistles, and a personal description of himself” (Stanley). . . .: “ but his bodily presence is weak (see chap. 2Co 12:7 , Gal 4:14 , and Act 14:12 , where the Lystrans called Barnabas “Zeus,” and evidently therefore counted him as of more dignified presence than his companion) and his speech contemptible ”; cf. 1Co 1:17 . Persuasive speaker as St. Paul must have been (the Lystrans called him Hermes as “the chief speaker”), he probably had not the arts of a trained rhetorician (1Co 1:17 ; 1Co 2:1 ; 1Co 2:4 , chap. 2Co 11:6 ), and this would appear a grave defect to these clever and shallow Greeks. According to the second century Acts of Paul and Thecla ( 3) the Apostle was a low-sized man, bow-legged, of a healthy complexion, with eyebrows knit together (the Armenian version adds that his eyes were blue), and an aquiline nose. The description of him in the piece called Philopatris ( 13), ascribed to Lucian, is very similar.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
weighty. Greek. barus. See Act 20:29.
powerful. Greek. ischuros. Compare App-172.
presence. Greek. parousia. See Mat 24:3.
weak. As 1Co 1:27.
speech. Greek. logos. App-121.
contemptible = of no account. Greek. exoutheneo. See Act 4:11.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
10.] , taken by Winer (edn. 6, 58. 9. b. []), De W., and Meyer, as impersonal-heit es, men say: but why should not the of 2Co 10:7, and of 2Co 10:11, be the subject?
] see in Wetst., definitions from the rhetoricians of in discourse. Among other illustrations of it, Aristides mentions , (see 1Co 9:15), and , , (see 1Co 15:18).
] No countenance is given by these words to the idea that Paul was of weak physical constitution, or short in stature. His own explanation of them is sufficient as given in 1Co 2:1 ff. It is, that when he was present among them, he brought, not the strength of presence or words of the carnal teachers, but abjured all such influence and in fear and trembling preached Christ crucified. It was this, and not weakness of voice, which made his to be . At the same time, the contrast being between his epistles and his word of mouth, his authority as unaccompanied or accompanied by his presence, it must be assumed, that there was something (see on ch. 2Co 12:7) which discommended his appearance and delivery. See the traditional authorities for the Apostles personal appearance, in Winers Realw. vol. ii. p. 221, note.
Fuente: The Greek Testament
2Co 10:10. ) saith he [one], viz. he, who thus speaks: viz. he, who is mentioned at 2Co 10:11. The concealed slanderer is intended, whom the Lord, or even Paul, by the Lords pointing him out, saw. There was such a slanderer also among the Galatians; Gal 5:10.-, weighty) the antithesis is contemptible.-, powerful) the antithesis is weak.-, his presence) This was an instance of the same truth embodied in the saying of the present day: Ones presence diminishes ones fame. The Anthologium of the Greek Church for the 29th day of June has a commemoration of Peter and Paul, with a representation of the form of both the apostles, and, so far as Paul is concerned, it agrees well enough with this passage.-, weak) occasioning no fear to the spectators.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
2Co 10:10
2Co 10:10
For, His letters, they say, are weighty and strong;-[Allusive references to what had been said of Paul at Corinth by the false teachers have already appeared in this epistle (2Co 1:17; 2Co 3:1; 2Co 5:12-13). Here for the first time the very words are quoted. The scorn conveyed in them had deeply wounded him; and we have here the nearest approach which the New Testament presents of the passionate complaints poured forth by David. (Psa 69:1-21; Psa 109:1-5). We note the common element of a burning indignation under the sense of wrong; but also the absence from his feelings of the maledictory element which is so prominent in David. The meekness and gentleness of Christ had not been without their effect in tempering even the most vehement emotions.]
but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech of no account.-His enemies said that his letters were brave and strong, but when present in body he was cowardly and subservient. [These words give remarkable significance to a passage in an epistle written shortly after this, which says: Ye know that because of an infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you the first time: and that which was a temptation to you in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but ye received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus. (Gal 4:13-14). There is manifestly a contrast present to his thoughts between the mean insults of his opposers at Corinth and the affection which the Galatians had once manifested, and which made their subsequent alienation all the more painful to him.]
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
say they: Gr. saith he, 2Co 10:11
but: 2Co 10:1, 2Co 12:5-9, 1Co 2:3, 1Co 2:4, Gal 4:13, Gal 4:14
and his: 2Co 11:6, Exo 4:10, Jer 1:6, 1Co 1:17, 1Co 1:21, 1Co 2:1-4
Reciprocal: 1Sa 16:7 – looketh Mat 18:10 – heed Act 18:24 – an 1Co 1:27 – General 1Co 4:10 – we are weak 2Co 4:7 – in 2Co 10:9 – terrify 2Co 11:21 – as though 2Co 12:6 – above that 2Co 13:4 – we also 2Co 13:7 – as reprobates Phi 4:12 – how to be 1Th 2:6 – when
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
2Co 10:10. The gist of this verse is an attempt of the critic to belittle the work of Paul, by slighting remarks about his personal appearance and his manner of speech. This objector did not like the bold language in the first epistle because it sharply rebuked those at fault. Still feeling the sting of that letter, he pretends to have no fear of the personal appearance of the apostle, since a man so insignificant and contemptible (as he thought) as the apostle Paul, could not say or do anything that would humiliate him.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
2Co 10:10. For, His letters, they say, are weighty and strong, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech of no account. That the weakness here ascribed to his bodily presence refers to his physical weakness, which Plumptre thinks obvious, is far from clear to critics quite as acute and impartial, who think that the context shews the contrast between his tone and manner when present with the Corinthians, and that when merely writing to them; and we cannot but agree with them. Indeed, but for such statements as that in chap. 2Co 12:7 (on which see the comment), and Gal 4:13-14, it is very doubtful if bodily infirmity would have been thought of here.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
Verse 10 Some falsely accused him of being powerful in his writing, but weak when present.
Fuente: Gary Hampton Commentary on Selected Books
For, His letters, they say [a general expression, equivalent to “it is said”], are weighty and strong; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech of no account. [Now even if I boast most freely that my authority is greater than yours, my boasting will not bring shame upon me if you put me to the test. You will find that I am not terrible in letters alone, but also in my presence, and you will find how falsely you have spoken when you said that my letters were the only part of me calculated to cause fear. However, I shall regret to thus demonstrate my power against you, for God gave me this power to use rather in building you up than in tearing you down. The apostle thus draws a subtle contrast between himself and his adversaries, for they had delighted in destructive rather than constructive works.]
Fuente: McGarvey and Pendleton Commentaries (New Testament)
Verse 10
Say they; that is, the enemies of Paul among the Corinthians.–His bodily presence, &c. Tradition states that Paul was small of stature, pale and emaciated in countenance, and of a form bent and unsymmetrical. This seems to have been made matter of reproach against him by his enemies.
Fuente: Abbott’s Illustrated New Testament
10:10 For [his] letters, say {g} they, [are] weighty and powerful; but [his] bodily presence [is] weak, and [his] speech contemptible.
(g) He notes out those who were the cause of these words.