2 Coríntios 2
A.T. Robertson · Citado em PreceptAustin
2 Coríntios 2
Robertson says means "accompanied by tears." Paul did not write this letter lightly but out of great sorrow and deep distress, writing with a pen not dipped in ink, but in tears! In a word we might say it "broke his heart" to write this letter. The scalpel has to cut before it can remove the cancer and healing occurs. Robertson has a picturesque comment on anguish of heart - (Anguish is sunoche which is...) Old word from sunechō, to hold together. So contraction of heart (Cicero, contractio animi), a "spiritual angina pectoris."
2 Coríntios 2
Robertson points out that "Luke does not mention this stop at Troas on the way from Ephesus to Macedonia (Acts 20:1f.), though he does mention two other visits there (Acts 16:8; 20:6)." Kruse offers this context - it was some time after Paul returned to Ephesus, following the ‘painful’ visit to Corinth and after he had written the ‘severe’ letter, that he made his way north to Troas.(TNTC-2Cor) Murray Harris gives us this background - Titus was dispatched to Corinth with this “letter of tears” while Paul continued work in and around Ephesus (cf. Acts 19:22b, “he stayed in the province of Asia a little longer”), the city to which he had returned after his brief “painful visit” to Corinth. Paul’s departure for Troas, mentioned in v. 12 (by a coasting vessel? cf. Acts 20:13–15), probably was precipitated by the Demetrius riot (Acts 19:23–41). Evidently he had already planned to leave the city, for when he sent Titus to Corinth, he arranged to meet him at Troas, or, failing that, probably at Philippi. (Expositor's Bible Commentary) P E
2 Coríntios 2
Robertson on but - Sudden outburst of gratitude in contrast to the previous dejection in Troas. Surely a new paragraph should begin here. In point of fact Paul makes a long digression from here to 6:10 on the subject of the Glory of the Christian Ministry as Bachmann points out in his Kommentar (p. 124), only he runs it from 2:12 to 7:1 (Aus der Tiefe in die Hohe, Out of the Depths to the Heights). We can be grateful for this emotional outburst, Paul’s rebound of joy on meeting Titus in Macedonia, for it has given the world the finest exposition of all sides of the Christian ministry in existence, one that reveals the wealth of Paul’s nature and his mature grasp of the great things in service for Christ. The sense of present triumph has blotted out the gloom at Troas. But - Term of contrast. He had just said he had no rest in his spirit, but now in contrast chooses to focus on an invigorating, reviving spiritual truth. Paul had been focusing on his earthly problems ("horizontal vision") and it disturbed his mind. Now he chooses to lift his eyes and focus on God, so-called Vertical Vision. It is amazing how Vertical Vision is triumphant over horizontal vision! Notice how he begins with a Spirit enabled attitude of gratitude instead of falling into the miry clay trap of groaning and grumbling (which he did not do). It is amazing (and supernatural) how putting on the garment of praise can lift a spirit of heaviness (Isaiah 61:3+)! Try it, you'll like it! Be imitators of Paul (1Cor 11:1+).
2 Coríntios 2
Robertson - In a Roman triumph garlands of flowers scattered sweet odour and incense bearers dispensed perfumes. The knowledge of God is here the aroma which Paul had scattered like an incense bearer Richards - When the issue is God’s relationship with us, “always” reminds us powerfully that God is present at every moment in time and thus is with us constantly. (Expository Dictionary of Bible Words: Regency) The wonderful truth in Christ occurs 8x in 8v in 2 Corinthians - 2Cor 1:21 2Cor 2:14 2Cor 2:17 2Cor 3:14 2Cor 5:17 2Cor 5:19 2Cor 12:2 2Cor 12:19 J Vernon McGee gives some interesting background on the phrase But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ - In this dramatic picture, Paul is saying that preaching the gospel is like leading a triumphal entry. The background is a Roman triumphal entry. One of the great Roman generals would go out to the frontier—to Europe where my ancestors were at that time, or down into Africa—where he would have victory after victory, for Rome was victorious in most campaigns. The conqueror would then return to Rome, and there would be a big, triumphal entry into the city. It is said that sometimes the triumphal entry would begin in the morning and go on far into the night. The Roman conqueror would be bringing in animals and other booty which he had captured. In the front of the procession would be the people who were going to be released. They had been captured but would be freed and would become Roman citizens. In the back of the procession would be the captive people who were to be executed. In these triumphal entries there was always the burning of incense. They would be burning the incense to their gods to whom they gave credit for the victory. All the way through the procession would be clouds of smoke from the incense, sometimes even obscuring the procession as it passed by. With this as a background, Paul is saying, “Thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ.” This is wonderful, friend. You can’t lose when you are in Christ. You cannot lose! Paul says that God always causeth us to triumph. Wait a minute, Paul. Always? In every place? We know you had wonderful success in Ephesus, but you didn’t do so well in Athens. Do you feel that you triumphed in both places? “Yes,” Paul says, “He always causes us to triumph in Christ!” “And maketh manifest the savour [the sweet incense] of his knowledge by us in every place.” Are you having a victory when no one turns to Christ? “Oh, yes,” Paul says. (2 Corinthians 2 Commentary) Furnish - A few of the older commentators followed the Vulgate (triumphant nos) in translating “triumphs over us” (e.g., Meyer, 452; cf. Denney, 86–89; Schlatter, 495), often with reference to Christian conversion as a being “conquered” by God, whereupon one is brought into God’s triumphal procession. However, there is nothing in the context of 2 Cor 2:14 to support this meaning, it would be difficult to know what the adverb always could mean as applied to conversion, and the generalized meaning “triumph over” is not attested as early as Paul (Williamson 1968:322; Egan 1977:37). (Anchor Bible Commentary-2Cor) John
2 Coríntios 2
Robertson - Rhetorical question. In himself no one is. But some one has to preach Christ and Paul proceeds to show that he is sufficient. For we are not as the many (ou gar esmen hōs hoi polloi). A bold thing to say, but necessary and only from God (2Co 3:6). Homer Kent - The rhetorical question, "And who is sufficient for these things?" has been answered differently by readers. Some have suggested the answer to be, "We apostles are sufficient," inasmuch as they did not peddle a false message (2Co 2:17-3:1). Others regard the answer to be, "No one is, if he depends on his own resources" (2Co 3:4-6). The latter explanation is best and could be expanded as follows: Certainly the religious peddlers are not sufficient, for they depend upon a personal sufficiency with selfish motivation. Only those who depend solely upon God for His sufficiency can hope to bear this heavy responsibility (2Co 3:5). (Ref) Utley on who is adequate for these things - The preaching of the gospel divides humanity eternally. From 2 Cor. 3:5–6 we understand that God equips His children for this awesome witnessing responsibility. Each believer’s life is an aroma to God that others react to, either in trust toward Christ or rejection of Christ. It is important how we live; others are watching (cf. 2Co 2:16; 2Co 3:2–3). John