2 Corinthians 12:19

19 olim putatis quod excusemus nos apud vos coram Deo in Christo loquimur omnia autem carissimi propter vestram aedificationem

2 Corinthians 12:19 Meaning and Commentary

2 Corinthians 12:19

Again, think you that we excuse ourselves to you?
&c.] The apostle would not have the Corinthians imagine, that by what he had said once and again in this epistle, he meant to excuse himself from coming to them, for he really and sincerely intended it; or that by this long defence of himself against the false apostles, he designed so much an apology for himself, or that he used any feigned words, or artful methods, to exculpate himself from any charge against him, particularly that of covetousness just mentioned; for he had no view to cover himself by studied apologies, and set orations, and evade anything exhibited against him, and make himself look innocent when guilty; it was not with any such intention he had dwelt so long on this subject:

we speak before God in Christ;
in all sincerity and uprightness of soul, without colour, guile, or deceit, calling God and Christ to witness the truth of what was said; the apostle spoke all he did, as in the presence of the omniscient God; and as one in Christ, and a preacher of his Gospel, that would not deliver an untruth knowingly, for the whole world:

but we do all things, dearly beloved, for your edification;
it was not for himself so much, for his own credit, reputation, and glory, he did what he did; had this been the case, he would not have said the half part of what he had; but it was for their sake, out of love to them, that they might be built up and established in the faith of the Gospel, and not be carried away with the error of the wicked.

2 Corinthians 12:19 In-Context

17 numquid per aliquem eorum quos misi ad vos circumveni vos

18 rogavi Titum et misi cum illo fratrem numquid Titus vos circumvenit nonne eodem spiritu ambulavimus nonne hisdem vestigiis

19 olim putatis quod excusemus nos apud vos coram Deo in Christo loquimur omnia autem carissimi propter vestram aedificationem

20 timeo enim ne forte cum venero non quales volo inveniam vos et ego inveniar a vobis qualem non vultis ne forte contentiones aemulationes animositates dissensiones detractiones susurrationes inflationes seditiones sint inter vos

21 ne iterum cum venero humiliet me Deus apud vos et lugeam multos ex his qui ante peccaverunt et non egerunt paenitentiam super inmunditia et fornicatione et inpudicitia quam gesserunt