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Selected Verse: 2 Corinthians 1:15 - King James

Verse	Translation	Text
2Co 1:15	King James	And in this confidence I was minded to come unto you before, that ye might have a second benefit;

Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
in this confidence--of my character for sincerity being "acknowledged" by you (Co2 1:12-14). was minded--I was intending. before--"to come unto you before" visiting Macedonia (where he now was). Compare Note, see on Co1 16:5; also see on Co1 4:18, which, combined with the words here, implies that the insinuation of some at Corinth, that he would not come at all, rested on the fact of his having thus disappointed them. His change of intention, and ultimate resolution of going through Macedonia first, took place before his sending Timothy from Ephesus into Macedonia, and therefore (Co1 4:17) before his writing the first Epistle. Compare Act 19:21-22 (the order there is "Macedonia and Achaia," not Achaia, Macedonia); Act 20:1-2. that ye might have a second benefit--one in going to, the other in returning from, Macedonia. The "benefit" of his visits consisted in the grace and spiritual gifts which he was the means of imparting (Rom 1:11-12).

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

in this confidence--of my character for sincerity being "acknowledged" by you (Co2 1:12-14).

was minded--I was intending.

before--"to come unto you before" visiting Macedonia (where he now was). Compare Note, see on Co1 16:5; also see on Co1 4:18, which, combined with the words here, implies that the insinuation of some at Corinth, that he would not come at all, rested on the fact of his having thus disappointed them. His change of intention, and ultimate resolution of going through Macedonia first, took place before his sending Timothy from Ephesus into Macedonia, and therefore (Co1 4:17) before his writing the first Epistle. Compare Act 19:21-22 (the order there is "Macedonia and Achaia," not Achaia, Macedonia); Act 20:1-2.

that ye might have a second benefit--one in going to, the other in returning from, Macedonia. The "benefit" of his visits consisted in the grace and spiritual gifts which he was the means of imparting (Rom 1:11-12).

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
And in his confidence - In this confidence of my integrity, and that you had this favorable opinion of me, and appreciated the principles of my conduct. I did not doubt that you would receive me kindly, and would give me again the tokens of your affection and regard. In this Paul shows that however some of them might regard him, yet that he had no doubt that the majority of the church there would receive him kindly. I was minded - I willed (ἐβουλόμην eboulomēn); it was my intention. To come unto you before - Tyndale renders this: "the other time." Paul refers doubtless to the time when he wrote his former Epistle, and when it was his serious purpose, as it was his earnest wish, to visit them again; see Co1 16:5. In this purpose he had been disappointed, and he now proceeds to state the reasons why he had not visited them as he had purposed, and to show that it did not arise from any fickleness of mind. His purpose had been at first to pass through Corinth on his way to Macedonia, and to remain some time with them; see Co2 1:16. compare Co1 16:5-6. This purpose he had now changed; and instead of passing through Corinth on his way to Macedonia, he had gone to Macedonia by the way of Troas Co2 2:12; and the Corinthians having, as it would seem, become acquainted with this fact, had charged him with insincerity in the promise, or fickleness in regard to his plans. Probably it had been said by some of his enemies that he had never intended to visit them. That ye might have a second benefit - Margin, grace. The word used here χάρις charis is that which is commonly rendered grace, and means probably favor, kindness, good-will, beneficence; and especially favor to the undeserving. Here it is evidently used in the sense of gratification, or pleasure. And the idea is, that they had been formerly gratified and benefitted by his residence among them; he had been the means of conferring important favors on them, and he was desirous of being again with them, in order to gratify them by his presence, and that he might be the means of imparting to them other favors. Paul presumed that his presence with them would be to them a source of pleasure, and that his coming would do them good. It is the language of a man who felt assured that he enjoyed, after all, the confidence of the mass of the church there, and that they would regard his being with them as a favor. He had been with them formerly almost two years. His residence there had been pleasant to them and to him; and had been the occasion of important benefits to them. He did not doubt that it would be so again. Tyndale renders this: "that ye might have had a double pleasure." It may be remarked here that several mss. instead of χάριν charin, "grace," read χαράν charan, "joy."

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]

And in his confidence - In this confidence of my integrity, and that you had this favorable opinion of me, and appreciated the principles of my conduct. I did not doubt that you would receive me kindly, and would give me again the tokens of your affection and regard. In this Paul shows that however some of them might regard him, yet that he had no doubt that the majority of the church there would receive him kindly.

I was minded - I willed (ἐβουλόμην eboulomēn); it was my intention.

To come unto you before - Tyndale renders this: "the other time." Paul refers doubtless to the time when he wrote his former Epistle, and when it was his serious purpose, as it was his earnest wish, to visit them again; see Co1 16:5. In this purpose he had been disappointed, and he now proceeds to state the reasons why he had not visited them as he had purposed, and to show that it did not arise from any fickleness of mind. His purpose had been at first to pass through Corinth on his way to Macedonia, and to remain some time with them; see Co2 1:16. compare Co1 16:5-6. This purpose he had now changed; and instead of passing through Corinth on his way to Macedonia, he had gone to Macedonia by the way of Troas Co2 2:12; and the Corinthians having, as it would seem, become acquainted with this fact, had charged him with insincerity in the promise, or fickleness in regard to his plans. Probably it had been said by some of his enemies that he had never intended to visit them.

That ye might have a second benefit - Margin, grace. The word used here χάρις charis is that which is commonly rendered grace, and means probably favor, kindness, good-will, beneficence; and especially favor to the undeserving. Here it is evidently used in the sense of gratification, or pleasure. And the idea is, that they had been formerly gratified and benefitted by his residence among them; he had been the means of conferring important favors on them, and he was desirous of being again with them, in order to gratify them by his presence, and that he might be the means of imparting to them other favors. Paul presumed that his presence with them would be to them a source of pleasure, and that his coming would do them good. It is the language of a man who felt assured that he enjoyed, after all, the confidence of the mass of the church there, and that they would regard his being with them as a favor. He had been with them formerly almost two years. His residence there had been pleasant to them and to him; and had been the occasion of important benefits to them. He did not doubt that it would be so again. Tyndale renders this: "that ye might have had a double pleasure." It may be remarked here that several mss. instead of χάριν charin, "grace," read χαράν charan, "joy."

Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886]
Before (πρότερον) Rather, first of all. Instead of going first to the Macedonians, as he afterward decided. See Co1 16:5. Second benefit (δευτέραν χάριν) Benefit is, literally, grace. Not a mere pleasurable experience through Paul's visit, but a divine bestowal of grace. Compare Rom 1:11. Second refers to his original plan to visit Corinth twice, on his way to Macedonia and on his return.

Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886]

Before (πρότερον)

Rather, first of all. Instead of going first to the Macedonians, as he afterward decided. See Co1 16:5.

Second benefit (δευτέραν χάριν)

Benefit is, literally, grace. Not a mere pleasurable experience through Paul's visit, but a divine bestowal of grace. Compare Rom 1:11. Second refers to his original plan to visit Corinth twice, on his way to Macedonia and on his return.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
In this confidence - That is, being confident of this.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]

In this confidence - That is, being confident of this.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
And in this confidence - Under the conviction or persuasion that this is the case; that ye exult in us, as we do in you; I was minded - I had purposed to come to you before, as he had intimated, Co1 16:5; for he had intended to call on them in his way from Macedonia, but this purpose he did not fulfill; and he gives the reason, Co2 1:23. A second benefit - He had been with them once, and they had received an especial blessing in having the seed of life sown among them by the preaching of the Gospel; and he had purposed to visit them again that they might have a second blessing, in having that seed watered. Instead of χαριν, grace or benefit, several MSS. read χαραν joy, pleasure; but the word grace or benefit, seems to express the apostle's meaning best.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826

And in this confidence - Under the conviction or persuasion that this is the case; that ye exult in us, as we do in you;

I was minded - I had purposed to come to you before, as he had intimated, Co1 16:5; for he had intended to call on them in his way from Macedonia, but this purpose he did not fulfill; and he gives the reason, Co2 1:23.

A second benefit - He had been with them once, and they had received an especial blessing in having the seed of life sown among them by the preaching of the Gospel; and he had purposed to visit them again that they might have a second blessing, in having that seed watered. Instead of χαριν, grace or benefit, several MSS. read χαραν joy, pleasure; but the word grace or benefit, seems to express the apostle's meaning best.

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