Commentary on 2 Corinthians

Theodore of Mopsuestia (350–428)

Paul does not begin with suffering but with comfort, giving thanks for that before going on to explain that it came about through suffering.

Paul says that he finds no fault with their faith. However, there are some other things which need to be put right, and he is concerned with those.

Paul did not say the dispensation of the law but the dispensation of death, speaking rather of its result in order to lessen its attraction.

If Paul had wanted to say that the Lord is a spirit, he would have left the article the out. Compare John [4:24], where in speaking to the Samaritan woman, Jesus says that God is a spirit, meaning that he does not have a body. But in this case Paul puts the article in, which proves that he is not saying that the Lord is a spirit but rather that the Spirit is Lord.

The two "as for" phrases do not denote a contrast between them but rather emphasize the similarity.

By "worldly weapons" Paul means the law of Moses.

By "weak" in this case Paul means "sinful."

He saw the beautiful appearance of paradise, the dances of the saints in it and the harmonious sound of its hymnody.

See also

• More works by Theodore of Mopsuestia

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