2 Corinthians 11:26

2Co_11:26

In journeyings often.

The Christian away from home

Paul was a traveller. His journeyings by sea and land formed an important part of the educating influences that formed his Christian life. Notice--

I. The mental stimulus gained. Monotonous toil wears us out. It is good to get out of ruts, to look on new objects, to talk about new subjects, to freshen up our spirits. It is good to get out of ones home, store, city, out of ones country even, and see new heavens and a new earth, though for a little while. The rust and the dust of routine life are removed. This mental stimulus of travel is threefold. It is awakened by anticipation, it is intensified by actual enjoyment, and it continues in the joy of reminiscence.

II. The actual presence and guidance of God is more impressively felt in journeyings oft. It has been truly said that the spectre of uncertainty haunts the cabin of every departing ship. So of all vehicles and modes of travel. Their history has its tragedies, and the beginning of any journey should elicit the prayer, If Thy presence go not with me, carry me not up hence. Sweetly to the believer comes the answer, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land, for I will not leave thee. Is thy journey by the sea? The sea is His. Passing through the waters, He will be with thee. So in malarious districts or in heated climes the same shelter is guaranteed. Not only in peril, but in perplexity, do we prove the truth of these pledges. He leadeth me when in doubt as to what is best to do, saying, This is the way, walk in it. We enter a foreign city alone, and unacquainted with the language. Such exigencies of travel are educating. An uplift is gained by the trustful soul that is never lost (Job_31:32).

III. The fellowship of saints is realised abroad as it can never be in the familiar intercourse of home. How Pauls heart did leap within him at Appii Forum! Ten miles farther on, another group, at Three Taverns, welcome him.

IV. Absence endears the localities, friendships, privileges, and employments of home.

V. Our journeyings remind us that life itself is a journey, to be pursued with thoughtfulness, with reference to lifes great ends and our eternal home. (E. P. Thwing, D. D.)

In perils.--

In perils of water

It required courage to be a voyager in olden times, the ships were small and clumsy, the rocks and shores so poorly defined; no weather probabilities, signals or lighthouses. Yet there are as great perils now, notwithstanding our sea-charts, lighthouses, ironclads, storm-signals, etc. The danger arises now from the multiplicity of crafts. Note--

I. The responsibility of those who hold the lives, or the property, or the souls of men in keeping.

1. Captains, guards, engineers, architects, have very great responsibility, and God will hold them to account.

2. Pastors of churches, private Christians who hold in their hands the souls of people, had better obey the injunction: Watch!

II. When we part from our friends, reunion is uncertain.

III. Elegant surroundings are no security. Iceberg, and storm, and darkness, and collision can see no difference between magnificent mail steamship and whaler with rusty bolts and greasy deck. Do not think that brilliant surroundings will keep off the last foe.

IV. Some Christians are nearer to glory than they think. Some of you are spending your last Sabbath, singing your last song, giving your last salutations.

V. The world has not yet been persuaded of the nonsense of prayer.

VI. The importance of always being ready for transition. (T. de Witt Talmage, D. D.)

In perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness.--

Environment

Let us talk a little about what is known as environment. Men are apt to think they would be better if their circumstances, their surroundings were of another kind and quality. They do not go in upon themselves and say, We are to blame. We must get rid of that delusion before we can make any real progress in life. All history shows us that whatever a mans environment may be he can conquer it; or he can respond to it in the degree in which it is Divine, beautiful, and fascinating. Where did man first fall, according to the Biblical history? Was it in some narrow, ill-lighted street? Was it in soma swamp or wilderness? It was possible to fall in Eden. Therefore do not say that if you were in Eden you would be safe. Men say that, if they were only in the city, at the very centre of civilisation, if they had the security of social life as it is to be found in the metropolis of any country, all would go well. The Apostle Paul answers that in our text, In perils in the city. You thought you would be safe in the city. Here is Paul in all kinds of cities, classical, advanced, thoughtful, immoral; and he says he was in perils in the city. Men think that if they could be only in the city, in the metropolis, where there is an abundance of literature, where all kinds of galleries are open to the people--picture-galleries, museums, art-repositories, music of every hue and range--then they would have something to think about, and to engage their attention, and to divide at least the intensity of the temptations by which souls are besieged. Paul says, let us repeat again and again, In perils in the city. The city grows its own weeds; the city opens its own fountains of poison-water. The city is eating out the best life of the nation. In perils in the city. Yet how many of these perils do we make ourselves, and how eagerly do we avail ourselves of many an open door that invites us to enter and go down to hell! I have seen this in the city--namely, young men, certainly not five-and-twenty years of age, before ten oclock in the morning going into public-houses. Not vagabonds, but men who were evidently going to some kind of business afterwards, well-dressed young men. What would you say about an instance of that kind, except that it means ruin? You cannot trifle with that state of affairs. You cannot begin a little reform now and a little then. You must throw your enemy now! In perils in the city. What a temptation there is there to bet and gamble and trifle with other peoples money! You do not suppose that a young man makes up his mind to be a thief. In many instances he knows that he is honest in purpose, and he says that, if he can only succeed, no man shall lose a penny by him; he will only back his own judgment against some other mans judgment. He says, What harm can there be in my setting up my sagacity against the sagacity of some other man? You cannot be fortunate in betting and gambling. Do not say that you know instances in which men have made tens of thousands of pounds, and are in great prosperity. There are no such instances. They may have all the pounds, but they have not the prosperity. There is no prosperity in wickedness. Do not think you can trifle with the spirit of evil and succeed. Resist the devil, and he will flee from thee. Then what do men say? They continue in this fashion--namely, If I could only get away from the city, if I could get into the country somewhere, if I could get into some quiet place, then all would be well. In perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness--in the solitude, in the great emptiness; as much peril in the wilderness as there is in Cheapside; as much peril in the desert as there is in the Stock Exchange. How often in passing through beautiful places have we said, Surely there must be peace in that habitation and in yonder dwelling. Go where you will, you will find the devil has been there before you. There are great perils even in solitude: in fact, it is possible that solitude may be the greatest peril of all. It is the voice of history that the devil comes to men individually, and not to them in crowds only. All the great tragedies are connected with individual instances. Solitude gives us a false standard of self-judgment. It is only by man meeting man, comparing himself with his fellow-men, seeking the judgment of higher minds than his own, that he becomes chastened and thus ennobled; rebuked, and thus elevated. Observe, then, that circumstances cannot give us security. You thought that, when you made ten thousand pounds, you would be perfectly secure. No man ever rested content with ten thousand pounds; there was always another sovereign which some other man had which he wanted; there was always another field which, if he obtained, would beautifully sphere out his estate; and going after fields is like going after the horizon, there is always another. Do not imagine that if you were rich you would be good. Let no man be discouraged because of his environment. You say, What can a young man do in my circumstances? He can do everything through Christ strengthening him. If men begin to sit down and say, What can I do with only five shillings a week? what can I do with only a workhouse education? what can I do with people such as these round about me? they will never come to anything. A man must not look at his surroundings, but he must look at his universe and at God enthroned above its riches and forces; and he must say, It is my business by the blessing of God to take hold of circumstances and twist them and bind them and round them into a garland or a diadem. (J. Parker, D. D.)

The Biblical Illustrator, edited by Joseph S. Exell (c. 1880s–1900s) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

2Co 11:26-27. In journeyings — For the sake of preaching the gospel; often — In which I have been exposed to a variety of dangers, from waters, robbers, my own countrymen, and the heathen. In perils in the city — From tumults. Of these dangers, frequent mention is made in the Acts: as in Damascus; after that, in Jerusalem; then in Antioch, in Pisidia, Iconium, Thessalonica, Berea, Corinth, and Ephesus; all before the writing of this epistle. In dangers in the wilderness — Of perishing by want, or by wild beasts; in the sea — From storms and pirates; among false brethren — Who, amidst specious pretensions of love and affection, secretly watched, if not to destroy me, at least to injure my character, and ruin my usefulness. In weariness — Through my incessant labours; and painfulness — Or fatiguing toil. The latter of the words here used, μοχθος, implies more than κοπος, the former, namely, such hard labour as caused great fatigue. In watchings often — Continuing many nights without sleep, which might happen from various causes, besides that mentioned Act 20:11, when he continued his discourse till break of day. In hunger and thirst — Not having the necessaries of life at hand. In cold and nakedness — Having no place where to lay my head, and no convenient raiment to cover me; and yet appearing before noblemen, governors, and kings, and not being ashamed.

Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

11:26-27 Paul’s many long journeys are recorded in Acts 13–28. These trips involved facing danger and enduring hardship.

Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

2Co 11:26. Ὁδοιπορίαις, in journeyings) See Acts.—ἐν ψευδαδέλφοις, among false brethren) This danger is most distressing; being added to the others contrary to expectation [παρὰ προσδοκίαν], it has a pleasing effect. [These men were bitter and pestiferous, although not destitute of the appearance of good. Gal 2:4.—V. g.]

Bengel's Gnomon of the New Testament — English translation (T&T Clark, Edinburgh, 1860) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

2Co_11:26 f. After the parenthesis of 2Co_11:24-25, the series begun in 2Co_11:23 is now continued, dropping, however, the instrumental ἐν, which is not to be supplied, and running on merely with the instrumental dativethrough frequent journeys, through dangers from rivers, etc. The expression ὁδοιπορ. πολλάκις is not to be taken as saying too little, for Paul was not constantly engaged in journeys (comp. his somewhat lengthy sojourns at Ephesus and at Corinth); wherefore he had the less occasion here to put another expression in place of the πολλάκις which belonged, as it were, to the symmetry of the context (2Co_11:23; 2Co_11:27). Hofmann wrongly joins πολλάκις with κινδύνοις, and takes πολλάκ. κινδύνοις as in apposition to ὁδοιπορίαις: journeys, which were often dangers. As if Paul were under the necessity of expressing (if he wished to express at all) the quite simple thought: ὁδοιπορίαις πολλάκις ἐπικινδύνοις (journeys which were often dangerous), in a way so singularly enigmatical as that which Hofmann imputes to him. Besides, if the following elements are meant to specify the dangers of travel, the two points ἐκ γένους and ἐξ ἐθνῶν at least are not at all specific perils incident to travel. And how much, in consequence of this erroneous connection of ὁδοιπορ. πολλάκ. κινδυν., does Hofmann mar the further flow of the passage, which he subdivides as ποταμῶν κινδύνοις, ληστῶν κινδύνοις, ἐκ γένους κινδύνοις κ.τ.λ. down to ἐν θαλάσσῃ κινδύνοις, but thereafter punctuates: ἐν ψευδαδέλφοις κόπῳ κ. μόχθῳ ἐν ἀγρυπνίαις, πολλάκις ἐν λιμῷ κ. δίψει, ἐν νηστείαις πολλάκις ἐν ψυχ. κ. γυμν.[338] In this way is lost the whole beautiful and swelling symmetry of this outburst, and particularly the essential feature of the weighty anaphora, in which the emphatic word (and that is in 2Co_11:26 ΚΙΝΔΎΝΟΙς) is placed first (comp. e.g. Hom. Il. x. 228 ff., i. 436 ff., ii. 382 ff., v. 740 f.; Arrian, Diss. i. 25; Quinctil ix. 3. Comp. also 2Co_11:20; 2Co_7:2; Php_3:2; Php_4:8, al.).

κινδ. ποταμῶν κ.τ.λ.] The genitive denotes the dangers arising from rivers (in crossing, swimming through them, in inundations, and the like) and from robbers. Comp. Heliod. ii. 4 65: κινδύνοι θαλασσῶν, Plat. Pol. i. p. 332 E; Euthyd. p. 279; Sir_43:24.

The κινδύνοις each time prefixed has a strong oratorical emphasis. Auct. ad Herenn. iv. 28. There lies in it a certain tone of triump.

ἘΚ ΓΈΝΟΥς] on the part of race, i.e. on the part of the Jews, Act_7:19; Gal_1:14. The opposite: ἐξ ἐθνῶν.

ἐν πόλει, in city, as in Damascus, Jerusalem, Ephesus, and others; the opposite is ἐν ἐρημίᾳ, in desert. On the form of expression, comp. ἐν οἴκῳ, ἐν ἀγρῷ, ἐν μεγάρῳ, and the like. Xen. de rep. Lac. viii. 3 : ἐν πόλει καὶ ἐν στρατιᾷ καὶ ἐν οἴκῳ.

ἐν ψευδαδέλφοις] among false brethren, i.e. among Judaistic pseudo-Christians, Gal_2:4, οἱ ὑπεκρίνοντο τὴν ἀδελφότητα, Chrysostom. Why should not these, with their hostile and often vehement opposition to the Pauline Christianity (comp. Php_3:2), have actually prepared dangers for him? Rückert, without reason, finds this inconceivable, and believes that Paul here means an occasion on which non-Christians, under cover of the Christian name, had sought to entice the apostle into some danger (? κινδύνοις).2Co_11:27. ΚΌΠῼ Κ. ΜΌΧΘῼ] by trouble and toil; comp. 1Th_2:9; 2Th_3:8.[339] Then with ἘΝ ἈΓΡΥΠΝ. there again appears the instrumental ἘΝ. On ἘΝ ΛΙΜῷ Κ.Τ.Λ., comp. Deu_28:48.

ἘΝ ΝΗΣΤΕΊΑΙς ΠΟΛΛΆΚΙς] by frequent fastings. Here precisely, where ἐν λιμῷ κ. δίψει, and so involuntary fasting, precedes, the reference of νηστ. to voluntary fasting is perfectly clear (in opposition to Rückert, de Wette, Ewald). Comp. on 2Co_6:5. Estius aptly observes: jejunia ad purificandam mentem et edomandam carnem sponte assumta. Comp. Theodoret and Pelagius.

[338] So that πολλάκ. ἐν λιμῷ κ. δίψει would belong to ἀγρυπνίαις, and πολλάκ. ἐν ψύχει κ. γυμνότητι, to νηστείαις, each as a circumstance of aggravation; while both ἐν ἀγρυπνίαις and ἐν νηστείαις belong to κόπῳ κ. μόχθῳ.

[339] From these passages, combined with Act_20:31, we may at the same time explain the ἀγρυπνίαι, which Hofm. interprets of night-watchings in anxiety about the pseudo-Christians. This results from his error in thinking that all the points in ver. 27 are to be referred to ἐν ψευδαδέλφ.

Meyer — Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament — English translation by Peter Christie, edited by Frederick Crombie (T&T Clark, 1880) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

2Co 11:26 . ὁδοιπορίαις πολλ . κ . τ . λ .: in journeyings often (of the extent of which the Acts gives us some idea; their dangers are now enumerated), in perils of rivers, sc. , from swollen torrents dangerous to ford (Stanley notes that Frederick Barbarossa was drowned in the Calycadnus, not far from Tarsus; see Ramsay, The Church in the Roman Empire , p. 23, for several illustrations of the dangers of the Pisidian highlands), in perils of robbers , on account of whom travelling in Asia Minor was, and still is, dangerous (the district of Perga and Pamphylia which St. Paul traversed on his first missionary journey was notorious for brigands; see Strabo, xii., 6, 7), in perils from my kindred, i.e. , persecutions at the hands of the Jews which he had suffered (see Act 9:23 ; Act 9:29 ; Act 13:50 ; Act 14:5 ; Act 14:19 ; Act 17:5 ; Act 17:13 ; Act 18:12 , 1Th 2:15 ), and from which he was yet to suffer more (Act 20:3 ; Act 21:31 ; Act 23:12 ; Act 25:3 ), in perils from the Gentiles as, e.g. , at Iconium (Act 14:5 ), at Philippi (Act 16:20 ) and at Ephesus (Act 19:23 ), in perils in the city (Act 21:31 and passim ), in the desert (Arabia (?), Gal 1:17 ), in the sea, i.e. , in town and country, by land and by water, in perils among false brethren, i.e. , probably the Judaisers who were his bitter opponents ( cf. 2Co 11:13 and Gal 2:4 ).

The Expositor's Greek Testament, edited by W. Robertson Nicoll (1897–1910) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

In--rather, "By": connected with Co2 11:23, but now not with "in," as there, and as in Co2 11:27, where again he passes to the idea of surrounding circumstances or environments [ALFORD, ELLICOTT and others].

waters--rather, as Greek, "rivers," namely, perils by the flooding of rivers, as on the road often traversed by Paul between Jerusalem and Antioch, crossed as it is by the torrents rushing down from Lebanon. So the traveller Sport lost his life.

robbers--perhaps in his journey from Perga to Antioch in Pisidia. Pisidia was notorious for robbers; as indeed were all the mountains that divided the high land of Asia from the sea.

the heathen--Gentiles.

in the city--Damascus, Act 9:24-25; Jerusalem, Act 9:29; Ephesus, Act 19:23.

false brethren-- (Gal 2:4).

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Verse 26. In journeyings often] He means the particular journeys which he took to different places, for the purpose of propagating the Gospel.

In perils of waters] Exposed to great dangers in crossing rivers; for of rivers the original, ποταμων, must be understood.

Of robbers] Judea itself, and perhaps every other country, was grievously infested by banditti of this kind; and no doubt the apostle in his frequent peregrinations was often attacked, but, being poor and having nothing to lose, he passed unhurt, though not without great danger.

In perils by mine own countrymen] The Jews had the most rooted antipathy to him, because they considered him an apostate from the true faith, and also the means of perverting many others. There are several instances of this in the Acts; and a remarkable conspiracy against his life is related, Ac 23:12, c.

In perils by the heathen] In the heathen provinces whither he went to preach the Gospel. Several instances of these perils occur also in the Acts.

In perils in the city] The different seditions raised against him particularly in Jerusalem, to which Ephesus and Damascus may be added.

Perils in the wilderness] Uninhabited countries through which he was obliged to pass in order to reach from city to city. In such places it is easy to imagine many dangers from banditti, wild beasts, cold, starvation, &c.

Perils in the sea] The different voyages he took in narrow seas, such as the Mediterranean, about dangerous coasts, and without compass.

False brethren] Persons who joined themselves to the Church, pretending faith in Christ, but intending to act as spies, hoping to get some matter of accusation against him. He no doubt suffered much also from apostates.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

By perils from the nation he means those that befell him from his own nation, in consequence of the hatred, that was kindled against him among all the Jews. On the other hand, he had the Gentiles as his adversaries; and in the third place snares were laid for him by false brethren. Thus it happened, that

for Christ’s name’s sake he was hated by all. (Matthew 10:22.)

John Calvin's Commentaries (1540-1563) — public domain. Text from the Calvin Translation Society English edition (1840s-50s) via the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (ccel.org). Calvin's coverage is partial (roughly two-thirds of the Bible); uncommented books and verses are honest gaps, never fabricated. The 19th-century editor's footnotes and remarks are omitted so the notes are faithfully Calvin's own voice.

(26) In journeyings often.—Again we enter on a list of activities and sufferings of which this is the only, or nearly the only, record. Some of them may be referred to journeys (as above) before his arrival at Antioch; some, probably, to that from Antioch to Ephesus through the interior of Asia Minor (Act_18:23; Act_19:1); some to excursions from Ephesus. The “perils of waters” (better, rivers) point to the swollen torrents that rush down in spring from the mountain heights of the Taurus and other ranges, and render the streams unfordable. “Robbers” infested, then as now, well-nigh every high-road in Syria and Asia Minor, as in the parable of the Good Samaritan (see Note on Luk_10:30), and the story of St. John and the young robber, as reported from Clement of Alexandria by Eusebius (Hist. iii. 23). Of the “perils from his own countrymen,” we have instances enough up to this time at Damascus (Act_9:23), at Jerusalem (Act_9:29), at Antioch in Pisidia, Iconium, and Lystra (Act_13:50; Act_14:5-19), at Thessalonica, and at Corinth (Act_17:5-13; Act_18:12). Of “perils from the heathen” we find examples at Philippi (Act_16:20) and Ephesus (Act_19:23). City and wilderness (possibly the Arabian desert of Gal_1:17; possibly the high table-lands of Armenia and Asia Minor) and sea were alike fruitful in dangers. As if with something like a climax he reserves the word “false brethren,” such as those of Gal_2:4, as the last and worst of his trials.

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

26. in perils of waters] Literally, rivers (flodis, Wiclif). Cf. 1Co_15:30. When bridges were rare, such perils were frequent. What they are, even now, in less civilized regions, the recent loss sustained by our troops in Afghanistan (in April, 1879) by a sudden spate, after several regiments had crossed the same river in perfect safety, may serve to shew us. Stanley refers also to the fate of Frederick Barbarossa at a place not far from Tarsus. See also Conybeare and Howson’s St Paul, 1. 457.

in perils of robbers] What these were in Judaea in those times we may learn from the well-known parable recorded in St Luke 10. The danger to the traveller in Palestine and the neighbourhood from bands of wandering Bedouins is still almost as great if the traveller in those parts ventures about without the protection afforded by a caravan. Mr Cyril Graham and other recent travellers have recorded their detention by the Arabs until rescued or ransomed.

in perils by my own countrymen] (of kyn. So Wiclif, literally. Cf. Act_7:19; Gal_1:14, in the Greek). These were not the least among the dangers St Paul had to encounter, as Act_9:23; Act_9:29; Act_13:50; Act_14:5; Act_14:19; Act_17:5; Act_17:13; Act_18:12 testify. And doubtless there are many such dangers which have been allowed to remain entirely unrecorded, but which may be imagined from what we read, and above all from the yet more serious dangers which befel the Apostle in consequence of his visit to Jerusalem, recorded in Acts 21, the record of which takes up the remainder of the book. Cf. 1Th_2:15-16, St Paul’s first extant Epistle, written, be it remembered, from Corinth.

by the heathen] See Act_16:19-39; Act_19:23-34.

in the city] See last note, and Act_9:23; Act_9:29, as well as 2Co_11:32 of this chapter.

in the wilderness] Translated desert in Act_8:26. Cf. St Mat_14:13; Mat_14:15. It means any place void of inhabitants. Hunger and thirst, as well as robbers, were among the perils thus to be endured. If any one should object that the Apostle thus repeats himself, it may be observed that the expressions here used are arranged in pairs, and are intended to shew that wherever he was, and whatever he did, the Apostle was in danger.

in the sea] Not a mere repetition. “There are many perils in the sea,”—pirates, for instance, especially in days long past—“short of shipwreck.” Alford.

among false brethren] Cf. Gal_2:4 and 2Co_11:13 of this chapter. It refers, no doubt, chiefly to the Judaizing teachers (see 2Co_11:22), but need not be confined to them. Any one who falsely pretends to be a disciple of Christ may be thus described. Cf. Act_20:29; 2 Peter 2 (throughout); 1Jn_2:18-19; 1Jn_2:22; 1Jn_4:3; 2Jn_1:7; 2Jn_1:9; 3Jn_1:9; Judges 4, 7-16; Rev_2:2; Rev_2:15; Rev_2:20.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

In weariness and painfulness,.... Through long journeys and frequent preaching; or "in labour and trouble"; or in troublesome labour, for all labour is not so; as hunting, hawking, &c. though laborious, yet delightful; but the labours of the apostle were painful and troublesome to the flesh, though he had much inward spiritual delight and pleasure in them:

in watchings often; being sometimes engaged at midnight, either in preaching, or praying, or staging psalms, and sometimes obliged to work early and late with his own hands to supply his necessities:

in hunger and thirst; as when at sea, or in wilderness places, or where no notice was taken of him for preaching the Gospel; he doing that freely without asking the assistance of any, which in some places would have been prejudicial to his designs, and the spread of the Gospel:

in fastings often; voluntary ones, which he engaged in, not as meritorious works, but to keep under his body, and as proper to attend the work of prayer at certain times:

in cold and nakedness; when travelling in the winter season, and but poorly clothed to keep him from the inclemencies of the weather; and having no certain dwelling place to retire unto and abide in, during any severe season there might be, and wanting the comforts of life to support him under such inconveniences.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

26 In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;

Ver. 26. By mine own countrymen] A Gentilibus meis, et a Gentibus.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

In journeyings often - Of course subject to the fatigue, toil, and danger which such a mode of life involves.

In perils of waters - In danger of losing my life at sea, or by floods, or by crossing streams.

Of robbers - Many of the countries, especially Arabia, through which he traveled, were then infested, as they are now, with robbers. It is not impossible or improbable that he was often attacked and his life endangered. It is still unsafe to travel in many of the places through which he traveled.

By mine own countrymen - The Jews. They often scourged him; laid wait for him and were ready to put him to death. They had deep enmity against him as an apostate, and he was in constant danger of being put to death by them.

By the pagan - By those who had not the true religion. Several instances of his danger from this quarter are mentioned in the Acts .

In the city - In cities, as in Derbe. Lystra, Philippi, Jerusalem, Ephesus, etc.

In the wilderness - In the desert, where he would be exposed to ambushes, or to wild beasts, or to hunger and want. Instances of this are not recorded in the Acts , but no one can doubt that they occurred, The idea here is, that he had met with constant danger wherever he was, whether in the busy haunts of people or in the solitude and loneliness of the desert.

In the sea - see 2Co 11:25.

Among false brethren - This was the crowning danger and trial to Paul, as it is to all others. A man can better bear danger by land and water, among robbers and in deserts, than he can bear to have his confidence abused, and to be subjected to the action and the arts of spies upon his conduct. Who these were he has not informed us. He mentions it as the chief trial to which he had been exposed, that he had met those who pretended to be his friends, and who yet had sought every possible opportunity to expose and destroy him. Perhaps he has here a delicate reference to the danger which he apprehended from the false brethren in the church at Corinth.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

In journeyings often; in travellings from place to place for the propagation of the gospel.

In perils of waters; in the Greek, rivers, which were many in those countries through which he travelled.

Of robbers; such as waited to rob passengers by the high-way.

By mine own countrymen, the Jews, who were mortal enemies to Paul, whom they looked upon as an apostate from their religion.

In the city; in many cities where he preached the gospel, as we find in the Acts of the Apostles.

In the wilderness; in wildernesses through which he was forced to pass.

In the sea; storms and shipwrecks.

Among false brethren; false teachers and private persons, who corrupted the Christian religion, and were as great enemies to the apostle as any he had.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

26. Perils—The spontaneous repetition of the word gives a lively variety to the style.

Waters—Rather, rivers; which had to be crossed without bridges, with liability to drowning. These Paul would plentifully find in his first missionary journey.

Countrymen… heathen—Nearly all the persecutions of his earlier ministry were from Jews; later, from Romans.

City—As at Ephesus, Corinth, and Jerusalem.

False brethren—Who capped the climax of perils. He has just mentioned perils from Jews and from Gentiles; he now mentions, as third, his perils from the Judaizers themselves, who, as followers of Christ, claimed to be brethren, but whose claim was false.

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

In journeyings often. In those days and in those countries journeys were not only perilous and fatiguing, but also accompanied with many severe hardships and discomforts. In perils of waters; rather, of rivers. In all countries which, like parts of Greece and Asia Minor, abound in unbridged mountain torrents, journeys are constantly accompanied by deaths from drowning in the sudden rush of swollen streams. In perils of robbers. Then, as now, brigandage was exceedingly common in the mountains of Greece and Asia. In perils from mine own countrymen; literally, from my race. These are abundantly recorded in the New Testament (Act_9:23, 29 13:50 14:5, 19 20:3, etc.; 1Th_2:15, 1Th_2:16; Php_3:2) From the heathen. They were generally instigated by the Jews. (Act_16:19-39, Act_17:5 Act_19:23-34, etc.) In the city. As at Damascus, Jerusalem, Philippi, Thessalonica, Beroea, Ephesus, etc. every city". (Act_20:23) In the wilderness. As, for instance, in travelling through the wild waste tracts of land between Perga and Antioch in Pisidia, or thence to Lystra and Derbe; or over the mountain chains of Taurus to the cities of Galatia. In the sea. Storms, leaks, pirates, mutinies, etc. Among false brethren. The word only occurs elsewhere in Gal_2:4.

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

in journeyings often, in perils of rivers, in perils of robbers, in perils from my countrymen, in perils from the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren [Disasters at sea remind Paul of similar trials by land, and the eightfold reiteration of "perils" emphasizes the fact that he was nowhere safe. Traveling in those days was both arduous and dangerous. The highways were infested with robbers and the streams were often without bridges, the mountain torrents were sudden and violent in their risings, and the science of navigation and the art of shipbuilding were each extremely crude. For perils from his own countrymen, see Act_13:45 ; Act_13:50 ; Act_14:2 ; Act_14:5 ; Act_17:5 ; Act_17:13 ; Act_18:15 ; Act_19:9 ; Act_21:27 . They even attempted to take his life a few weeks later as he was leaving Jerusalem (Acts 23). For perils from the Gentiles, see Act_19:30-31 . For his perils in the cities, see 2Co_11:32 and Act_9:24-25 ; Act_9:29 ; Act_13:50 ; Act_14:5 ; Act_14:19 ; Act_16:19 ; Act_17:5 ; Act_17:13 ; Act_18:12 ; Act_19:23 . Perils from false brethren were the most distressing of all, for they wounded the affections-- Phi_3:18 ; Gal_2:4 ];

J. W. McGarvey (with Philip Y. Pendleton), Commentaries on the New Testament (The Fourfold Gospel, 1914; Acts; and the epistles) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

26. In perils of waters. In crossing swollen rivers. In perils of robbers. In his travels he was often exposed to danger from this source. In perils by mine own countrymen. The Jews, who constantly persecuted him. See verse 24. By the heathen. The Gentiles. See verse 25, as an illustration. In perils in the city. Damascus, Jerusalem, Antioch in Pisidia, Lystra, Philippi, and Corinth will at once occur as instances.

B. W. Johnson's The People's New Testament with Notes (1889–1891) — public domain. Electronic text from the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (CCEL) ThML edition.

26. ὁδοιπορίαις πολλάκις. The omission of ἐν may be marked in English by a change of preposition; By journeyings often, perils of rivers, perils of robbers, perils from kindred, perils from Gentiles, perils in the city, perils in the wilderness, perils in the sea, perils among false brethren. These eight κίνδυνοι (elsewhere in the N.T. Rom 8:35 only) are an amplification of ὁδοιπορίαις πολλάκις: all these dangers beset the traveller. Rivers and robbers are still serious difficulties in the East. Bridges and ferries are rare, and sudden floods not uncommon. It was in the Calycadnus in Cilicia, not far from Tarsus, that Frederick Barbarossa was drowned in June, 1190, in the Third Crusade. Elsewhere in the N.T. λῃσταί are mentioned only in the Gospels. In going from Perga to Antioch in Pisidia (Act 13:14) S. Paul would be likely to encounter robbers. Strabo says that that part of Asia Minor swarmed with marauders. For the genitive of the source whence the peril comes comp. κίνδυνοι ᾅδου εὔροσάν με (Psalms 114[116]:3): πρὸς τ. τῆς θαλάττης κινδ. (Plat. Rep. I. 332 E, Euthyd. 279 E). For the rhythmic repetition of the same word comp. 2Co 7:2; 2Co 7:4; Php 3:2; Php 4:8: Hom. Il. x. 227–231, I. 436–439, II. 382–384.

κινδύνοις ἐκ γένους. This, when followed by κ. ἐξ ἐθνῶν, must mean those of his own race, Jews (Gal 1:14; Php 3:5). He might have said ἐκ συγγενῶν (Rom 9:3; Rom 16:7; Rom 16:21). The Jews were a constant source of danger to him, by either attacking him themselves, or stirring up the heathen to do so (Act 9:23; Act 9:29; Act 13:45; Act 13:50; Act 14:2; Act 14:5; Act 14:19; Act 17:5; Act 17:13; Act 18:6; Act 18:12; Act 19:9; Act 21:27). Tertullian (Scorp. 10) calls the synagogues fontes persecutionum: comp. 1Th 2:14. ‘Perils from Gentiles,’ except when Jews were instigators, seem to have been less frequent (Act 16:20; Act 19:23). See Harnack, Die Mission und Aubreitung des Christentums, pp. 40, 342.

ἐν πόλει. Damascus, Antioch, Iconium, Lystra, Philippi, Ephesus. The triplet, ἐν πόλει, ἐν ἐρημιᾳ, ἐν θαλάσσῃ, covers the surface of the earth; nowhere was he safe. And ἐν θαλάσσῃ is not mere repetition, although the A.V., with ‘waters’ for ‘rivers,’ makes it to be so. There are other κίνδυνοι ἐν θαλάσσῃ besides shipwreck and exposure in the sea, such as bodily injury, fire, loss of property.

ἐν ψευδαδέλφοις. This probably means chiefly the Judaizers (Gal 2:4); but all spurious Christians, such as Simon Magus, Diotrephes, and the Nicolaitans, were a source of danger. We are apt to forget how seriously the Church of the apostolic age suffered from such people. The Epistles of S. John, S. Jude, and 2 Peter are full of allusions to this evil. Note that he does not say ἐ κ ψευδαδέλφων. While Jew and heathen are external foes from whom he is sometimes free, false brethren are always around him: he must live among them, just as he must always be in either inhabited or uninhabited country, and on either land or sea.

Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges (Cambridge University Press, 1896; 21 vols, various authors incl. Carr, Maclear, Plummer, Farrar, Lumby, Moule, M. R. James, Simcox) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

26.] The construction is resumed from ver. 23, but now with the instrumental dative without the preposition.

By journeys frequently, by perils of rivers (the genitives denote the material of the perils; rivers and robbers being the things and persons actually attacking. Winer, edn. 6, § 30. 2 [α], renders it perils on rivers, justifying it by κ. ἐν πόλει: but in my view a distinction is pointed out by the variety of construction. Wetst. quotes κινδ. θαλασσῶν from Heliod. ii. 4. The ‘perils of rivers’ might arise from crossing or fording, or from floods. The crossing of the rocky and irregular torrents in Alpine districts is to this day attended with danger, which must have been much more frequent when bridges were comparatively rare. And this is the case with a road, among others, frequently traversed by Paul, that between Jerusalem and Antioch, crossed as it is by the torrents from the sides of Lebanon. Maundrell says that the traveller Spon lost his life in one of those torrents: see Conybeare and Howson, edn. 2, vol. i. p. 502, note: and Stanley in loc.), by perils of robbers (see note on Act 13:14), by perils from my kindred (the Jewish nation, ἐκ, arising from: they not being always the direct agents,—but, as in many cases in the Acts, setting on others or plotting secretly: or γένους,—and ἐθν. below,—imports generically the source, or quarter whence the danger arose), by perils from the Gentiles (not merely “from Gentiles,” as Stanley: this would be ἐξ ἐθνικῶν. The art. is omitted after the preposition, the word being thus categorized in Greek; but it must be supplied in our English idiom), by perils in the city (in Damascus, Act 9:23 f.,—Jerusalem, ib. 29,—Ephesus 19:23 ff., and many other places), by perils in the desert (the actual desert? or merely the solitude of journeys as contrasted with ‘the city?’ but any how, not ‘in solitude:’ the art. must be supplied as in ἐν πόλει), by perils in the sea (not, as De W., a repetition from ver. 25: there are many perils in the sea short of shipwrecks), by perils among false brethren (who were these? Grot., al., suppose, ‘qui Christianos se Simulabant, ut res Christianorum perdiscerent, deinde eos proderent,’—and so apparently Chrys., &c. But Paul’s use of this compound leads us rather to persons who bona fide wished to be thought ἀδελφοί, but were not, scil. in heart and conduct, and were opponents of himself personally, rather than designed traitors to the Christian cause. Cf. ψευδαπόστολοι above, ver. 13);

Henry Alford, The Greek Testament (1849–1861) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

26. ὁδοιπορίαις πολλάκις. The ἐν of v. 23 is dropped here and resumed in v. 27, and these changes, although they make little difference to the sense, might be marked in translation; ‘By journeyings often.’ Journeys of long duration were often undertaken for pleasure or profit, and lest anyone should think that this is what he means here, the Apostle proceeds to enlarge upon the dangers, of eight different kinds, which his travels involved. ‘By perils of rivers, perils of robbers; perils from my countrymen, perils from Gentiles; perils in the city, perils in the wilderness; perils in the sea, perils among false brethren.’ The first six of these κίνδυνοι are arranged in contrasted pairs; but there is not much contrast between the sea and false brethren. To find here a comparison between mare infidum (Plautus), or insidiae mari factae (Cicero), or fallacior undis (Ovid) and ‘false brethren’ is fanciful. From Acts we can illustrate some of these κίνδυνοι, and obviously several of them overlap; e.g. those ἐκγένους. Act 9:23, Act 9:29, Act 9:13:50, Act 9:14:5, Act 9:23:12, Act 9:24:27, all of which passages would also illustrate κίνδυνοι ἐν πόλει. Cf. 1Th 2:14 f., and see Harnack, Mission and Expansion, i. pp. 57, 487, ii p. 43. The changes of constr. (simple gen., ἐκ, ἐν) avoid monotony. All three are intelligible, but the simple gen. in this sense is not common; κινδ. θαλασσῶν is parallel. Rivers are often flooded, sometimes suddenly, and bridges and ferries were rare. Frederick Barbarossa was drowned in the Calycadnus in Cilicia in the third Crusade, June 1190. Brigands and pirates often made travel both by land and sea dangerous. Perils from Gentiles were found at Philippi, Act 16:20, and at Ephesus, Act 19:23 f. ‘False brethren’ may be a glance at the false teachers in Corinth and in Galatia. We know least about κίνδυνοι ἐν ἐρημίᾳ, but they would overlap with rivers and robbers. Ramsay’s very full article on “Roads and Travel (in N.T.),” in Hastings, DB. v. pp. 375 ff., does not say much about the dangers of travelling in the first century. The evidence is somewhat meagre. See Deissmann, St Paul, pp. 36, 37.

Excepting in the Apocrypha, κίνδυνος is surprisingly rare both in LXX (Psa 114:3 [116] only) and in N.T. (here and Rom 8:35 only). The rhythmic repetition of the same word is found often in literature, esp. in rhetorical passages. Cf. 7:2, 4; 1Co 13:4-9; Php 2:2, Php 2:4:8; 1Jn 2:12-14. With the absence of the art. in ἐν πόλει and ἐν ἐρημία comp. ἐν οἲκῳ and ἐν ἀγρῷ. Perhaps ἐν πόλει, ἐν ἐρημίᾳ and ἐν θαλάσσῃ are meant to form a triplet covering the whole surface of the earth,* and then ἐν ψευδαδέλφοις is left as a climax at the end. On the omission of the art. see Blass, § 46. 5.

ἐν Ψευδαδέλφοις. This was the most insidious peril of all. The other dangers threatened life and limb and property, but this one imperilled, and sometimes ruined, his work. The others often caused delay, but this one generally caused disaster. In writing to Corinthians, as to Galatians, he would mean by these ‘false brethren’ the Jewish Christians who wished to impose on all Christians the yoke of the Law. But they were not the only persons who could be thus described. The Epistles of St Jude and St John, the Didache and 2 Peter, together with portions of the Apocalypse, show us how seriously the Apostolic Church suffered from an evil of which Simon Magus, the Nicolaitans, the ‘Jezebel’ prophetess, and the libertines who preached licentiousness as the logical fruit of Christian freedom, are illustrations. That St Paul means spies, who pretended to be Christians, in order to learn all about the brethren, and then betray them, is not probable. The change from ἐκ γένους and ἐξ ἐθνῶν to ἐν ψευδαδέλφοις may be accidental, owing to the intervening ἐν .. ἐν .. ἐν. But it may be deliberate, in order to mark a difference between external foes, who were not always with him, and those of his own household, among whom he was compelled to live and work.

International Critical Commentary — older volumes (1896–1929), various authors — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Perils of rivers. From the sudden swelling of mountain streams or flooding of dry water - courses. "The rivers of Asia Minor, like all the rivers in the Levant, are liable to violent and sudden changes, and no district in Asia Minor is more singularly characterized by its water - floods than the mountainous tract of Pisidia, where rivers burst out at the bases of huge cliffs, or dash down wildly through narrow ravines" (Conybeare and Howson, 1, ch. 6.).

Robbers. The tribes inhabiting the mountains between the table - land of Asia Minor and the coast were notorious for robbery. Paul may have encountered such on his journey to the Pisidian Antioch, Act 13:14. Mine own countrymen. Conspiracies of the Jews at Damascus, Lystra, Thessalonica, Beroea, etc.

The Gentiles. As at Philippi and Ephesus.

False brethren. Judaizing Christians, as Gal 2:4.

Marvin R. Vincent, Word Studies in the New Testament (1887–1900) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.