2 Corinthians 11:6 - Exposition

Rude in speech; literally, a laic in discourse; see 2 Corinthians 10:10 and 1 Corinthians 2:13 ; and, for the word idiotes, a private person, and so "one who is untrained," as contrasted with a professor, see the only other places where it occurs in the New Testament ( Acts 4:13 ; 1 Corinthians 14:16 , 1 Corinthians 14:23 , 1 Corinthians 14:24 ). St. Paul did not profess to have the trained oratorical skill of Apollos. His eloquence, dependent on conviction and emotion, followed none of the rules of art. Yet not in knowledge. Spiritual knowledge was a primary requisite of an apostle, and St. Paul did claim to possess this ( Ephesians 3:3 , Ephesians 3:4 ). We have been thoroughly made manifest among you in all things. This would be an appeal to the transparent openness and sincerity of all his dealings, as in 2 Corinthians 4:1-18 :20 and 2 Corinthians 12:12 ; but the best reading seems to be the active participle, phanerosantes ( א , B, F, G), not the passive, phanerothentes . The rendering will then be, In everything making it (my knowledge) manifest among all men towards you .