SEV Biblia, Chapter 11:6
Porque aunque soy basto en la palabra, empero no en la ciencia; mas en todo somos ya del todo manifiestos a vosotros.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - 2 Corinthians 11:6
Verse 6. But though I be rude in speech] idiwthv tw logw Though I speak like a common unlettered man, in plain unadorned phrase, studying none of the graces of eloquence; yet I am not unskilled in the most profound knowledge of God, of spiritual and eternal things, of the nature of the human soul, and the sound truths of the Gospel system: ye yourselves are witnesses of this, as in all these things I have been thoroughly manifested among you. Inspired men received all their doctrines immediately from God, and often the very words in which those doctrines should be delivered to the world; but in general the Holy Spirit appears to have left them to their own language, preventing them from using any expression that might be equivocal, or convey a contrary sense to that which God intended.
That St. Paul wrote a strong, nervous, and sufficiently pure language, his own writings sufficiently testify; but the graces of the Greek tongue he appears not to have studied, or at least he did not think it proper to use them; for perhaps there is no tongue in the world that is so apt to seduce the understanding by its sounds and harmony, as the Greek. It is not an unusual thing for Greek scholars to the present day to be in raptures with the harmony of a Greek verse, the sense of which is but little regarded, and perhaps is little worth! I should suppose that God would prevent the inspired writers from either speaking or writing thus, that sound might not carry the hearer away from sense; and that the persuasive force of truth might alone prevail, and the excellence of the power appear to be of God and not of man. Taking up the subject in this point of view, I see no reason to have recourse to the supposition, or fable rather, that the apostle had an impediment in his speech, and that he alludes to this infirmity in the above passage.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 6. But though I be rude in speech , etc..] Which might be objected to him, setting himself upon a level with men so famous for their diction, and elegance of style; and to this he answers, not by owning he was so, but granting it to be so; for the Apostle Paul was not an unlearned man, an idiot in speech, unskilful in language, his writings testify the contrary; he did not indeed, in his public ministry, dress his sermons with the flowers of rhetoric, or adorn his discourses with the words of human wisdom, with bombast, and great swelling words of vanity; he chose a plainer and easier style, more accommodated to the vulgar, to the capacities of the people he was concerned with; for he had not to do with philosophers and senators, but with the common people chiefly; with persons of every sex, age, and condition of life: in this sense indeed he acted as an idiot, a plebeian, a private person; he used a popular style, or, as the Jews say of several of their Rabbins f90 , he jwydh wl rwd , preached, or explained in the common language of people; which the common people used, and not the learned, and to which reference may be had here: but though he wisely pursued this method, as being most likely to be useful, yet he was not rude in knowledge , or unskilful in the mysteries of the Gospel; he was well learned in the knowledge of Christ, and in the doctrines of grace, as all his discourses, sermons, and letters testified; and however negligent he might be thought to be of his style, and take no pains or care about the elegance of his language, but rather studied a plain and popular diction, yet he was always careful to convey profitable and useful knowledge to the souls of men; and thought his discourses might not be fraught with all the beauties of oratory, and enticing words of man's wisdom, they were full of spiritual knowledge, and showed him to have a large understanding of divine things, for the truth of which he appeals to the Corinthians: but we have been thoroughly manifest among you in all things ; his faith and doctrine, as well as manner of life, were well known unto them; he had not shunned to declare the whole counsel of God unto them: his knowledge in the mystery of Christ's person and grace, and in all the parts of the everlasting Gospel, was no secret to them; he had used no artful methods to hide himself, or conceal the truth; but by manifestation of it, had commended himself to every man's conscience in the sight of God; and by observing this, as he had witnesses now among them of the truth of it, so he strikes at the hypocrisy and deceitful methods the false teachers took to cover themselves, their practices, and principles.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 5-15 - It is far better to be plain in speech, yet walking openly an consistently with the gospel, than to be admired by thousands, and be lifted up in pride, so as to disgrace the gospel by evil tempers an unholy lives. The apostle would not give room for any to accuse him of worldly designs in preaching the gospel, that others who opposed him a Corinth, might not in this respect gain advantage against him Hypocrisy may be looked for, especially when we consider the grea power which Satan, who rules in the hearts of the children of disobedience, has upon the minds of many. And as there are temptation to evil conduct, so there is equal danger on the other side. It serve Satan's purposes as well, to set up good works against the atonement of Christ, and salvation by faith and grace. But the end will discove those who are deceitful workers; their work will end in ruin. Sata will allow his ministers to preach either the law or the gospe separately; but the law as established by faith in Christ' righteousness and atonement, and the partaking of his Spirit, is the test of every false system.
Greek Textus Receptus
ει 1487 COND δε 1161 CONJ και 2532 CONJ ιδιωτης 2399 N-NAM τω 3588 T-DSM λογω 3056 N-DSM αλλ 235 CONJ ου 3756 PRT-N τη 3588 T-DSF γνωσει 1108 N-DSF αλλ 235 CONJ εν 1722 PREP παντι 3956 A-DSN φανερωθεντες 5319 5685 V-APP-NPM εν 1722 PREP πασιν 3956 A-DPN εις 1519 PREP υμας 5209 P-2AP
Vincent's NT Word Studies
6. Rude (idiwthv). See on 1 Cor. xiv. 16.Have been made manifest (fanerwqentev). The correct reading is fanerwsantev, active voice, we have made it manifest.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
11:6 {Rude in speech} (idiwtes twi logwi). Locative case with idiwtes for which word see on Ac 4:13; 1Co 14:16,23,24. The Greeks regarded a man as idiwtes who just attended to his own affairs (ta idia) and took no part in public life. Paul admits that he is not a professional orator (cf. #10:10), but denies that he is unskilled in knowledge (all' ou tei gnwsei). {Among all men} (en pasin). He has made his mastery of the things of Christ plain among all men. He knew his subject.
