Clarke's Bible Commentary - 2 Corinthians 11:9
Verse 9. And when I was present with you] The particle kai which we translate and, should be rendered for in this place: For when I was with you, and was in want, I was chargeable to no man. I preferred to be, for a time, even without the necessaries of life, rather than be a burden to you. To whom was this a reproach, to me or to you? The brethren which came from Macedonia] He probably refers to the supplies which he received from the Church at Philippi, which was in Macedonia; of which he says, that in the beginning of the Gospel no Church communicated with me, as concerning giving and receiving, but you only; for even at Thessalonica ye sent once and again to my necessity, Phil. iv. 15, 16. See the Introduction, sec. vi.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 9. And when I was present with you, and wanted , etc..] Whilst he was among them, preaching the Gospel to them, he wanted the common necessaries of life: and yet, says he, I was chargeable to no man , or benumbed no man; a metaphor, as some think, taken from the torpedo, or cramp fish; which is of such a cold and benumbing nature, as that, when even at the hook, it will strike the fisherman with its cold, and so benumb him as to take away his feeling, and the use of his limbs: now the apostle's meaning is, that he did not chill and benumb any man's charity, by asking relief from him, for he importuned no man on this account; nor was he benumbed himself, to the detriment of any man; for though he was reduced to great straits, he was not slothful and sluggish in preaching the Gospel, but pursued it with as much diligence and industry as if he had been supported by it in the most handsome manner; nor did he act the part of an idle drone, sit still and starve, but laboured with his own hands, to the relief of himself and others; and whereas it could not be thought he should be able to provide this way thoroughly, both for himself and these that were with him, it was made up by other hands: for that which was lacking to me ; which he could not make up by his own hand labour and industry: the brethren which came from Macedonia supplied ; meaning either Silas and Timotheus, who came to him from Macedonia, whilst he was at Corinth, working at his trade with Aquila and Priscilla, ( Acts 18:5) who might bring him a supply out of these parts; or else some that belonged to the churches of Macedonia, particularly the Philippians, who frequently communicated to him, and sent him presents by some or other of the brethren, as by Epaphroditus, ( Philippians 4:15,16,18). And in all things , adds he, I have kept myself from being burdensome unto you ; he worked hard, lived sparingly, and received from others; that as in respect to his maintenance, so in everything else he might live without being a dead weight upon them, or any ways troublesome to them: not that a minister's maintenance is, or ought to be reckoned a burden upon a people; it is but a due debt, and what is their just right; but because it is accounted so by carnal men, and such as are disaffected to the Gospel, and the ministry of it, therefore the apostle uses such language: and so will I keep myself ; time is, for the future; he having taken up a resolution in himself not to be chargeable and troublesome to them, but to provide for himself some other way. This he adds, lest they should think that he had said what lie did to stir them up to a discharge of their duty, in contributing towards his support for time to come.
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
και 2532 CONJ παρων 3918 5752 V-PXP-NSM προς 4314 PREP υμας 5209 P-2AP και 2532 CONJ υστερηθεις 5302 5685 V-APP-NSM ου 3756 PRT-N κατεναρκησα 2655 5656 V-AAI-1S ουδενος 3762 A-GSM το 3588 T-ASN γαρ 1063 CONJ υστερημα 5303 N-ASN μου 3450 P-1GS προσανεπληρωσαν 4322 5656 V-AAI-3P οι 3588 T-NPM αδελφοι 80 N-NPM ελθοντες 2064 5631 V-2AAP-NPM απο 575 PREP μακεδονιας 3109 N-GSF και 2532 CONJ εν 1722 PREP παντι 3956 A-DSN αβαρη 4 A-ASM υμιν 5213 P-2DP εμαυτον 1683 F-1ASM ετηρησα 5083 5656 V-AAI-1S και 2532 CONJ τηρησω 5083 5692 V-FAI-1S
Vincent's NT Word Studies
9. I was chargeable (katenarkhsa). Only in this epistle. From narkh numbnees, deadness; also a torpedo or gymnotus, which benumbs whatever touches it. Compare Homer: "His hand grew stiff at the wrist" ("Iliad," viii., 328). Meno says to Socrates: "You seem to me both in your appearance and in your power over others, to be very like the flat torpedo-fish (narkh), who torpifies (narkan poiei) those who come near him with the touch, as you have now torpified (narkan) me, I think" (Plato, "Meno," 80). The compound verb used here occurs in Hippocrates in the sense of growing quite stiff. The simple verb occurs in the Sept., Gen. xxxii. 25, 32, of Jacob's thigh, which was put out of joint and shrank. Compare Job xxxiii. 19. According to the etymology of the word, Paul would say that he did not benumb the Corinthians by his demand for pecuniary aid. Rev., rather mildly, I was not a burden.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
11:9 {I was not a burden to any man} (ou katenarkesa ouqenos). First aorist active indicative of katanarkaw. Jerome calls this word one of Paul's _cilicisms_ which he brought from Cilicia. But the word occurs in Hippocrates for growing quite stiff and may be a medical term in popular use. narkaw means to become numb, torpid, and so a burden. It is only here and #12:13f. Paul "did not benumb the Corinthians by his demand for pecuniary aid" (Vincent). {From being burdensome} (abare). Old adjective, free from weight or light (a privative and baros, weight) . See on 1Th 2:9 for same idea. Paul kept himself independent.
