_If I must glory. St. Paul in the whole of this discourse shews the repugnance he had of speaking in his own praise, and that if he did it, it was only through constraint, and for the advantage of the Corinthians; as also to defend himself from calumniators. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_I know a man, &c. He speaks of himself, as it were of a third person. --- Whether in the body, I know not. If St. Paul himself knew not, how can we pretend to decide, whether his soul was for some moments separated from his body, or in what manner he saw God. (Witham) --- It appears that this took... [ Continue Reading ]
_Caught up into paradise. St. Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas are of opinion that this third heaven and paradise are the same place, and designate the abode of the blessed. In order to understand the language of the apostle, we must observe that the Hebrews distinguished three different heavens. Th... [ Continue Reading ]
[BIBLIOGRAPHY] Stimulus carnis meæ, angelus Satanæ, qui me colaphizet, _Greek: skolops te sarki (in carne mea) aggelos Satan, ina me kolaphize. See St. John Chrysostom, Greek: om. ks. where he says, Greek: me genoito. See Tillemont, chap. x. on S. Paul; a Lapide; &c._... [ Continue Reading ]
A sting of my flesh, [1] an angel, or a messenger of Satan, to buffet me. The Latin word signifies any thing that pricks or stings, the Greek word a sharp stick or pale: he speaks by a metaphor, as also when he says to buffet me; that is, by causing great trouble or pain. Some understand by it a vio... [ Continue Reading ]
_Although I am nothing. These words are a demonstration of the humility of St. Paul, when forced to speak his own praises. --- The signs and marks of my apostleship....on you, by your conversion, especially being accompanied by wonders and miracles. --- Pardon me this injury. A reproach by irony, ag... [ Continue Reading ]
Now the third time I am ready to come. So he says again in the next chapter. That is, he was once with them, he had purposed to come a second time, and now a third time. --- I seek not the things that are yours, but you. That is, says St. John Chrysostom, your souls, not your goods; your salvation,... [ Continue Reading ]
_I most gladly will spend [2] all, and even my life, for your sake, and so as to be spent, and even sacrificed, for your souls; though the more I love you, the less you or some of you love me, a kind and modest reproach. (Witham)_ [BIBLIOGRAPHY] Libentissime impendam, & superimpendar, _Greek: edis... [ Continue Reading ]
_I caught you by guile. He answers an objection or suspicion of his adversaries, as if he took no presents himself, but employed others to do it for him: he appeals to them, if Titus did not serve them in all things as he had done, in the same spirit, treading the same steps. Think you, as some pret... [ Continue Reading ]
After having answered one of their objections with regard to his disinterestedness, he thus proceeds: I perceive that of old, or for a long time, you have regarded this lengthened discourse merely as an apology to justify myself from the suspicion of avarice. But _we speak before God in Christ; or,... [ Continue Reading ]
[BIBLIOGRAPHY] Inflationes, _Greek: phusioseis, tumores; a metaphor for being puffed up with pride, vain glory, &c._... [ Continue Reading ]
He puts them in mind to be all of them reformed, to lay aside _animosities, dissensions, swellings, [3] proceeding from pride, uncleanness, fornication, &c. which indeed will be a humiliation and trouble to him, to be forced to use his power by severities; for if he find them such as he would not, t... [ Continue Reading ]