2 Corinthians 11:17

not after the Lord i.e. (1) according to the example of the Lord; see for similar forms of expression 1 Corinthians 3:3; 1Co 15:32; 2 Corinthians 1:17; 2 Corinthians 10:3 (in the Greek); or (2) not inspired by the Lord(cf. 1Co 7:12; 1 Corinthians 7:25; 1 Corinthians 7:40). "There are many things" he mentions war, self-defence, generous resentment "which are not exactly afterChrist, and yet are not contrary to the Spirit of Christ." Robertson. "By itself it is not after the Lord, but it becomes so by the intention." Chrysostom. "Like an oath, self-praise may under certain circumstances become necessary, especially for those who, like St Paul, have the public duties of a sacred ministry to discharge." Wordsworth. St Paul was resolved -by all means to save some" (1 Corinthians 9:22). If there were those at Corinth who raised objections to his ministrations, he took them on their own ground, and shewed that, low and unworthy as that ground was, even there they had no sufficient justification for their conduct. It is often necessary to adopt such a course, on the principle laid down by our Lord in Matthew 7:6. Appeals to the higher spiritual instincts of men who have never cultivated those instincts are useless. We must deal with mankind as they are, and hope thus to lead them to become what at present they are not. And if it be asked how we are to know when to walk -after the Lord," and when to condescend to the folly of mankind, the answer is, whenever we conscientiously believe it to be for their benefit.

in this confidence of boasting i.e. on which I am now about to enter. Cranmer translates in this matter of boasting(substantia, Vulgate; substaunce, Wiclif and the Rhemish). So Chrysostom. But it seems better to translate as the A. V. St Paul regards what he is about to say as an outburst of foolish self-confidence, ridiculous in itself, but rendered necessary by the thoroughly low and carnal ideas of many of his Corinthian converts. Foolish as they are, he hopes to redeem them from their folly by shewing that he possesses even the qualifications on which they set so exaggerated a value, in greater measure than those for whom they had deserted him.