1._Would that ye did bear with me. _As he saw that the ears of the Corinthians were still in part pre-engaged, (793) he has recourse to another contrivance, for he turns to express a wish, as persons do when they do not venture openly to entreat. (794) Immediately afterwards, however, as if gatherin... [ Continue Reading ]
2._For I am jealous _Mark why it is that he acts the fool, for _jealousy _hurries a man as it were headlong. “Do not demand that I should show the equable temper (796) of a man that is at ease, and not excited by any emotion, for that vehemence of vehemence of jealousy, with which I am inflamed towa... [ Continue Reading ]
3._But I fear _He begins to explain, what is the nature of that _virginity _of which he has made mention — our cleaving to Christ alone, sincerely, with our whole heart. God, indeed, everywhere requires from us, that we be joined with him in body and in spirit, and he warns us that he is a _jealous... [ Continue Reading ]
4._For if he that cometh. _He now reproves the Corinthians for the excessive readiness, which they showed to receive the false apostles. For while they were towards Paul himself excessively morose and irritable, (808) so that on any, even the least occasion, they were offended if he gave them even t... [ Continue Reading ]
5._For I reckon that I am. _He now convicts them of ingratitude, by removing the only thing that could serve as an excuse for them, for he shows that he is on a level, even with the chief of the Apostles. The Corinthians, therefore, were ungrateful (812) in not esteeming him more highly, after havin... [ Continue Reading ]
6._But though I am rude _There was one thing (814) in which he might appear, at first view, to be inferior — that he was devoid of eloquence. This judgment, (815) therefore, he anticipates and corrects, while he _acknowledges _himself, indeed, to be _rude _and unpolished _in speech, _while at the sa... [ Continue Reading ]
7._Have I committed an offense? _His humility was cast up to him by way of reproach, while it was an excellence that was deserving of no ordinary commendation. _Humility _here means — voluntary abasement; for in conducting himself modestly, as if he had nothing in him that was particularly excellent... [ Continue Reading ]
8._I robbed other churches _He has intentionally, in my opinion, made use of an offensive term, that he might the more forcibly express the unreasonableness of the matter — in respect of his being despised by the Corinthians. “I have,” says he, “procured pay for myself from the _spoils _of others, t... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe, however, that he says that he _had been in want, _for he would never have been a burden to them, had he not been constrained by necessity. He, nevertheless, in the mean time, _labored with his hands, _as we have seen before, (1 Corinthians 4:12,) but, as the _labor of his hands _was not suf... [ Continue Reading ]
10._The truth of Christ is in me. _Lest any one should suspect, that Paul’s words were designed to induce the Corinthians to be more liberal to him in future, and endeavor to make amends for their error in the past, he affirms with an oath, that he would take nothing from them, or from others in Ach... [ Continue Reading ]
11._Is it because I love you not? _Those that we love, we treat with greater familiarity. Lest the Corinthians, therefore, should take it amiss, that he refused their liberality, while he allowed himself to be assisted by the Macedonians, and even declared with an oath that he would do so still, he... [ Continue Reading ]
12._But what I do. _He again explains the reason of his intention. (831) The false Apostles, with the view of alluring to themselves ignorant persons, took no pay. Their serving gratuitously was a show of uncommon zeal. (832) If Paul had availed himself of his right, he would have given them occasio... [ Continue Reading ]
13._For such are false Apostles _While he has already taken away from them what they chiefly desired, yet, not contented with having put himself on a level with them with respect to that in which they were desirous to excel, he leaves them nothing for which they deserve any commendation. It was appa... [ Continue Reading ]
14._And no marvel _It is an argument from the greater to the less. “If Satan, who is the basest of all beings, nay, the head and chief of all wicked persons, transforms himself, what will his ministers do?_” _We have experience of both every day, for when Satan tempts us to evil, he does not profess... [ Continue Reading ]
15._Whose end shall be. _He adds this for the consolation of the pious. For it is the statement of a courageous man, who despises the foolish judgments of men, and patiently waits for the day of the Lord. In the mean time, he shows a singular boldness of conscience, which does not dread the judgment... [ Continue Reading ]
16._I say again _The Apostle has a twofold design. He has it partly in view to expose the disgusting vanity of the false Apostles, inasmuch as they were such extravagant trumpeters of their own praises; and farther, to expostulate with the Corinthians, because they shut him up to the necessity of gl... [ Continue Reading ]
17._What I speak, I speak not after the Lord _His disposition, it is true, had an eye to God, but the outward appearance (838) might seem unsuitable to a servant of the Lord. At the same time, the things that Paul confesses respecting himself, he, on the other hand, condemns in the false Apostles. ... [ Continue Reading ]
18._Since many glory. _The meaning _is _— Should any one say to me, by way of objection, that what I do is faulty, what then as to others? Are not they my leaders? Am I alone, or am I the first, in _glorying according to the flesh? _Why should that be reckoned praiseworthy in _them, _that is imputed... [ Continue Reading ]
19._For ye bear with fools willingly. _He calls them _wise _— in my opinion, _ironically. _He was despised by them, which could not have been, had they not been puffed up with the greatest arrogance (843) He says, therefore — “Since you are so wise, act the part of wise men in bearing with me, whom... [ Continue Reading ]
20._For ye bear with it, if any one. _There are _three _ways in which this may be understood. He may be understood as reproving the Corinthians in _irony, _because they could not endure any thing, as is usually the case with effeminate persons; or he charges them with indolence, because they had giv... [ Continue Reading ]
21._Nay, in whatsoever. _Paul had asked, why the Corinthians showed more respect to others than to him, while he had not been by any means weak, that is, contemptible. He now confirms this, because, if a comparison had been entered upon, he would not have been inferior to any one in any department o... [ Continue Reading ]
22.He now, by enumerating particular instances, lets them see more distinctly, that he would not by any means be found inferior, if matters came to a contest. And in the first place, he makes mention of the glory of his _descent, _of which his rivals chiefly vaunted. “If,” says he, “they boast of il... [ Continue Reading ]
23._Are they ministers of Christ? _Now when he is treating of matters truly praiseworthy, he is no longer satisfied with being on an equality with them, but exalts himself above them. For their carnal glories he has previously been scattering like smoke by a breath of wind, (857) by placing in oppos... [ Continue Reading ]
24._From the Jews. _It is certain that the Jews had at that time been deprived of jurisdiction, but as this was a kind of moderate punishment (as they termed it) it is probable that it was allowed them. Now the law of God was to this effect, that those who did not deserve capital punishment should b... [ Continue Reading ]
25._Thrice was I beaten with rods _Hence it appears, that the Apostle suffered many things, of which no mention is made by Luke; for he makes mention of only _one _stoning, (861) one scourging, and _one _shipwreck. We have not, however, a complete narrative, nor is there mention made in it of every... [ Continue Reading ]
By _perils from the nation _he means those that befell him from his own nation, in consequence of the hatred, that was kindled against him among all the Jews. On the other hand, he had the Gentiles as his adversaries; and in the _third _place snares were laid for him _by false brethren. _Thus it hap... [ Continue Reading ]
By fastings I understand those that are voluntary, as he has spoken previously of _hunger _and _want. _Such were the tokens by which he showed himself, and on good grounds, to be an eminent servant of Christ. For how may we better distinguish Christ’s servants than by proofs so numerous, so various,... [ Continue Reading ]
28._Besides those things that are without _“_Besides those things, _” says he, “which come upon me from all sides, and are as it were extraordinary, what estimate must be formed of that ordinary burden that constantly presses upon me — the care that I have of all the Churches.” _The care of all the... [ Continue Reading ]
29._Who is weak. _How many there are that allow all offenses to pass by unheeded — who either despise the infirmities of brethren, or trample them under foot! This, however, arises from their having no concern for the Church. For concern, undoubtedly, produces συμπάθειαν (_sympathy,_) (867) which le... [ Continue Reading ]
30._If he must glory. _Here we have the conclusion, drawn from all that has gone before — that Paul is more inclined to boast of those things that are connected with his _infirmity, _that is, those things which might, in the view of the world, bring him contempt, rather than glory, as, for example,... [ Continue Reading ]
31._The God and Father _As he was about to relate a singular feat, (870) which, at the same time, was not well known, he confirms it by making use of an oath. Observe, however, what is the form of a pious oath, (871) — when, for the purpose of declaring the truth, we reverently call God as our witne... [ Continue Reading ]