2 Corinthians 11:22

Ἑβραῖοί εἰσι; κἀγώ : are they Hebrews? so am I. At a later period the term Ἑβραῖος was not confined to Palestinian Jews (Eus., H.E., ii., 4, 2, iii. 4, 2), but expressed mere nationality. However in the N.T. it is used in contrast with Ἑλληνιστής (Acts 6:1; cf. Philippians 3:5), and denotes a Jew who retained his national language and customs. Jerome states (de Vir. ill.) that St. Paul was born in Gischala of Galilee, but this cannot be true in the face of his own statement that he was born in Tarsus (Acts 22:3). Ἰσραηλεῖταί εἰσιν; κἀγώ : are they Israelites? so am I. The term Israelite expresses the sacred character of the nation, like the term Quirites for Romans, and is always used in the N.T. as a term of praise (John 1:48, etc.). σπέρμα Ἀβρ. κ. τ. λ.: are they the seed of Abraham? so am I. This is the highest dignity of all, to be an inheritor of the Messianic promises given to Abraham (cf. for the phrase Isaiah 41:8; John 8:33; Romans 9:7; Galatians 3:29). In the two parallel passages, Romans 11:1; Philippians 3:5, he adds that he is of the tribe of Benjamin a fact which probably accounts for his name “Saul” (1 Samuel 9:1). It shows how strong the Judaising party were at Corinth that he thinks it important to put this proud statement of his descent in the forefront of his apology.