MY FOLLY; in relating what he had done and suffered in the cause of Christ; which, in ordinary circumstances, might have been regarded as foolish. AND INDEED BEAR WITH ME; better, as the margin, "and indeed ye do bear with me." As much as to say, I acknowledge your indulgence heretofore, and ask fo... [ Continue Reading ]
WITH GODLY JEALOUSY; I am exceedingly anxious for your good. ESPOUSED YOU TO ONE HUSBAND; he had been the means of uniting them to Christ.... [ Continue Reading ]
HIS SUBTLETY; GENESIS 3:1-5. YOUR MINDS SHOULD BE CORRUPTED; by false teachers. FROM THE SIMPLICITY; so as to depart from the simplicity. The simplicity that is in Christ is their simple-hearted devotion to his gospel in its purity.... [ Continue Reading ]
YE MIGHT WELL BEAR WITH HIM; in his vain-glorious assumption of superiority over me and of dominion over your faith. But this is not the case. These boastful teachers have nothing new to offer.... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT THOUGH I BE RUDE IN SPEECH; as my enemies object to me, chap 2 Corinthians 10:10. THOROUGHLY MADE MANIFEST; he had given them abundant evidence of his character as an apostle.... [ Continue Reading ]
ABASING MYSELF; in laboring for his support, not receiving it from them. Acts 18:3.... [ Continue Reading ]
TAKING WAGES OF THEM; receiving supplies from others, while laboring for you.... [ Continue Reading ]
FROM BEING BURDENSOME; by receiving support from you. Although it is the duty of a people to support their minister, and he is as justly entitled to his living as any workman is to his wages, yet there are cases where a wise and good minister will preach without compensation, and live, if need be, b... [ Continue Reading ]
OF THIS BOASTING; that I preach without receiving support from those to whom I preach.... [ Continue Reading ]
BECAUSE I LOVE YOU NOT? and therefore am unwilling to seem to be under obligation to you?... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT I MAY CUT OFF OCCASION FROM THEM WHICH DESIRE OCCASION; that his enemies should not be able to say that he was selfish, and preached for hire. WHEREIN THEY GLORY; namely, that they preach the gospel free of charges. THEY MAY BE FOUND EVEN AS WE; have no ground or plausible appearance for pret... [ Continue Reading ]
TRANSFORMING THEMSELVES; attempting to appear like apostles of Christ.... [ Continue Reading ]
AN ANGEL OF LIGHT; tries to seem like one.... [ Continue Reading ]
Satan has ministers who pretend to preach Christ's gospel; they make professions of piety and benevolence, enter into other men's labors, and strive to draw away Christians from ministers who have been instrumental in their conversion, and who preach to them the truth as it is in Jesus.... [ Continue Reading ]
THINK ME A FOOL; in seeming thus to boast of what I am and what I have done; for present circumstances render this needful. IF OTHERWISE; if it does appear foolish, let him bear with me in mentioning a few things which the case seems to require.... [ Continue Reading ]
NOT AFTER THE LORD; not in accordance with his usual inspired instructions. AS IT WERE FOOLISHLY; as may appear foolish, and would be, were it not for the peculiarities which now call for it.... [ Continue Reading ]
MANY GLORY AFTER THE FLESH; in their birth, rank, and worldly distinctions.... [ Continue Reading ]
YE SUFFER FOOLS GLADLY; your persuasion of your own wisdom makes it easy for you to bear with the conduct of fools. He alludes to their false teachers, who without any good reason boasted of their preeminence.... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR YE SUFFER; that is, ye endure patiently. He now adduces the proof that they suffer fools gladly. BRING YOU INTO BONDAGE; by usurping dominion over you. DEVOUR YOU; devour your property. TAKE OF YOU; or, take you; that is, take you by fraud, circumvent you. EXALT HIMSELF; over you. SMITE YOU... [ Continue Reading ]
I SPEAK AS CONCERNING REPROACH; or, I speak by way of dishonor, as if admitting the truth of the reproaches cast upon me by my enemies. This, however, he does not admit, as he proceeds to show. ANY IS BOLD; to state things of which he may boast. I AM BOLD ALSO; for in all the grounds of preeminenc... [ Continue Reading ]
A NIGHT AND A DAY I HAVE BEEN IN THE DEEP; floating, it is supposed, on something after one of his shipwrecks.... [ Continue Reading ]
BESIDES THOSE THINGS THAT ARE WITHOUT; or, besides other things, some of which he proceeds to name.... [ Continue Reading ]
IS WEAK; needing assistance. AND I; do not sympathize with him. OFFENDED; tempted, or led into sin. I BURN NOT; with grief and indignation.... [ Continue Reading ]
MINE INFIRMITIES; my sufferings for Christ's sake, and my need of his help. The above enumeration shows that in the Acts of the Apostles we have but a brief account of Paul's labors and sufferings for Christ's sake.... [ Continue Reading ]
The labors, sacrifices, and trials of faithful ministers are all known to God; and it is a great consolation when they are able in sincerity to appeal to him for the truth of their declarations, the benevolence of their plans, and the fidelity of their efforts. Though they may here be reproached, vi... [ Continue Reading ]