_Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly._ In my boasting, which sounds like folly. It is, however, a mark of the highest wisdom on my part, for I do it out of zeal to protect the faith of the Gospel against the false apostles (Chrysostom and Anselm). S. Paul anticipates an objection... [ Continue Reading ]
CHAPTER 11 SYNOPSIS OF THE CHAPTER i. After declaring his love for the Corinthians, he proceeds (ver. 4) to defend his apostleship against the false apostles, pointing out that they had bestowed no more of the Spirit, nor given more Christian doctrine than S. Paul. II. He says, moreover (ver. 7),... [ Continue Reading ]
_For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus._ Christ is here put for Christianity and its perfection. If the false apostles should preach any other doctrine concerning Christ than that which I have preached, as though my preaching were insufficient for salvation and Christian perfection, then, &c... [ Continue Reading ]
_I was chargeable to no man._ TheGreek word for chargeable is derived from a word denoting torpor and inactivity, which are apt to be burdensome to others. The ray-fish called torpedo derived its Greek name from the same word. S. Paul says that he did not by his inactivity depend on another for supp... [ Continue Reading ]
_As the truth of Christ is in me._ I speak in the truth of Christ; I call His truth to witness; I swear to you in truth and holiness by Christ ("under the testimony of Christ," Ambrose) that I wilt take nothing from you for my support (Theophylact). _No man shall stop me of this boasting. Or, this... [ Continue Reading ]
_For Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light._ He says _of light_, because good angels, being blessed, are wont, when they show themselves to men, to appear full of light and glory. Secondly, _of light_ refers to the light of truth, righteousness, and godliness. Satan assumes these virtu... [ Continue Reading ]
_If otherwise, yet as a fool receive me_. If I can obtain from you nothing else, then receive me as a fool, only that I may have license to glory somewhat. As Cato says: "Neither praise nor blame thyself; leave this to fools, whom empty glory vexes." Notice how S. Paul hesitates, and paves the way f... [ Continue Reading ]
_For ye suffer fools gladly, seeing ye yourselves are wise._ Irony. You have foolishly suffered the boastings of these vain-glorious false apostles; I hope that you will suffer me to glory wisely and usefully among them that are wise. Theophylact, however, and Anselm think that this is said seriousl... [ Continue Reading ]
_I speak as concerning reproach._ This belongs to the preceding. The "smiting on the face" spoken of is here explained to be mental, not physical consisting in the ignominy and revilings cast, as it were, in their faces by the false apostles. This "smiting" is no less wrong than if they had been bea... [ Continue Reading ]
_I have been in the deep._ The Greek word for _the deep_ may refer to a well or a prison, as well as the sea. Hence (1.) some think, says Theophylact, that that well is meant in which Paul is said to have lain concealed after escaping from the attack made on him by the people of Lystra (Acts xiv. 18... [ Continue Reading ]
_In_ _perils by my own countrymen._ Through the plots that the Jews often entered into against him (Anselm). _In painfulness. Ærumna_ (Latin version), which, says Cicero, is laborious toil, as, _e.g_., when one that is tired out is forced, for the sake of rest, to undertake fresh toils. The things... [ Continue Reading ]
_Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily._ The weight of business that daily presses upon me. The Greek word here used denotes, says Budæus, to collect a band, to call together a meeting, as, _e.g_., when the mob assembles and makes an attack on the aristocracy and the... [ Continue Reading ]
_Of the things which concern mine infirmities_. I will glory of the afflictions, blows, persecutions, and sufferings that I have borne for Christ. Through them I seem weak, _i.e._, despicable, mean, and worthless (Chrysostom). Observe that Paul glories not in his miracles but his infirmities, becaus... [ Continue Reading ]
_The governor under Aretas the king._ This satrap of King Aretas was, says Theophylact, the father-in-law of Herod. Josephus says that Herod Antipas, who put to death John the Baptist, married the daughter of Aretas.... [ Continue Reading ]
_And through a window in a basket was I let down._ This escape of S. Paul from Damascus happened in the year 39 (Act 9:25), when, as Josephus says, Aretas, King of Arabia and of the country near Damascus, waged war against Herod, because Herod had repudiated his wife, the daughter of Aretas, for the... [ Continue Reading ]