but mighty through God' to the casting down of strong 5 holds ;) casting down reasonings, and every high thing which exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of 6 Christ; and being ready to avenge all disobedience, when your obedience is complete. 7 Do ye look on things according to the outward appearance? If any man trust in himself that he is Christ's, let him of himself think this also, that, as he is Christ's, so are 8 we likewise. For though I should glory in a somewhat extraordinary manner of our authority, which the Lord hath given us for your edification, and not for your destruc9 tion, I should not be ashamed: but 1 forbear, that I may 10 not seem as if I would terrify you by my epistles. For his epistles, it is said, are weighty and powerful; but his bo11 dily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible. Let such an one think this, that as we are in word by epistles when absent, such we will be in deed also, when present. 12 For we dare not place ourselves in the same rank, or compare ourselves, with some who commend themselves: but they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing 13. themselves with themselves, [are not wise.] But we will not glory of things beyond our measure; but concerning the measure of the line which God hath allotted to us, 14 that we should reach even to you. For we stretch not ourselves too far, as though we reached not to you: for we came even as far as to you in preaching the gospel of Christ; 15 not glorying of things beyond our measure, that is, in the labours of other men; but having hope, when your faith is increased, that we shall be enlarged among you, as con16 cerning our line, abundantly; so as to preach the gospel in the parts beyond you, and not to glory in another man's line 5 1 Or, very mighty to, N. m. 2 So we likewise [are Christ's.] R. T. and N. 3 Or, utterance, N. m. 4 Or, they measure themselves by themselves, and compare, &c. See Newcome's note. 5 Gr. the measure of the line of that measure which, &c. 2 F 17 of things made ready for us. But he that glorieth, let him 18 glory in the Lord. For not he who commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth. 7 men. CH. XI. I wish that ye would bear with me a little in mine in2 consideration: and indeed bear with me. For I am jealous of you with a godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to 3 Christ. But I fear lest, as the serpent deceived Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the 4 simplicity which is in Christ. For if he that cometh among you preach another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit which ye have not received, or another gospel which ye have not accepted, nevertheless ye 5 might well bear with me. For I suppose that I am in 6 nothing inferior to the chiefest apostles. But though I be rude in speech, yet I am not in knowledge; but in every thing we have been made manifest toward you among all Have I committed an offence in humbling myself, that ye might be exalted; inasmuch as I have preached to 8 you the gospel of God without cost? I spoiled other churches, and took wages from them, that I might minister to you: 9 and when I was present with you, and wanted, I was chargeable to no man: for that which was wanted by me, the brethren who came from Macedonia supplied: and in every thing I have kept myself from being burthensome to you, 10 and will keep myself. As the truth of Christ is in me, this glorying of mine cannot be stopped in the regions of Achaia, 11 Why? because I love you not? God knoweth otherwise. 12 But what I do, that I will also do; so as to cut off occasion from those who desire occasion; that, wherein they glory, 13 they may be found even as we. For such are false apostles, deceitful workmen, transforming themselves into apostles 14 of Christ. And no wonder: for Satan * also transformeth 'Or, with great jealousy, N. m. 2 Or, untaught in utterance. * "The connexion shows that by Satan here is to be understood the chief opponent of Paul, whom he compares in the third verse to the serpent who de 15 himself into an angel of light. It is therefore no great thing, if his ministers also transform themselves as ministers of righteousness: whose end will be according to their works. 16 I say again: Let no man think me inconsiderate: but if otherwise, yet receive me as one inconsiderate, that I also 17 may glory a little. That which I shall speak, I speak it not according to the Lord, but as through inconsideration, in this confidence of glorying. 18 Since many glory according to the flesh, I also will glory. 19 For ye gladly bear with the inconsiderate, since ye your20 selves are wise. For ye bear with it, if a man bring you into slavery, if a man devour you, if a man take of you, if a 21 man exalt himself, if a man smite you on the face. As concerning dishonour, I say that we have been weak. Yet whereinsoever any is bold, (I speak inconsiderately,) I 22 also am bold. Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they Abraham's offspring? so am I. 23 Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as one out of his mind',) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes far exceeding, in prisons more frequent, in deaths often. 24 Five times I received from the Jews forty stripes except 25 one. Thrice I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day 1 floated in 26 the deep. I have been in journeys often, in dangers from floods, in dangers from robbers, in dangers from my own countrymen, in dangers from the gentiles, in dangers in the city, in dangers in the desert, in dangers on the sea, in dan27 gers among false brethren; in labour and toil, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and na 'Or, as one void of reason. Or, as beside myself, N. m. 2 rivers, N. ceived Eve, and describes by the phrase he that cometh to preach another Jesus' in the fourth verse. This Satan, or leading adversary, transforms himself into an angel of light, or assumes the character of a messenger of Jehovah. The argument is this: Since their chief arrogates the character of a messenger of God, it is no wonder that bis ministers pretend to be apostles of the Messiah." Simpson's Ess. on Script. p. 162. 28 kedness. Besides the things which are without, the troubles 29 which assail me daily, in the care of all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak? who falleth away, and I burn not? 30 IfI must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern 31 my weakness. The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is blessed for ever, knoweth that I speak not falsely. 32 In Damascus, the governor under king Aretas guarded 33 the city of the Damascenes, desiring to apprehend me: and I was let down by the wall through a window in a basket; and escaped his hands. CH. XII. Doubtless it is not expedient for me to glory'. Yet 2 I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord. I know concerning a disciple of Christ, (whether in the body, I know not; or whether out of the body, I know not; God knoweth ;) that such an one fourteen years ago was caught 3 up to the third heaven. And I know concerning such an one, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I know not, 4 God knoweth,) that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words which it is not possible for man 5 to utter. Of such an one I will glory: but of myself I will 6 not glory, except in my weaknesses. For if I were willing to glory, I should not be inconsiderate; for I should speak the truth: but I forbear, lest any one should think concerning me above what he seeth me to be, or what he hear7 eth from me. And lest I should be too much exalted by the exceeding greatness of God's revelations, there hath been given to me a thorn in the flesh, an angel-adversary * Is it necessary to glory? It is not expedient for me. Mss. * Gr. a man is * In the original, an angel-satan. "The best commentators," says Mr. Farmer, "suppose that the bodily affliction, or thorn in the flesh, here refer red to was some paralytic symptom. See Gal. iv. 13. This disorder seems to have been occasioned by the splendour of his visions affecting his nervous system, and was purposely designed by God, not merely to prevent a too great elation in the apostle, but, by taking off from the gracefulness and energy of his delivery, to render the divine power more conspicuous in the success of his ministry. It is impossible that St. Paul should refer this disorder to the devil; to buffet me, [lest, I say, I should be too much exalted *.] 8 Concerning this I besought the Lord thrice +, that it might 9 depart from me. And he said unto me, "My favour1 is sufficient for thee: for my power is made perfect in weakness." Most gladly therefore I will rather glory in my 10 weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. I take pleasure therefore in weaknesses, in shameful treatment, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for the 11 sake of Christ: for when I am weak, then I am strong. I am become inconsiderate: ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been recommended by you: for I am in nothing inferior to the chiefest apostles, though I am nothing. 12 The signs indeed of an apostle have been wrought among you in all patience, in signs and wonders and mighty works. 13 For what is it wherein ye have been inferior to other 'Or, my gracious assistance. ⚫ inconsiderate in boasting, R. T. he speaks of it as proceeding from God, or, which is the same, his angel acting the part of an adversary to the apostle; to whom this dispensation of divine providence was exceedingly humiliating and painful, however wisely designed by God." Farmer on Demoniacs, p. 18, note. Abp. Newcome adopts the punctuation of Bengelius, and translates the passage, "there hath been given to me a thorn in the flesh, that a messenger of Satan might buffet me;" that is, as he explains it, that the false apostles who were Satan's instruments, might despise and vilify him. See Mr. Lindsey's Sequel to his Apology, p. 317. "There are good authorities for omitting these words. But repetitions are not uncommon in St. Paul's writings. See on 1 Cor. xv. 13, 14." Newcome. "I earnestly prayed to God to be delivered from it." Hammond in loc. This interpretation is adopted by Mr. Lindsey, who observes, “that the apo stles were not so exact in the use of the words, ' Lord,' 'Saviour,' and the like, which they indifferently gave both to God and Christ, never supposing that any would mistake their Lord and Master, so lately born and living amongst men, to be the Supreme God, and object of worship." Lindsey's Apology, p. 147. Abp. Newcome says, "St. Paul repeatedly besought the Lord Jesus when he appeared to him in a vision, and in a vision he received the answer recorded, ver. 9." Dr. Priestley, in his Notes on the Scriptures, gives the same interpretation, and observes, that "this is far from authorising us to pray to Christ when we do not see him, and cannot know that he is present to hear us, or authorised to do any thing for us if he did. It is God only,-that Great Being, who is styled the God and Father of Jesus Christ, and to whom he always prayed, that is the proper object of our prayers." This observation of Dr. Priestley would hold good, even if it should be allowed that the apostle addressed his supplication to Christ, not as seen in vision, but as personally and sensibly present. It seems, indeed, not improbable, that the apostle had oc、 casionally a real and personal intercourse with Christ. See Gal. i. 12. |