Julian Period 4771.

Vulgar Era,

58.

he who preaches to the Glory of God, and is commended Philippi. of God, shewn by the Gifts of the Spirit, is approved.

12 For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.

13 But we will not boast of things without our measure, but according to the measure of the rule which God hath distributed to us, a measure to reach even unto you.

14 For we stretch not ourselves beyond our measure, as though we reached not unto you: for we are come as far as to you also in preaching the gospel of Christ:

15 Not boasting of things without our measure, that is, of other men's labours; but having hope, when your faith is increased, that we shall be enlarged by you according to our rule abundantly,

16 To preach the gospel in the regions beyond you,
and not to boast in another man's line of things made
ready to our hand.

17 But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
18 For not he that commendeth himself is approved,
but whom the Lord commendeth.

§ 27. 2 COR. xi. 1-6.

St. Paul having been accused of commending himself, he
intreats the Corinthians on the present Occasion to bear
with it, as he fears that those whom he had converted to
Christ, whom he was anxious at the Judgment to present
as a chaste Virgin to their espoused Husband, were be-
guiled from him by the false Teacher-He urges, that if
their pretended Apostle preached to them any other
Saviour or Gospel, or conferred on them any other Spirit,
they might bear with his Pretensions-He affirms, that
he is equal to the chief of Christ's Apostles; and though
rude in Speech, it was made manifest to them he was not
deficient in the Knowledge necessary for a Minister of the
Gospel.

1 Would to God you could bear with me a little in my
folly and indeed bear with me.

2 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve, through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

4 For if he that cometh preacheth 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, ye might well bear with him.

Julian Pe- 5 For I suppose I was not a whit behind the very Philippi. riod, 4771. chiefest apostles.

Vulgar Æra, 58.

6 But though I be rude in speech, yet not in knowledge; but we have been throughly made manifest among you in all things.

§ 28. 2 COR. xi. 7-15.

St. Paul explains his reason for not receiving any Main-.
tenance from the Corinthians-He declares it did not
proceed from Unkindness, as his Enemies would suggest,
but from his Love for them, and that he might prevent
the false Teacher imputing his Exertions to temporal
Profit- Also, that the false Teacher who received Gifts
in private, should be compelled to lay aside this Practice,
and to follow the Apostle's Example-Satan himself as-
suming the Appearance of an Angel of Light, it ought
not to excite surprise, that the Ministers of Satan should
take upon themselves the Office of the Ministers or Apos-
tles of Christ.

7 Have I committed an offence in abasing myself that
ye might be exalted, because I have preached to you the
gospel of God freely?

8 I robbed other churches, taking wages of them, to do you service.

9 And when I was present with you, and wanted, I was chargeable to no man: for that which was lacking to me, the brethren which came from Macedonia supplied: and in all things I have kept myself from being burdensome unto you, and so will I keep myself.

10 As the truth of Christ is in me, no man shall stop me of this boasting in the regions of Achaia.

11 Wherefore? because I love you not? God knoweth. 12 But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we.

13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.

14 And no marvel: for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

§ 29. 2 COR. xi. 16. to the end.

St. Paul again intreats the Corinthians to bear with his
boasting-As those who are no Apostles glory after the
Flesh, it is necessary for the Vindication of his Apostolic
Character, that he also should glory in his Circumcision
and Jewish extraction-St. Paul shews that the Corin-

Julian Period, 4771.

58.

thians had submitted too patiently to the overbearing Dis- Philippi. Valgar Era, position of others-He describes the Conduct of the false Teacher towards them-He affirms, in opposition to the Reproach brought against him, of being low Born, Weak, and ill qualified to be an Apostle, that if any had cause of boasting, he had also-He compares himself in these respects with the false Teacher, and shews his own Superiority by an Appeal to his Labours and Sufferings-his great Anxiety for the Churches and Individuals, in sympathizing with the Weak, and being zealously active in reclaiming the Misled-He glories in his Weakness, particularly in his Deliverance from Damascus, that the Power of God might be displayed.

16 I say again, Let no man think me a fool; if other-
wise, yet as a fool receive me, that I may boast myself a
little.

17 That which I speak, I speak it not after the Lord,
but as it were foolishly, in this confidence of boasting.
18 Seeing that many glory after the flesh, I will glory

also.

19 For ye suffer fools gladly, seeing ye yourselves are wise.

20 For ye suffer, if a man bring you into bondage, if a man devour you, if a man take of you, if a man exalt himself, if a man smite you on the face.

21 I speak as concerning reproach, as though we had been weak. Howbeit whereinsoever any is bold, (I speak foolishly,) I am bold also.

22 Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I.

23 Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool,) I am more in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.

24 Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save

one.

25 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;

26 In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren :

27 In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and naked

ness.

28 Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.

29 Who is weak, and I am not weak; who is offended, and I burn not?

Julian Pe

30 If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things Philippi. riod, 4771. which concern mine infirmities. Vulgar Æra,

58.

31 The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not.

32 In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king kept the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desirous to apprehend me :

33 And through a window in a basket was I let down by the wall, and escaped his hands.

§ 30. 2 Cor. xii. 1—6.

St. Paul declares, that if compelled for their sakes to glory,
he will do so, in the Revelations and Visions he had re-
ceived; but personally he is determined only to glory in
his Weakness and Suffering; for though he might do so
in great Truth, he forbears, lest any should form too high
an Opinion of him.

1 It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will
come to visions and revelations of the Lord.

2 I knew a man in Christ about fourteen years ago,
(whether in the body I cannot tell; or whether out of
the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth ;) such an one
caught up to the third heaven.
3 And I knew such a man,

(whether in the body, or

out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth ;)

4 How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to

utter.

5 of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities.

6 For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth; but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me.

31. 2 COR. xii. 7—11.

St. Paul asserts, that his bodily Infirmity, for which he had
been reproached by the Faction, was sent to him by God,
that he might not be too much exalted by the glorious
Revelations vouchsafed to him—It is not to be removed,
because by his Weakness the Power of God is made Per-
fect-On this account he rejoices in Persecution, Infirmi-
ties, &c. for in proportion to his Weakness the Grace of
God dwelling in him, gives him Strength-The Conduct
of the Corinthians has reluctantly compelled him thus to
glory-They ought to have vindicated his Apostleship,
knowing he was in no respect inferior to the chiefest of
the Apostles.

7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through
the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a

Julian Pe riod, 4771. Valgar Æra, 78.

thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan, to buffet me, Philippi. lest I should be exalted above measure,

8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.

9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

11 I am become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be nothing.

§32. 2 COR. xii. 12. to the end.

St. Paul continues to justify his Apostleship by his Mira-
cles, and the spiritual Gifts he imparted-He inquires of
them in what respect he had made them inferior to other
Churches, except that he himself was not burdensome to
them-He declares his intention of visiting them, and of
still not being burdensome; for as their spiritual Father
he seeks not the Goods of his spiritual Children, but their
Salvation-He confutes the Insinuations of his Adver-
saries, charging him with craftily refusing to take Money
from them (that he might more effectually do so by those
whom he afterwards sent) by appealing to the disinte-
rested Conduct of Titus and his Assistant-He affirms,
thas his Design in sending Titus to them was not as an
Apology for his not coming himself, (2 Cor. i. 23.) but
to give the Disobedient time to amend their Lives-He
expresses his Fear, that when he does visit them, he will
be called upon to lament over and punish those who
have not repented of the Sins and Impurities of which
they had been guilty.

12 Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among
you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty
deeds.

13 For what is it wherein you were inferior to other churches, except it be that I myself was not burdensome to you? forgive me this wrong.

14 Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burdensome to you: for I seek not yours, but you for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.

15 And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.