92

A. D. 60.

VER. 10.

Ἔστιν ἀλήθεια Χριστοῦ ἐν ἐμοὶ, ὅτι ἡ καύχησις αὕτη οὐ σφραγήσεται εἰς ἐμὲ ἐν τοῖς κλίμασι τῆς ̓Αχαΐας.

* no

A. D. 60.

He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone, Matt. iv. 5, 6. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which

• Gr. this boasting shall not be stopped

in me.

VER. 11.

cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him, Rev. xii. 9.

VER. 15.

οἶδεν.

Wherefore? a because I love you not? God knoweth.

a See on chap. iii. ver. 2. clause 2.

VER. 12.

Ὁ δὲ ποιῶ, καὶ ποιήσω, ἵνα ἐκκόψω τὴν ἀφορμὴν τῶν θελόντων ἀφορμὴν, ἵνα ἐν ᾧ καυχῶνται, εὑρεθῶσι καθὼς καὶ ἡμεῖς·

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.

VER. 13.

Οἱ γὰρ τοιοῦτοι ψευδαπόστολοι, ἐργάται δόλιοι, μετασχηματιζόμενοι εἰς αποστόλους Χριστοῦ·

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

a See on chap. ii. ver. 17. b Beware of dogs, beware of evilworkers, beware of the concision, Phil. iii. 2. For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, spe. cially they of the circumcision: Whose mouths must be stopped; who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake, Titus i. 10, 11.

VER. 14.

Καὶ οὐ θαυμαστόν· αὐτὸς γὰρ ὁ Σατανᾶς μετασχηματίζεται εἰς ἄγγελον φωτός.

And no marvel; a For Satan him

αὐτῶν.

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

a Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves : Ye shall know them by their fruits.

Do

men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit, is hewn down, and cast into the fire, Matt. vii. 15-19. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other Gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed, Gal. i. 9. (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: Whose

end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things,) Phil. iii. 18, 19. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not, 2 Pet. ii. 3. For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old or

ly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ, Jude 4.

Ὁ λαλῶ, οὐ λαλῶ κατὰ Κύριον, ἀλλ ̓ ὡς ἐν ἀφροσύνῃ, ἐν ταύτῃ τῇ ὑποστάσει τῆς καυχήσεως.

That which I speak, a I speak it not after the Lord, but as it were foolishly, in this confidence of boasting.

a See on 1 Cor. vii. ver. 6.

VER. 18.

Ἐπεὶ πολλοὶ καυχῶνται κατὰ τὴν σάρκα, κἀγὼ καυχήσομαι.

a Seeing that many glory after the flesh, I will glory also.

a For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh: Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more, Phil. iii. S, 4.

VER. 19.

A. D. 60.

whereinsoever any is bold, (I speak foolishly,) I am bold also.

VER. 22.

̔Ἑβραῖοί εἰσι, κἀγώ· Ἰσραηλῖταί εἰσι, κἀγώ· σπέρμα ̓Αβραάμ εἰσι, κἀγώ.

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

a I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, Acts xxii. 3.

VER. 23.

Διάκονοι Χριστοῦ εἰσι, (παραφρονῶν λαλῶ) ὑπὲρ ἐγώ· ἐν κόποις περισσοτέρως, ἐν πληγαῖς ὑπερβαλλόντως, ἐν φυλακαῖς περισσοτέρως, ἐν θανάτοις πολλάκις.

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

a And his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me, 1 Cor. xv. 10.

b See on Rom. xv. ver. 19. clause 2. See on Matt. x. ver. 17. clause 3. See on 1 Cor. xv. ver. 31.

VER. 24.

Ὑπὸ Ἰουδαίων πεντάκις τεσσαράκοντα

μοι ὄντες.

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

VER. 20.

̓Ανέχεσθε γὰρ, εἴ τις ὑμᾶς καταδουλοῖ, εἴ τις κατεσθίει, εἴ τις λαμβάνει, εἴ τις ἐπαίρεται, εἴ τις ὑμᾶς εἰς πρόσωπον δέρει.

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.

VER. 21.

Κατὰ ἀτιμίαν λέγω, ὡς ὅτι ἡμεῖς ἠσθενήσαμεν. Ἐν 8 ̓ ἄν τις τολμᾷ, (ἐν ἀφροσύνη λέγω) τολμῶ κἀγώ.

I speak as concerning reproach, as though we had been weak. Howbeit

Of the Jews five times received I a forty stripes save one.

a And it shall be, if the wicked man be worthy to be beaten, that the judge shall cause him to lie down, and to be beaten before his face, according to his fault, by a certain number. Forty stripes he may give him, and not exceed: lest, if he should exceed, and beat him above these with many stripes, then thy brother should seem vile unto thee, Deut. xxv. 2, 3.

VER. 25.

Τρὶς ἐῤῥαβδίσθην, ἅπαξ ἐλιθάσθην, τρὶς ἐναυάγησα, νυχθήμερον ἐν τῷ βυθῷ πεποίηκα,

Thrice was I beaten with rods, a once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck,

A. D. 60.

A. D. 60.

See on Acts xiv. ver. 19.

VER. 26.

̔Οδοιπορίαις πολλάκις· κινδύνοις ποταμῶν, κινδύνοις ληστῶν· κινδύνοις ἐκ γένους, κινδύνοις ἐξ ἐθνῶν, κινδύνοις ἐν πόλει, κινδύ νοις ἐν ἐρημίᾳ, κινδύνοις ἐν θαλάσσῃ, κινδύνοις ἐν ψευδαδέλφοις·

• In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, bin perils by mine own countrymen, cin perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;

• See on Rom. xv. ver. 19. clause 2. b See on ver. $2.

Τίς ἀσθενεῖ, καὶ οὐκ ἀσθενῶ ; τις σκανδαλίζεται, καὶ οὐκ ἐγὼ πυροῦμαι;

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

upon me. 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, 9, 10.

VER. 31.

Ὁ Θεὸς καὶ πατὴρ τοῦ Κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ οἶδεν, ὁ ὢν εὐλογητὸς εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας, ὅτι οὐ ψεύδομαι.

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

a See on John xx. ver. 17. clause 5. b See on Matt. vii. ver. 21. clause 4. • See on Rom. i. ver. 25. clause 4. d See on Rom. i. ver. 9. clause 1.

VER. 32.

Ἐν Δαμασκῷ ὁ ἐθνάρχης ̓Αρέτα τοῦ βασιλέως ἐφρούρει τὴν Δαμασκηνῶν πόλιν, πιάσαι με θέλων·

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

a But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ. And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him. But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night, to kill him. Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall, in a basket, Acts ix.

22-25.

VER. 33.

VER. 30.

Εἰ καυχᾶσθαι δεῖ, τὰ τῆς ἀσθενείας μου καυχησόμαι.

If I must needs glory, a I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities.

a Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities, 2 Cor. xii. 5. 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,

αὐτοῦ.

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

CHAP. XII.-VER. 1. Καυχᾶσθαι δὴ οὐ συμφέρει μοι. Ἐλεύσομαι γὰς εἰς ὀπτασίας καὶ ἀποκαλύψεις Κυρίου.

It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. * I will come to visions and re

velations of the Lord.

* Gr. for I will, &c.

A. D. 60.

should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me.

VER. 7.

Καὶ τῇ ὑπερβολῇ τῶν ἀποκαλύψεων ἕνα μὴ ὑπεραίρωμαι, ἐδόθη μοι σκόλοψ τῇ σαρκὶ, ἄγγελος Σατᾶν, ἵνα με κολαφίζη, ἵνα μὴ ὑπεραίρωμαι.

And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above

measure.

a And there shall be no more a pricking brier unto the house of Israel, nor any grieving thorn of all that are round about them that despised them; and they shall know that I am the Lord GOD, Ezek. xxviii. 24. Yeknow how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the Gospel unto you at the first: And my temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected: but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus, Gal. iv. 13, 14.

VER. 8.

Ὑπὲρ τούτου τρὶς τὸν Κύριον παρεκά λεσα, ἵνα ἀποστῇ ἀπ ̓ ἐμοῦ.

a For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. a See on Luke xviii. ver. 1.

VER. 9.

Καὶ εἴρηκέ μοι· ̓Αρκεῖ σοι ἡ χάρις μου ἡ γὰρ δύναμίς μου ἐν ἀσθενείᾳ τελειοῦται. "Ηδιστα οὖν μᾶλλον καυχήσομαι ἐν ταῖς ἀσθενεῖαις μου, ἵνα ἐπισκηνώσῃ ἐπ ̓ ἐμὲ ἡ δύναμις τοῦ Χριστοῦ.

And he said unto me, a My grace is sufficient for thee: b 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.

* But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak; for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you, Matt. x. 19, 20. Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer: For I will give you a mouth and wisdom,

96

A. D. 60.

which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist, Luke xxi. 14, 15. There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it, 1 Cor. x. 13. And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus, 1 Tim. i. 14. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need, Heb. iv. 16.

That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man, Eph. iii. 16. I can

do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me, Phil. iv. 13. Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and long-suffering with joyfulness, Col. i. 11. Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens, Heb. xi. 34.

• But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but

on your part he is glorified, 1 Pet. iv.

13, 14.

VER. 10.

A. D. 60.

VER. 12.

VER. 15.

Τί γάρ ἐστιν ὃ ἡττήθητε ὑπὲρ τὰς λοιπᾶς ἐκκλησίας, εἰ μὴ ὅτι αὐτὸς ἐγὼ οὐ κατενάρκησα ὑμῶν; χαρίσασθέ μοι τὴν ἀδικίαν ταύτην.

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

a Have I committed an offence in

abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I have preached to you the Gospel of God freely? I robbed other churches, taking wages of them, to do you service. 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, 2 Cor. xi. 7-9. See also on Acts xviii. ver. 3.

VER. 14.

Ἰδοὺ, τρίτον ἑτοίμως ἔχω ἐλθεῖν πρὸς ὑμᾶς, καὶ οὐ καταναρκήσω ὑμῶν, οὐ γὰρ ζητῶ τὰ ὑμῶν, ἀλλ ̓ ὑμᾶς. Οὐ γὰρ ὀφείλει τὰ τέκνα τοῖς γονεῦσι θησαυρίζειν, ἀλλ ̓ οἱ γονεῖς τοῖς τέκνοις.