In amplification of what he had just said, he contrasts, in this and the following verses, his situation with theirs. There are two things included in these contrasts. The opinion which the Corinthians entertained, and that which was entertained by others. We are fools on account of Christ ; our devotion to the cause of Christ is such that you and others regard us as fools ; ye are wise in Christ ; *your union with Christ is such that you regard yourselves and are regarded by others as wise.
We are iceak^ we feel ourselves to be so, and are so considered ; ye are stroyig^ you so regard yourselves, and are so regarded.
You are honoured^ you are objects of respect, we of contempt. All this doubtless has special, though not exclusive, reference to the false teachers, whose state in Corinth he contrasts with his own.
1 1 . Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwelling-place ;
That a man should freely subject himself to hunger, thirst, and nakedness, and submit to be buffeted, and homeless, for no selfish purpose, but simply to preach Christ, was indeed, in the eyes of the world, foolishness. The fact that Paul gladly submitted to all these afflictions, presented his case in glaring contrast with that of his opposers in Corinth, who exposed themselves to no such suffermgs out of zeal for Christ.
12. 13. And labour, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless ; being persecuted, we suffer it ; being defamed, we entreat : we are made as the filth of the world, (and are) the off-scorning of all things unto this day.
Working with our oio7i hands. The apostle, in a subse- quent chapter, proves at length his right, and that of other ministers to an adequate support from the church. But he did not. avail himself of that right in Corinth, 9, 15.
Being reviled (AotSopov/xei'ot), being railed at, or made the object of scurrility. We bless, i. e. we speak well of, or im- plore good upon. We return abuse with kind words, or, with good wishes and prayers. Being persecuted. As the former term refers to injurious words, this refers to injurious acts.
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