acknowledge. *I trust ye shall acknowledge unto the end (as ye have acknowledged us in part), that we are your re- joicing.' The verb cTrtytvcoo-Kcti/ combines the ideas of recog- nition and of complete knowledge. The words in part are most naturally referred to the Corinthians, ye in part^ i. e. a part of you. Paul knew that there were some in Corinth who did not rejoice in him. Others understand them to qualify the verb. It was only a partial recognition of him that the Corinthians had as yet manifested. Compare 1 Cor. 13, 12, "I know in part." This, however, would give a tone of reproach to the language which is foreign to the charac- ter of the passage. TFe are your rejoicing^ i. e. the ground of your exultation and delight. As ye also ours, in the day of the Lord, Jesus. Paul believed that in the day of the Lord Jesus the Corinthians would rejoice over him as he would re- joice over them. In that day they w^ould appreciate the blessedness of having had him for their teacher, as he would rejoice in having had them for his converts. The joy, how- ever, which he anticipated in its fulness \vhen Christ should come, was in a measure already theirs. 'We are, and shall be, your rejoicing, as ye are and shall be ours, in the day of the Lord Jesus.' Instead of rendering ort in the above clause that many commentators render it because. This gives a dif- ferent sense to the whole passage. ' We hope you will ac- knowledge— because we are your rejoicing, as ye are ours.' This, however, leaves the verb acknowledge without an object. What w^ere they to acknowledge ? We may indeed supply from the context the words our sincerity, but it is more natural so to construe the passage as to avoid the necessity of supply- ing any thing. The sense also is better according to the com- mon interpretation. Paul does not design to prove that the Corinthians confided in him because he was their rejoicing, which would be to prove a thing by itself.
15. 16. And in this confidence I was minded to come to you before that ye might have a second bene- fit ; to pass by you into Alacedonia, and to come again out of Macedonia unto you, and of you to be brought on my way to Judea.
And in this confidence, that is, in the confidence that wo