18 II. CORINTHIANS 1, 17.

of a twofold charge against him ; first, of levity, and secondly, of inconsistency ; saying one thing, and doing another ; or saying one thing at one time, and the ojoposite at another, so that he was utterly untrustworthy either as a man or as a teacher. This was indeed a slight foundation on which to rest such a charge. It is no wonder therefore that it excited the apostle's indignation. The first charge is that he used lightness^ i. e. that in purposing to visit Corinth and in an- nouncing his pur^DOse he had no serious intention of doing what he promised. It was a careless, inconsiderate avowal such as none but a man of levity would make. In the Greek the article is used (r^ cA,a<^pta) the lightness, which may mean, tJie lightness with which they charged him ; or that which belongs to our nature ; or it may have no more force than when used in other cases before abstract nouns. Or the things that I puiyose^ do I purpose according to the flesh? The first charge related to the past, did I use lightness? This relates to his general character. ' Am I habitually governed in my plans by the flesh,' i. e. am I influenced and controlled by those considerations which govern ordinary men, who have nothing to guide them but their own corrupt nature ? The word flesh here, as in v. 12, stands for our Avhole nature, con- sidered as distinguished from the Spirit of God. All who are not spiritual (governed by the Spirit) are, according to the Scripture, carnal (governed by the flesh). What Paul there- fore intends to deny in these two questions, is that his original purpose of visiting Corinth was formed in levity, and second- ly, that his plans in general were controlled by worldly or selfish considerations. That with 7ne there shoidd be yea^ yea^ and nay^ nay. TJiat (tVa) hei-e expresses the result, not the design. ' Do I so act after the flesh that the consequence is,' &c. The repetition of the particles yea, yea^ and nay^ ticiy^ is shnply intensive, as in Matthew 5, 37, "Let your communi- cation be yea, yea, and nay, nay." The meaning, therefore, is, 'Do I aflirm and deny the same thing? Do I say both yes and no at the same time and in reference to the same subject ? Is no dependence to be placed on my word ? ' This is the common interpretation and the one demanded by the context. Many commentators from Chrysostoni downwards give a very difl'erent view of the passage. They understand the apostle to defend himself for his change of plan by saying that he was not like men of the world who obstinately ad- liered to their purposes, without regard to the manifested will