Although in the following verses the apostle, as is his wont, gives his discourse free scope, allowing it, as it were, to flow on in its own impetuous and majestic course, Avithout any at- tempt to reduce it to logical arrangement, yet in his mind order was so immanent that a certain method can always be detected even in his most impassioned utterances. So here, he first refers to the manifold trials, vs. 4. 5, then to the graces and gifts, vs. 6. 7, by which his sincerity had been tested and established ; and then to the diverse circumstances of evil and of good report, under Avhich he had maintained his integrity, vs. 8. 9. 10. Under these several heads there are the same number of specifications, nine in each. Under the two former, there is a ternary arrangement observable ; three divisions, each with three specifications ; and under the last, nine pairs of contrasts or antitheses, rising to that highest form of ora- torical language, where truth is expressed in seeming contra- dictions. " Having nothing, yet possessing all things."
4. 5. But in all (things) approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings.
So far from causing the ministry to be blamed, Paul iii all things^ (eV Travrt,) in every relation^ and on every occasion^ ap- proved himself, i. e. commended himself, not by self-laudation, but by so acting as to force the conviction of his sincerity on all men. As the ministers of God^ i. e. as the ministers of God commend themselves. This interpretation is required, as Paul uses 8taKovot, not StaKoVovs. It was as a minister he com- mended himself. In much patience^ i. e. by patient endur- ance and constancy. Both ideas are expressed by the word i'TTOfxov^. Paul proved himself to be a true minister of Christ by the fortitude with which he endured sufierings, and by the constancy with which he adhered to his master under all these trials. In what follows in this and the next verse we have the trials enumerated to which he was subjected. These are ar- ranged, as Bengel remarks, in three classes. The first, are general, afflictions^ necessities^ and distresses / the second are specific, stripes^ imprisonments^ and tmnidts ; the third, vol- untary, labours^ icatchings^ and fastings. His constancy was exhibited in the cheerful endurance of all these kinds of trials.