corrupted the gospel, which he was appomted to propagate and defend. He therefore naturally assumes a tone of author- ity and severity. Satisfied of his divine mission, and conscious of supernatural power, he cautioned them not to rely too much on his forbearance. He was indeed as a man humble, and, if they chose, insignificant ; but there was slumbering in his arm an energy which they would do well not to provoke. He had no desire to exercise in Corinth the authority with which Christ had invested him for the purpose of bringing down all opposition. He would give them a fair trial, and wait to see how far they would be obedient, before he punished their dis- obedience, vs. 1-6. They should not judge by appearance, or set themselves up on the ground of their fancied advan- tages, because whatever they had, he had in larger measure, vs. 7. 8. He had no intention to frighten them by his epistles — which they said were written in a tone he would not dare to assume when present — for they would find that, when oc- casion called for it, he could be as bold when present as when he was absent, vs. 9-11. They were subject to his aj^ostoUc authority. He usurped nothing in exercising the powers of his oftice over the churches which he had himself founded. He did not interfere with the jurisdiction of the other apos- tles, or undertake the special oversight of churches founded by others. Macedonia and Achaia were within the sphere of his operations, and he hoped to preach the gospel far beyond those hmits in regions where it had never been heard, vs. 12-16. His confidence was not self-confidence, but confidence in God. His self-commendation amounted to nothing, unless the Lord commended him. Paul constantly felt that in him- self he could do nothin<r, but in the Lord he could do all things, vs. 17. 18.
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1. Now I Paul myself beseecli you, by the meek- ness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence (am) base among you, but being absent am bold toward you.
■ He enters without any preamble or circunilocution on his new subject, and places himself face to face with his unscrupu- lous opponents. He says, I Paul myself. He usually em- ploys the first person plural when speaking of himself. Here, and throughout this context, he makes his individuality promi-