for the human, the wisdom of God for the wisdom of men, the infinite and infallible for the finite and fallible. The suc- cess of the gospel depends on its being presented, not as the word of man, but as the word of God ; not as something to be proved, but as something to be believed. It was on this principle Paul acted, and hence he was in no degree intimi- dated by the number, the authority, the ability, or the learn- ing of his opponents. He was confident that he could cast down all their proud imaginations, because he rehed not on himself but on God whose messenger he was.
And bringing into captivity every thought^ ttolv vo-rjixa. This word means either thought, or the mind, that which thinks. 3, 14. 4, 4. Phil. 4, V. Hence it may be translated thought, as it is in our version ; or as in the Vulgate, " omnem intellectum," every understanding, and by Luther, " alle Ver- nunft." Although the modern commentators make an outcry against this latter translation, it really differs little from the former. It does not matter much Avhether we say that human reason must be subjected, or that all the products of human reason (every thought) must be subjected. It amounts to the same thing. Both forms of statement are equally true. It is the indispensable condition of salvation that our understand- ing should be brought into captivity, led submissive, as though bound, hito the obedience of Christ, cis Tr]v vTraKorjv tov Xpta-Tov. Agreeably to the figure in the context, the obedience of Christ is conceived of as a place, or fortress, into which the captive is led. The sense is the same as the dative, rfj viraKafj tov Xpta- Tov, would have expressed. We must renounce dependence on our own understanding and submit implicitly, as obedient children, to the teaching of Christ. He who would be wise, must become a fool. 1 Cor. 3, 18.
6. And having in a readiness to revenge all diso- bedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.
And having i?i a readiness y ev ctoljxio Ixoitcs, holding our- selves ready, i. e. being ready. He had the ability and the determination to do what he declares he would do. Com- pare ctoi/ukjds exo), 12, 14. The participle €xovt€<; is connected by Kttt with KadaLpovi/T€<; of the preceding verse. ' AYe Avar — casting down all that opposes itself — and ready, cfec' To avenge all disobedience ; cKSiKT/crai, to maintain, or to exact justice, or satisfaction, to i)unish. All disobedience, i. e. every
II. CORINTHIAlsrS 10, 7. 237
case of disobedience. The gospel, being the word of God, is divinely efficacious, and is certain ultimately to triumph over all opposition. This, however, does not imply that all will obey it. In the apostolic churches, there were those who cor- rupted the word of God, Judaizing or philosophizing teachers and their followers, who refused to obey the truth. Such persons Paul announced his ability and his determination to punish. They were in the church, for what, he said in his former epistle, have I to do to judge them that are without? 1 Cor. 5, 12. They had voluntarily submitted themselves to his jurisdiction, and he therefore had a legitimate authority over them. What was the nature of the punishment which he threatened, he does not intimate. It may be that he pur- posed nothing more than excommunication. The fact, how- ever, that the apostles were armed with supernatural power, that they exercised that power for the punishment of offend- ers, 1 Cor. 5, 5. 1 Tim. 1, 20, and the whole tone of the pas- sage are in favour of the assumption that Paul was determined to use all the means at his command to suppress the insolence, and to destroy the power of the corrupters of the* truth in Corinth. He gives what he had said a special application by adding, ichen your ohedietice is fulfilled. That is, ho would not resort to severity until all other means had failed, and un- til it had become fully manifest who among the Corinthians would submit to God, and who would persist in their disobe- dience.
7. Do ye look on things after the outward appear- ance? If any man trust to himself that he is Clirist's, let him of himself think this again, that, as he (is) Christ's, even so (are) we Christ's.
Abrupt transitions are characteristic of this epistle. Paul having in the preceding verses so strongly asserted his apos- tolic authority and supernatural power, turns to those who denied the validity of his claims, and calls upon them to give a reason for skepticism. He was thus led to vindicate his title to the apostolic office and to his special jurisdiction over the church of Corinth. This vindication extends to 12, 18. After which he resumes the subject broached in the preceding verses of this chapter, viz., what he purposed to do when he accain visited Corinth.