Others again, understand the apostle as here asserting his well established character for purity of purpose and conduct. * My Avhole conduct is perfectly open and straightforward for you to see.' There is, however, no impeachment of his con- duct referred to in the context, and therefore no call for this general assertion of integrity. It is better to restrict the pas- sage to the point immediately in hand. ' He was not behind the chief apostles ; but although rude in speech, he was not deficient in knowledge, and was manifest before them in all things, i. e. in all things pertaining to the apostolic office.' Listead of (^ai/epto^eVTes'the MSS. B, F, G, 1 7, read cftavepojo-av- T€9, which Lachmann, Rilckert and Tischendorf adopt. This alters the whole sense. The meaning most naturally then is, ' I am not deficient in knowledge, but have manifested it in every point in all things.' The majority of critical editors re- tain the common text, which gives a sense equally well suited to the connection.
7. Have I committed an offence in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I have preached to you the gospel of God freely ?
Our version omits the particle ^ (or), which is necessary to indicate the connection. Paul was clearly manifested as an apostle. 'Or,' he asks, 'is it an objection to my apostle- ship that I have not availed myself of the right of an apostle to be supported by those to whom I preach ? Have I sinned in this respect?' Comp. 1 Cor. 9,4-15. Ifave I com.mitted an offence in abasing inyself ^ ifxavTov raTrcti/cov, humbling my- self by renouncing a privilege which was my due. Comp. Phil. 4, 12. It was an act of self-humiliation that Paul, though en- titled to be supported by the peoj^le, sustained himself in great measure by the labour of his own hands. I humbled myself, he says, that ye might he exalted^ that is, for your good. It was to promote their sj^iritual interests that he wrought at the trade of a tent-maker. Because I preached unto you the gospel of God freely f This clause, beginning with on, is exegetical of the preceding. 'Have I sinned hum- bling myself, i. e. have I sinned because I preached freely ? ' (Scopeav, gratuitously). It is clearly intimated in 1 Cor. 9, that Paul's refusing to be supported by the Corinthians was repre- sented by his enemies as arising from the consciousness of the