10. As the truth of Christ is in me, no man shall stop me of this boasting in the regions of Achaia.
Calvin, Beza, and others, understand this as an oath, or asseveration. Our translators adopted the same view, and therefore supply the word as, which is not in the Greek. This interpretation is not required by the text or context. The words are simply, 'The truth (dXiy^^eia, the veracity, truthfulness) of Christ, (i. e. the veracity which pertains to Christ, and which Christ produces,) is in me.' That is, in vir- tue of the veracity which Christ has produced in me, I declare, that (on, which our translators omit,) 7io man shall stop me of this boasting. Literally, ' This boasting shall not be stopped as to me.' The w^ord is (^payTJcrcTat, w^hich in the New Testa- ment is only used in reference to the mouth. Rom. 3, 19. Heb. 11, 33. 'This boasting as to me shall not have its mouth stopped.' In all the regions of Achaia ; not in Cor- inth only, but in all that part of Greece not included in Mace- donia. From the Macedonians he was willing to receive aid ; from the Christians of Achaia he would not. The reason for this distinction he states negatively and affirmatively in the following verses.
11. 12. Wherefore? because I love you not? God knoweth. But what I do, that I wall do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion ; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we.
That his purpose not to receive aid from the Corinthians did not, as it might seem, arise from Avant of love to them he solemnly declares. The expression " God knows " in the lips of the apostle, it need not be remarked, implies no irreverence. It is a pious recognition of the omniscience of God, the search- er of all hearts, to whom he appeals as the witness of the strength of his affection for his people. The true reason for his determination to continue to do as he had already done, was, as he says. That I may cut off occasion from them that desire occasion. That is, that I may avoid giving those wlio desire to impeach my motives any pretence for the charge that I preach the gospel for the sake of gain. It is plain from 1 Cor. 9, 15-18, that this was his motive in refusing to receive