called "the righteousness of faith." These false teachers professed to be the preachers of that rio-hteoiisness which is of God and which avails to the justification of sinners in his sight. Satan does not come to us as Satan ; neither does sin present itself as sin, but in the guise of virtue ; and the teach- ers of error set themselves forth as the special advocates of truth. Whose end shall be according to their icorks. Satan is none the less Satan when he appears as an angel of light, and evil is evil when called by the name of good. God's judgments are according to the truth. He does not pass sentence on the (o-xv/xa) the external fashion which we assume, but on our real character ; not on the mask, but on the man. The end, i. e. the recompense of every man, shall be not ac- cording to his professions, not according to his own convic- tions or judgment of his character or conduct, not according to appearances or the estimate of men, but according to his works. If men really promote the kingdom of Christ, they will be regarded and treated as his servants ; if they increase the dominion of sin and error, they will be regarded and treated as the ministers of Satan.
16. I say again, Let no man think me a fool; if otherwise, yet as a fool receive me, that I may boast myself a little.
After the foregoing outburst of feeling against the false teachers, the apostle resumes his purpose of self-vindication. He therefore says again what he had in substance said in v. 1. Let no man think me afool^ that is, a boaster. Self-laudation is folly ; and self-vindication, when it involves the necessity of self-praise, has the aj^pearance of folly. Therefore the apostle was pained and humbled by being obliged to praise himself He was no boaster, and no one could rightfully so regard him, hut if othenoise {d 8e /a7^/€, the negative is used because although the j^receding clause is negative, the idea is, ' I would that no man should regard me as a fool, but if you do not think of me as I would wish, still, &c.*) Meceive me^ (i. e. bear with me,) that I may hoast myself a little. The words are Kdyw, I also., i. e. I as well as others. 'You allow my enemies to boast of what they do, permit me to say a little of what I have done and suffered.'
17. That which I speak, I speak (it) not after the