rit is a limitation of what precedes. He was justified in boast- ing in this particular matter. It is, however, more consistent with the common use of the word in the New Testament, that here, as in 9, 4, it should be taken in the sense of confidence^ and kv be rendered icith. ' I speak with this confidence ol boasting.'
18. Seeing that many glory after the flesh, I will glory also.
The apostle here assigns the reason of his glorying. His opponents so magnified themselves and their services, and so depreciated him and his labours, that he was forced, in order to maintain his influence as the advocate of a pure gospel, to set forth his claims to the confidence of the people. Seeing ihat (eTrei, shice^ because) many glory. From this, as well as from other intimations aboundmg in this ej^istle, it is evident that the opposition to Paul was headed not by one man, but by a body or class of false teachers, all of whom were Juda- izers. They gloried after the flesh {Kara rrjv a-apKo). This may mean, ' they gloried as to the flesh.' Then llesh means what is external and adventitious, such as their Hebrew de- scent, their circumcision, etc. See v. 22, where these false teachers are represented as boasting of their external advan- tages. Compare also Gal. 6, 13 and Phil. 3, 4, where the apostle says in reference to the same class of opponents, " If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more." The sense in this case is good and ap- propriate, but it would require ev and not /cara. See 10, 17 li, 12. 12, 9, &c., &c. Kara adpKa more properly means ac- cording to the flesh, i. e. according to corrupt human nature, as opposed to Kara Kvptov in the preceding verse. These men were influenced in their boasting by unworthy motives. I loill glory also. Does Paul mean, 'As others glory after the flesh, I also will glory after the flesh ' ? i. e. as others give way to their selfish feelings, I vnM do the same. This is the view which many commentators take. They say that Kara a-dpKa is necessarily implied alter Kayw Kavxqcrofxai, because the apostle had just said that in boasting he did not act Kara Kvpiov, which implies that he did act Kara aapKa ; and because in the following verse he makes himself one of dcftpove? of whose glo- rying the Corinthians were so tolerant. But the sense thus expressed is neither true nor consistent with the character of