Christ in a higher measure than they. That is, I am more devoted, laborious and suffering than they. The latter is the true explanation as is clear from what follows, and because in Paul's language and estimation there was no higher title or service than that of minister of Christ. / speak as a fool, Trapacfiovihv Xa\u). This is a strong expression, ' I speak as one beside himself' This is said out of the consciousness of ill- desert and utter insufficiency. Feelmg himself to be in him- self both impotent and imworthy, this self laudation, though having reference only to his infirmities and to what God had done in him and by him, was in the highest degi-ee painful and humiliating to the ajDOstle. It is Paul's judgment of him- self, not the judgment which others are presumed to pass upon him. I?i labours more abundant^ kv kottols TrcpLoraoTcpois. There are three Avays of explaining this and the following clauses, 1. In (or, b^) labours I am more abundantly the ser- vant of Christ. 2. Or, (supplying rjv or yeyova,) I have been more abundant in labours. 3. Or, comiecting, as De Wette and Meyer do, the adverbs with the substantives with the sense of adjectives, bj/ more abundant labours. This latter explana- tion can better be carried through, and expresses the sense clearly. In strij^es above oneasure, Iv TrXrjyai^ vTrep/SaWovTws, i. e. b^ stri2:)es exceeding measure (in frequency and severity). In prisons tnore frequent, either, as before, ' I have been more frequently imprisoned,' or, ' By more frequent prisons.' The sense remains the same. In deaths oft, h ^avarots ttoXXolkls, by manifold deaths. Paul, in accordance with common usage, elsewhere says, " I die daily." He suffered a thousand deaths, in the sense of being constantly in imminent danger of death and of enduring its terrors.
24. 25. Of the Jcavs five times received I forty (stripes) save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep.
These verses are a parenthesis designed to confirm tlic preceding assertion that he liad laboured and suffered more in tlie service of Christ than any of his opponents. In v. 26 the construction is resumed. The apostle had at this period of his history been scourged eight times ; five times by the Jews and thrice by the Romans. Of this cruel ill-treatment