keep him duly humble, vs. V-IO. This reference to his per- sonal experience was exceecling^ly painful to him. He had been forced by their unreasonable opposition to speak of him- self as he had done ; for the external signs of his apostleship should have couAdnced them that he was the immediate mes^ senger of Christ, vs. 11. 12. They themselves were a standing proof that he was truly an apostle. They were not less richly endowed than other churches founded by other apostles. If inferior at all, it was only that he had refused to be supported by them. This he could not help. He was determined to jDursue in the future the course in that matter which he had hitherto adopted ; neither by himself nor by others, neither mediately nor immediately, would he receive any thing at their hands, vs. 13-18. All this self-vindication was of little account. It was a small matter what they thought of him. God is the only competent and final judge. His fear was that when he reached Corinth he would be forced to appear as a judge ; that not finding them wdiat he desired them to be, he should be obliged to assume the aspect of a reprover, vs. 19-21.
1. It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.
The authorities differ much as to the text in this verse. The common text has Srj (indeed, doubtless) with few MSS. or versions in its support. Many of the oldest MSS. read Set, it is 7iecessary / some few 8c, which is adopted by Meyer as the original reading. The difference is only as to the shades of the thought. The idea is that boasting is not expedient ; he will pass to something else, or at least to things which implied no agency or superior power on his part. Is not expedient. Here again some MSS. read with the common text, ov (rv/x<^€- pet /xot, cAcTJo-o/xat yap, (/5 not expedient foT me, for Iicill cotne;) others with Lachmann, Tischendorf, and Riickert, ov (ruix<j>epov /xku, cAcTJo-o/xat 8e, (it is not expedient indeed, but I will cotne.) The common text is on the whole to be preferred. Boasting, the apostle says, is not expedient for me, either in the sense that it does not become me, is not a seemly or proper thing ; or, is not profitable ; does not contribute to set my apostleship in a clear light. There is a better way of proving my divine mission than by boasting. The former explanation is better suited to the apostle's mode of representation. lie had re-