the false teacliers might be disposed to make. They might insinuate that although he refused to receive any thing him- self, he quartered his friends uj^on them, or spoiled them through others. I caught you icith guile^ 8o/\(i) v/xa? eXa/Sov, i. e. I despoiled you by artifice, as an animal is taken by being deceived. This shows the character of the opponents of the apostle in Corinth. That he should think it necessary to guard against insinuations so ungenerous and so unfounded, is proof of his wisdom in refusing to give such antagonists the least occasion to question the purity of his motives.
17. 18. Did I make a gain of you by any of them whom I sent mito you ? I desired Titus, and with (him) I sent a brother. Did Titus make a gain of you ? w^alked Ave not in the same spirit ? (walked we) not in the same steps ?
The best refutation of the insmuation that Paul did in an underhand way by others what he refused to do openly and in his own person, was an appeal to facts. The Corintliians knew the charge to be unfounded. They knew that no one of those whom Paul had sent to Corinth received any com- pensation at their liands. This was specially true in the case of Titus, his immediate representative. All his messengers followed the example, and doubtless the injunctions of Paul, in bearing their own expenses. The mission of Titus to Cor- inth here referred to, is not that mentioned in chap. 8, wliich was not yet accomplished, but that mentioned in chap. 7, de- signed to ascertain the effect produced by Paul's previous letter. In the same .ynrit / either the same inward disi)0si- tion of mind, or toith the same Holy Spirit, i. e. imbued and guided by the same divine agent, who controls the conduct of the jjcople of God. Jn the same ste^^s. VvluI and his mes- sengers walked in the same footsteps. That is, they all fol- lowed Christ, whose steps mark the way in which his followers are to tread.
19. Again, think ye that we excuse ourselves unto you ? we speak before God in Christ : but (we do) all things, dearly beloved, for your edifying.
There were two false impressions which the apostle here