This is part of the sentence begun in v. 2. 'I will not spare since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me.' 01s- hausen says the sense of the context is, 'Since they wished to put the apostle to the test and see whether Christ was in him, they had better try themselves and see whether Christ was in them. If Christ was in them, they would recognize the power of God in the apostle's weakness.' This supposes v. 4 to be a parenthesis, and connects iirel SoKifiyjv t,r]T€LTe of y. 3, with eav rov^ 8oKifxd^€T€ of V. 5. But this is arbitrary and unnatural, as it is unnecessary, there being no indication of want of conti- nuity in the connection. A proof of Christy may mean, 'a proof which Christ gives,' or, ' a proof that Christ speaks in me.' De Wette and Meyer prefer the former, on account of the following, ' who is not Aveak,' which agrees better with the assumjDtion that Xpto-roi) is the genitive of the subject. ' Since ye seek a i:)roof or manifestation of Christ who speaks in me, who is not weak.' Calvin's idea is that it was not Paul, but Christ, that the Corinthians were questioning. *' It is Christ who speaks in me ; when therefore you question my doctrine, it is not me, but him whom you oifend." He refers to Num. 16, 11, where murmuring against Moses and Aaron is represented as murmuring against God. Compare also Isaiah 7, 13. The common interpretation, however, is more in keephig with the drift of the whole context. What the iiilse teachers and their adherents denied, was Paul's apostle- ship ; what they demanded was proof that Christ spoke in him, or that he was a messenger of Christ. Since the evi- dence which he had already given in word and deed had not satisfied them, he was about to give them a proof which they would find it difficult to resist. Who is not weak as concerns you^ hut is mighty among you. The messenger and organ of Christ was not to be rejected or offended with impunity, since Christ was not weak, but powerful. His power had been proved among them not only in tlie conversion of multi- tudes, but by signs and wonders, and by divers manifestations of omnipotence.
4. Por though he was crucifiecl through weakness, yet lie Hveth by the power of God. Por we also are wxak iu him, hut we shall live with him by the power of God toward you.