Rule (xavovos). Used by Paul only. Originally, @ straight rod or ruler. Hence a carpenter's rule. Metaphorically, that which measures or determines anything, in morals, art, or lan- guage. The Alexandrian grammarians spoke of the classic Greek authors collectively as the canon or standard of the pure language. In later Greek it was used to denote a fixed tax. In christian literature it came to signify the standard of faith or of christian teaching; the creed; the rule of Church dis- cipline, and the authorized collection of sacred writings. Hence canon of Scripture.
To understand this expression, it is to be remembered that Paul regarded his ministry as specially to the Gentiles, and that he habitually refused to establish himself permanently where any former Christian teacher had preached. The Jew- ish teachers at Corinth had invaded his sphere as the apostle to the Gentiles, and had also occupied the ground which he had won for himself by his successful labors among the Corinthians, as they did also at Antioch and in Galatia. He says here, therefore, that hzs boasting of his apostolic labors is not without measure, like that of those Jewish teachers who establish them- selves everywhere, but is confined to the sphere appointed for him, of which Corinth, thus far, was the extreme limit. Hence the measure of the rule is the measure defined by the line which God has drawn. The image is that of surveying a district, so as to assign to different persons their different parcels of ground. I see no good reason for Rev. province. The measure is given by God’s measuring-line : “Which God hath apportioned to us as a measure ;” and his boasting extends only to this limit.
To reach even unto you. Corinth being thus far the ex- treme limit of the field measured out for him.
844 WORD STUDIES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT. [Cu. X,
14. We stretch not ourselves beyond our measure (7) vrrepexteivomev Eavtovs). The verb only here in the New Test- ament. The A. V. is needlessly verbose. Rev., better, stretch not ourselves overmuch.
As though we reached not unto you. Lit., as not reach- ang. Paul would say: It is not as if God had not appointed our apostolic labor to reach to you. If He had not thus ap- pointed, then our desire to labor among you would have been an overstretching of ourselves. Therefore, in boasting of our labor in Corinth, we do not boast beyond our measure.
We are come (éfddcapev). Rev., we came. The verb orig- inally means to come before, anticipate, as 1 Thess. iv. 15 (A. V., prevent ; Rev., precede); but it gradually loses the idea of priority, and means simply come to, arrive at. So Matt. xii. 28; Philip. iii. 16. It may possibly be used here with a hint of the earlier meaning, were the jirst to come. See Rev., margin.
15. Be enlarged by you—according to our rule abund. antly (ev viv peyarvvdtvar—eis mepicceiav). Paul means that, as the faith of the Corinthians increases, he hopes that his apostolic efficiency will increase, so that Corinth shall be- | come the basis of larger efforts, extending into other regions. The verb peyaddvw also means to praise or celebrate, as Luke i. 46; Acts v. 13; x. 46, and is so explained by some interpreters here. But this would be inconsistent with the figure, to which Paul adheres. “He who can work far off is a man of great stature, who, without overstretching himself, reaches afar” (Meyer).
According to our rule. His wider labors will still be reg- ulated by God’s measuring-line.
16. In another man’s line (év dddorpl@ Kavdv). Line is the word previously rendered rude. He will not boast within the line drawn for another; in another’s field of activity.*
Sane
* Perhaps no portion of the New Testament furnishes a better illustration of the need of revision than the A. V. of this and the succeeding chapters. It is not too much to say that, in that version, much of the matter is unin- telligible to the average English reader. With the best version it requires the commentator’s aid.