Wages (oWeviov). See on Rom. vi. 23.
9. | was chargeable (xatevdpxncoa). Only in this epistle. From vaprn numbness, deadness ; also a torpedo or gymnotus, which benumbs whatever touches it. Compare Homer: “ His hand grew stiff at the wrist” (‘“ Iliad,” viii., 328). Meno says to Socrates: “ You seem to me both in your appearance and in your power over others, to be very like the flat torpedo-jish (vadpxy), who torpifies (vapxav movet) those who come near him with the touch, as you have now torpified (vapxav) me, I think” (Plato, “ Meno,” 80). The compound verb used here occurs in Hippocrates in the sense of growing quite stiff. The simple verb occurs in the Sept., Gen. xxxii. 25, 32, of Jacob’s thigh, which was put out of joint and shrank. Compare Job xxxiii. 19. According to the etymology of the word, Paul would say that he did not benwmb the Corinthians by his demand for pecuniary aid. Reyv., rather mildly, J was not a burden.
10. No man shall stop me of this boasting (7 cavynous aitn ov dpaynoetas eis eve). Lit., this boasting shall not be blocked up as regards me. The boasting is that of preaching gratuitously. For the verb, compare Rom. iii. 19; Heb. xi. 33.
12. I will do. Will continue to do; refuse to receive pay.
Cut off (éxxoyw). Lit., cut owt. See on Luke xiii. 7, and compare Rom. xi. 24.
Occasion (riv adopunv). The force of the article must be earefully noted ; the particular occasion of fault-finding which goncerned his pecuniary relations with the Corinthians. His
348 WORD STUDIES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT. RCize, 5x0,
refusal to receive pay cut out from among other causes of com- plaint this one.
They may be found even as we. I can find no satisfac- tory explanation of this clause, and will not attempt to add to the hopeless muddle of the commentators. It is evident that the false teachers had sought occaszon for glorifying themselves in comparison with Paul; that they consequently caught eagerly at every pretext for disparaging him; and that this disparage- ment was in some way connected with Paul’s refusal to receive compensation from the Corinthians. Further, that Paul’s way of counteracting their attempts was by persisting in this refusal. The intimation in the last clause is apparently to the effect that by this course he will not only remove the occasion for attack, but that the result will show both his opponents and himself in their true light. Compare find and be found, ch. xii. 20.
13. Transforming themselves (uetacynwatifouevot). Rev., better, fashioning, thus preserving the distinctive force of oyna outward fashion, which forms part of the compound verb. See on Matt. xvii. 2; 1 Cor. iv. 6.
14. Satan. See on Luke x.18. The rabbinical writings represent the devil rather as the enemy of man than of God or of good. They use none of the New-Testament names for the Evil One except Satan, and contain no mention of a kingdom of Satan. Edersheim says: “Instead of the personified principle of evil to which there is response in us—we have only a clumsy and often a stupid hater.”* Itis also to be observed that in the Septuagint the usage is limited to the enemy of man,as is that of duaBoros devil, by which Satan is translated. See 1 Chron. xxi. 1; Esther vii. 4; viii. 1; Ps. eviii. (cix.)5; Job i.6; Zech. Lie,
17. Confidence (i7roctdce). See on ch. ix. 4.
20. Bringeth you into bondage (xatadovAoi). Only here and Gal. ii. 4, where it is used of the efforts of the Jewish
* See Edersheim’s “Life and Times of Jesus,” ii., Appendix XIII.
Ca. XL] THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS. 349
party to bring the christian Church under the ceremonial law. Compare Gal. v. 1.
Devour (xatecSier). Your property. Compare Matt. xxiii. 14.
Take (AapBdve). A. V. supplies of you, evidently with reference to property, which has already been touched upon in devour. The meaning is to take as a prey, as Luke v. 5.