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derives the highest benefit from them. The Christian doctrine ought not, for the sake of scoffers and sceptics, and those who admire them, to be sprinkled and seasoned with philosophical investigations, as if in sooth it were possible to convince them more easily by means of natural theology. They, wrho obsti- nately reject revelation, wTill not be gained by any reasonings from the light of nature, which only serves the purpose of in- structing in the first rudiments of (theological) education. — ezpivu) This word with its compounds is often used by Paul in this epistle to the Corinthians, ver. 13, etc., iv. 3, etc., xi. 29, 31, 32, 34. — -Irjffovv Xpifrov, Jesus Christ) Paul well knew, how little the world esteemed this name.1
3. Kcc/' lyw, and 1) The antithesis is, my speech , ver. 4 ; and, to know , ver. 2. For he describes the subject [ver. 2, to know Christ crucified ], the preacher [ver. 3, and /], the mode of speak- ing [ver. 4, my speech — not with enticing words]. — atrfavsiq, in weakness) It is opposed to, power [ver. 4]. We must not sup- pose that the apostle’s state of mind was always pleasant and quite free from all perturbations, 2 Cor. vii. 5, xi. 30 ; Gal. iv. 13. — xul iv <po(3.w xcci iv rpopu <roXkS), and in fear and in much trembling) This is a proverbial saying, and denotes the fear, which abounds to such a degree as even to fall upon the body and its gestures and movements, Mark v. 33 ; Eph. vi. 5 ; Phil, ii. 12 ; lxx., Deut. xi. 25. So Is. xix. 16, LXX., itovrou iv <p6(3ip xai iv rpofiW) u They shall be in fear and trembling .”2 The world admires any thing but this [the very contrary to all this]. — iytvlpriV)) I began to be , with you, towards you.
4. Aoyos, speech) in private. — x^uy/xa, preaching) in public. — rretOoTg) enticing , a very appropriate term, to which the antithesis is in demonstration. Didymus quotes this passage, Lib. 2 de Spir. S. Jerome translates crs/do/g \6yoig, with persuasions ,3 so that there should be an apposition, vsiOoTg \6yoig [neiOofg being regarded as a noun]. It comes in this view from ere id u, to which nsiQii is a kindred form. Hesychius has crs i8tj, m/ff^ovii, *Ki<sng. — ffoplag, of wisdom) He explains in the following verses, what the
1 E« rTa,vpapc£i/ov, crucified) An antithesis to “sublime wisdom,” ver. 1. — V. g.
2 An antithesis to u excellency of speech,” ver. 1. — V. g.
3 Cod. Amiat. of Vulg. reads u persuasione verbi.” Other old MSS. “ persuasibilibus verbis.” — Ed.
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