did not suit the false apostles to preach for nothing, ver. 20. — riiv upopfAYiv, the occasion) in this matter, presently afterwards with- out the article, atpop^v, in any matter whatever. — iv f, in which ) their boasting consisted in this, that they said : we are found to be, as Paul.
13. 0/ yap toioutoi , for such ) The reason is herein given,
[aetiologia] why he is unwilling, that they should be thought like him. — -^suba* ogtoXoi, false apostles ) This is now part of the predicate ; the antithesis is at ver. 5. At length he calls a spade a spade. A bXioi, deceitful , presently afterwards, is in conformity with it. [This is remarkable severity of language. Not a few have been of opinion : Such men are of a disposition not alto-
gether to be despised, and it was not proper, that they should be so invidiously covered with disgrace : viz., They saw Christ, and now give their daily testimony to Him ; they therefore ought to hold some place among others. But the cause of truth is most delicate ; and, the Indifferentism, which is so pleasant to many in the present day , was not cultivated by Paul. (Er w ar kein so gefalliger Toleranz-Prediger. He was no pleasant preacher of toleration .) There is this to be taken into account , that when his life was frequently in danger , the zeal of the apostle continued without showing any symptoms of weakness. — V. g.] — sig dtfoffroXoug Xpw- rou, as the apostles of Christ) They did not altogether deny Christ, but they did not preach Him truly, ver. 23.
14. Ov Oaufjjoctirbv, and no marvel) no great thing in the follow- ing verse. It is more marvellous concerning [in the case of] Satan, inasmuch as he differs farther from an angel of light. — abrbg) he himself their author and master. — psradyyiLariZsrai^ transforms himself) Present, i.e. is accustomed to transform him- self. He did that already in Paradise. The second Oration on the annunciation, ascribed to Gregory Thaumaturgus, in describ- ing the character [Ethopoeia] of Mary, thus proceeds : [ir\ xdXiv sig dyysXov <pu rhg [as racy^anc^sig 6 dpysy.aY.og dai/iuv, y.r.X.y the devil the author of evil not being again transformed into an angel of light , etc. — ayysXov (purog, an angel of light) He does so, not only to injure us, but also to enjoy honour. — purog, of light) although Satan’s powrer is still in darkness.
15. Oj fPsya, no great thing) no difficult matter. — avrou, his) Satan’s. — dntaios-jvvig, of righteousness) which is in Christ. — r'c