4. &e&oKit*dfffAeQay we have been proved [approved]) Refer to this word, doxi/udfyvn, who proveth and trieth, which presently occurs. — apsffKovres) careful to please.
5. 'Ev Xo^w xoXaxsias, in flattering words) The antithesis is in ver. 7, 8 ; even as a cloke of covetousness has its antithesis in ver. 9 ; and the word glory ', ver. 6, has its antithesis in ver. 10. — %oXaxg/a£, of flattery) which they chiefly use who are anxious to please men. — xa0ws o/3ars — 0so$ pdprug, even as ye know — God is witness) These two clauses [neither — ye know ; nor — witness~\ correspond to each other, just as the double confirmation of the third member of the sentence [nor of men sought we glory], which is placed in the next verse, follows in the same ver. 10. He appeals to men, as the witnesses of a matter generally known ; to God, as the witness of a matter which is concealed in the heart ; to men and God, as the witnesses of a matter in part generally known, and partly concealed. — ^oparfg/) with the spe cious pretext (cloke), under which we might cover avarice.
6. 'ACT aXXuv, from others) those, to wit, who would have ad mired us, if we had treated you more haughtily. — dvvu when we might have, although we might have. — sv (3dpsi [Engl. Vers. been burdensome] been in honour and authority) 133 Bdpog, weight, dignity, authority ; the splendour which the majesty of the Lord communicates to His ambassador. Aoga, glory, in the preceding verse, is nearly akin to it ; comp. (3dpo$ 86%iis9 2 Cor. iv. 17. Brightness produces a iv eighty or powerful effect (gravis) on the sight, as a weight upon the sense of touch, and a loud sound on the hearing ; and hence such things are said to be borne or not to be borne,1 Heb. xii. 20. The conjugate, sV//3af Jjcra/, presently occurs, ver. 9. Both ideas, weight [autho rity], and a burden, must be included. But the apostles re frained from both.
7. "H-TTIOI, gentle) A very sweet word, which is wont to be ap plied chiefly to parents and physicians. It is opposed to flattery [ver. 5] : for he is called #r/oc, who has true gentleness. — sv peffu Ipuv, in the midst of you) like a hen surrounded by her chickens. They did not act as if from the chair (ex cathedra, from the autho ritative chair), which is said to belong to Peter, and which calls
1 ov x. s(pepov, they were not able to bear, properly said of a weight. — ED.