The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Corinthians — Section 277

that, he had worked at his trade as & tentmaker, and done what ho could to gain a livelihood. It had been used against him. Was it, then, beneath the dignity of nn apostle to labour with his own bands? What his ri,i;ht was to a maintenance he knew and they knew. But he had waived this right for reasons most satisfactory to himself. Had he committed a sin in this voluntary abasement that they might bo Pxalted by his preaching gratuitously the gospel of God? Was this at varianco with his statement that he had been "thoroughly made manifest" amona0 them "in all things,'' and was not" a whit behind the very chiefest apostles" ? In coming to Corinth, and while labouring there, he had " robbed other Churches," and what he lackeJ in sustaining himself bad been supplied from Macedonia. This was done that he might not be" burdensome" unto them. Would his opponents say that he would claim remuneration for the future, or that he was running up a debt against them? Nay; the future shall be as the past. "So will I keep myself." Speaking in accord- ance with Christ's truth in him, he would avow a fixed determination that this boasting should never be denied him in Achaia. But would they misinterpret this la.nguacre and accuse him of wanting kind feelings towards them? " God knoweth." To be suspected of such a motive would do him wron:i:, since he meant it to be a proof of the sincerity and earnestness of his ministry in their behalf. No one should charge him with selfishness; he would be disinterested in all the services rendered to Corinth, that he might "cut off occasion from them" who were always eager to find or make an "occasion" against his apostleship. Had he, then, descended from the ordinary level of the apostolic office, and abased himself, that the Corinthians might be exalted by a special proof of his disinterested love? Further than this, he would protect the Church against these money-loving partisans, who, while standing in a hostile attitude towards him and his work, were looking after their own sordid interest, and intent on making a gain of godliness. "Wherein they glory, they may be found even as we." It was the spiritual intelligence of love. It was the prudence of sanctified worldly experience ; and the wisdom of the serpent and the harmlessness of the dove were never more happily blended.-L. Vers. 13-15.-Character of these teachers. Indications of a marked change in the apostle respecting these intruders at Corinth appear in the tenth chapter. Recent circumstances had aroused his attention to their acrid and persistent hostility as directed a,,aainst him and the spiritual welfare of the Church. From the first he had not misjudged them. Under all their specious arts he had detected a. low and carnal spirit, calculated to affect these volatile Corinthians and obstruct the progress of his ministry. Meantime they had increased in boldness and audacity, and assailed him with more impetuous virulence. Evidently, then, there was a growth in his convictions as to their mischief-making power, and of late these convictions had become very strong. 'I.'he growth is apparent both in his thought and feeling, and in such a mind as St. Paul's it could not be long in reaching his will and shaping itself in a resolute purpose to put down the evil So long as it was mainly a personal vexation, he had borne it patiently ; but the hour had come when, while true to "the meekness and gentleness of Christ," he must show "the rod." Very clearly is the military attitude of his mind exhibited in the previous chapter. He speaks of" weapons," of their might to over- throw "strongholds" and "cast down imaginations," and of his readiness at the proper moment "to revenge all disobedience." 'l'his deepening intensity finds utterance in the paragraph now under consideration. Unable to repress his feelings any longer, he gives them expression in the most forcible form his language could assume a.s it regarded the religious pretensions of these men. They are" false apostles, deceitful workers, trans- forming themselves [by their own act] into the apostles of Christ." Looking at the matter from St. Paul's point of view, nothing worse could be said of them. What hi11 description involved quickly appears. "No marvel ; " how could there be any room for surprise? It was characteristic of him, the great adversary, to send just such " apostles;" for" Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light." Perfectly natural; sender and sent are one; and the union is seen in the transforming power. No great thing if "his ministers" should so fashion themselves as to seem "ministers of righteousness." .And having stated who and what they were, he announces their future doom: "whose 11ud shall be according to their workli." We i;ee now why he 111entioncd his fear in the 011, :kl, 1=38,] THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE CORIN'I'lIIANS. 277