The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Corinthians — Section 132

,.,.nrds were a sort of prn'l'erb, like Ne quid the depression and scorn in the midst ofwhicl1 11imi~ or Milton's "The rule of not too ~he apostles lived. Tho loving delicate irony much" (µ>15h li;,ae). The word "to think" 1s, ma different way, as effective as the stern is omitted in the best manuscripts. The denunc.iation of St. John: "Thou se,yest I phrase, "which have beeu written," is of am rich,aud increased with goods, and hCL~e very uncertain meaning. It may refer need of nothing; and knowest not that thou generally to "the scriptural rule" that all art wretched, and miserable, mid poor, and: boasting is wrong (Jer. ix. 23). or to the blind, and naked" (Il.ov. iii.17). St. Paul's humble estimate of teachers which he has satire is al ways akiu to oharity; it is never just been writing dmrn for them. Al) his satire with no pity in it. Ye have reigned Old Testament quotations so far (eh. 1. 19, as kings. The word simply means " ye 31 ; iii. 19) have referred to humility. reigued." Like the Stoics, so each 'Jitt,Je Some see in it a reference to Matt. xxiii. S, Corinthian sectarian regarded himself as a "Be not ye called Rabbi;" but it is uncer- king. "To reign" was, however, a proverbial tain whether St. l\'latthew's Gospel was yet phrase (like the Latin vivo et re!Jno) for beino- written; and St. Paul never refers so directly "happy as a king." Withoutus(comp. Heh~ to any written Gospel. Perhaps it is a sort xi. 40). The Corinthians were cultivated of proverb," Keep always to strict evidence;" enough to appreciate the deep irony of the "~ay nothing which cannot be proved in phrase, "We poor apostles have become quite black and white." The text, like so many needless to you in your lordlyindepenuence." others, has only a very remote connection And I would to God ye did reign. The words with the sense in which it is usually quoted. "to God" should be omitted. The loving That no one of you be puffed up. St. Paul heart of St. Paul could never long keep up- was painfully impressed by this inflation of a strain of irony. He drops the satire, and the Corinthians, and he often recurs to this passes on to impassioned and affectionate word as a description of their vain conceit appeal. That we also might reign with you. ( eh. iv. 18, 19; v. 2; viii. 1 ; xiii. 4; 2 Cor. If the exalted eminence which you now only :-.ii. 20). In other Epistles the word is only enjoy in your own conceits had been but real, found once (in Col. ii. 18). For one age.inst then we, whose "hope, and joy, and crown of another. The expression is a profound exultation you are in the presence of Christ,,. one. The glorying in men (eh. iii. 21), (1 'rhess. ii. 19), should share the grandeur undesirable in any circumstances, becomes with you. the more pernicious because the exaltation \' er. 9.-For. This word shows how differ- of one set of teachers is almost invariably ent was the reality. Rath set forth; dis- al'companied by mean and unjust deprecia- played as on a stage (2 Thess. ii. 4). Us the tion of any who could be supposed to be apostles. St. Paul identifies them with him- their ri'l'als. The Corinthian who was "for self; but undoubtedly he had" laboured more Cephas " would be almost certain to be, to abundantly than they all." Last. Servants ~ome extent, " against Paul." of all; in the lowest circumstances of Ver. 7.-Who maketh thee to diff'er1 humiliation (comp. Mark ix. 35). Th& literally, Who distinguisheth thee? He apostles. Not the twelve only, but those means that this glorification and depre- who might be called apostles in CL wider ciation of rival views aud rival teachers sense, who shCLred the same afflictions (Heh. sprang from unwarranta~le_ arrogance._ It x. 33). As it were appointed to death. '!'his iarnhed a claim to super10nty, and a right daily doom is referred to by St. Paul in eh. to sit in judgment, which they did. not xv. 80, 31; 2 Cor. iv. 11; Rom. viii. 36. 'rer- possess. That thou didst not receive 1 tullian renders the word "veluti bestiarios," Even supposina that you have some ~pecial like criminals condemned to the wild beasts. gift, it is a gift not a merit, and therefore it (' De Pudicit.,' 14). But the day had not 1s a boon for which to be thankful, not a yet come when Christians were to herir so pre-eminence of which to boast. often the tenible cry, "Christinnos ad •, Satan, I know thy power, and thou know'st )cones I" A spectacle; litemlly, a theatre . mine, The same metaphor is use,! in Heh. x. 33. Neither onr own, but given. What folly, To angels. The word, when used without then, an epithet, always means good angels, who, To try what arms can do I" a.re here supposed to look down in sympCLthy (111ilton, 'Paradise Lost.') (comp. Heh. xii. 22J. Ver. 10,-We aro fools for Christ's sake. Ver. 8.-Now ye are full, now ye a.re rich; The irony is softened by the intervening rather, already ye have been Bated, already sentences, and as regards the apostles there, ,,1e qrew rich. There is a Btrong but healing is no irony. St. Paul was called "a seed- ho;,y in these expressions, and in the entire pecker" (,permologos) by the Epicureans, contrast between the cornf'ortable, full fed. and Stoics at Athens, and Festus in full regal self-satisfaction of tlw Corinthians, and court called him "mad." Ye are wiso in. orr. 1v. 1-21.) 'l'HE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS.