Vers. 1, 2.-Signs of apostleship. Why should Paul, departing from his nsual custom, speak here of himself and of bis claims? Undoubtedly because in this Christian society at Corinth there were those, prompted by Judaizing teachers, who called in question his apostleship, his equality with those who had been the companions of Jesus in bis ministry, and had received their commission before his ascension. Wishing to incite the Corinthians to self-denial, Paul put hiruself forward as an example of this virtue. Ilut to make this example elTcctive, it was necessary that he should assert an,l vindicate his position and rights. If he had no special commission from Christ, tlwro was no virtue in renouncing privileges which wero never his. That an apostle should live as he did-a life of celibacy e.nd manual labour-for the Church's good, was very significant. Such was Paul's position; he sets out, therefore, by establishing bis apostolic claims and position. I. 'fHE VISION OF THE Louo CHRIST. Not that every one who saw Jesus became an apostle; but that none became an apostle who had not seen him, who bad not rcceivl•d the commission from his lips. In all likelihood, some of Paul's opponents at Corinth had contrasted the past history of the apostle of the Gentiles with that of the twelve, to his disadvantage. The others, it was well known, had seen the Lord ; hut was it certain that Paul had been so favoured? Now, Paul would not submit to an imputation which must needs weaken the authority of all he might say or do. Hu had seen the Lord on the way to Damascus, had heard his voice, allli had by him been. then entrusted with a special commfasion to the Geutiles. It was not simply that Paul had seen Jesus; he had been endowed with his Spirit and with his authority. He was not preaching the gospel at the instigation of bis own inclinations, but i:i obedience to a command laid upon him by the highest authority. II. SuccEsS rn APOSTOLIC LADODil. '!'he craftsman proves his ability by the work he does; the sailor by his navigation of the vessel; the soldier by his bravery and skill in war. So the apostle acknowledges the justice of the practical test, and subjects himself thereto accordingly. There may be a shade of difference in tho meani11g of thti words employed. 1. Paul appealed to his worlc. Labour is misspent when no r•isults ensue. But this man's labour had not been in vain in the Lord. Jews and Gentiles had been brought to the faith of Christ and to the hope of life eternal. 2. 'l'he workmanship of the apostle was also his seal, i.e. it bore the mark, impress, and witness of his own character and ability and office. A competent jmlgc, luokmg to tho Churches Paul had founded, would admit them to be evidence of his apostleship. 3. It is observable that the signs were manifest in tho very community in which his authority was questioned. There is irony and force in the appeal made to the Corinthians, whether they themselves were not, it1 their own Christian position, proof 300 THE FIIlST EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS. [cH, IX. 1-27.
.,,f Paul's apo~tleship. ,vhocver raised a question, whoever offered opposition, the Christians of Corinth should certainly have honoured the foun<ler of their Church an<l the bearer of the gospel to their suuls.-'l'.