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not burdensome to anyone. "And in everything without burden unto you I kept myself--
and will keep." This boast he declares no one shall silence, not because he loved them
not (God knew), but that he may cut off any handle or occasion from those who seek it.
The false apostles had pointed out the fact that they did not require support, and the
apostle declares that so far as that is concerned, they meet on equal terms. How
loathsome to such a high spirit as Paul must all this self-vindication have appeared.
"What I am saying, not according to the Lord am I saying, but as to foolishness, in this
my boastful confidence! Since many are boasting after the flesh, I also will boast"
(11: 17, 18). He continues by saying that since the Corinthians were so discreet, they
would surely tolerate this boasting of a mere fool, since they tolerated such as enslaved
them, or devoured them, or took them in, or who assumed the most arrogant pretensions,
or who even smote them! "By way of disparagement I am speaking; it shows how weak
and foolish I was in not adopting similar tactics. Yet, when one comes to compare their
foolish claims with mine (continues the apostle), I can meet them. Whereas in
whatsoever any one dareth (in foolishness I speak), I also dare."
C (II Cor. 11: 22).--So far as birth and race privileges were concerned, Paul was their
equal:--
"Are they Hebrews?
I also.
Are they Israelites?
I also.
Are they seed of Abraham? I also."
C (II Cor. 11: 23-33).--When it came however to that ministry which resulted from
grace rather than race, the apostle could say, "I something more." Then follows one of
the most wonderful biographies ever written. The sufferings of the martyrs with all their
harrowing details cannot compare with the sufferings of this chosen vessel. Besides, we
know that this list is but a fragment; how much and how many things he suffered, "that
day" alone will disclose:--
"In labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in
death oft. Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten
with rods, once was I stoned. Thrice I suffered shipwreck (this is before Acts 27:). A
night and a day I have been in the deep. In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils
of robbers, in perils of mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the
city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren. In
weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in
cold and nakedness. Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me
daily, the care of all the churches" (II Cor. 11: 23-33).
What depths are here! It seems that the apostle would have these Corinthians see that
the anxiety for the churches, and for their's among them, was harder to bear than the
perils and dangers which were without. He seems to have had this external and internal
trouble before him when he wrote:--
"For, even when we came into Macedonia, no relief at all had our flesh, but in every
way we in tribulation, without were figthings, within were fears, but He who encourageth
them that are brought low, encouraged us, even God, by the presence of Titus"
(II Cor. 7: 5, 6).