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When we consider that most of this is additional to the fierce persecution he received
from the Jews, we can realize a little how much he had to endure. Chapters 5: - 8: are
occupied with some of the problems of the church at Corinth, and then the apostle returns
to the charges of his traducers. They questioned his apostleship (9: 1, 2), they
questioned his motives and right regarding eating and drinking (4), of marrying (5), and
working for his own living (6). He proves from the analogy of every day life and of
nature (7), as well as by the teaching of the law (9-11), that he would be quite within his
right to be supported in temporal things by the churches. "Nevertheless", he says, "we
have not used this power, but suffer (love beareth all things, 13: 7) all things, lest we
should hinder the gospel of Christ". This noble self-denial, however, was cruelly
misrepresented:--
"Have I committed an offence in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I
have preached to you the gospel of God freely? I have robbed other churches, taking
wages of them, to do you service" (II Cor. 11: 7, 8).
"I will gladly spend and be spent for you; though the mire abundantly I love you, the
less I be loved".
Then one can almost hear the sigh that escapes him,
"Be it so, I did not burden you, but being crafty, I caught you with guile" (12: 15, 16).
He could not, however, let it appear that he really had been crafty, his whole being
revolted against the injustice of these charges, "Did I make a gain of you"? he cried, and
refuted the charge so repugnant to his desires and motives.
Thus beside the murderous hatred of his own countrymen, the very churches that
owed, humanly speaking, their spiritual existence to his self-denying endeavours,
contributed to the apostle's sufferings of mind and body, yet, with every evidence that
every injustice and unkindness was keenly felt, and that the physical sufferings were a
severe strain upon the "earthen vessel", he pursued his course, and it is a joy to us to
know that he could write the inspired statement, I have finished my course.
May grace be given us to follow this devoted servant in so far as he followed his Lord.