Commentary on the Epistles to the Corinthians John Calvin (continued)
Commentary on the Corinthians death; for it was an ignominious kind of death to which he was exposed. "To what purpose were it," says he, "for me to incur infamy in connection with a most cruel death, if all my hopes were confined to this world?" According to the manner of men, means in this passage, in respect of human life, so that we obtain a reward in this world.
Now by those that fought with beasts, are meant, not those that were thrown to wild beasts, as Erasmus mistakingly imagined, but those that were condemned to be set to fight with wild beasts — to furnish an amusement to the people. There were, then, two kinds of punishment, that were totally different — to be thrown to wild beasts, and to fight with wild beasts. For those that were thrown to wild beasts were straightway torn in pieces; but those that fought with wild beasts went forth armed into the arena, that if they were endued with strength, courage, and agility, they might effect their escape by dispatching the wild beasts. Nay more, there was a game in which those who fought with wild beasts were trained, like the gladiators 975
Usually, however, very few escaped, because the man who had dispatched one wild beast, was required to fight with a second, 976 until the cruelty of the spectators was satiated, or rather was melted into pity; and yet there were found men so abandoned and desperate, as to hire themselves out for this! 977 And this, I may remark by the way, is that kind of hunting that is punished so severely by the ancient canons, as even civil laws brand it with a mark of infamy. 978
I return to Paul. 979 We see what an extremity God allowed his servant to come to, and how wonderfully, too, he rescued him. Luke, 980 however, makes no mention of this fight. Hence we may infer that he endured many things that have not been committed to writing.
975"Et mesme comme il y auoit le ieu de l'escrime pour duire des gens h combatre les vns contre les nutres, pour donner passetemps au peuple, aussi il y auoit vn ieu auquel on faconnoit des gens a combatre contre les bestes es spectacles publiques;" — "Nay more, as there was a game of fencing for training persons for fighting with each other, to afford amusement to the people, so there was a game in which they made persons fight with wild beasts in the public shows."
976"N' estoit pas quitte, mais il luy faloit retourner au combat contre la seconde." — "He was not let go, but had to return to fight with a second."
977"Sometimes freemen, of desperate circumstances, sought a precarious subsistence by hazarding their lives in this profession; but it was chiefly exercised by slaves, and prisoners of war, whom their masters or conquerors devoted to it; or by condemned persons, to whom was thus afforded an uncertain prolongation of existence, dependent upon their own prowess, activity, or skill." — Illustrated Commentary. — Ed.
978"What was called venatio," (hunting,)"or the fighting of wild beasts with one another, or with men called bestiarii, (fighters with wild beasts,) who were either forced to this by way of punishment, as the primitive Christians often were; or fought voluntarily, either from a natural ferocity of disposition, or induced by hire, (auctoramento,) Cic. Tusc. Quaest. it. 17. Faro. 7:1., Off. it. 16., Vat. 17. An incredible number of animals of various kinds were brought from all quarters, for the entertainment of the people, and at an immense expense. Cic. Faro. 8:2, 4, 6. They were kept in inclosures, called vivaria, till the day of exhibition. Pompey in his second consulship exhibited at once 500 lions, who were all dispatched in five days; also 18 elephants. Dio. 39. 38. Plin. 8.7." Adam's Roman Antiquities, (Edin. 1792,). — Ed.
979"Ie retourne maintenant a parler de Sainct Paul;" — "I now return to speak of St. Paul." 980"Sainct Luc aux Actes;" — "St. Luke in the Acts."