Commentary on the Epistles to the Corinthians John Calvin
John Calvin occupy themselves constantly ({ἐν} {παρέργοις}) 1731 in matters of inferior moment.
17. What I speak, I speak not after the Lord His disposition, it is true, had an eye to God, but the outward appearance 1732 might seem unsuitable to a servant of the Lord. At the same time, the things that Paul confesses respecting himself, he, on the other hand, condemns in the false Apostles. 1733 For it was not his intention to praise himself, but simply to contrast himself with them, with the view of humbling them. 1734 Hence he transfers to his own person what belonged to them, that he may thus open the eyes of the Corinthians. What I have rendered boldness, is in the Greek {ὑπόστασις}, as to the meaning of which term we have spoken in the ninth chapter. (2 Corinthians 9:4.) Subject-matter 1735 or substance, unquestionably, would not be at all suitable here. 1736
18. Since many glory. The meaning is — Should any one say to me, by way of objection, that what I do is faulty, what then as to others? Are not they my leaders? Am I alone, or am I the first, in glorying according to the flesh? Why should that be reckoned praiseworthy in them, that is imputed to me as a fault?" So far then is Paul from ambition in recounting his own praises, that he is contented to be blamed on that account, provided he exposes the vanity of the false apostles.
To glory after the flesh, is to boast one's self, rather in what has a tendency towards show, than in a good conscience. For the term flesh, here, has a reference to the world — when we seek after praise from outward masks, which have a showy appearance before the world, and are regarded as excellent. In place of this term he had a little before made use of the expression — in appearance. (2 Corinthians 10:7.)
19. For ye bear with fools willingly. He calls them wise — in my opinion, ironically. He was despised by them, which could not have been, had they not been puffed up with the greatest arrogance 1737 He says, therefore — "Since you are so wise, act the part of wise men in bearing with me, whom you treat with contempt, as you would a fool." Hence I infer, that this discourse is not
1731The term {παρέργον} denotes --- a matter of mere secondary importance. Thus Thucydides (6:58) says, {ὁς} {οὐκ} {ἐκ} {παρέργου} {τὸν} {πόλεμον} {ἐποιεῖτο} --- who did not make the war a secondary consideration. --- Ed.
1732"La facon exterieure en laquelle il procede;" — "The outward manner in which he goes to work."
1733"C'est plustos afin de lea condemner es faux-Apostres;" — "It is rather with the view of condemning them in the false Apostles."
1734"Afin de leur abbaisser le coquet:" — "With the view of bringing down their talk." 1735Calvin refers here to the rendering of Erasmus, and of the Vulgate. The term employed by Erasmus is argumenturm (subject-matter.) In accordance with this, Cranmer's version (1539) reads, "in this matter of boastinge." The Vulgate makes use of the term substantia, (substance.) Wiclif (1380) reads, "in this substance of glorie" The Rheims version (1582), "in this substance of glorying." — Ed.
1736"Certes il ne conueniendroit pas bien yci de traduire matiere ou substance, combien que le mot signifie quelque fois cela;" — "Certainly it would not be suitable here to render it subject-matter or substance, though the word sometimes bears that meaning."
1737"D'vne merueilleuse arrogance;" — "With an amazing arrogance."