Commentary on the Epistles to the Corinthians John Calvin (continued)
Commentary on the Corinthians
2 Corinthians 11:30-33
2 Corinthians 11:30-33 30. If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities.
30. Si gloriari oportet, in iis quae infirmitatis meae sunt gloriabor. 31. The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not.
31. Deus et Pater Domini nostri Iesu Christi novit, qui est benedictus in saecula, quod non mentiar.
32. In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king kept the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desirous to apprehend me;
32. Damasci Aretas, regius gentis praefectus, custodiebat urbem Damascenorum, volens me apprehendere. (Acts 9:24, 25.)
33. And through a window in a basket was I let down by the wall, and escaped his hands.
33. Et per fenestram demissus fui in sporta per muros, atque effugi manus eius.
30. If he must glory. Here we have the conclusion, drawn from all that has gone before — that Paul is more inclined to boast of those things that are connected with his infirmity, that is, those things which might, in the view of the world, bring him contempt, rather than glory, as, for example, hunger, thirst, imprisonments, stonings, stripes, and the like — those things, in truth, that we are usually as much ashamed of, as of things that incur great dishonor. 1763
31. The God and Father As he was about to relate a singular feat, 1764 which, at the same time, was not well known, he confirms it by making use of an oath. Observe, however, what is the form of a pious oath, 1765 — when, for the purpose of declaring the truth, we reverently call God as our witness. Now this persecution was, as it were, Paul's first apprenticeship, 1766 as appears from Luke, (Acts 9:23-25); but if, while yet a raw recruit, he was exercised in such beginnings, what shall we think of him, when a veteran soldier? As, however, flight gives no evidence of a valiant spirit, it may be asked, why it is that he makes mention of his flight? I answer, that the gates of the royal city having been closed, clearly showed with what rage the wicked were inflamed against him; and it was on no light grounds that they had been led to entertain such a feeling, 1767 for if Paul had not fought for 1763"De toutes lesquelles nous n'avons point de honte coustumierement, que si nous estions vileinement diffamez;" — "Of all which we feel ordinarily as much ashamed, as if we had been shockingly defamed."
1764"Vn acte singulier de vray champion de guerre;" — "A singular feat of a true champion of war."
1765"De iurement sainete et lieitc;" — "Of a holy and lawful oath." 1766Calvin, when commenting on the passage referred to, (Acts 9:23-25,) makes use of a similar expression: "Hoc tiroeinio ad erueem ferendam mature assuefaetus fuit;" — "By this apprenticeship he was early inured to the endurance of the cross." — Ed.
1767"Et qu'ils n'auoyent point conceu telle fureur pour vne chose leger et de petite conse-