Commentary on the Epistles to the Corinthians John Calvin
John Calvin vos autem robusti: vos gloriosi, nos autem ignobiles.
11. Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwelling-place;
11. Ad hanc enim horam usque et sitimus, et esurimus, et nudi sumus, et colaphis caedimur.
12. And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:
12. Etcircumagimur, et laboramus operantes manibus propriis: maledictis lacessiti benedicimus: persequutionem patientes sustinemus:
13. Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day.
13. Conviciis affecti obsecramus: quasi exsecrationes mundi facti sumus, omnium reiectamentum usque ad hunc diem.
14. I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you
14. Non quo pudorem vobis incutiam, haec scribo: sed ut filios meos dilectos admoneo.
15. For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.
15. Nam etsi decem millia paedagogorum habueritis in Christo, non tamen multos patres; in Christo enim Iesu par Evangelium ego vos genui.
9. For I think, etc. It is uncertain whether he speaks of himself exclusively, or takes in at the same time Apollos and Silvanus, for he sometimes calls such persons apostles. I prefer, however, to understand it of himself exclusively. Should any one be inclined to extend it farther, I shall have no particular objection, provided only he does not understand it as Chrysostom does, to mean that the apostles were as if for the sake of ignominy reserved to the last place. 234 For there can be no doubt that by the term last, he means those who were admitted to the rank of apostles subsequently to the resurrection of Christ. Now, he admits that he is like those who are exhibited to the people when on the eve of being led forth to death. For such is the meaning of the word exhibited — as those who on occasion of a triumph were led round 235 for the sake of show, and were afterwards hurried away to prison to be strangled.
This he expresses more distinctly by adding, that they were made a spectacle. "This," says he, "is my condition, that I exhibit to the world a spectacle of my miseries, like those who having been condemned to fight with wild beasts, 236 or to the games of the gladiators, or to some other mode of punishment, are brought forth to the view of the people, and that not before a few spectators, but before the whole world." Observe here the admirable
234"Et bien peu estimez;" — "And very little esteemed." 235"On pourmenoit par toute la ville les poures prisonniers;" — "They led the poor prisoners round the whole town."
236"Condamnez a seruir de passe-temps en combatrant contre des bestes;" — "Condemned to serve as a pastime in fighting against wild beasts."