Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Corinthians 11:10
As the truth of Christ is in me, no man shall stop me of this boasting in the regions of Achaia.
10. As the truth of Christ is in me ] Rather, the truthe of Crist is in me (Wiclif, whom the Geneva and Rheims versions follow here) or if the truth (Tyndale and Cranmer). “There is no oath” (Dean Alford, who refers to Rom 9:1). “The mind of Christ is in him (1Co 2:16), the heart of Christ beats in him (Php 1:8), Christ speaks in him (ch. 2Co 13:3), and all this through the Spirit of Christ which dwells in him.” Meyer.
stop me ] This boasting shall not be stopped in me, margin. The Greek word signifies to wall or fence round. Bp Wordsworth thinks that an allusion is here made to the Isthmian Wall, and refers to several passages in ancient history which speak of the value of such a fortification in the defence of the Peloponnesus. But it is possible that no such allusion was intended. The word is used in the N. T. (as in Rom 3:19; Heb 11:33) of stopping the mouth.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
As the truth of Christ is in me – That is, I solemnly declare this as in the presence of Christ. As I am a Christian man; as I feel bound to declare the truth, and as I must answer to Christ. It is a solemn form of asseveration, equal to an oath; see the note on Rom 9:1; compare 1Ti 2:7.
No man shall stop me … – Margin, This boasting shall not be stopped in me; see the note on 1Co 9:15. The idea here is, that Paul was solemnly determined that the same thing should continue. He had not been burdensome to any, and he was resolved that he would not be. Rather than be burdensome he had labored with his own hands, and he meant to do it still. No man in all Achaia should ever have reason to say that he had been an idler, and had been supported by the churches when he was doing nothing. It was the fixed and settled purpose of his life never to be burdensome to any man. What a noble resolution! How fixed were the principles of his life! And what an instance of magnanimous self-denial and of elevated purpose! Every man, minister or otherwise, should adopt a similar resolution. He should resolve to receive nothing for which he has not rendered a fair equivalent, and resolve if he has health never to be a burden to his friends or to the church of God. And even if sick he may yet feel that he is not burdensome to others. If he is gentle and grateful; if he makes no unnecessary care; and especially if he furnishes an example of patience and piety, and seeks the blessing of God on his benefactors, he furnishes them what they will usually esteem an ample equivalent. No man need be burdensome to his friends; and all should resolve that by the grace of God they never will be. There is considerable variety in the mss. here (see Mill on the place), but in regard to the general sense there can be no doubt. Nothing should ever hinder this boasting; nothing should deprive him of the privilege of saying that he had not been a burden.
In the regions of Achaia – Achaia was that part of Greece of which Corinth was the capital; see the note on Act 18:12.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 10. As the truth of Christ is in me] . The truth of Christ is in me. That is: I speak as becomes a Christian man, and as influenced by the Gospel of Christ. It is a solemn form of asseveration, if not to be considered in the sense of an oath.
In the regions of Achaia.] The whole of the Peloponnesus, or Morea, in which the city of Corinth stood. From this it appears that he had received no help from any of the other Churches in the whole of that district.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
The apostle often repeateth this, glorying much in it, that in this region of Achaia he had preached the gospel without charge to the hearers: he did so also at Thessalonica, 1Th 2:5,6,9; but concerning them, he saith, what he no where saith of the Corinthians, that they received the word in much affliction; which might, probably, be the cause. It is most likely that he either discerned this people to be more covetous, and too much lovers of their money: or that there was a generation among them, who, if he had taken wages for his labours, would have reproached him as one that was a hireling, and who did all that he did for money. And, indeed, himself seemeth in the next verses to give this as a reason.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
10. Greek, “There is(the) truth of Christ in me that,” &c. (Ro9:1).
no man shall stop me ofTheoldest manuscripts read, “This boasting shall not be shut(that is, stopped) as regards me.” “Boasting is asit were personified . . . shall not have its mouth stopped as regardsme” [ALFORD].
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
As the truth of Christ is in me,…. To show the firmness of his resolution, and how determined he was to abide by it, he joins an oath to it; for these words are the form of an oath; and it is as if he should say, as sure as Christ is truth, who is in me; or as that the truth of grace, or the truth of the Gospel of Christ is in my heart and mouth, so sure will I constantly persevere in this determination; or let the truth of Christ never be thought to be in me, if I do not:
no man shall stop me of this boasting in the regions of Achaia; or this boasting shall not be stopped in me; of preaching the Gospel freely at Corinth, and that he had not been chargeable and burdensome to them; nor would he be for time to come, neither there, nor in any part of Achaia, of which Corinth was the metropolis;
[See comments on 2Co 9:2]. No man should stop his mouth from boasting of this, by putting anything into his hands, for he was determined not to receive anything from any person in these climates; not but that he reserved a liberty in himself to receive from other persons and churches, for his comfortable subsistence, and so much the limitation of his resolution to these parts implies; for if he had not intended to have received a supply from any persons whatever, the restriction to the regions of Achaia would have been unnecessary; and he should rather have said, that no man should stop him of this boasting in any part of the world. The Vulgate Latin version reads, “this boasting shall not be broken”; and to the same sense the Syriac version, “this boasting shall not be abolished”.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
No man shall stop me of this glorying ( ). More exactly, “This glorying shall not be fenced in as regards me.” Second future passive of , to fence in, to stop, to block in. Old verb, only here in N.T.
In the regions of Achaia ( ). from , to incline, is Koine word for declivity slope, region (our climate). See chapter 1Co 9 for Paul’s boast about preaching the gospel without cost to them.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
No man shall stop me of this boasting [ ] . Lit., this boasting shall not be blocked up as regards me. The boasting is that of preaching gratuitously. For the verb, compare Rom 3:19; Heb 11:33.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1 ) “As the truth of Christ is in me “ (estin aletheia Christou en emoi) “The truth of Christ is in me,” not distorted, diluted, or compromised, as some do, Rom 1:25; Rom 3:7; Rom 15:8; Joh 8:32.
2) “No man shall stop me of this boasting,” (hoti he kauchesis aute hou phragesetai eis me) “So that no man shall stop me of this boasting;” that truth exists in Jesus Christ, where thus freedom also exists, Joh 8:36; true freedom, independence to witness, Act 1:8; 2Co 7:14.
3) “In the regions of Achaia,” (en tois klimasin tes Achaias) “in the regions (territories) of Achaia;” Paul asserted that intellectual cynics and accusers simply would not “fence him in” or away from keeping on for Christ, 1Co 15:58.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
10. The truth of Christ is in me. Lest any one should suspect, that Paul’s words were designed to induce the Corinthians to be more liberal to him in future, and endeavor to make amends for their error in the past, he affirms with an oath, that he would take nothing from them, or from others in Achaia, though it were offered to him. For this manner of expression — the truth of Christ is in me, is in the form of oath. Let me not be thought to have the truth of Christ in me if I do not retain this glorying among the inhabitants of Achaia. Now Corinth was in Achaia. (827)
(827) “See Calvin on the Corinthians, vol. 1, p. 37.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(10) As the truth of Christ is in me . .The formula is almost, though not quite, of the nature of an oath. He speaks here, as in Rom. 9:1, in the consciousness that the truth of Christ (the objective sense of the truth revealed in Christ seems almost merged in the subjective sense of the truthfulness that was of the essence of His nature) dwells in him, and that therefore he cannot but speak the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.
No man shall stop me of this boasting.Literally, This boast shall not be stopped for me. The verb for stop means primarily to hedge round, or fence. In the New Testament, as in Rom. 3:19, it is always used of stopping the mouth. Here, with something like a personification, he says that his boast shall not have its mouth thus sealed.
In the region of Achaia.The word (klima) is peculiar to St. Paul among the writers of the New Testament (Rom. 15:23; Gal. 1:21). Like our word climate, which is derived from it, it was originally a term of science, and had passed gradually into colloquial usage. He names the province and not the cityprobably to include Cenchre. There is no evidence of his having preached in any other locality south of the Isthmus of Corinth.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
10. As A solemn asseveration.
Stop me Fence me off. Wordsworth suggests this as a happy image drawn from the wall across the isthmus of Corinth, fencing the regions of Achaia from Northern Greece, whence Paul was writing.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘As the truth of Christ is in me, no man shall stop me of this glorying in the regions of Achaia. And why? Because I love you not? God knows.’
And ‘as the truth of Christ is in him’. That is what matters to him. It is because he is full of the truth of Christ that he will glory in making the Gospel without charge throughout Achaia (ancient Achaia, the region around Corinth). That is the reason why he does not want to be a pedlar of knowledge. He does not want any hindrance to the spread of this truth. He does not want there to be any danger that he might be accused of false motives. He wants all to recognise that what matters to him is the truth of Christ. But did they think that he was doing this because he did not love them? Let them think about it. Such an idea was folly. Indeed ‘God Himself knows’ the truth. He was doing it precisely because of his loving concern for them, and because he wanted the best for them.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Paul insists upon observing this course on account of the false teachers:
v. 10. As the truth of Christ is in me, no man shall stop me of this boasting in the regions of Achaia.
v. 11. Wherefore? Because I love you not? God knoweth.
v. 12. But what I do, that I will do that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion, that, wherein they glory, they may be found even as we.
v. 13. For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
v. 14. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
v. 15. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works. It was no mere caprice of an erratic genius that caused Paul to act thus in the case of Corinth, as he now brings out. First of all, he states, with the greatest emphasis, that he intended to continue his course as he had begun, by pledging the truth of Christ which lived in him, in opposition to all falsehood and hypocrisy, as a security for his statement that this particular boast was not to be obstructed for him, should not be suppressed, so far as the regions of Achaia were concerned; no one should ever succeed in stopping his mouth, in changing the firmness of this resolve. And lest someone in the Corinthian congregation might think that there was a personal reason in this determination, directed against the members as such, he hastens to add: Why? Because I do not love you? God knows! He calls upon God to be witness of the fact that his resolution to receive nothing from them did not originate in any absence of love for them. His affection for the members of the congregation as such remained unaltered: it was in no way concerned in this matter.
The apostle now states the reason for his resolve: But what I am doing, that I must I do in order that I may cut off the occasion from those that desire an occasion, that in the matter of their boast they may be found even as we. Paul was firmly determined to continue his course of not accepting financial help from the Corinthian congregation because he wanted to take away every valid reason on the part of the opponents for continuing their career of malicious misrepresentation. They boasted of their own unselfishness and disinterestedness without reason, and therefore Paul was determined by a course of absolute disinterestedness, not only to cut off all occasion for ascribing to him mercenary motives, but to compel them to assume a like position in actual practice Let them do what Paul was doing, and there would be some reason for listening to their claims; let them do at least so much before proclaiming themselves as the examples of superiority and excellence, as the paragons of true apostles and exemplary workers!
This was, of course, out of the question in men that sought only their own advantage, and so Paul characterizes them in their true colors: For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves outwardly into, assuming the appearance of, apostles of Christ. That is their proper place, that is their true character. Professing to be apostles of Christ, they were lying; urging their work in the interest of the Lord, they were deceiving; although nothing but base hypocrites, they were assuming the form of Christ’s emissaries. As one commentator has it: “They disguised themselves, first, in respect to doctrine, inasmuch as they retained many words and names which belonged to Christianity, but which were only like empty husks wrapped around some seeds which belonged not there; secondly, in respect to conduct, inasmuch as they outwardly imitated the works which Christ’s apostles wrought, but they were destitute of that benevolence which constituted the perfection of a Christian’s doings.”
This the apostle finds altogether natural: And no wonder! For Satan himself assumes the form of an angel of light. So it is no great surprise that his servants assume the form of the ministers of righteousness; whose end will be according to their works. The disguise assumed by the false prophets accords altogether with their character. Satan is a power of darkness, Eph 6:12; Act 26:18, but for reasons of his own, as in the various temptations, he assumes the form and appearance of a pure and holy angel. And, so his agents, the false teachers, having learned to dissimulate just like their master, appear in the guise of messengers of righteousness: they resent the idea of their being impostors with a great show of righteous indignation. But the doom of such false apostles will be that of their lord, Php_3:19 ; Rom 6:21; 1Pe 4:17. Their assumed form of saintliness will be removed at the Last Judgment, and they will suffer the punishment of the hypocrites of all times. Mark: The spirit of our times aptly illustrates Satan’s ability to convert himself into the form of an angel of light, for the very words which are in the mouth of so many reformers today: enlightenment, progress, liberty, equality, culture, -are baits used to snare the unwary for unbelief. Mark also the uncompromising attitude of the apostle toward false teachers, entirely at variance with the false charity and unionism of our day which finds it expedient to accept even error for the sake of an outward union.
Fuente: The Popular Commentary on the Bible by Kretzmann
2Co 11:10 . Not in form an oath, but a very solemn assurance of the : there is truth of Christ in me, that , etc. That is to say: By the indwelling truth of Christ in me I assure you that , etc. The apostle is certain that as generally Christ lives in him (Gal 2:20 ), Christ’s mind is in him (see on 1Co 2:16 ), Christ’s heart beats in him (Phi 1:8 ), Christ speaks in him (2Co 13:3 ), all, namely, through the Spirit of Christ, which dwells in him (Rom 8:9 ff.); so, in particular, also truth of Christ is in him, and therefore all untruthfulness, lying, hypocrisy, etc., must be as foreign to him as to Christ Himself, who bears sway in him. The is the simple that , dependent on the idea of assurance , which lies at the bottom of the clause . . , and has its specific expression in this clause. Comp. , , Rom 14:11 . See Fritzsche, ad Rom. II. p. 242 f. Rckert’s view is more far-fetched: that . . . is the subject, of which Paul asserts that it is in him, i.e. what he says is a proposition, which just as certainly contains truth, as if Christ Himself said it. Olshausen attenuates the sense at variance with its literal tenor into: “as true as I am a Christian.” The thought is really the same in substance as that in Rom 9:1 : , , but the form of the conception is differen.
. ] this self-boasting will not be stopped in reference to me . The gloriatio spoken of, namely as to preaching gratuitously, is personified ; its mouth is not, as to what concerns the apostle, to be stopped, so that it must keep silence. Hofmann, not appreciating this personification, takes offence at the fact that the is supposed to have a mouth , while Rckert resorts to an odd artificial interpretation of . ( will not be cooped up in me ). Just because the is an action of the mouth , the personified has a mouth, which can be stopped . Comp. Theodore.
] Comp. Rom 3:19 ; Heb 11:33 ; LXX. Psa 106:42 ; Job 5:16 ; 2Ma 14:36 ; Wetstein, ad Rom. l.c. ; Jacobs, ad Anthol. XII. p. 297. It cannot surprise us that is not expressly subjoined, since this is obvious of itself, seeing that the is conceived as speaking . There is nothing in the context to justify the derivation of the expression from the damming up of running water, as Chrysostom and Theophylact, also Luther (see his gloss), and again Hofmann take it. There is just as little ground for de Wette’s suggestion, that is meant of hedging in a way (Hos 2:6 ).
] For, if Paul should so conduct himself that he could no longer boast of preaching gratuitously, the mouth of this would, in reference to him , be stopped. In this , as concerns me , there is implied a tacit comparison with others , who conducted themselves differently, and in regard to whom, therefore, the mouth of would be stoppe.
.] is more weighty, and at the same time more tenderly forbearing, than the direct , which would be (Chrysostom).
Fuente: Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer’s New Testament Commentary
10 As the truth of Christ is in me, no man shall stop me of this boasting in the regions of Achaia.
Ver. 10. As the truth of Christ is in me ] He confirms it with an oath, that he will not take a penny of them while he preacheth in those parts. A minister should be careful of whom he receives a kindness. Note further from this text, that lawful things, when they prove inexpedient and gravaminous, may be forborne by the bond of a covenant.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
10. ] The truth of Christ is in me, that ; i.e. ‘ I speak according to that truth of which Christ Himself was our example, when I say, that ;’ there is no oath, nor even asseveration, as E. V. and most Commentators introduce. The expression is exactly analogous to Rom 9:1 .
.] this boasting (not = , here or any where else) shall not be stopped (supply , which is not expressed, because being itself a matter of utterance , suits the sense of the verb without it) as regards (or against) me ( . is as it were personified shall not have its mouth stopped as regards me) in the regions of Achaia (where the is imagined as being and speaking ).
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
2Co 11:10 . . . . . .: as the Truth of Christ (we have . . , Rom 1:25 ; Rom 3:7 ; Rom 15:8 ; cf. Joh 14:6 , Eph 4:21 ) is in me (for the form of the asseveration see on 2Co 1:18 ; Rom 9:1 is not a true parallel to the constr. here), this glorying, sc. , in my independence, shall not be stopped, as far as I am concerned, in the regions of Achaia (see on 2Co 1:1 ); cf. 2Co 7:14 . The true reading is ; is “to fence,” but in N.T. (Rom 3:19 , Heb 11:33 ; cf. also Dan 6:22 ) is used with in the sense of “to stop” the mouth.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
no man, &c. Literally this glorying shall not (Greek. ou) be stopped (Greek. phrasso. See Rom 3:19) to (Greek. eis) me.
boasting. Greek. kauchesis. See Rom 3:27,
regions. Greek. klima, See Rom 15:23.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
10.] The truth of Christ is in me, that ; i.e. I speak according to that truth of which Christ Himself was our example, when I say, that ;-there is no oath, nor even asseveration, as E. V. and most Commentators introduce. The expression is exactly analogous to Rom 9:1.
.] this boasting (not = , here or any where else) shall not be stopped (supply , which is not expressed, because being itself a matter of utterance, suits the sense of the verb without it) as regards (or against) me (. is as it were personified-shall not have its mouth stopped as regards me) in the regions of Achaia (where the is imagined as being and speaking).
Fuente: The Greek Testament
2Co 11:10. , there is truth) The verb is emphatically put first; it stands [fast as the (a) truth of Christ]. The expression refers to a special truth,[79] comp. Rom 9:1, note.-, not) a metonymy or substitution of the consequent for the antecedent: my boasting will not be stopped, i.e., I will be in no way more burdensome to you hereafter than heretofore.
[79] Not to the truth in general: therefore the article is omitted.-ED.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
2Co 11:10
2Co 11:10
As the truth of Christ is in me, no man shall stop me of this glorying in the regions of Achaia.-This is a solemn form of earnestly saying he will not be stopped from this privilege of boasting that he preached the gospel without charge. (1Co 9:18). That is, in the regions of Achaia he did not intend to take help that would prevent his boasting. He designates this region because there his course had been attacked.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
Constrained to Silence Boasters
2Co 11:10-21
In vivid language, which proves how greatly he had been moved, the Apostle contrasts the false teachers who were injuring his converts with himself. They brought their disciples under bondage, exalted themselves, and lived in self-indulgence. He did not hesitate to unveil their true character and to designate them as emissaries of Satan. We need to fear a white devil even more than a black one. Satan conceals his deeds under the guise of an angel clothed in light; and as it is with him, so with his instruments; as their deeds are, so will be their end.
In the succeeding category, 2Co 11:16-21, Paul confesses freely that his words might seem in conflict with the humility that Jesus taught, and might savor of boastfulness and pride; but for the sake of the truth he stooped to the level of these false teachers, and adopted their own methods. Though he would not think of plundering or of smiting the disciples as these intruders did, yet he would meet the latter on their own ground. The proverb says, Answer a fool according to his folly, and this is an exact description of the Apostles defense. This much at least was clear: that the motive of his life was absolutely pure and selfless, and was capable of lifting him to a career of unparalleled heroism.
Fuente: F.B. Meyer’s Through the Bible Commentary
the truth: 2Co 11:31, 2Co 1:23, 2Co 12:19, Rom 1:9, Rom 9:1, Gal 1:20, 1Th 2:5, 1Th 2:10, 1Ti 2:7
no man shall stop me of this boasting: Gr. this boasting shall not be stopped in me, 2Co 11:12, 2Co 11:16, 2Co 11:17, 2Co 10:15, 1Co 9:15-18
the regions: 2Co 1:1, 2Co 9:2, Act 18:12, Act 18:27, Rom 16:5, 1Co 16:15, 1Th 1:7, 1Th 1:8
Reciprocal: 1Ki 13:8 – go 2Ki 5:16 – I will receive Job 27:4 – General 2Co 11:11 – God 2Co 12:16 – I did not Eph 4:21 – as Tit 1:11 – mouths
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
2Co 11:10. By looking to such sources for temporal support, he could still boast of giving the Gospel freely in Achaia, another name for Greece, of which Corinth was an important city.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
2Co 11:10. As the truth of Christ is in menot quite an oath, but a very solemn asseveration,no man shall stop me of this glorying in the regions of Achaia (of which Corinth was the capital). There seems to have been something about that locality which rendered it peculiarly desirable that he should be above all suspicion thereprobably it was the mercenary character of that trading community.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
Verse 10 While in Achaia, Paul would continue to refuse help from them, and would continue to boast about it.
Fuente: Gary Hampton Commentary on Selected Books
2Co 11:10-12. As the truth of Christ is in me As sure as I am a true Christian, and an apostle. The expression has the nature of an oath. See on Rom 9:1. No man shall stop me of this boasting For I will receive nothing from you. Wherefore For what reason have I resolved on this? Is it, as my enemies tell you, because I do not love you, and will not be obliged to you? God knoweth that is not the case. But what I do, &c. As if he had said, The true reason why I do so, and resolve to continue the same course, is this; that I may cut off occasion, namely, of reproaching me, or boasting of themselves, from them which desire occasion for so doing; that wherein they glory Namely, of their preaching freely, at least sometimes, or some of them, or pretending to do so; they may be found even as we To have no advantage over me in this respect. It would seem that the false teachers at Corinth, in imitation of the apostle, pretended to take nothing for their preaching, and boasted of their disinterestedness. Nevertheless, on other pretences they received presents from their disciples in private, nay, extorted them. See 2Co 11:20. Wherefore, to put these impostors to shame, and to oblige them really to imitate him, the apostle declared that he never had taken any thing, nor ever would take any thing from the Corinthians, whether in public or in private, on any account whatever.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
As the truth of Christ is in me, no man shall stop me of this glorying in the regions of Achaia.
Fuente: McGarvey and Pendleton Commentaries (New Testament)
Verse 10
In the, regions of Achaia. For certain reasons intimated in 2 Corinthians 11:12, Paul appears to have been particularly unwilling to receive any pecuniary aid from the churches in Achaia. It was in Corinth that he labored in his occupation of tent-maker, (Acts 18:3;) and from this passage it appears that, though he was willing to receive supplies from the Macedonian Christians he would not do it from those of Corinth. We often have occasion thus to observe that the apostolical arrangements were not conformed to any settled and uniform system, but were accommodated to the varying circumstances of each individual case.
Fuente: Abbott’s Illustrated New Testament
11:10 As the {g} truth of Christ is in me, no man shall {h} stop me of this boasting in the regions of Achaia.
(g) This is a form of an oath, as if he said, “Let me not be thought to have any truth in me.”
(h) Will be always open to me.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
Paul claimed that he had not sinned in behaving as he had (2Co 11:7). He had not deceived his readers. Rather, as God knew his heart, he had behaved as he had because he loved the Corinthians. Furthermore it was not necessary for him to change his policy of accepting or declining support on the basis of the welfare of those he served. His critics uniformly accepted support. By giving up his right to preach the gospel without cost Paul would have been descending to their level. He also would have enabled his critics to compare themselves with him favorably.