Again, think you that we excuse ourselves to
you?
&c.] The apostle would not have the Corinthians imagine, that
by what he had said once and again in this epistle, he meant to
excuse himself from coming to them, for he really and sincerely
intended it; or that by this long defence of himself against the
false apostles, he designed so much an apology for himself, or
that he used any feigned words, or artful methods, to exculpate
himself from any charge against him, particularly that of
covetousness just mentioned; for he had no view to cover himself
by studied apologies, and set orations, and evade anything
exhibited against him, and make himself look innocent when
guilty; it was not with any such intention he had dwelt so long
on this subject:
we speak before God in Christ;
in all sincerity and uprightness of soul, without colour, guile,
or deceit, calling God and Christ to witness the truth of what
was said; the apostle spoke all he did, as in the presence of the
omniscient God; and as one in Christ, and a preacher of his
Gospel, that would not deliver an untruth knowingly, for the
whole world:
but we do all things, dearly beloved, for your
edification;
it was not for himself so much, for his own credit, reputation,
and glory, he did what he did; had this been the case, he would
not have said the half part of what he had; but it was for their
sake, out of love to them, that they might be built up and
established in the faith of the Gospel, and not be carried away
with the error of the wicked.
