5. I would, however, proceed
to a more searching2486
and
diligent consideration and
handling of these words, had I not other places of his
Epistles
much more manifest, by comparing which, both these are made more
clearly manifest, and if these were not in existence, those others
would suffice. To the Corinthians, namely, writing of this same
thing, he saith thus, “Am I not free? am I not an
Apostle?
2487
| 2487 So Griesbach amd Lachmann. But
text recept. “Am I not an Apostle? am I not free?” |
Have I not
seen
Christ Jesus our
Lord? Are not ye my
work in the
Lord? If to
others I am not an
Apostle, to you assuredly I am. For the seal of
mine Apostleship are ye in the
Lord. My
defense to them which
interrogate me is this. Have we not
power to eat and to drink? Have
we not
power to lead about a
woman who is a sister,
2488
as also
the other
Apostles, and the
brethren of the
Lord, and
Cephas?”
See how first he shows what is
lawful to him, and therefore
lawful
for that he is an
Apostle. For with that he began, “Am I not
free? am I not an
Apostle?” and
proves himself to be an
Apostle,
saying, “Have I not seen
Christ Jesus our
Lord? Are not ye my
work in the
Lord?” Which being
proved, he shows that to be
lawful
to him which was so to the other
Apostles; that is, that he should
not
work with his
hands, but
live by the
Gospel, as the
Lord
appointed, which in what follows he has most openly
demonstrated; for to this end did also
faithful women which had
earthly substance go with them, and
minister unto them of their
substance, that they might lack none of those things which pertain
to the necessities of this
life. Which thing
blessed Paul
demonstrates to be
lawful indeed unto himself, as also the other
Apostles did it, but that he had not chosen to use this
power he
afterwards mentions. This thing some not understanding, have
interpreted not “a
woman which is a sister,” when he said,
“Have we not
power to lead about a sister a
woman;” but, “a
sister a
wife.” They were misled by the ambiguity of the
Greek
word, because both “
wife” and “
woman” is expressed in
Greek
by the same word. Though indeed the
Apostle has so put this that
they ought not to have made this mistake; for that he neither says
“a
woman” merely, but “a sister
woman;” nor “to take”
(as in
marriage), but “to take about” (as on a journey).
Howbeit other interpreters have not been misled by this ambiguity,
and they have interpreted “woman” not “wife.”
E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
