He is forced to commend his own labours, perils, and sufferings, far above the false Apostles, lest the Corinthians, beguiled by the eloquence of those seducers, fall from the simplicity that is in Christ.He is forced to commend his own labours, perils, and sufferings, far above the false Apostles, lest the Corinthians, beguiled by the eloquence of those seducers, fall from the simplicity that is in Christ.✦
Would God you could bear some little of my folly: but do ye also support me:VVould God you could beare some litle of my folly: but do ye also support me:✦Utinam sustineretis modicum quid insipientiæ meæ, sed et supportare me :
2for I æmulor: to rival or imitate; to be jealous over, to love ardently you with the emulation of God. For I have espoused you to one man, to present you a chaste virgin unto Christ.for I emulate you with the emulation of God. For I haue despoused you to one man, to present you a chaste virgin vnto Christ.✦æmulor enim vos Dei æmulatione. Despondi enim vos uni viro, virginem castam exhibere Christo.
3But I fear lest, as the serpent seduced Eve by his subtlety, so your senses may be corrupted, and fall from the simplicity that is in Christ.But I feare lest, as the serpent seduced Eue by his subteltie, so your senses may be corrupted, & fall from the simplicitie that is in Christ.¶✦Timeo autem ne sicut serpens Hevam seduxit astutia sua, ita corrumpantur sensus vestri, et excidant a simplicitate, quæ est in Christo.
4For if he that cometh, preach another Christ whom we have not preached, or you receive another spirit whom you have not received: or another Gospel which you have not received: you might well pateremini: tolerate, bear with it.For if he that commeth, preache an other Christ whō we haue not preached, or you receiue an other spirit whom you haue not receiued: or an other Gospel which you haue not receiued: you might wel suffer it.✦Nam si is qui venit, alium Christum prædicat, quem non prædicavimus, aut alium spiritum accipitis, quem non accepistis : aut aliud Evangelium, quod non recepistis : recte pateremini.
5For I suppose that I have done nothing less than the great Apostles.For I suppose that I haue done nothing lesse then the great Apostles.✦Existimo enim nihil me minus fecisse a magnis Apostolis.
6For although imperitus: impolite, uncivil; unskilled, untrained (in speech) in speech, yet not in knowledge. but in all things we are made manifest to you.For although rude in speache, yet not in knowledge. but in al things we are made manifest to you.¶✦Nam etsi imperitus sermone, sed non scientia, in omnibus autem manifestati sumus vobis.
7Or did I commit a sin, humbling my self, that you might be exalted because I evangelized unto you the Gospel of God gratis: freely, without payment?Or did I commit a sinne, humbling my self, that you might be exalted because I euangelized vnto you the Gospel of God gratis?✦Aut numquid peccatum feci, meipsum humilians, ut vos exaltemini ? quoniam gratis Evangelium Dei evangelizavi vobis ?
8Other churches I expoliavi: ruined, marred; robbed, plundered, despoiled, taking a stipend, for your ministry.Other churches I spoiled, taking a stipend, for your ministerie.✦Alias ecclesias expoliavi, accipiens stipendium ad ministerium vestrum.
9And when I was with you, and had need, I was burdenous to none: for that which I defuit: desired; lacked, was in want of, the brethren supplied that came from Macedonia: and in all things I have kept my self without burden to you, and will keep.And when I was with you, and had neede, I was burdenous to none: for that which I wanted, the brethren supplied that came from Macedonia: & in al things I haue kept my self without burden to you, and wil keepe.✦Et cum essem apud vos, et egerem, nulli onerosus fui : nam quod mihi deerat, suppleverunt fratres, qui venerunt a Macedonia : et in omnibus sine onere me vobis servavi, et servabo.
10The truth of Christ is in me, that this glorying shall not be infringed toward me in the countries of Achaia.The truth of Christ is in me, that this glorying shal not be infringed toward me in the countries of Achaia.✦Est veritas Christi in me, quoniam hæc gloriatio non infringetur in me in regionibus Achaiæ.
11Wherefore? because I love you not? God doth know.Wherefore? because I loue you not? God doth know.Quare ? quia non diligo vos ? Deus scit.
12But that which I do, I will also do, that I may cut away the occasion of them that desire occasion: that, in that which they glory, they may be found even like us.But that which I doe, I wil also doe, that I may cut away the occasion of them that desire occasion: that, in that which they glorie, they may be found euen like vs.✦Quod autem facio, et faciam : ut amputem occasionem eorum qui volunt occasionem, ut in quo gloriantur, inveniantur sicut et nos.
13For such false apostles are crafty workers, transfiguring themselves into Apostles of Christ.For such false apostles are craftie workers, transfiguring them selues into Apostles of Christ.✦Nam ejusmodi pseudoapostoli sunt operarii subdoli, transfigurantes se in apostolos Christi.
14And no marvel: for Satan himself transfigureth himself into an Angel of light.And no maruel: for Satan him self transfigureth him self into an Angel of light.✦Et non mirum : ipse enim Satanas transfigurat se in angelum lucis.
15It is no great matter therefore if his ministers be transfigured as the ministers of justice: whose end shall be according to their works.It is no great matter therfore if his ministers be transfigured as the ministers of iustice: whose ende shal be according to their workes.Non est ergo magnum, si ministri ejus transfigurentur velut ministri justitiæ : quorum finis erit secundum opera ipsorum.
16Again I say, (let no man think me to be foolish: otherwise take me as foolish, that I also may glory a little,)Againe I say, (let no man thinke me to be foolish: otherwise take me as foolish, that I also may glorie a litle,)✦Iterum dico (ne quis me putet insipientem esse, alioquin velut insipientem accipite me, ut et ego modicum quid glorier),
17that which I speak, I speak not according to God, but as it were in foolishness, in this substance of glorying.that which I speake, I speake not according to God, but as it were in foolishnes, in this substance of glorying.✦quod loquor, non loquor secundum Deum, sed quasi in insipientia, in hac substantia gloriæ.
18Because many glory according to the flesh, I also will glory.Because many glorie according to the flesh, I also wil glorie.✦Quoniam multi gloriantur secundum carnem : et ego gloriabor.
19For you do gladly suffer the foolish: whereas your selves are wise.For you do gladly suffer the foolish: wheras your selues are wise.✦Libenter enim suffertis insipientes, cum sitis ipsi sapientes.
20For you suffer if a man bring you into servitude, if a man devour, if a man take, if a man be extollitur: highly praised; lifted up, exalts himself (over you), if a man strike you on the face.For you suffer if a man bring you into seruitude, if a man deuoure, if a man take, if a man be extolled, if a man strike you on the face.✦Sustinetis enim si quis vos in servitutem redigit, si quis devorat, si quis accipit, si quis extollitur, si quis in faciem vos cædit.
21I speak according to dishonour, as though we had been weak in this part. Wherein any man dare (I speak foolishly) I dare also.I speake according to dishonour, as though vve had been vveake in this part. Vvherein any man dare (I speake foolishly) I dare also.✦Secundum ignobilitatem dico, quasi nos infirmi fuerimus in hac parte. In quo quis audet (in insipientia dico) audeo et ego :
22They are Hebrews: and I. They are Israelites: and I. They are the seed of Abraham: and I.*They are Hebrevves: and I. They are Israëlites: and I. They are the seede of Abraham: and I.✦Hebræi sunt, et ego : Israëlitæ sunt, et ego : semen Abrahæ sunt, et ego.
23They are the ministers of Christ: and I. (I speak as one scarce wise) more I: in many more labours, in prisons more abundantly, in plagis: lashes, strokes of a scourge above measure, in deaths often.They are the ministers of Christ: and I. (I speake as one scarse vvise) more I: in many moe labours, in prisons more aboundantly, in stripes aboue measure, in deaths often.✦Ministri Christi sunt (ut minus sapiens dico), plus ego : in laboribus plurimis, in carceribus abundantius, in plagis supra modum, in mortibus frequenter.
24Of the Jews five times, did I receive forty, saving one.Of the Ievves fiue times, did I receiue *fourtie, sauing one.✦A Judæis quinquies, quadragenas, una minus, accepi.
25Thrice was I beaten with rods, once I was stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, night and day have I been in the depth of the sea,Thrise vvas I beaten vvith roddes, once I vvas stoned, thrise I suffred *shipvvracke, night and day haue I been in the depth of the sea,✦Ter virgis cæsus sum, semel lapidatus sum : ter naufragium feci, nocte et die in profundo maris fui,
26in journeying often, perils of waters, perils of thieves, perils of my nation, perils of Gentiles, perils in the city, perils in the wilderness, perils in the sea, perils among false brethren,in iourneying often, perils of vvaters, perils of theeues, perils of my nation, perils of Gentiles, perils in the citie, perils in the vvildernes, perils in the sea, perils among false brethren,✦in itineribus sæpe, periculis fluminum, periculis latronum, periculis ex genere, periculis ex gentibus, periculis in civitate, periculis in solitudine, periculis in mari, periculis in falsis fratribus :
27in labour and misery, in much watchings, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness,in labour and miserie, in much vvatchings, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in colde and nakednes,in labore et ærumna, in vigiliis multis, in fame et siti, in jejuniis multis, in frigore et nuditate,
28beside those things which are outwardly: my daily instantia: an example or case; urgent pressing, importunate care, the carefulness of all churches.beside those things vvhich are outvvardly: my daily b instance, the carefulnes of al churches.✦præter illa quæ extrinsecus sunt, instantia mea quotidiana, sollicitudo omnium ecclesiarum.
29Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is scandalizatur: shocked or morally offended; made to stumble, led into sin, and I am not uror: consumed by fire; inflamed (with grief and indignation)?Vvho is vveake, and I am not vveake? vvho is scandalized, and I am not *burnt?✦Quis infirmatur, et ego non infirmor ? quis scandalizatur, et ego non uror ?
30If I must glory: I will glory of the things that concern my infirmity.If I must glorie: I vvil glorie of the things that concerne my infirmitie.✦Si gloriari oportet, quæ infirmitatis meæ sunt, gloriabor.
31The God and Father of our Lord JESUS Christ, who is blessed for ever, knoweth that I lie not.The God and Father of our Lord IESVS Christ, vvho is blessed for euer, knovveth that I lie not.Deus et Pater Domini nostri Jesu Christi, qui est benedictus in sæcula, scit quod non mentior.
32At Damascus the Governor of the nation under Aretas the king, kept the city of the Damascenes, for to apprehend me;*At Damascus the Gouernour of the nation vnder Aretas the king, kept the citie of the Damascenes, for to apprehend me;✦Damasci præpositus gentis Aretæ regis custodiebat civitatem Damascenorum ut me comprehenderet :
33and through a window in a basket was I let down by the wall, and so escaped his hands.and through a vvindovv in a basket vvas I let dovvne by the vvall, and so escaped his handes.✦et per fenestram in sporta dimissus sum per murum, et sic effugi manus ejus.
Annotationsfrom the original 1582 Rheims New Testament
3From the simplicity. People fall from their first faith, virginity, and simplicity in Christ, not by sudden revolt, but by little and little, in giving ear to the subtle persuasion of the Serpent, speaking by the sweet mouths and allurements of Heretics, of which kind of seduction he giveth Eve for an example, who was by her greedy desire of knowledge and the Devil's promise of the same, drawn from the native simplicity and obedience to God. as at this day, promise and pretence of knowledge driveth many a poor soul from the sure, true, sincere, and only belief of God's Church.From the simplicitie. People fall from their first faith, virginitie, and simplicitie in Christ, not by sodē reuolt, but by litle & litle, in giuing eare to the subtil persuasiō of the Serpent, speaking by the svveete mouthes & illurements of Heretikes, of vvhich kind of seductiō he giueth Eue for an example, vvho vvas by her greedy desire of knovvledge and the Diuels promis of the same, drauven from the natiue simplicitie and obedience to God. as at this day, promis and pretence of knovvledge driueth many a poore soul from the sure, true, sincere, and onely beleefe of Gods Church.
6Rude in speech. Hereby we see that the seditious and false teachers have often the gift of eloquence whereby the simple be easily beguiled. Such were Core and Dathan, as Josephus writeth Antiq. l. 4. c. 2. for the same, St. Augustine (l. 5. Confess. 6. 3. & 13.) calleth the Heretic Faustus Manichaeus, magnum laqueum Diaboli, a great snare of the Devil, saying that he passed the glorious Doctor St. Ambrose in show of words, but far inferior to him (without all comparison) in substance and matter. In which sort the Apostle herein is glad to compare himself with the false Apostles, whom the Corinthians did follow and extol far above him by reason of their eloquence, granting to them that gift, but challenging to himself superiority in knowledge, which at wise men prefer before vain words. And it is the bane of our poor country, that the people nowadays give credit rather to new orators and foolish youngsters, for their sweet speeches: then to the glorious Doctors of Christ's Church, for their singular knowledge and more grave eloquence.Rude in speach. Hereby vve see that the seditious and false teachers haue often the gift of eloquence vvhereby the simple be easily beguiled. Such vvere Corē and Dathan, as Iosephus vvriteth Antiq. li. 4. c. 2. for the same, S. Augustine (li. 5 Confes. 6. 3. et 13.) calleth the Heretike Faustus Manichæus, magnum laqueum Diaboli, a great snare of the Diuel, saying that he passed the glorious Doctor S. Ambrose in shevv of vvordes, but farre inferior to him (vvithout al comparison) in substance and matter. In vvhich sort the Apostle herein is glad to compare him self vvith the false Apostles, vvhom the Corinthians did folovv and extoll farre aboue him by reason of their eloquence, graunting to them that gift, but chalenging to him self superioritie in knovvledge, vvhich at vvise men preferre before vaine vvordes. And it is the bane of our poore countrie, that the people novv a daies giue credit rather to nevv orators and folish yonkers, for their svveete speaches: then to the glorious Doctors of Christes Church, for their singular knovvledge and more graue eloquence.
The reading text follows the 1582 first edition. Facsimile available in two scans.