Mine answer to them that do examine me is this,
My defence to them that examine me is this.
My defence to those who examine me in this;
My defence to those who examine me is this:
1 Corinthians — A pastoral letter answering a long list of questions and problems — unity, ethics, worship, and the resurrection — written to a gifted but divided church.
Rare words are the text's own signal of a deliberate thread — the fewer the occurrences, the more the places it appears belong together.
The verses this one reaches11
The former, however, preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can add to the distress of my chains.
You are looking at outward appearances. If anyone is confident that he belongs to Christ, he should remind himself that we belong to Christ just as much as he does.
“Brothers and fathers, listen now to my defense before you.”
If anyone considers himself a prophet or spiritual person, let him acknowledge that what I am writing you is the Lord’s command.
since you are demanding proof that Christ is speaking through me. He is not weak in dealing with you, but is powerful among you.
I told them that it is not the Roman custom to hand a man over before he has had an opportunity to face his accusers and defend himself against their charges.
Be that as it may, I was not a burden to you; but crafty as I am, I caught you by trickery.
This is why I write these things while absent, so that when I am present I will not need to be severe in my use of the authority that the Lord gave me for building you up, not for tearing you down.
Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Can’t you see for yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you—unless you actually fail the test?
At my first defense, no one stood with me, but everyone deserted me. May it not be charged against them.
It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart. For in my chains and in my defense and confirmation of the gospel, you are all partners in grace with me.
Voices3
Paul says that if anyone wants to examine his works, let him look at the Corinthians, for they are a sufficient witness to his labors.
Theodoret of Cyrus· COMMENTARY ON THE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS 219, 458patristic
Mine answer to them that do examine me is this.
John Gill· Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748)reformed
Mine answer - Greek Ἡ ἐμὴ ἀπολογία Hē emē apologia. My apology; my defense. The same word occurs in Act 22:1; Act 25:16; 2Co 7:11; Php 1:7, Php 1:17; 2Ti 4:16; 1Pe 3:15; see the note at Act 22:1. Here it means his answer, or defense against those who sat in judgment on his claims to be an apostle. To them that do examine me. - To those who inquire of me; or who censure and condemn me as not having any claims to the apostolic office.
Albert Barnes· Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)evangelical
The walk8
Follow this verse’s cross-references two steps out. Each card is a verse this one points to, and beneath it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several different paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first — the text keeps returning to it. Every stop shows its own words, and every stop is a page.
Through
1 Corinthians 14:37If anyone considers himself a prophet or spiritual person, let him acknowledge that what I am writing you is the Lord’s command.
leads to
We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. That is how we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of deception.
You are looking at outward appearances. If anyone is confident that he belongs to Christ, he should remind himself that we belong to Christ just as much as he does.
But you, beloved, remember what was foretold by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ
by recalling what was foretold by the holy prophets and commanded by our Lord and Savior through your apostles.
Through
2 Corinthians 13:3since you are demanding proof that Christ is speaking through me. He is not weak in dealing with you, but is powerful among you.
leads to
For it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
Through
Philippians 1:17The former, however, preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can add to the distress of my chains.
leads to
to which I was appointed as a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher.
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves.
The whole web at once: see the Arc.
