A Golden Chain

Object. 3.1. Cor. 4. I judge not my self, I know nothing by my self. Here Paul as not being privy to his own estate, re•useth to give any judgement of his righteousness. Ans. It is manifest by the words of this epistle, that certain in Corinth, boldly more then wisely, censured the Apostles ministry, and withal disgraced it in respect of the ministry of other teachers. Therefore Paul in this chapter goes about to make an Apology for himself, speaking nothing of his own person and the estate thereof before God, but only of his ministry and the excellency thereof. And this is the judgement of Theodoret, Aquinas, & Lira upon this text. And when he saith, I judge not my self, his meaning is, I take not upon me to judge of what value and price my ministry is before God in respect of the ministry of this or that man: but I leave all to God. Here then Paul refuseth only to give judgement of the excellency of his own ministry, and in other causes he refuseth not to judge himself, as when he said, I have fought a good fight, I have kept the saith, hence forth is laid up for me the crown of righteousness which the Lord the righteous judge shall give ⟨p. 878⟩me, 2. Tim. 4.8. And Chrysostom on this place saith, that Paul refused to judge himself not simply, but only for this end, that he might restrain others, and teach them modesty. And where Paul saith, I know nothing by my self, the speech is not general, but must be understood of the negligences and offences in the compass of his ministry. For he was privy to himself that in simplicity and godly pureness, he had his conversation in the world, 2. Cor. 1.12. and he knew this by himself, that nothing should sever him from the love of God in Christ. Rom. 8.38.

Obiect. 3.1. Cor. 4. I iudge not my selfe, I know nothing by my selfe. Here Paul as not being priuie to his owne estate, re•useth to giue any iudgement of his righteousnes. Ans. It is manifest by the wordes of this epistle, that certaine in Corinth, boldly more then wisely, censured the Apostles ministerie, and withall disgraced it in respect of the ministerie of other teachers. Therefore Paul in this chapter goes about to make an Apologie for himselfe, speaking nothing of his owne person and the estate thereof before God, but onely of his ministerie and the excellency thereof. And this is the iudgement of Theodoret, Aquinas, & Lira vpon this text. And when he saith, I iudge not my selfe, his meaning is, I take not vpon me to iudge of what value and price my ministerie is before God in respect of the ministerie of this or that man: but I leaue al to God. Here then Paul refuseth onely to giue iudgement of the excellencie of his owne ministerie, and in other causes he refuseth not to iudge himselfe, as when he said, I haue fought a good fight, I haue kept the saith, hence sorth is laid vp for me the crowne of righteousnesse which the Lord the righteous iudge shal giue