It should seem here at the first blush, that S. Paul striveth for himself, and for his own authority and credit. There were dogs that barked against him in times past, & specially the backsliders that had tasted of the Gospel: who to pretend some colour of their backsliding ⟨image 85⟩and of their renouncing of Christ, alleged thus for themselves. Tush it is well enough known, that the Apostles strove to wit who should be greatest, which was an unseemly thing, and showed well that they had ill borne away their masters doctrine, who commanded them to humble themselves in such wise, that every of them should make himself least, although he were the greatest. But we have to mark here, that S. Paul had no controversy with the Apostles, as he himself also declareth. Therefore there is some special cause why he magnifieth himself so much: which is, for that those dogs which laboured to set debate between the Apostles, & therewithal to turmoil and falsify the Gospel, pretended always too be the disciples of the Apostles and familiar with them, like as in these days we see many fugitives and shameless fellows▪ which abuse the names of Gods servants, and pass not to lie with open throat, saying: Oho, I learned it of such a man. And yet they speak of a matter that was never heard of, yea and their shamelessness overshooteth it self so far as to name the very cities, when as notwithstanding, if a man examine them throughly, he shall find the clean contrary. So then it was for S. Paul to show that the authority of men is not sufficient to deface the sovereign authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, nor the reverence that men ought to bear to his word. Therefore we see first of all, that Paul strove not here against Peter, James, or John, for he agreed very well with them. And secondly that he regarded not his own person, but meant to maintain Gods case: that is too wit, that he was ordained and established in the state of an Apostle▪ Mark for one point that he did not thrust himself in upon a bravery nor at adventure, but that God had chosen him thereunto, and that thereupon, he had so borne abroad the doctrine that was betaken unto him as the pure truth of God, and of our Lord Jesus Christ.
It should seeme here at the first blushe, that S. Paule striueth for himself, and for his own authoritie and credit. Ther were dogs that barked against him in times past, & specially the bāksliders that had tasted of the Gospel: who to pretēd som color of their backsliding ⟨image 85⟩and of their renouncing of Chryst, alledged thus for themselues. Tushe it is wel inough known, that the Apostles stroue to wit who should be greatest, which was an vnsemely thing, and shewed well that they had ill borne away their maysters doctrine, who cōmanded them to humble themselues in such wyse, that euery of them should make himselfe least, although he were the greatest. But wee haue to marke here, that S. Paule had no controuersie with the Apostles, as he himselfe also declareth. Therfore there is some speciall cause why he magnifieth himselfe so much: whiche is, for that those dogges which labored to set debate betwene the Apostles, & therwithall to turmoyle and falsifie the Gospell, pretended always too bee the disciples of the Apostles and familiar with them, lyke as in these dayes we see manie fugitiues and shamelesse fellowes▪ which abuse the names of Gods seruants, and passe not to lie with open throte, saying: Oho, I lerned it of suche a man. And yet they speake of a matter that was neuer heard of, yea and their shamelesnes ouershooteth it self so far as to name the verie cities, when as notwithstanding, if a man examin them throughly, he shall find the cleane contrarie. So then it was for S. Paule to shewe that the authoritie of men is not sufficient to deface the soueraigne authoritie of our Lord Iesus Christ, nor the reuerence that men ought to beare to his worde. Therfore we see fyrst of all, that Paule stroue not here against Peter, Iames, or Iohn, for he agreed verie wel with them. And secondly that he regarded not his owne person, but ment to maynteine Gods cace: that is too wit, that he was ordeined and established in the state of an Apostle▪ Marke for one point that he did not thruste himselfe in vpon a brauerie nor at aduenture, but that God had chosen him thervnto, and that thervppon, he had so borne abroade the doctrine that was betaken vnto him as the pure truth of God, and of our Lorde Iesus Chryste.
