1 Corinthians 15

My Notes Authors John Calvin - Commentaries **_Last of all to me, as to one born prematurely, _He now introduces himself along with the others, for Christ had manifested himself to him as alive, and invested with glory. 2020 “En sa vie et gloire immortelle;” — “In his life and immortal glory.” As it was no deceptive vision, it was calculated to be of use 2121 “Elle estoit suffisante et receuable;” — “It was sufficient and admissible.” for establishing a belief in the resurrection, as he also makes use of this argument in Acts 26:8 . But as it was of no small importance that his authority should have the greatest weight and influence among the Corinthians, he introduces, by the way, a commendation of himself personally, but at the same time qualified in such a manner that, while he claims much for himself, he is at the same time exceedingly modest. Lest any one, therefore, should meet him with the objection: “Who art thou that we should give credit to thee?” he, of his own accord, confesses his unworthiness, and, in the first place, indeed he compares himself to one that is _born prematurely, _and that, in my opinion, with reference to his sudden conversion. For as infants do not come forth from the womb, until they have been there formed and matured during a regular course of time, so the Lord observed a regular period of time in creating, nourishing, and forming his Apostles. Paul, on the other hand, had been cast forth from the womb when he had scarcely received the vital spark. 2222 In accordance with the view taken by Calvin, _Bloomfield _considers the original term. ἔκτρωμα to mean, _a child born before the due time, (in _which sense the term _abortivus, _is employed by Horace, Sat. 1:3.46,) the Apostle “calling himself so as being an Apostle not formed and matured by previous preparation and instruction.” _Penn, _after quoting the definition given by Eustathius of the term ἔκτρωμα — τὸ μήπω τετυπώμενον — _an unformed foetus, _remarks: “To all the other Apostles our Lord appeared after his resurrection, when they had attained their _adult form _in his ministry; but to St. Paul he appeared at the first moment of his spiritual conception, and _before he was formed or moulded.” _The same view, in substance, is given by _McKnight. _“Although he” (Paul) “calls himself _an abortive Apostle, _it was not on account of his being sensible of any imperfection in his commission, or of any weakness in his qualifications as an Apostle; for he affirms, 2 Corinthians 11:5 , that he was _in nothing behind the very greatest of the Apostles; _but he called himself an _abortive Apostle, _because, as he tells us (1 Corinthians 15:9 ,) he _had persecuted the Church of God, _and because he was made an Apostle without that previous course of instruction and preparation, which the other Apostles enjoyed who had attended Jesus Christ during his ministry on earth; so that, in the proper sense of the word, he was ἔκτρωμα — born before he was brought to maturity. That want, however, was abundantly supplied by the many revelations which his master gave him after he made him an Apostle.” — Ed. There are some that understand the term rendered abortive as employed to mean posthumous; 2323 “C’est a dire qui est nay apres la mort de son pete;” — _“_That is to say, one that is born after the death of his father.” but the former term is much more suitable, inasmuch as he was in one moment begotten, and born, and a man of full age. Now this premature birth renders the grace of God more illustrious in Paul than if he had by little and little, and by _successive _steps, grown up to maturity in Christ.

My Notes Authors John Calvin - Commentaries **For I am the least It is not certain whether his enemies threw out this for the purpose of detracting from his credit, or whether it was entirely of his own accord, that he made the _acknowledgment. _For my part, while I have no doubt that, he was at all times voluntarily, and even cheerfully, disposed to abase himself, that he might magnify the grace of God, yet I suspect that in this instance he wished to obviate calumnies. For that there were some at Corinth that made it their aim to detract from his dignity by malicious slander, may be inferred not only from many foregoing passages, but also from his adding a little afterwards a comparison, which he would assuredly never have touched upon, if he had not been constrained to it by the wickedness of some, “Detract from me as much as you please — I shall suffer myself to be cast down below the ground — I shall suffer myself to be of no account whatever, 2424 “_Estre _estime moins que rien;” — “To be esteemed less than nothing.” that the goodness of God towards me may shine forth the more. Let me, therefore, be reckoned the _least of the Apostles: _nay more, I acknowledge myself to be unworthy of this distinction. For by what merits could I have attained to that honor? When _I persecuted the Church of God, _what did I merit? But there is no reason why you should judge of me according to my own worth, 2525 “Par ma petite et basse condition;” — “By my little and low condition.” for the Lord did not look to what I was, but made me by his grace quite another man.” The sum is this, that Paul does not refuse to be the most worthless of all, and next to nothing, provided this contempt does not impede him in any degree in his ministry, and does not at all detract from his doctrine. He is contented that, as to himself, he shall be reckoned unworthy of any honor, provided only he commends his apostleship in respect of the _grace conferred upon him. _And assuredly God had not adorned him with such distinguished endowments in order that his grace might lie buried or neglected, but he had designed thereby to render his apostleship illustrious and distinguished.