17. let no man trouble me--by opposing my apostolic authority, seeing
that it is stamped by a sure seal, namely, "I (in contrast to the
Judaizing teachers who gloried in the flesh) bear
(as a high mark of honor from the King of kings)."
the marks--properly, marks branded on slaves to indicate their owners.
So Paul's scars of wounds received for Christ's sake, indicate to whom
he belongs, and in whose free and glorious service he is
(2Co 11:23-25).
The Judaizing teachers gloried in the circumcision mark in the flesh of
their followers: Paul glories in the marks of suffering for
Christ on his own body (compare
Ga 6:14;
Php 3:10;
Col 1:24).
the Lord--omitted in the oldest manuscripts.
JFB.
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