Fathers

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What the Fathers say

2 Corinthians 11:6

Eastern Fathers

John Chrysostom

"But though I be rude in speech, yet am I not in knowledge." For since those that corrupted the Corinthians had the advantage in this, that they were not rude; he mentions this also, showing that he was not ashamed of, but even prided himself upon it. And he said not, "But though I be rude in speech," yet so also are they, for this would have seemed to be accusing them as well as himself, and exalting these: but he overthrows the thing itself, the wisdom from without. …

Homily 23 on 2 Corinthians ↗

Theophylact of Ohrid

Since the false apostles prided themselves on not being unskilled, he shows that he does not shun such lack of skill, but even considers it an honor. And he does not say: if I am unskilled, then the other apostles are the same—so as not to appear to condemn them; instead he demeans the very matter of worldly wisdom, as he also showed in the first epistle that it is not only useless but even harmful to the glory of the Cross. So, I am rude in speech, but not in knowledge. …

Commentary on 2 Corinthians ↗

Clement of Alexandria

The primacy of knowledge the apostle shows to those capable of reflection, in writing to those Greeks of Corinth, in the following terms: "But having hope, when your faith is increased, that we shall he magnified in you according to our rule abundantly, to preach the Gospel beyond you." He does not mean the extension of his preaching locally: for he says also that in Achaia faith abounded; and it is related also in the Acts of the Apostles that he preached the word in Athens. …

The Stromata Book 6 ↗

Western Saints

Jerome

Paul was learned in Hebrew letters and sat at the feet of Gamaliel, whom he was not ashamed to acknowledge, but he showed a contempt for Greek eloquence, or at least he kept quiet about it because of his humility, so that his preaching lay not in the persuasiveness of his words but in the power of his signs.

Against Rufinus 1.17 ↗

Thomas Aquinas

But lest perhaps they should say to him: whence did you obtain the faculty to do this, since you are unskilled in our speech? He shows that the faculty is due to the vastness of his knowledge, saying, even if I am unskilled in speaking, I am not in knowledge: "So also our beloved brother Paul wrote to you according to the wisdom given him" (2 Pet. 3:15). …

Commentary on 2 Corinthians ↗