John Chrysostom

"Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one." Why, "save one?" There was an ancient law that he who had received more than the forty should be held disgraced amongst them. Lest then the vehemence and impetuosity of the executioner by inflicting more than the number should cause a man to be disgraced, they decreed that they should be inflicted, "save one," that even if the executioner should exceed, he might not overpass the forty, but remaining within the prescribed number might not bring degradation on him that was …

Homily 25 on 2 Corinthians ↗

Theophylact of Ohrid

Why only one less? There existed a law according to which anyone who received more than forty strikes was stripped of honor. Why was it determined to give forty minus one, that is, thirty-nine? So that if the one striking, getting carried away, gave an extra blow, he would still have given no more than forty, and the one being beaten would not lose his honor, since even in that case he would have been subjected to the lawful number of strikes.

Commentary on 2 Corinthians ↗

Thomas Aquinas

Then he manifests the two extreme dangers he underwent. And first, the danger of lashes; secondly, the danger of death. But he shows the danger of lashes by citing those he suffered from his own, that is, from the Jews. Hence he says, Five times I have received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. It should be noted that, as it says in Deut. (25:2): "A number of stripes in proportion to his offense. …

Commentary on 2 Corinthians ↗