Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,
Ver. 1. Paul] A little man, it should seem by his name (such as was James the Less, Mar 15:40): but as the Church of Philadelphia (discommended for nothing), though she had but a little strength, yet had a great door set open; and as Bethlehem was the least, and yet not the least among the princes of Judah; so was this apostle the last,1 Corinthians 15:8; (and perhaps the least in stature), as one born out of due time. a But God (who loves to be maximus in minimis the greatest in the least) had designed him to great services, and gifted him accordingly, so that he was no whit behind the very chiefest of the apostles, 2 Corinthians 11:5; and for painstaking, he laboured more abundantly than they all, 1 Corinthians 15:10. Hence Chrysostom calleth him insatiabilem Dei cultorem, an insatiable servant of Christ. And himself seems as insatiable a praiser of this apostle (the apostle he commonly nameth him "by an excellency"), for he hath written eight homilies in his commendation. And if any think he hath said too much, it is because either they have not read him, or cannot judge his worth. Qui tricubitalis caelos transcendit (as the same father saith), little though he were, yet he got above the heavens. b
A servant of Jesus Christ] This is a higher title than monarch of the world, as Numa, second king of Rome, could say. c Constantinus, Valentinus, and Theodosius, three emperors, called themselves Vasallos Christi, the vassals of Christ, as Socrates reporteth.
a See Trapp on " Act 13:9 " Revelation 3:9; Matthew 2:6; cf. Micah 5:2; 1 Corinthians 15:8 .
b Grandior solet esse Deus in parvulis quam in magnis. In formicis maior anima quam in elephantis, in nanis quam in gigantibus. Aut illum non audierunt, aut iudicare non possunt, ut olim de Crasso et Antonio dixit. Cicero de Orat.
c του θεου υπηρεσιαν βασιλευειν ενομιζεν. Plut.