For I am jealous over you. His course was induced because of his jealousy for them, not in behalf of himself, but of Christ. He has a fear lest this bride may be led astray. But I fear. For if he that cometh.
Most critics think that the verse is ironical.
Perhaps, however, he only means to say that these men discredit me, but have no new gospel, Spirit or Christ to offer than what you have received through me. This harmonizes better with what follows. I suppose I am not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles. Though I be rude in speech. He had not the rhetoric of a Corinthian orator, but he was not wanting in divine knowledge.