Since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, which to you-ward is not weak, but is mighty in you.

seeing that ye seek a proof of Christ that speaketh in me; who to you-ward is not weak, but is powerful in you:

Do you seek a proof of Christ that speaketh in me, who towards you is not weak, but is mighty in you?

Since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, (who is not weak towards you, but is powerful among you,

since a proof ye seek of the Christ speaking in me, who to you is not infirm, but is powerful in you,

since you want a practical proof of the fact that Christ speaks by my lips - He who is not feeble towards you, but powerful among you.

Seeing that you are looking for a sign of Christ giving out his word in me; who is not feeble in relation to you, but is strong in you:

Do you seek evidence that it is Christ who speaks in me, who is not weak with you, but is powerful with you?

And that will be the proof, which you are looking for, that the Christ speaks through me. There is no weakness in his dealings with you. No, he shows his power among you.

Since ye seek a proof A twofold meaning may be drawn from these words. The first is, "Since you wish to try me, whether I speak of myself, or whether Christ speaks by me;" and in this way Chrysostom, and Ambrose, explain it. I am rather inclined, however, to understand him as declaring, that it does not so much concern himself as Christ, when his authority is detracted from -- that when his admonitions are despised, Christ's patience is tried. "It is Christ that speaks by me; when therefore, you bring my doctrine under your lash, it is not so much to me as to him that you do injury." Some one, however, will object thus: "What! Will a man's doctrine, then, be exempted from all investigation, so soon as he makes it his boast, that he has Christ as his authority? And what false prophet will not make this his boast? What distinction, then, will there be between truth and falsehood, and what will, in that case, become of that injunction: Try the spirits, whether they are of God." (1 John 4:1.) Every objection of this nature Paul anticipates, when he says that Christ has wrought efficaciously in them by his ministry. For these two clauses, Christ speaking in me, and, who is mighty in you, not weak, must be read in connection, in this sense: "Christ, by exercising his power towards you in my doctrine, has declared that he spoke by my mouth, so that you have no excuse on the ground of ignorance." We see, that he does not merely boast in words, but proves in reality that Christ speaks in him, and he convinces the Corinthians, before requiring them to give him credit. Whoever, then, will speak in the Church, whatever be the title that he claims for himself, it will be allowable to inquire as to his doctrine, until Christ has manifested himself in him, and thus it will not be of Christ that judgment will be formed, but of the man. When, however, it is apparent, that it is the word of God that is advanced, what Paul says holds good -- that it is God himself who is not believed [1] Moses spake with the same confidence. (Numbers 16:11.) What are we -- I and Aaron? You are tempting God. In like manner, Isaiah: Is it too small a thing that you grieve men, unless you grieve my God also? (Isaiah 7:13.) For there is no more room for shuffling, when it has been made apparent, that it is a minister of God that speaks, and that he discharges his office faithfully. I return to Paul. As the confirmation of his ministry had been so decided among the Corinthians, inasmuch as the Lord had shown himself openly, it is not to be wondered, if he takes it so much amiss, that he meets with resistance. On good grounds, truly, [2] might he throw back upon them, as he does, the reproach, that they were rebels against Christ.

Footnotes

1 - "Que si on ne la recoit, cest oster a Dieu son authorite;" -- "That if this is not received, that is to take from God the authority, which belongs to him."

2 - "Tant y a qu'il auoit bonne occasion et droict;" -- "To such an extent had he good occasion and right."

Since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me - see the notes on the previous chapters. They had called in question his apostolic authority; they had demanded the evidence of his divine commission. He says that he would now furnish such evidence by inflicting just punishment on all offenders, and they should have abundant proof that Christ spoke by him, or that he was inspired.
Which to you-ward is not weak - Or who, that is, Christ, is not weak, etc. Christ has manifested his power abundantly toward you, that is, either by the miracles that had been performed in his name; or by the diseases and calamities which they had suffered on account of their disorders and offences (see the note on 1-Corinthians 11:30); or by the force and efficacy of his doctrine. The connection, it seems to me, requires that we should understand it of the calamities which had been inflicted by Christ on them for their sins, and which Paul says would be inflicted again if they did not repent. The idea is, that they had had ample demonstration of the power of Christ to inflict punishment, and they had reason to apprehend it again.

Since ye seek a proof of Christ - The conversion of the Corinthians was to themselves a solid proof that Christ spoke by the apostle; and therefore he could, with great propriety, say that this power of Christ, far from being weak, was mighty among them.

(1) Since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, which to you-ward is not weak, but is (a) mighty in you.
(1) A most sharp reprehension, because, while they despise the apostle's admonitions, they tempt Christ's own patience: and also while they condemn him as wretched and miserable, they lay nothing against him, which is not common to him with Christ.
(a) And will be most mighty to be avenged upon you, when need will be.

Since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me,.... This is the reason why he was determined, that should he come among them, he would not spare them, because they called in question his apostleship, and demanded a proof of it; which, of all men, they had the least reason to do; for they themselves were the seals of his apostleship, and the signs of an apostle had been done among them; they queried whether he was an ambassador of Christ, and was sent by him, and in his name; whether the message he came with was from him, and whether the Gospel he preached was his voice; and particularly whether he had such a power to punish delinquents, as he threatened them with the exercise of; a strange infatuation of the false apostles this, since Christ, who sent him, was with him, and spoke in him, and by him:
which to you-ward, says he,
is not weak, but is mighty in you; the Gospel of Christ, at the first preaching of it to them by him, was the power of God unto salvation to them; and was attended with divers signs and wonders, and gifts of the Holy Ghost; and besides, they had instances of the power of Christ towards them in an awful way, in punishing sinners; as in the delivery of the incestuous person to Satan, which was done by his Spirit being with them when assembled; and by smiting many of them with sickness, diseases, and infirmities, and with death itself, who had sinned, 1-Corinthians 5:4. Wherefore, seeing after all these instances of the voice and power of Christ in him, they yet questioned his apostolical authority, and sought proof of it; and especially since this was not so much a tempting of him, as a tempting of Christ in him, he was resolved not to spare them.

Since--The reason why he will not spare: Since ye challenge me to give a "proof" that Christ speaks in me. It would be better if ye would "prove your own selves" (2-Corinthians 13:5). This disproves the assertion of some that Scripture nowhere asserts the infallibility of its writers when writing it.
which--"who" (Christ).
is not weak--in relation to you, by me and in this very Epistle, in exercising upon you strong discipline.
mighty in you--has given many proofs of His power in miracles, and even in punishing offenders (2-Corinthians 5:11, 2-Corinthians 5:20-21). Ye have no need to put me to the proof in this, as long ago Christ has exhibited great proofs of His power by me among you (2-Corinthians 12:12) [GROTIUS]. It is therefore not me, but Christ, whom ye wrong: it is His patience that ye try in despising my admonitions, and derogating from my authority [CALVIN].