Ambrosiaster : Paul is making it clear that he is the equal of the men to whom he referred above. His purpose was to show that the disparaging opinions by which they were judging him were false. — COMMENTARY ON PAUL'S EPISTLES John Chrysostom : "Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I." For it was not all Hebrews that were Israelites, since both the Ammonites and Moabites were Hebrews. Wherefore he added somewhat to clear his nobility of descent. — Homily 25 on 2 Corinthians