‘And working together with him we entreat also that you do not receive the grace of God in vain.' So as those who are His ambassadors, as those who are ‘workers-together' with Him (compare 1 Corinthians 3:9), we are therefore to plead with men that they do not receive the grace of God in vain. Here... [ Continue Reading ]
GOD'S MINISTRY OF RECONCILIATION (2 CORINTHIANS 5:11 TO 2 CORINTHIANS 6:2). Having spoken of God's work in the heart through His Spirit, and of the new covenant, followed by the revelation of the Christian's future by means of the resurrection, Paul now goes back to the basis of it all, man's recon... [ Continue Reading ]
‘For he says, At an acceptable time I listened to you, And in a day of salvation did I succour you. Behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.' In order to support this urgency he cites Scripture. ‘At an acceptable time I heard you,' (that is ‘heard and responded'), sa... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Giving no occasion of stumbling in anything, that our ministration be not blamed; but in everything commending ourselves, as ministers of God, in much patient endurance: in afflictions, in necessary hardships, in distresses, in beatings, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fa... [ Continue Reading ]
AS WORKERS TOGETHER WITH GOD PAUL NOW FURTHER CITES THEIR OWN CREDENTIALS AS THOSE WHO SHARE IN THE SUFFERINGS OF CHRIST (2 CORINTHIANS 6:3) The following description of their genuineness and of all that they are going through for Christ continues the thought of 2 Corinthians 6:1; 2 Corinthians 6:2... [ Continue Reading ]
‘In pureness, in knowledge, in long-suffering, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in love unfeigned, in the word of truth, in the power of God.' Paul then goes on to describe his own personal and moral attributes. His deep troubles do not embitter him. Rather through Christ they produce within him th... [ Continue Reading ]
‘By the armour (‘weapons') of righteousness on the right hand and on the left.' This next series commences with ‘by' or ‘through', and is a series of contrasts pointing to his positive approach to life. The weapons or armour of righteousness are on both right and left hand, the one possibly having... [ Continue Reading ]
‘By glory and dishonour, by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.' The... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Our mouth is open to you, O Corinthians, our heart is enlarged.' He begins his plea by stressing his total honesty and strong affection for them. Naming them by name, always a sign of his strong feelings (compare Galatians 3:1), he stresses that his mouth is open to them, and his heart is enlarged... [ Continue Reading ]
HAVING CONFIRMED HIS OWN CREDENTIALS AND HIS OWN WAY OF LIVING HE PLEADS FOR A THEM TO TURN FROM ALL THAT MIGHT HINDER THEM AND FOR THEIR EQUAL FULL AND EXCLUSIVE RESPONSE TO GOD AND TO CHRIST (2 CORINTHIANS 6:11 TO 2 CORINTHIANS 7:1). Having spoken earlier of ‘receiving not the grace of God in vain... [ Continue Reading ]
‘You are not straitened in us, but you are straitened in your own affections. Now for a recompense in like kind (I speak as to my children), be you also enlarged.' He stresses to them that it is not his affections and loving concern for them that are narrowed and hemmed in. He has not allowed himse... [ Continue Reading ]
‘ Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers, for what fellowship have righteousness and iniquity? or what communion has light with darkness? And what concord has Christ with Belial? or what portion has a believer with an unbeliever?' The problem is that they are having too close a relationship wit... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And what agreement has a temple of God with idols? For we are a temple of the living God, even as God said, “I will dwell in them, and walk in them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” ' We note the progression that has been leading up to this, righteousness and iniquity; light a... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Wherefore “Come you out from among them, and be you separate,” says the Lord, “And touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you, and will be to you a Father, And you shall be to me sons and daughters,” says the Lord Almighty.' So in response to His sovereignty and the ratification of the covenan... [ Continue Reading ]