2 CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 13 2 CORINTHIANS 13:1 Paul threateneth to vindicate his authority at his coming by punishing severely unreclaimed offenders. 2 CORINTHIANS 13:5,6 He adviseth the Corinthians to try if they had as good proofs of their faith, as he trusted to have of his mission. 2 CORINTHIANS 13... [ Continue Reading ]
I TOLD YOU in my former Epistle, and now (though I be yet absent) I tell you beforehand, as though I WERE PRESENT amongst you. I WRITE TO THEM WHICH HERETOFORE HAVE SINNED, AND TO ALL OTHER; I write this for the sake of those who have already sinned scandalously; and not for theirs only, but for the... [ Continue Reading ]
Christ (saith the apostle) hath openly showed his power in my ministry, speaking to you; how else came your hearts to be turned from dumb idols to serve the living God? How came you to be furnished with those excellent gifts wherewith you abound? But, seeing all this is not judged a sufficient proof... [ Continue Reading ]
He had before said, that Christ in him was _not weak, but mighty; _ here he showeth, that there was a time when Christ himself was weak, in a low and contemptible state, in which state _he was crucified; _ this state of weakness subjected him to a death upon the cross: but, BY THE POWER OF GOD, he r... [ Continue Reading ]
OLBGrk; EXAMINE YOURSELVES: it is most commonly seen, that those who are most busy to desire or inquire after _a proof of Christ_ in others, are tardiest in making an inquiry after Christ's being in themselves. The apostle therefore calleth the censorious part of this church, who desired _a proof of... [ Continue Reading ]
You make a doubt whether Christ be in us, and you would fain know how it may be evidenced that he is so. If Christ be not in us we must be reprobates. BUT I TRUST THAT YE SHALL KNOW, either in this life, by the evident signs of my apostleship, (which when I come I shall give you), and by the life an... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW I PRAY TO GOD THAT YE DO NO EVIL; I do not desire that when I come I may find objects for my severity, upon whom I may show a proof of Christ in me, by exercising that authority upon them with which Christ hath intrusted me: no, on the contrary, I heartily pray that ye may be holy and blameless,... [ Continue Reading ]
TRUTH in this place notes integrity of life and conversation; truth in action, opposed to hypocrisy, or scandalous living. He had before prayed, that they might _do no evil; _ which if they did not, they need not fear his coming with a rod; for though he had a power from Christ to punish, yet he had... [ Continue Reading ]
Some by WEAK here understand a moral impotency; as the apostle had said, he could not do any thing against the truth, that is, rightly and justly he could not: and by STRONG here, a spiritual strength, a reformation, growth, and proficiency in grace. These make the sense to be this; I am so far from... [ Continue Reading ]
The apostle here lets them know with how much tenderness he dealt with them; and whereas they might have charged him with sharpness in his letters, he assures them, that he therefore had so wrote, that he might prevent sharper dealings with them when he should come to them, by their hearkening to th... [ Continue Reading ]
OLBGrk; FINALLY, BRETHREN, FAREWELL: the apostle shutteth up his Epistle according to the ordinary form of conclusions of letters, wishing all happiness to them: but he addeth something as a Christian, and a minister of the gospel. BE PERFECT: the word katartizesye signifies to be compact, or united... [ Continue Reading ]
SEE POOLE ON "ROMANS 16:16". SEE POOLE ON "1 CORINTHIANS 16:20". It was an ancient custom and of common use, when friends met, for them (as a token of mutual love and friendship) to kiss each other: the Christians used it also at their ecclesiastical assemblings. It must not be looked upon as a prec... [ Continue Reading ]
That is, all about me in these parts of Macedonia wish you all happiness, and by me send the remembrance of their love and respects to you.... [ Continue Reading ]
The free love of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, shown in the application of his redemption; that _grace_ which floweth from him as the Fountain of grace, or cometh by him as the Mediator between God and man; _the_ actual _love of God; _ that good-will by which God the Father embraceth creatures in Christ, a... [ Continue Reading ]