But I determined this with myself, that I would not come again to you in heaviness. Ver. 1. _That I would not come again_] _Ille dolet quoties cogitur esse ferox._ It goes as much against the heart of a good minister as against the hair with his people, if he say or do anything to their grief. It i... [ Continue Reading ]
For if I make you sorry, who is he then that maketh me glad, but the same which is made sorry by me? Ver. 2. _But the same which is made, &c._] Nothing can cure a faithful minister of his _cordolium, _ of his heart's grief, but his people's amendment. "Now we live if ye stand fast in the Lord," 1 T... [ Continue Reading ]
And I wrote this same unto you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy is _the joy_ of you all. Ver. 3. _Of whom I ought to rejoice_] Nothing sticks a man more than the unkindness of a friend, than expectation of love... [ Continue Reading ]
For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you. Ver. 4. _With many tears_] _Non tam atramento, quam lachrymis chartas illevit, _ saith Lorinus. _in _ Act 22:19 St... [ Continue Reading ]
But if any have caused grief, he hath not grieved me, but in part: that I may not overcharge you all. Ver. 5. _Have caused grief_] Wicked livers are Hazaels to the godly, and draw many sighs and tears from them. Lot's righteous soul was set upon the rack by the filthy Sodomites. Jeremiah weeps in s... [ Continue Reading ]
Sufficient to such a man _is_ this punishment, which _was inflicted_ of many. Ver. 6. _Sufficient to such a man_] The Novatians therefore were out, that refused to receive in those that repented of their former faults and follies. The Papists burnt some that recanted at the stake, saying, that they... [ Continue Reading ]
So that contrariwise ye _ought_ rather to forgive _him_, and comfort _him_, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow. Ver. 7. _Should be swallowed up_] It was a saying of Mr Philpot, martyr, Satan goes about to mix the detestable darnel of desperation with the godly sorro... [ Continue Reading ]
Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm _your_ love toward him. Ver. 8. _Confirm your love, &c._] Gr. κυρωσαι, ratify it, and declare it authentic, as it were in open court, and by public sentence, _as _ Gal 3:15 and that at mine instance, as an advocate, παρακαλω .... [ Continue Reading ]
For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things. Ver. 9. _Whether ye be obedient_] First to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God,2 Corinthians 8:5. ConferHebrews 13:17; Isaiah 50:10 .... [ Continue Reading ]
To whom ye forgive any thing, I _forgive_ also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave _it_, for your sakes _forgave I it_ in the person of Christ; Ver. 10. _To whom ye forgive_] Or, gratify. Mercy is that we must mutually lend and borrow one of another. Let the rigid read Galatians 6:1 .... [ Continue Reading ]
Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices. Ver. 11. _Lest Satan_] That wily merchant, that greedy bloodsucker, that devoureth not widows' houses, but most men's souls, see 2 Corinthians 2:7. πλεονεκτηθωμεν . _ For we are not ignorant_] He is but a titular Chr... [ Continue Reading ]
Furthermore, when I came to Troas to _preach_ Christ's gospel, and a door was opened unto me of the Lord, Ver. 12. _A door was opened_] An opportunity offered. Where the master sets up a light, there is some work to be done; where he sends forth his labourers, there is some harvest to be gotten in.... [ Continue Reading ]
I had no rest in my spirit, because I found not Titus my brother: but taking my leave of them, I went from thence into Macedonia. Ver. 13. _I had no rest, &c._] Gr. ανεσιν, no relaxation, viz. from my former cares and anxieties about you, because he was not yet returned to tell me how it was with y... [ Continue Reading ]
Now thanks _be_ unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place. Ver. 14. _Now thanks be to God_] _Deo gratias_ was ever in Paul's mouth, ever in Austin's; and a thankful man is ever ready with his present, as Joseph's bre... [ Continue Reading ]
For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: Ver. 15. _A sweet savour_] The Church is the mortar, preaching the pestle, the promises are the sweet spices, which being beaten, yield a heavenly and supernatural smell in the souls of the godly hearers.... [ Continue Reading ]
To the one _we are_ the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who _is_ sufficient for these things? Ver. 16. _The savour of death_] Aristotle writeth, that vultures are killed with oil of roses. Swine (saith Pliny) cannot live in some parts of Arabia, by rea... [ Continue Reading ]
For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ. Ver. 17. _Which corrupt the word_] Gr. καπηλευοντες, which huckster it, by handling it craftily and covetously, not serving the Lord Jesus Christ, but their own bellies... [ Continue Reading ]