Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. Ver. 1. _Having therefore, &c._] Faith in the promises purifieth the heart, Acts 15:9, and argueth notably from mercy to duty, melting the h... [ Continue Reading ]
Receive us; we have wronged no man, we have corrupted no man, we have defrauded no man. Ver. 2. _Receive us_] Gr. χωρησατε, _Locum date._ Make room for us in your hearts and houses. Set wide open the everlasting doors that the King of glory may come in triumphantly, riding upon us, his white horses... [ Continue Reading ]
I speak not _this_ to condemn _you_ : for I have said before, that ye are in our hearts to die and live with _you_. Ver. 3. _I speak not this, &c._] Though cause enough he had to condemn them for their shameful tenacity toward him, whom they basely suffered to labour for his living and to preach gr... [ Continue Reading ]
Great _is_ my boldness of speech toward you, great _is_ my glorying of you: I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation. Ver. 4. _I am exceeding joyful_] Gr. υπερπερισσενομαι, I do overbound exceedingly with joy. Others may revel, the godly only rejoice: they have an exub... [ Continue Reading ]
For, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without _were_ fightings, within _were_ fears. Ver. 5. _Our flesh had no rest_] Our spirit had no unrest. The outward man suffers much sometimes, when the inward remains unmolested. Philip, Landgrave o... [ Continue Reading ]
Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus; Ver. 6. _God that comforteth_] This is a most sweet attribute of God, such as we may profitably plead and produce in prayer. He loves to comfort those that are forsaken of their hopes. He will not crush... [ Continue Reading ]
And not by his coming only, but by the consolation wherewith he was comforted in you, when he told us your earnest desire, your mourning, your fervent mind toward me; so that I rejoiced the more. Ver. 7. _Your earnest desire_] Of seeing me, or rather of satisfying me. _ Your fervent mind_] Gr. you... [ Continue Reading ]
For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent: for I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though _it were_ but for a season. Ver. 8. _Though it were but for a season_] Gr. for an hour. In sin, the pleasure passeth, the sorrow remaineth; but in repent... [ Continue Reading ]
Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. Ver. 9. _That ye sorrowed to repentance_] Gr. εις μετανοιαν, to a transmentation, to a thorough change both of the mind and man... [ Continue Reading ]
For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. Ver. 10. _Godly sorrow worketh_] Sin bred sorrow, and sorrow, being right, destroyeth sin; as the worm that breeds in the wood, eats into it and devours it. (Chrysost.) So that of this... [ Continue Reading ]
For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, _what_ clearing of yourselves, yea, _what_ indignation, yea, _what_ fear, yea, _what_ vehement desire, yea, _what_ zeal, yea, _what_ revenge! In all _things_ ye have approved yourselves to b... [ Continue Reading ]
Wherefore, though I wrote unto you, _I did it_ not for his cause that had done the wrong, nor for his cause that suffered wrong, but that our care for you in the sight of God might appear unto you. Ver. 12. _Not for his cause_] That is, not so much for his cause. _ That suffered the wrong_] viz. T... [ Continue Reading ]
Therefore we were comforted in your comfort: yea, and exceedingly the more joyed we for the joy of Titus, because his spirit was refreshed by you all. Ver. 13. _His spirit was refreshed_] After his long and tedious toil and travel to come to you, he never thought much of his labour. Calvin said tha... [ Continue Reading ]
For if I have boasted any thing to him of you, I am not ashamed; but as we spake all things to you in truth, even so our boasting, which _I made_ before Titus, is found a truth. Ver. 14. _I am not ashamed_] As I should have been, had it proved otherwise. Lying is a blushful sin, and therefore the l... [ Continue Reading ]
And his inward affection is more abundant toward you, whilst he remembereth the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling ye received him. Ver. 15. _Whiles he remembereth_] Deep affections make deep impressions.... [ Continue Reading ]
I rejoice therefore that I have confidence in you in all _things_. Ver. 16. _I rejoice therefore_] Thus by praising them, he further winneth upon them, whom before he had more sharply handled. Sour and sweet make the best sauce.... [ Continue Reading ]