Our apostle had, in the foregoing chapter, declared how Christ had sent him to preach the gospel in the plainness and simplicity of it, NOT WITH THE WISDOM OF WORDS, ver. 17, that is, not in. pompous and flourishing way and manner of preaching, mingling the simplicity of the gospel with human wisdom... [ Continue Reading ]
That is, "I determined not to discover to you, or display before you, the eloquence and wisdom of the Greeks, or to give you any other knowledge but that of. crucified Saviour, which, alas! is to them foolishness." Yet must not these words be understood absolutely, but comparatively; not as if the a... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, 1. How the apostle declares that his person was suitable to his preaching, both plain, neither pompous. 2 Corinthians 10:10 He tells us, THAT HIS BODILY PRESENCE WAS WEAK AND MEAN, AND HIS SPEECH contemptible. TRADITION TELLS US, THAT PAUL (ACCORDING AS HIS NAME SIGNIFIES) WAS. MAN OF.... [ Continue Reading ]
Here our apostle goes on, declaring after what manner he did, and did not, preach the gospel of Christ to the Corinthians. Note, 1. How he did not preach unto them: he tells us, that HIS PREACHING WAS NOT WITH ENTICING WORDS OF MAN'S WISDOM; that is, his preaching was not garnished with human eloque... [ Continue Reading ]
Our apostle here proceeds in discoursing to the Corinthins of the excellency of his ministry amongst them, to obviate the contempt which some might cast upon it for want of human eloquence, sublimity of learning, and accurateness of speech; as if the apostle had said, "Though the wise men of the wor... [ Continue Reading ]
That is, which divine neither Caiphas, nor Herod, nor Pontius Pilate, nor any of the Jewish or Gentile rulers, did understand. Where note, The apostle calls the learned rabbis, the admired philosophers among the heathen, the celebrated doctors among the Jews, PRINCES: but presently adds. diminutive... [ Continue Reading ]
These words, EYE HATH NOT SEEN, &C. do not immediately respect the happiness of heaven and. future state, though very often they are so applied; but they are primarily spoken of the gospel state, and of the blessings to be enjoyed by them that love God here: from whence. good argument may be drawn t... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, 1. The apostle declares what spirit they had not received, namely, the spirit they had not received, namely, the spirit of the world: WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED THE SPIRIT OF THE WORLD: that is, the spirit which suggests worldly wisdom, and savours only of worldly things: which acts and infl... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, 1. The subject spoken of the natural man; not SARKHIKHOS, the sensual, but PSNKHIKHOS, the animal man, who acts only by the principles of human reason and worldly wisdom; who, though well furnished with intellectual and moral improvements, is yet destitute of the enlightening Spirit an... [ Continue Reading ]
As if the apostle had said, "Although the NATURAL MAN, who acteth only by principles of human reason, RECEIVETH NOT THE THINGS OF THE SPIRIT, NOR CAN KNOW THEM BY ANY STUDY OF HIS OWN, because they are spiritually discerned; yet HE THAT IS SPIRITUAL, that is, who hath the revelation and illumination... [ Continue Reading ]
That is, "What man, without divine revelation and spiritual illumination, ever knew or understood the mind of God so well, as to be able to instruct, direct, and inform the spiritual man about it? But we who are spiritual have the mind of Christ, and so are able to discern and direct, to guide and i... [ Continue Reading ]