_Now_, &c. Hitherto St. Paul's discourse, in this epistle, was chiefly directed to those at Corinth who acknowledged his apostleship, and who had obeyed his orders, signified to them in his former letter. But in this and the remaining Chapter s he addresses the false teachers, and such of the factio... [ Continue Reading ]
_For the weapons of our warfare_ Those we use in this war; _are not carnal_ But spiritual. As they were not aided in their endeavours to Christianize the world by human power and authority, so neither did they rely on learning or eloquence, or any thing which could recommend them to human regard: _b... [ Continue Reading ]
_Casting down imaginations_ Λογισμους καθαιρουντες, literally, _demolishing reasonings_, namely, such as were fallacious and sophistical, by which vain men endeavoured to controvert, disprove, or even expose to contempt and ridicule, the doctrine of the gospel, and the whole Christian system. For th... [ Continue Reading ]
_Do ye look on the outward appearance of things_ Judging of me by my outward person, and the infirmities of my body, (2 Corinthians 10:1,) and not from the power of Christ resting on me, and working by me? 2 Corinthians 12:9. _If any man trust_ Πεποιθεν εαυτω, _be confident_, in himself; _that he is... [ Continue Reading ]
_For though I should boast somewhat more_ Than I do, or they can do; _of our_ apostolical _authority, which the Lord hath given us for edification_ To bring sinners to repentance and faith in Christ, and so to promote holiness; _and not for your destruction_ To drive any one to despair by excessive... [ Continue Reading ]
_Let such a one_, whoever he be, _think this_ Reckon upon this as a certain fact; _that such as we are in word by letters_ However weighty and powerful they may be; _when we are absent, such_ The same also; _will we be in deed_, or action, _when we are present_ Our deeds will fully correspond to our... [ Continue Reading ]
_But we will not_, like them, _boast of things without measure_ Assume the credit of other men's labours, (2 Corinthians 10:15,) nor meddle with those converted by them; _but according to the measure of the rule_, or province, _which God hath distributed_, or allotted, _to us_ To me, in particular,... [ Continue Reading ]
_We stretch not_, &c. In preaching at Corinth, we do not, like the false teacher, go out of our line, as _not reaching to you; but we are come_ even _as far as you_ By a gradual, regular process, having taken the intermediate places in our way. The apostles themselves, (unless they received particul... [ Continue Reading ]
_But he that glorieth_ Whether it be of planting or watering the churches; _let him glory in the Lord_ Not in himself, but in the power, love, and faithfulness of the Lord, who only can render any man's labours successful. Let every minister remember it is to Christ that he owes all his ability for... [ Continue Reading ]