_HE EXHORTETH THEM TO RELIEVE THE WANTS OF THE BRETHREN AT JERUSALEM; COMMENDETH TIMOTHY, AND AFTER FRIENDLY ADMONITIONS, CLOSETH HIS EPISTLE WITH DIVERS SALUTATIONS._ _Anno Domini 57._ BEFORE the Apostle concluded his letter to the Corinthians, he gave them directions for making the collection fo... [ Continue Reading ]
UPON THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK— Beza observes here, that Basil joined these words, _upon the first day of the week,_ to the preceding clauses which he reads thus: _Now, concerning the collection for the saints,_ &c. _even so do ye upon the first day of the week._ According to this reading, the follo... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN I COME, &C.— _When I come, whomsoever you shall approve, them will I send with letters, to carry your liberality,_ &c. Locke. The Apostle's sense justifies the present manner of reading; he telling them here that, finding their collection ready when he came, he would write by those whom the... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IF— _But if._... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR I DO PASS THROUGH MACEDONIA.— _For I am just upon my journey through Macedonia._ Macedonia was not the direct way from Ephesus to Corin... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT I WILL TARRY AT EPHESUS, &C.— This is a plain intimation that St. Paul was now at Ephesus, and, consequently, that the inscription added at the end of the epistle, which tells us it was written _from Philippi,_ is very far from being authentic. It should be remembered, that no credit is to be gi... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR A GREAT DOOR AND EFFECTUAL, &C.— Some think that here is an allusion to the door of the _circus,_ whence chariots were let out when the races were to begin: and that the word 'Αντικειμενοι, signifies the same as _antagonists,_ with whom the Apostle was to contend, as in a course, Acts 19:20; Act... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT CONDUCT HIM FORTH, &C.— _But bring him on his journey,_ &c. The original words of the last clause are something ambiguous; but the most natural sense appears to be, "For I expect him here with the other brethren, who are now the companions of his journey." Accordingly it seems probable that Timo... [ Continue Reading ]
OUR BROTHER— There are few, perhaps, who need be told, yet it may be convenient, once for all, to remark, that, in the Apostle's time, _brother_ was the ordinary appellation which Christians used one to another. The _brethren_ here mentioned seem to be Stephanas and those others who came with a mess... [ Continue Reading ]
STAND FAST, &C.— There is no need of seeking a different sense of each word in this verse. If there be any difference, the word ανδριζεσθε may refer to a strength of resolution; and the word κραταιουσθε to that cheerful and courageous expectation of a happy event, which the consciousness of so good... [ Continue Reading ]
I BESEECH YOU, BRETHREN, &C.— Dr. Heylin renders these verses thus: _Ye know that the family of Stephanas is,_ &c.—_I beseech you then, my brethren,_ 1 Corinthians 16:16 _that you pay all deference to them, and all others who like them assist us in our labours._ Dr. Doddridge reads, _I beseech you,... [ Continue Reading ]
FORTUNATUS,— This worthy man survived St. Paul a considerable time: for it appears from the epistle of Clement to the Corinthians, sect. 59 that he was the messenger of the church at Corinth to that of Rome, by whom Clement sent back that invaluable epistle. See Archbp. Wake's epistles of the aposto... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THEY HAVE REFRESHED MY SPIRIT, &C.— By removing those suspicions and fears which were on both sides.... [ Continue Reading ]
AQUILA AND PRISCILLA SALUTE YOU MUCH, &C.— They had formerly made some abode at Corinth, and there St. Paul's acquaintance with them commenced, Acts 18:1. It is no wonder, therefore, that they were particular in their salutations.... [ Continue Reading ]
ANATHEMA, MARAN-ATHA.— When the Jews lost the power of life and death, they used, nevertheless, to pronounce an _anathema_ on persons who should have been executed according to the Mosaic law; and such a person became _an anathema,_ or _cheren,_ or _accursed,_—for the expressions are equivalent. The... [ Continue Reading ]
MY LOVE BE WITH YOU ALL, &C.— When we consider what an alienation of affection some of these Corinthians had expressed with respect to our Apostle, this declaration of tender regard to them _all,_ without any exception, is so much the more affectionate, andfully displays the benevolent disposition o... [ Continue Reading ]