_THE APOSTLE ENCOURAGETH THEM AGAINST TROUBLES, BY THE COMFORTS AND DELIVERANCES WHICH GOD HAD GIVEN HIM, AS IN ALL HIS AFFLICTIONS, SO PARTICULARLY IN HIS LATE DANGER IN ASIA: AND CALLING BOTH HIS OWN CONSCIENCE AND THEIR'S TO WITNESS OF HIS SINCERE MANNER OF PREACHING THE IMMUTABLE TRUTH OF THE GO... [ Continue Reading ]
TIMOTHY OUR BROTHER,— That is, either _in the common faith,_ (see Romans 1:13 and 1 Corinthians 16:13.) or, brother _in the work of the ministry._ See Romans 16:21. St. Paul may be supposed to have given Timothy the title of _brother_ here, _in this peculiar connection,_ for dignity's sake, to procu... [ Continue Reading ]
BLESSED BE GOD— St. Paul begins with justifying his former letter to them which had afflicted them, (see ch. 2 Corinthians 7:7.) by telling them that he thanks God for his deliverance out of his afflictions, because it enables him to comfort them, by the exampleboth of his affliction and deliverance... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO COMFORTETH US— It is certain that the mention of these experiences must have had a powerful tendency to conciliate the regard of the Corinthians to St. Paul; and such an introduction to his epistle as the whole of this before us, could not but incline them strongly in his favour. Some think that... [ Continue Reading ]
WHICH IS EFFECTUAL— or _effected._ Instead of _salvation,_ Mr. Locke reads _relief;_ as it signifies here only (says he) deliverance from their present sorrow.... [ Continue Reading ]
OUR TROUBLE—IN ASIA.— Some have thought that this may refer to the persecution at Lystra, where St. Paul's danger had been extreme, and he had been recovered by miracle, Acts 14:19. But as that happened so long before the visit to Corinth, in which he planted the Church there, Acts 18:1 it seems mor... [ Continue Reading ]
YE ALSO HELPING TOGETHER BY PRAYER— "I have this confidence in God's continual care; and it is the more cheerful, as I persuade myself _you_ are and will be _assisting us by your prayers, that so the favour obtained for us by_ the importunate prayers of _many, may be acknowledged by the thanksgiving... [ Continue Reading ]
IN SIMPLICITY— _Plain-heartedness;_ not only meaning well on the whole, but declining an over-artful way of prosecuting a good end. What is meant by _fleshly wisdom,_ may be seen, ch. 2 Corinthians 2:5. St. Paul's working with his own hands for his maintenance among the Corinthians, (Acts 18:3. 1 Co... [ Continue Reading ]
WHAT YE READ OR ACKNOWLEDGE;— _What ye know and acknowledge._ Doddridge. _Than what, when you read, you acknowledge._ Wale's Critic, notes. "I take the sense to be," says Dr. Heylin, "that he meant not by his lettersto insinuate any thing more than was plainly expressed, and appeared at the first vi... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT WE ARE YOUR REJOICING,— The Apostle here signifies that part of them who adhered to and owned him as their teacher; in which sense _rejoicing,_ or _glorying,_ is much used in these epistles to the Corinthians, on occasion of the several partisans boasting, some that they were of Paul, and other... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IN THIS CONFIDENCE I WAS MINDED— Or, _I purposed:_ So 2 Corinthians 1:17. The next thing which St. Paul justifies, is his not coming to them. He had promised to call on the Corinthians in his way to Macedonia, but failed: this his opposers would have to proceed from levity in him, or a mind regu... [ Continue Reading ]
AND TO PASS BY YOU INTO MACEDONIA,— See 1 Corinthians 16:5.... [ Continue Reading ]
YEA, YEA, AND NAY, NAY?— The sense of these verses is, "I did not change my design through levity, nor did I purpose first one thing and then the contrary, as selfish views might determine me, 2 Corinthians 1:18. As God is true, we have never prevaricated with you, 2 Corinthians 1:19. For what I, Sy... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW HE WHICH STABLISHETH US— _Who maketh us steady;_ in opposition to the charge of inconstancy, which he complains of, 2 Corinthians 1:17. The Greek of _anointed_ is χρισας, that is, hath given us of the same Spirit which renders Jesus _the Christ._ See Heylin, and the next note.... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO HATH ALSO SEALED US, &C.— Who, answerable to various uses of a seal among men, has likewise printed his holy image upon us, and assured us of our interest in the Blood of the Covenant: and he has freely given us his Spirit, who dwells in our hearts, and sheds abroad his influences, and a sense o... [ Continue Reading ]
MOREOVER, I CALL GOD FOR A RECORD— Or, _to witness._ Nothing but the great importance of St. Paul's vindicating his character to such a church, would have justified the solemnity of an oath of this kind. The meaning of these verses is as follows: "With respect to that change in my purpose of coming... [ Continue Reading ]