THE SECOND EPISTLE OF PAUL THE APOSTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS. _Chronological Notes relative to this Epistle._ -Year of the Constantinopolitan era of the world, or that used by the emperors of the east in their diplomata, c., and thence also called the "civil era of the Greeks," εφξε (5565.) -Year of... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Corinthians 1:2. _GRACE_ BE _TO YOU AND PEACE_] See Romans 1:7.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Corinthians 1:3. _BLESSED_ BE _GOD_] Let God have universal and eternal praise: 1. Because he is the _Father of our Lord Jesus Christ_, who is the gift of his endless love to man, John 1:16. John 1:2. Because he is the _Father of mercies_, ὁ Πατηρ των οικτιρμων, the source whence _all_ me... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Corinthians 1:4. _WHO COMFORTETH US_] Who shows himself to be the God of tender mercy, by condescending to notice us, who have never deserved any good at his hand; and also the God of all consolation, by _comforting us in all our tribulation_-never leaving us a prey to anxiety, carking care,... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Corinthians 1:5. _THE SUFFERINGS OF CHRIST_] Suffering endured for the cause of Christ: such as persecutions, hardships, and privations of different kinds. _OUR CONSOLATION ALSO ABOUNDETH_] We stood as well, as firmly, and as easily, in the heaviest trial, as in the lightest; because the co... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Corinthians 1:6. _AND WHETHER WE BE AFFLICTED_] See note on 2 Corinthians 1:4. _WHICH IS EFFECTUAL_] There is a strange and unusual variation in the MSS. and versions in this passage. Perhaps the whole should be read thus: _For if we be afflicted, it is for your_ _encouragement and salvatio... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Corinthians 1:7. _AND OUR HOPE OF YOU IS STEADFAST_] We have no doubt of your continuing in the truth; because we see that you have such a full, experimental knowledge of it, that no sufferings or persecutions can turn you aside. And we are sure that, _as ye_ _suffer_, so shall ye _rejoice_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Corinthians 1:8. _OUR TROUBLE WHICH CAME TO US IN ASIA_] To what part of his history the apostle refers we know not: some think it is to the _Jews lying in wait to kill him_, Acts 20:3; others, to the _insurrection raised against him by Demetrius and his fellow_ _craftsmen_, Acts 19:23; othe... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Corinthians 1:9. _WE HAD THE SENTENCE OF DEATH IN OURSELVES_] The tribulation was so violent and overwhelming, that he had no hope of escaping death. _THAT WE SHOULD NOT TRUST IN OURSELVES_] The tribulation was of such a nature as to take away all expectation of help but from GOD alone. _B... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Corinthians 1:10. _WHO DELIVERED US FROM SO GREAT A DEATH_] For the circumstances were such that no human power could avail. _WILL YET DELIVER US_] Having had such a signal evidence of His interposition already, we will confide in him with an unshaken confidence that he will continue to sup... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Corinthians 1:11. _YE ALSO HELPING TOGETHER BY PRAYER_] Even an _apostle_ felt the prayers of the Church of God necessary for his comfort and support. What innumerable blessings do the prayers of the followers of God draw down on those who are the objects of them! _THE GIFT_ BESTOWED - _BY... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Corinthians 1:12. _FOR OUR REJOICING IS THIS_] Ἡ καυχησις. Our _boasting, exultation, subject_ of _glorying_. _THE TESTIMONY OF OUR CONSCIENCE_] Μαρτυριον της συνειδησεως· That testimony or witness which conscience, under the light and influence of the Spirit of God, renders to the soul of... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Corinthians 1:13. _THAN WHAT YE READ_] Viz. In the first epistle which he had sent them. _OR ACKNOWLEDGE_] To be the truth of God; and which he hoped they would continue to acknowledge, and not permit themselves to be turned aside from the hope of the Gospel.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 14. _HAVE ACKNOWLEDGED US IN PART_] Απο μερους may signify here not _in part_, but _some of you_; and it is evident, from the distracted state of the Corinthians, and the opposition raised there against the apostle, that it was only _a part of them_ that did acknowledge him, and receive and pr... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 15. _AND IN THIS CONFIDENCE_] Under the conviction or persuasion that this is the case; that ye exult in us, as we do in you; _I WAS MINDED_] I had purposed _to come to you before_, as he had intimated, 1 Corinthians 16:5; for he had intended to call on them in his way from Macedonia, but thi... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 16. _TO PASS BY YOU INTO MACEDONIA_] He had purposed to go to Macedonia first, and then from Macedonia return to them, and probably winter in Corinth. Therefore we must understand the δι' ὑμων, by you, as implying that he would sail up the AEgean Sea, leaving Corinth to the west; though he mi... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 17. _DID I USE LIGHTNESS?_] When I formed this purpose, was it without due consideration? and did I abandon it through fickleness of mind? _THAT WITH ME THERE SHOULD BE YEA_, c.] That I should act as _carnal_ men, who change their purposes, and falsify their engagements, according as may seem... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 18. _BUT_ AS _GOD_ IS _TRUE_] Setting the God of truth before my eyes, I could not act in this way: and as sure as he is true, so surely were my purposes sincere; and it was only my uncertainty about your state that induced me to postpone my visit. See 2 Corinthians 1:23.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 19. _FOR THE SON OF GOD_, c.] If I could have changed my purpose through _carnal_ or _secular_ interests then I must have had the same interest in view when I first preached the Gospel to you, with Silvanus and Timotheus. But did not the whole of our conduct prove that we neither _had_, nor co... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 20. _FOR ALL THE PROMISES OF GOD_] Had we been light, fickle, worldly-minded persons; persons who could only be bound by our engagements as far as comported with our secular interest; would God have confirmed our testimony among you? Did we not lay before you the promises of God? And did not G... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 21. _NOW HE WHICH STABLISHETH US WITH YOU_] It is God that has brought both us and you to this sure state of salvation through Christ; and he has _anointed us_, giving us the extraordinary influences of the Holy Ghost, that we might be able effectually to administer this Gospel to your salvati... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 22. _WHO HATH ALSO SEALED US_] Not only deeply _impressed_ His _truth_ and _image_ upon our _hearts_; but, by the miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit, attested the truth of our extraordinary _unction_ or calling to the ministry. _AND GIVEN THE EARNEST OF THE SPIRIT_] Τον αρραβωνα του Πνευματ... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 23. _I CALL GOD FOR A RECORD UPON MY SOUL_] The apostle here resumes the subject which he left 2 Corinthians 1:16, and in the most solemn manner calls God to _witness_, and consequently to punish, if he asserted any thing _false_, that it was through tenderness to them that he did not visit Co... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Corinthians 1:24. _NOT FOR THAT WE HAVE DOMINION OVER YOUR FAITH_] I will not come to exercise my apostolical authority in punishing them who have acted sinfully and disorderly; for this would be to several of you a cause of distress, the delinquents being friends and relatives; but I hope... [ Continue Reading ]