2 Corinthians 1:19

ὁ τοῦ θεοῦ γὰρ υἱός. The position of γάρ throws great emphasis on to τοῦ θεοῦ: for God’s Son: Blass § 80. 4. ‘There was no inconsistency in our doctrine, for what we preached was One in whom inconsistency is impossible.’ It is perhaps in order to show “the impossibility of His connexion with any littleness or levity” (Stanley) that he gives the full title, ὁ τοῦ θεοῦ υἱὸς Χριστὸς Ἰησοῦς. On S. Paul’s “Names for Christ” see Stead in the Expositor, 1888, pp. 386–395.

διʼ ἡμῶν. The Apostles were instruments, through whom (2 Corinthians 1:20; 2 Corinthians 2:14; 1 Corinthians 3:5) the Gospel was proclaimed. Comp. διὰ τοῦ προφήτου, not ὑπό (Matthew 1:22; Matthew 2:5; Matthew 2:15; Matthew 2:17; Matthew 3:3; Matthew 4:14, &c.). They were not independent agents.

διʼ ἐμοῦ καὶ Σιλουανοῦ καὶ Τιμοθέου. Not only was his own teaching consistent with itself, it was also harmonious with that of his fellow-missioners. It was one and the same Christ that was preached always by all three.

There is not much doubt that the Silvanus of the Pauline Epistles (1 Thessalonians 1:1; 2 Thessalonians 1:1) is the Silvanus of 1 Peter 5:12 and the Silas of Acts 15:22; Acts 15:27; Acts 15:32 [not 34], Acts 15:40; Acts 16:19-29; Acts 17:4-15; Acts 18:5. As in the case of Saul and Paul, the relation of the name Silas to the name Silvanus is doubtful. Abbreviated names often ended in -as, as Epaphras, Hermas, Nymphas, Zenas. But the usual abbreviation of Silvanus would be Silvas (Joseph. Bel. Jud. VII. viii. 1); and, if Silas be the original name, the common enlargement of that would be Silanus. But this is not conclusive, for experience shows that great freedom exists as to the modification of names. Silas may be the Aramaic Sili with a Greek termination. Silas was a Roman citizen (Acts 16:37), and as such, and in connexion with the Roman family of the Silvani, he may have got the name Silvanus. A Silvanus may have manumitted Silas or one of his forefathers. In that case neither name is derived from the other. See Bigg, St Peter and St Jude, pp. 84, 85. We know nothing more of Silvanus or Silas after his working at Corinth with Paul and Timothy, except that he was the bearer or draughtsman of 1 Peter (2 Corinthians 5:12). It is at Corinth that we lose sight of him. The agreement of Acts 18:5 with the mention of Silvanus and Timothy here is an undesigned coincidence which confirms both writings. The identification of Silvanus with Luke maybe safely rejected: see Lightfoot’s article on Acts in Smith’s Dict. of the Bible, 2nd ed.

οὐκ ἐγένετο Ναί καὶ Οὔ, ἀλλὰ Ναί ἐν αὐτῷ γέγονεν. The Christ whom we preached did not prove to be yea and nay, but in Him yea has come to be. He did not show Himself to be one who said both Yes and No to the promises of God, but in Him the fulfilment of them has come to pass. It is simplest to make ἐν αὐτῷ refer to Christ.