2 Corinthians 4:1-15. Entrusted with so glorious a mission, the Ministers of the Gospel shrink from neither danger nor difficulty 1. _Therefore_ The connection between this and what precedes is sufficiently obvious. Sustained by so great and glorious a mission, the Apostles of Christ are daunted by... [ Continue Reading ]
_But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty_ Far from shrinking from the labour and suffering and opposition entailed by the preaching of the Gospel, and so inclining to suppress its utterance, the true ministers of Christ "even rejoice and speak boldly" (Chrysostom). Cf. ch. 2 Corinthians 3... [ Continue Reading ]
_But if our gospel be hid_ Literally, BUT IF OUR GOSPEL, TOO, BE HIDDEN or VEILED (see last chapter). The Apostle here refers to an objection: "You say that a vail lay upon the hearts of the Jews when Moses was read. But your Gospel is not clear and evident to all." For his answer see next note. _i... [ Continue Reading ]
_in whom the god of this world_ i.e. the devil, who is called the _prince_or _ruler_of this world in John 12:31; John 14:30; John 16:11. So also Matthew 4:9; Luke 4:6; Ephesians 2:2; Ephesians 6:12. He is so called because for the present he has power in it, Revelation 12:12. The early fathers, in t... [ Continue Reading ]
_For we preach not ourselves_ A reason is here given for the foregoing statement. If St Paul's Gospel be hid, it is not because it is his own, and therefore destined to come to nought (see ch. 2 Corinthians 3:7). No, it is the Gospel of Christ which he preaches, and if any refuse to listen to it, it... [ Continue Reading ]
_For God … shined_ Literally, BECAUSE IT IS GOD WHO SHINED, and therefore, if the doctrine of the ministers of Christ were not received by any, it was not because they exercised any concealment or reserve (ch. 2 Corinthians 3:13), much less on account of any adulteration of the pure word of God (2 C... [ Continue Reading ]
_But we have this treasure in earthen vessels_ -I grant you that the exterior of the ministers of the Gospel is by no means in accordance with the description I have just given of the Gospel they preach. But why is this? but because, as I have said before, they desire not, they are not intended, to... [ Continue Reading ]
_We are troubled on every side_ Perhaps - _in every way_." For the word rendered troubled," cf. ch. 2 Corinthians 1:4; 2 Corinthians 6:4. _yet not distressed_ This word, says Bengel, denotes _angustias tales e quibus non detur exitus_, "such straits as there are no escape from." _perplexed, but not... [ Continue Reading ]
_cast down, but not destroyed_ i.e. struck or thrown down, as in warfare or wrestling, but not yet deprived of life, and therefore not unable to renew the conflict.... [ Continue Reading ]
_always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus_ Rather, _the_ SLAYING (Vulg. _mortificatio) of the Lord Jesus_. So Wiclif. The word is only to be found in Romans 4:19, where it signifies the process by which a thing became dead, i.e. age. The same spirit of hostility to good which put... [ Continue Reading ]
_For we which live_ We, the possessors of the Divine life in Christ, the spiritual life which takes the place of the natural. Cf. ch. 2 Corinthians 3:3; 2Co 3:6; 2 Corinthians 3:17, and 1 Corinthians 11:12; 1 Corinthians 11:16; 1 Corinthians 15:45-46, and notes. _are alway delivered unto death_ Lite... [ Continue Reading ]
_So then death worketh in us, but life in you_ See 1 Corinthians 4:9. The Apostle here enunciates a principle common to the material and the spiritual world. From death comes life, from decay regeneration. The death of Christ was the life of the world; the daily dying (1 Corinthians 15:31) of His di... [ Continue Reading ]
_We having the same spirit of faith_ The idea of boldness and outspokenness is still present with the Apostle. He speaks openly, because he has reason to believe what he says. And the thought is connected with the last verse by the fact that it is to his speaking that the Corinthians owe their life.... [ Continue Reading ]
_knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus_ Here we have the source of the Apostle's faith and confidence. He knew that the Resurrection of Christ was an accomplished fact (see notes on 1 Corinthians 15, and Introduction to First Epistle). Hence arose his persuasion that a life was given to him... [ Continue Reading ]
_For all things are for your sakes_ Cf. 1 Corinthians 3:22, as well as the numerous passages in that Epistle where the well-being of mankind is represented as St Paul's (and indeed God's) only object, e.g. 1 Corinthians 6:12; 1 Corinthians 10:23. _that the abundant grace_ Literally, that GRACE HAVIN... [ Continue Reading ]
2 Corinthians 4:16 to 2 Corinthians 5:10 The Preachers of the Gospel are sustained by the hope of a Future Life 16. _For which cause we faint not_ The Apostle now returns to the topic he has already introduced (2 Corinthians 4:1). But the digression, if indeed it be a digression, only tends to stre... [ Continue Reading ]
_For our light affliction, which is but for a moment_ Literally, FOR THE MOMENTARY LIGHTNESS OF OUR AFFLICTION. The argument is advanced another step. Not only have we this inner fount of strength and consolation, but we know that it is eternal, while our afflictions endure but for a moment. Cf. Rom... [ Continue Reading ]
_while we look not_ Rather, since _we look not, do not fix our attention_. _at the things which are not seen_ The Christian habitually views all that comes before him from the standpoint of the invisible world, which is revealed to him by the Spirit from within. See 1 Corinthians 2:9-10; 1Co 2:13;... [ Continue Reading ]