_But I_, &c. The apostle proceeds with his apology, begun in the preceding chapter, for delaying his visit to the Corinthians, and signifies that he had deferred it because he had determined with himself not to come among them with sorrow, by punishing the guilty, if he could by any means avoid it;... [ Continue Reading ]
_For out of much affliction and anguish of heart_ The word συνοχης, here rendered _anguish_, “denotes the pain which a person feels, who is pressed on every side, without any possibility of disengaging himself, Luke 21:25. _I wrote unto you with many tears_ So it seems he frequently did: see Philipp... [ Continue Reading ]
_Sufficient to such a man_ With what remarkable tenderness does the apostle treat this offender! He never once mentions his name, nor does he here so much as mention his crime; but speaks of him in the most indefinite manner that was consistent with giving such directions in his case as love require... [ Continue Reading ]
_Furthermore_ That ye may know my great concern for you; _when I came to Troas_ After the riot excited by Demetrius. He seems to refer to that passage from Asia to Macedonia, of which a short account is given Acts 20:1. _To preach Christ's gospel_ And found things there so situated; that _a door was... [ Continue Reading ]
_Now thanks be to God, who_ In Macedonia, as elsewhere; _causeth us to triumph_ Makes our ministry successful against all opposition; _in Christ_ Namely, by the influence of his truth and grace. To triumph implies not only victory, but an open manifestation of it. _And maketh manifest the savour_ Ra... [ Continue Reading ]
_For we_ The preachers of the gospel, the apostles especially; _are unto God a sweet odour of Christ_ He is well pleased with this perfume diffused by us, with this incense of his name and gospel, which we spread abroad both _in them that_ believe, love, and obey, and _are_ therefore _saved, and in... [ Continue Reading ]
_For we are not as many who corrupt_ Greek, καπηλευοντες, _adulterate, the word of God_ Like those vintners who mix their wines with baser liquors. Thus Isaiah says, Isaiah 1:22, (as his words are rendered by the LXX.,) Καπηλοι σου μισγουσι τον οινον υδατι, _thy vintners mix their wine with water._... [ Continue Reading ]