_THE CORINTHIANS MUST NOT VEX THEIR BRETHREN, IN GOING TO LAW WITH THEM, ESPECIALLY BEFORE INFIDELS. THE UNRIGHTEOUS SHALL NOT INHERIT THE KINGDOM OF GOD. OUR BODIES ARE THE MEMBERS OF CHRIST, AND TEMPLES OF THE HOLY GHOST: THEY MUST NOT THEREFORE BE DEFILED._ _Anno Domini 57._ THE Corinthians sin... [ Continue Reading ]
BEFORE THE UNJUST, AND NOT BEFORE THE SAINTS— The heathen judges, as St. Paul here in effect declares, were generally unjust; Christians at that time were generally good, righteous, and holy men: there might be exceptions on each side; but the Apostle's argument turns on what might commonly be suppo... [ Continue Reading ]
KNOW YE NOT THAT WE SHALL JUDGE ANGELS?— "Even the fallen angels themselves, who, notwithstanding all their malignity and pride, shall be brought to that tribunal, at which you, having gloriously passed your own trial, shall be seated with Christ, your victorious Lord; when by his righteous sentence... [ Continue Reading ]
IF THEN YE HAVE JUDGMENTS— _If therefore you have controversies relating to affairs of this life, do you set them to judge, who are of no esteem in the church;_—that is to say, the heathen magistrates? Some critics say that the word δικαστηρια, rendered _judgements,_ like κριτηρια, signifies _judici... [ Continue Reading ]
A WISE MAN— If St. Paul uses this word in the sense of the _synagogue,_ it signifies a _rabbi,_ or one ordained, and so capacitated to be a judge; for such were called _wise men._ If in the sense of the _Greek schools,_ then it signifies a man of learning, study, and parts. If it be taken in the lat... [ Continue Reading ]
BROTHER GOETH TO LAW WITH BROTHER— Josephus observes, that the Romans, who were now masters of Corinth, permitted the Jews in foreign countries to decide private affairs, where nothing capital was in question, among themselves; and hence may be argued the justice of this rebuke of St. Paul, as there... [ Continue Reading ]
NAY, YE DO WRONG— That the wrong here spoken of was the fornicator's taking and keeping his father's wife, the words of St. Paul, 2 Corinthians 7:12 instancing this very _wrong,_ are a sufficient evidence; and it is not wholly improbable that there had been some hearing of this matter before a heath... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT YE ARE WASHED— "You are not only baptized, but divine grace has made a happy change in your state and temper, and you are purified and renewed, as well as discharged from the condemnation to which you were justly obnoxious, in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of him, whom we are now... [ Continue Reading ]
ALL THINGS ARE LAWFUL UNTO ME— _Are all things lawful for me?—However, all things are not expedient. Are all things lawful for me?—However, I will not be a slave to any._ Heylin.... [ Continue Reading ]
EVERY SIN, &C.——"Every other sin which a man practises _is without the body;_ its effects fall not so directly upon the body, but often more immediately upon the mind; but he that committeth fornication or any kind of lewdness, sinneth particularlyagainst his own body; not only pollutingand debasing... [ Continue Reading ]
WHAT! KNOW YE NOT, &C.— This question is repeated six times in this chapter, and seems to carry with it a very strong _irony_ on their pretence to extraordinary wisdom. See ch. 1 Corinthians 4:10. Locke, Wetstein, and Cicero _de Leg._ lib. 1: ad fin. _INFERENCES.—_How great a reproach do we bring on... [ Continue Reading ]