INTRODUCTORY SECTION 2 Corinthians 1:1. Salutation and Thanksgiving After the usual epistolary introduction, St. Paul makes pointed reference to a severe trouble he has lately endured, and gives thanks to God for deliverance from it.... [ Continue Reading ]
AGAIN.. IN HEAVINESS] a clear reference to a visit to Corinth, which gave him much pain, subsequent to his writing the First Epistle (see Intro.). BY THE WILL OF GOD] He asserts his divine call to office in presence of opposition: cp. 1 Corinthians 1:1; Galatians 1:1, and contrast Philippians 1:1; 1... [ Continue Reading ]
GRACE.. AND PEACE] i.e. all good wishes for spiritual blessings.... [ Continue Reading ]
PARAPHRASE. 'We give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Fount of all blessing and comfort, (4) for the comfort and courage He gives us in our trials, whereby we are enabled to comfort and encourage others. (5) For as we are brought into union with Christ by our sufferings for Hi... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SUFFERINGS OF CHRIST] Because they are met in Christ's service and borne in Christ's spirit: cp. Philippians 3:10.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHETHER, etc.] RV 'But whether we be afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; or whether we be comforted, it is for your comfort, which worketh in the patient endurance of the same sufferings which we also suffer.' His sufferings caused them to repent (cp. 2 Corinthians 7:7), and his joy... [ Continue Reading ]
PRESSED, etc.] RV 'weighed down exceedingly.' OUR TROUBLE.. LIFE] The nature of this trouble is not exactly known. A serious illness in Ephesus, aggravated at a critical stage by the startling news of the defection at Corinth, seems best to explain the hints and allusions in this passage.... [ Continue Reading ]
PARAPHRASE. 'For it is right, my friends, that you should know that I had to undergo very severe suffering in Ephesus, and was even at death's door. (9) This great danger taught me that my life is in the hand of God, (10) for He saved me from the danger, as He saves me continually, (11) even while y... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SENTENCE OF DEATH] RV 'the answer of death.' When he wondered whether the issue would be life or death, his own heart answered, 'Death.' THAT WE SHOULD NOT TRUST] His recovery taught him a stronger faith in God.... [ Continue Reading ]
SO GREAT A DEATH] i.e. death with the consciousness that his work in Corinth had been a failure. DOTH DELIVER] RV 'will deliver': i.e. in future dangers which he already foresaw.... [ Continue Reading ]
YOU ALSO HELPING BY PRAYER. St. Paul asks the prayers of the Corinthians, and tells them that they will thus help in his recovery. The Apostle always attached great importance to the prayers of others on his behalf (Romans 15:30; 1 Thessalonians 5:25; 2 Thessalonians 3:1), and made a practice himsel... [ Continue Reading ]
SIMPLICITY] RV 'holiness.' FLESHLY WISDOM] mere cunning. HAD OUR CONVERSATION] RV 'behaved ourselves.'... [ Continue Reading ]
NONE OTHER THINGS] St. Paul seems to have been suspected of writing to individual members of the Church that he was not so satisfied with their conduct and attitude as he professed to be in his public letters. READ OR ACKNOWLEDGE] or, perhaps, 'acknowledge and even maintain,' i.e. that he was now pe... [ Continue Reading ]
IN PART] Some had been faithful all the time. THE DAY OF THE LORD JESUS] the second coming (cp. 1 Corinthians 3:13; 1 Thessalonians 2:19), which the Christians believed to be at hand. 15, 16. The Apostle after his second visit to Corinth (the visit in sorrow, 2 Corinthians 2:1) had intended to pay... [ Continue Reading ]
LIGHTNESS] RV 'fickleness.' ACCORDING TO THE FLESH] deceitfully. Two charges had been brought against the Apostle: (1) that in changing his plans he showed himself fickle, and (2) that he had said one thing while he purposed another. 18, 19. His word was not deceitful, but was as trustworthy as his... [ Continue Reading ]
PARAPHRASE. 'When you find me now writing from Macedonia before you have had a visit at all, you may think me changeable and capricious. (18) But I assure you solemnly I am not easily turned from my purposes. (19) You know that the Christ I preach is true and faithful, (20) for the promises of God w... [ Continue Reading ]
YEA AND NAY] i.e. the use of words with a double meaning.... [ Continue Reading ]
He appeals to his solemn preaching of Christ as the pledge of his sincerity. SILVANUS] Silas (Acts 18:5).... [ Continue Reading ]
IN HIM _are_ YEA AND.. AMEN] Christ is the affirmation (the YEA) and the fulfilment (the AMEN) of God's promises. AMEN] For the general Amen see 1 Corinthians 14:16. BY US] as the instruments.... [ Continue Reading ]
PARAPHRASE. 'Well, then, it is God who is continually strengthening the spiritual bond which unites both us and you to Christ, and who has set us apart to declare His message.' 21. The fact that St. Paul (like the Corinthians) was consecrated to God was the guarantee that he would be faithful in al... [ Continue Reading ]
SEALED] marked us for His own. GIVEN THE EARNEST OF THE SPIRIT] bestowed the gift of the Spirit as the pledge and sample of all spiritual blessings to come: cp. Romans 8:23; Ephesians 1:14.... [ Continue Reading ]
MOREOVER.. CORINTH] Another reason for the Apostle's change of plan was consideration for their feelings. RECORD] RV 'witness.' TO SPARE YOU] i.e. from censure. This refers to 2 Corinthians 13:2, 'If I come again, I will not spare'; 2 Corinthians 10-13 being the earlier severe letter (see Intro.). C... [ Continue Reading ]
DOMINION] probably refers to an accusation made by the Judaisers that St. Paul was lording it over them. BY FAITH YE STAND] A difficult phrase; perhaps it means, 'You need no master over you, for you are grounded in the faith,' or, 'Your faith is a sufficient strength, security, and support.' 2 COR... [ Continue Reading ]