CHAPTER XIII. _The apostle again says that this is the third time he has_ _purposed to come and see them; and threatens that he will, by_ _the power of Christ, punish every incorrigible sinner_, 1-4. _Exhorts them to examine themselves, whether they be in the_ _faith_, 5, 6. _Prays that they m... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Corinthians 13:2. _I TOLD YOU BEFORE_, c.] As _Calmet_ maintains that Paul had already been _twice_ at Corinth, it is well to hear his reasons: "St. Paul came to Corinth the latter end of the year of our Lord 52, and remained there eighteen months, Acts 18:1, c. He came there a _second_ tim... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Corinthians 13:3. _SINCE YE SEEK A PROOF OF CHRIST_] The conversion of the Corinthians was to themselves a solid proof that Christ spoke by the apostle; and therefore he could, with great propriety, say that this _power of Christ_, far from being _weak_, was _mighty among_ _them_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Corinthians 13:4. _FOR THOUGH HE WAS CRUCIFIED THROUGH WEAKNESS_] It is true Christ was crucified, and his crucifixion appeared to be the effect of his _weakness_; yet even this was not so; he gave up his life, none could take it away from him; and in his last struggle, had he even been defi... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Corinthians 13:5. _EXAMINE YOURSELVES, WHETHER YE BE IN THE FAITH_] εαυτουςπειραζετε. _Try yourselves; pierce_ your hearts; _bore_ _yourselves throughout_; try yourselves by what I have written, and see whether ye retain the true faith of the Gospel. _PROVE YOUR OWN SELVES._] εαυτουςδοκιμαζ... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Corinthians 13:6. _YE SHALL KNOW THAT WE ARE NOT REPROBATES._] Ye have had, and ye shall have, the fullest proof that I have preached the true faith among you; and that God has confirmed it by his testimony; and thus that I am proved and manifested to be what I ought to be, and shown to be _... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Corinthians 13:7. _I PRAY TO GOD THAT YE DO NO EVIL_] That ye do not persist in that course which will oblige me to use the power of Christ, with which I am endued, to punish you. Some apply this prayer to the apostle himself: _Now I pray to God that I may do_ YOU _no evil_-that I may not be... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Corinthians 13:8. _FOR WE CAN DO NOTHING AGAINST THE TRUTH, BUT FOR THE_ _TRUTH._] As we are the apostles of God, we cannot bring to you any _false_ doctrine; and, as we profess to be under the influence of God's Spirit, we cannot do any thing that is opposed to that truth, or which might be... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Corinthians 13:9. _FOR WE ARE GLAD, WHEN WE ARE WEAK_] It will give me indescribable pleasure that I should still appear to be _poor,_ _despicable_, and _destitute of this extraordinary power_ with which God has clothed me, so that you _be strong_ in all the gifts and graces of the Holy Spir... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Corinthians 13:10. _THEREFORE I WRITE THESE THINGS_] I only threaten you now, by this epistle, to put you on your guard, and lead you to reformation before I visit you that I may not then have to use _sharpness_, αποτομια, _a cutting off_, employing thus my apostolical authority to inflict p... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Corinthians 13:11. _FINALLY_] δοιπον. All that _remains_ for me now to write is, to wish you all manner of happiness, and so to take my leave. _FAREWELL._] A good wish, from our old mother tongue, compounded of [Anglo-Saxon], _to go_, and [Anglo-Saxon], _fairly, properly_, or [Anglo-Saxon],... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Corinthians 13:12. _GREET ONE ANOTHER WITH A HOLY KISS._] Use every means by which a _good understanding_ may be brought about. Let the _spirit_ of _friendship_ live among you, and encourage its continuance by every _friendly act_. Romans 16:16, Romans 16:16.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Corinthians 13:13. _ALL THE SAINTS_] The _Christians_ of _Macedonia_ or Philippi, from which he wrote this epistle. In the primitive Church a _saint_ and a _Christian_ were the same thing; for the Christian religion calls every man to be _holy_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Corinthians 13:14. _THE GRACE OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST_] All the _favour_ and _beneficence_ that come _from_ and _through_ the Redeemer of the world; as the LORD, the _ruler_ and _governor_ of all things; as JESUS, the _Saviour_ of all men by his passion and death; as _Christ_, the distribut... [ Continue Reading ]