PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
An Exposition of the Second Epistle to the Corinthians
Hodge, Charles, 1797–1878 · 138,725 words · 304 reading sections
II. CORINTHIANS 7, 12. 187
cause that suffered wrong, but that our care for you in the sight of God might appear unto you. Wherefore. That is, because my letter has produced such results. The eflects produced by his letter was the end he had in view in writing it. Though I wrote to you, i. e. al- though I interfered with your affairs. His motiv…
463 wordsSECTION 182188 II. CORINTHIANS 1, 13.
out so as to be known by yourselves. This, however, would be more naturally expressed by cv vfXLv or iv eavrot?, anio7ig yourselves. Besides, the words " before God," as involving an appeal to the divine omniscience, are more in place if he is speaking of his own zeal, than if speaking of theirs. The im- mediate contex…
430 wordsSECTION 183II. CORINTHIANS 7, 14.15. 189
rived from their repentance, but in addition to that, he was delighted to find Titus so full of joy. Compare v. 7. The Vulgate has the same reading and pointing. Ideo consolati sumus. In consolatione autem nostra abundantius magis ga- visi sumus super gaudio Titi. Because his spirit icas re- freshed by you all. This is…
363 wordsSECTION 184190 II. CORINTHIANS 7, 16.
greater now than when he was with them. The recollection of their good conduct warmed his heart towards them. His inward affection^ literally, his bowels, which in the Scriptures is a figurative expression for love, compassion, or any other tender affection. Whilst he rememhereth^ literally, remember- ing^ i. e. becaus…
303 wordsSECTION 185CHAPTER YHI.
The extraordinary liberality of the Macedonians, vs. 1-6. Exhortation to the Corinthians to follow the example of their Macedonian brethren, vs. 7-16. Commendation of Titus for his zeal in promoting the collection of contributions for the poor, and of tb^. other brethren who were to accompany him to Corinth, \s, 17-24.…
410 wordsSECTION 186192 II. CORINTHIANS 8, 1. 2.
trusted to him, vs. 20. 21. With those akeady mentioned he sent another brother of approved character and great zeal, v. 22. Therefore if any one inquired who Titus was, they might answer. He was Paul's comi^anion and fellow-labourer ; or who those brethren were, they might say, They were the messen- gers of the church…
391 wordsSECTION 187II. CORINTHIANS 8, 2. 193
whereas the context calls for only one. The meaning rather is, that notwithstanding their afflictions, their joy and their poverty abounded to their liberality. This the grammatical structure of the passage requires. IIoio that (on) ; the con- nection is with the verb in the preceding verse, ' I cause you to know that,…
460 wordsSECTION 188194 II. CORINTHIANS 8, 3-5.
condition of Greece in the time of Augustus was one of deso- lation and distress. It had suffered severely by being the seat of the successive civil wars between Caesar and Pompey, between the Triumvirs and Brutus and Cassius, and lastly, between Augustus and Antonius. Besides, the country had never recovered from the …
391 wordsSECTION 189II. CORINTHIANS 8, 3-5. 195
ceive tbeir contributions and to take upon him the distribution of them. If they are omitted, the sense is, they begged to be permitted to contribute. Granting, however, that these "words should be omitted, the construction of the passage is doubtfuh Stanley says it is " a sentence which has been en- tirely shattered i…
463 wordsSECTION 190196 II. CORINTHIANS 8, 3-5.
of this fact which led the Macedonians, without any exhorta tion from the apostle, but of their own accord, to make the contribution of which he here speaks. Our translators by the insertion of the words they were alter the sense of this verse. They make the apostle say, ' They were willing beyond their power.' Whereas…
449 wordsSECTION 191II. CORINTHIANS 8, 6. 197
to the gift not of their money only but of themselves. Some say that this means that they offered themselves to go to Cor- inth or elsewhere to collect money for the poor. But the sense is fuller and simpler as above explained. By the icill of God. That is, the will of God was the cause of their giv- ing themselves to …
433 wordsSECTION 192198 II. CORHSTTHIANS 8, 7.
ans. The grace spoken of was sometliing ^^-liicli belongs to the same category with faith, knowledge, and love. 7. Therefore, as ye abound in every (thing, in) faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and (in) all dili- gence, and (in) yoiu* love to us, (see) that ye abound in this grace also. From this verse onward to v…
409 wordsSECTION 193II. CORINTHIANS 8, 8. 199
Aoyos is the Chiistian truth as preached, yvujo-is that truth as apprehended or understood. In diligence^ (o-ttovS?;,) earnest- ness^ a general term for the energy or vigour of their spiritual life, of which their love was one manifestation. In your love to us. The expression in Greek is peculiar, r^ i$ vfxujv iu rjfju…
438 wordsSECTION 194200 II. CORINTHIANS 8, 9.
9. For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich. This verse is a joarenthesis, the sentence begun in v. 8 be- ing continued in v. 10. Still the connection between this and the preceding verse is intimate and immedi…
923 wordsSECTION 1952©2 II. CORINTHIANS 8, 8.
pedient for you, who have begun before, not only to do, but also to be forward a year ago. The connection is witli v. 8. 'I do not command, I, in this matter, viz., in making collections for the poor, irive my mind ; ' yvw firjv, in the sense of opinion. Comp. 1 Cor. 7,6. JFhr this is expedient for you. This admits of…
466 wordsSECTION 196II. CORINTHIAI^S 8, 11. 12. 203
make a collection for the poor saints, you had begun ; and before they thought of it, you had determined to do it. ' Hav- ing thus been beforehand with them it would be to your dis- advantage to leave your work half done, seeing that the mere mention of your purpose, 9, 2, roused them to such self-deny- ing liberality.…
834 wordsSECTION 197II. CORINTHIANS 8, 14. 205
not obligatory on the rich to make themselves poor in order that the poor may be rich. That is not the rale. 14. But by an equality, (that) now at this time your abundance (may be a supply) for their want, that then- abundance also may be (a supply) for your want : that there may be equality. The word Io-ottjs means …
451 wordsSECTION 198206 II. CORINTHIANS 8, 15. 16.
lievers to Christ as members of his body, so that what is done to them is done to him ; and their consequent intimate relation to each other as being one body in Christ Jesus. The other is, the assurance that the good done to them is pure good. There is no apprehension that the ahiis bestowed will encour- age idleness …
870 wordsSECTION 199208 II. CORINTHIANS 8, 18. 19.
greater zeal as he went forth willingly.' But Meyer gives a better explanation. 'He accepted indeed our exhortation, i. e. he modestly submitted himself to my direction, but being too zealous (o-7roi;8aioT€pos) to need an exhortation, he went of his own accord.' He did not require to be urged to go, al- though in this,…
401 wordsSECTION 200II. CORINTHIANS 8, 19. 209
This brother was entitled to confidence, and misfht safely be intrusted with the contributions of the Corinthians, not only on the ground of his general reputation, but also because he had been elected for the very purpose of taking charge, together with Paul, of the money collected for the saints. Chosen, X€ipoTovr)Su…
448 wordsSECTION 201210 II. CORINTHIANS 8, 20-22.
20. Avoiding this, that no man should blame us in this abundance which is administered by us. The participle a-TeWofXivoL depends on the verb o-vveiriixxl/afjLeu of the verse 18. 'We sent the brother with Titus, avoiding this ; ' that is, in order to avoid. It was not, however, merely the appointment of a brother to a…
386 wordsSECTION 202II. CORINTHIANS 8, 23. 211
things, but now much more dihgent, upon the great confidence which (I have) in you. Who this second brother was whom Paul sent to accom- pany Titus and his fellow-traveller, there is no means of deter- mining. The apostle had proved him to be airovSalov^ earnest or diligent, iv ttoAAois TroAAaKts, in many things many …
404 wordsSECTION 203212 II. CORINTHIANS 9.
is the glory of believers, so he is glorified by tliem. They reflect his glory. They by their holiness lead men to see the excellence of Christ whose image they bear. 24. Wherefore shew ye to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love, and of our boasting on your behalf. In conclusion the apostle exhorts t…
260 wordsSECTION 204CHAPTER IX.
An exhortation to the Corinthians not to falsify his boastin;^ of their liberal- ity, vs. 1-5. An exhortation to give not only liberally but cheerfully, vs. 6-15. Continuation of the discourse in the precedhig chapter on making collections for the sai/Us. Although aware of their readiness, the apostle sent the brethr…
74 wordsSECTION 205II. CORINTHIANS 9, 1. 213
inth arrived, they should find them unprepared, not so much to then- disgrace, as to his mortitication, vs. 1-4. He sent the brethren, therefore, that every thing they intended to do might be done in time, and be done cheerfully, v. 5. It was not only liberality, but cheerfulness in giving that the Lord required, vs. 6…
462 wordsSECTION 206214 II. CORINTHIANS 9, 2.
sentence) unto you. Paul had written and was about to write still further on the subject ; so that this is to be understood as only a polite intimation that his writing, so far as they were concerned, was not necessary. They did not need urging. 2. Por I know the forwardness of your mind, for wliich I boast of you to …
423 wordsSECTION 207II. CORINTHIANS 9, 3. 215
their collection, and now to save Ms credit, he begged the latter to finish the work before he and his Macedonian friends arrived. The whole body of Paul's epistles is a refutation of this interpretation. No man who is capable of receiving the true impress of his exalted character can suppose him guilty of false statem…
445 wordsSECTION 208216 II. CORINTHIANS 9, 4.
It appears from 8, 10 that the Corinthians had avowed the purpose to make a collection for the poor at Jerusalem, and had actually begun the work a year ago. Paul had mentioned this fact to the Macedonians, telling them that the Corinthi- ans were ready to do their part in this business. He now sends Titus and the bret…
436 wordsSECTION 209II. CORINTHIANS 9, 5. 217
11,17. These words being omitted, the text stands, iv rfj liroa-- Ttto-et ravrr], in this covjidence, i. e. ashamed in relation to this confidence. Comp. Heb. 3, 14. 11, 1. Others take the word in the sense of 7iegotium^ " in this thing," which is not only unnecessary, but contrary to usage. 5. Therefore I thought it …
422 wordsSECTION 210218 II. CORINTHIANS 9,6.
of the explanation in v. 6, and because cheerfulness in giving is afterwards enforced. Atid 7iot as of covetoiiS7iess ; literally, not as covetousness, i. e. not such a gift as betrays the avarice of the giver. 6. But this (I say), He which soweth sparingly, shall reap also sparingly ; and he which soweth bounti- full…
419 wordsSECTION 211II. CORINTHIANS 9, 1. 219
where. It is edifying to notice the difference between the divine wisdom and the wisdom of men. As the proper motive to acts of benevolence is a desire for the happiness of others and a regard to the will of God, human wisdom says it is wrong to appeal to any selfish motive. The wisdom of God, while teaching the entire…
450 wordsSECTION 212220 II. CORINTHIANS 9, 8.
blessed." The LXX. renders the words quoad sensinn^ avSpa IXapov Koi SoTTjv evXoyet o Seo^ ; a version which Paul adopts for substance. God blesses, loves, dehghls in, the joyous giver. Let not, therefore, those Avho give reluctantly, or from stress of circumstances, or to secure merit, imagine that mere giving is acce…
433 wordsSECTION 213II. CORINTHIANS 9, 9. 221
to cause your riches to abound, that ye may have abundance to every good icork ;"> eis ttSv Ipyov aya^w, in reference to, so as to be able to perform every good work. The logical con- nection is not with the intermediate participial clause, 'that having sufficiency, ye may have abundance,' but with the first clause, ' …
425 wordsSECTION 214222 II. CORINTHIANS 9, 10.
eclness, as it is the tendency of evil to j^roduce misery. 2d. The general course of divine providence. God in his provi- dence does as a general rule prosper the diligent and bless the righteous. Honesty is the best policy, is a maxim even of worldly wisdom. 3d. Even in this life righteousness pro- duces a hundred-fol…
410 wordsSECTION 215II. CORINTHIANS 9, 10. 223
ance, and he will do it. This verse is a declaration, and not a wish. Our translation, which makes it a prayer, is founded on the Elzevir, or common text, which reads xopyy^^^ai^ ttXtj-^v- vai, av^rjaat in the optative, instead of the futures x^PT/W^^^ TrXTjSvvel, av^o-et, which are supported by a great preponder- ance…
454 wordsSECTION 216224 II. CORINTHIANS 9, 11. 12.
" the fruits of your righteousness " mean the reward of your righteousness, amounts substantially to the same thing; for the reward of beneficence is, according to the context, the in- crease of the means w^herewith to be beneficent. 11. Being enriched in every thing to all bountiful- ness, which causeth through us th…
395 wordsSECTION 217II. CORINTHIANS 9, 13. 225
administration of this service^ -fj SiaKovca t^s A.etToi;pyias rav-nys. This may mean, ' The administration by me of this service of yours, i. e. this benefaction of yours, which is a service ren- dered to God and his people.' It is a X^novpyia ; properly a public ser\ice, but always in the New Testament (except per- h…
423 wordsSECTION 218226 II. CORINTHIANS 9, 13.
the Christian spirit demanded. Calvin's explanation is, Speci- men idoneum probandse Corinthiorum caritati, quod erga fra- tres procul remotos tarn liberales erant ; which amounts very much to what is impHed in the first interpretation mentioned. They glorify God for your 2^rofessed subjection. The words are, iin rfj v…
443 wordsSECTION 219II. CORINTHIANS 9, 14.15. 227
14. And by their prayer for you, which long after you, for the exceeding grace of God in you. This verse admits of a threefold construction. It may be connected with v. 12, Serycret being parallel with 8ta 7roXkC)v €vx. 'Your liberality is abundant, or overflowing, (-Treptcrcrcuovcra,) through many thanksgivings — and…
399 wordsSECTION 220228 II. CORINTHIANS 10.
great, supreme, all-comprehending gift, which is here intend- ed. This is the more natural, because it is Paul's wont, when speaking either of the feeble love, or trivial gifts of believers, one to another, to refer in contrast to the infinite love and unspeakable gift of God m Christ to us. 8, 9. Eph. 5, 1. It is his …
130 wordsSECTION 221CHAPTER X.
Paul deprecates the necessity of asserting his authority and of exercising his power to punish the disobedient, vs. 1-6. He confronts his opposers with the assertion of divinely derived power, vs. 9-11. He shows that he claims authority only over those who were committed to his care, vs. 12-18. PauPs assertion of his …
234 wordsSECTION 222II. CORINTHIANS 10, 1. 229
corrupted the gospel, which he was appomted to propagate and defend. He therefore naturally assumes a tone of author- ity and severity. Satisfied of his divine mission, and conscious of supernatural power, he cautioned them not to rely too much on his forbearance. He was indeed as a man humble, and, if they chose, insi…
403 wordsSECTION 223230 II. CORINTHIANS 10, 1.
nent, in saying I. This is rendered the more emphatic by the addition of the word myself; a^ros iyw, 1 7ny self the man whom you so despise and calumniate. Comp. Gal. 5, 2. Eph. 3, 1. Philemon, 19. In this case the expression is so emphatic that many suppose that Paul here began to write with his own hand ; as though h…
477 wordsSECTION 224II. CORINTHIANS 10, 2. 231
not only to be bound, but to die for the name of the Lord Jesus. Acts 21, 13. 2. But I beseecli (jou), that I may not be bold when I am present with that confidence, wherewith I think to be bold against some, which think of us as if we walked according to the flesh. The particle (Se), but, serves to resume the exhort…
439 wordsSECTION 225232 II. CORINTHIANS 10, 3.
The persons against whom he had determined to exercise this severity, were those who thinli of us, he says, as if toe loalked according to the flesh. The word flesh sometimes means the body, sometimes it expresses the secondary idea of weakness, sometimes, and most frequently in Paul's epistles, our corrupt nature. Bez…
426 wordsSECTION 226II. CORINTHIANS 10, 4. 233
quominus Spiritus sancti virtus mirifice se exsereret in ejus iufirmitate." Instead of the general expression " to walk," Paul uses, in the second clause, the more specific term, " to war." We war not y ov aTparevoiJieSa. 'XrpaTevo) means, to go to war, to make a campaign ; crrpaTevofxaL means, to serve as a soldier, …
416 wordsSECTION 227234 II. CORINTHIANS 10, 5.
means which the apostle employed in the defence and propa- gation of the truth. Those means, he says, were mighty through God. The words are hwara tw ^eaJ, which are vari- ously explained. Some, as Beza, Grotius and others, give the dative the force of the ablative — mighty by God — afflatu Dei^ as Erasmus expresses it…
409 wordsSECTION 228II. CORINTHIANS 10, 5. 235
What the apostle was thus confident he could cast down were wxaginations (Xoyio-ftov's), thoughts^ i. e. the opinions, or con- victions of those who set themselves and the deductions of their own reason against the truth of God. Compare 1 Cor. 1, 17-31, and Rom. 1, 21-23. Aiid every high thing (vi/^w/ta), every tower, …
466 wordsSECTION 229236 II. CORINTHIANS 10, 6.
for the human, the wisdom of God for the wisdom of men, the infinite and infallible for the finite and fallible. The suc- cess of the gospel depends on its being presented, not as the word of man, but as the word of God ; not as something to be proved, but as something to be believed. It was on this principle Paul acte…
836 wordsSECTION 230238 II. CORINTHIANS 10, 1,
Do ye look on things after the outward appearance 9 to. Kara TTpoaoiTvov /JAeVcTe. This clause may be taken interroga- tively, as by most commentators, or imperatively, or declara- tively. If interrogatively, the sense may be, * Do ye regard, or take into view, only what is external? Do you judge of me from my personal…
479 wordsSECTION 231II. CORINTHIANS 10, 8. 239
being suggested by others. The fact was so i^lain that it needed not to be asserted. Let him think this again^ i. e. let him consider the matter again. The last reflection will con- vince him that as he is ChrisPs^ so are we. There was no re- lationship which these false teachers could rightfully claim to Christ to whi…
429 wordsSECTION 232240 II. CORINTHIANS 10, 9.
able to put down his personal enemies, but for edification^ i. e. the building up of the church in holiness and peace. Power in the church comes not from the civil magistrate, nor from the people, but from Christ only. He is, as Calvin says, Solus Dominus et Magister. And this power can be legiti- mately exercised only…
452 wordsSECTION 233II. CORIISTTHIANS 10, 10. 241
0)5 av eK<f)ol3oiixL r/xa?, tonquam vellm vos terrere^ which agrees with our translation. These particles serve to soften the ex- pression, and are equivalent to as if perhaps^ or, so to sjyeaJt'. There is evident allusion to the false representations made by the false teachers, that Paul wrote in the authoritative ton…
405 wordsSECTION 234242 II. CORINTHIANS 10, 11.12.
letters and his actions as the false teachers in Corinth, to whom he was probably personally unknown, endeavoured to make the people believe. 11. Let such an one think this, that such as we are in word by letters when we are absent, such (will we be) also in deed when we are present. Let such an one, i. e. any one, n…
354 wordsSECTION 235II. CORINTHIANS 10, 12. 243
comparing ourselves with ourselves, not with these wise men.' According to this view, a-vviovaLv^ at the end of the verse, is a participle, and is used ironically in reference to the false teach- ers. To this interpretation it is objected, 1. That avvtova-tv would require the article in order to express the meaning giv…
456 wordsSECTION 236244 II. CORINTHIANS 10, 13.
lively few and of a secondary class, the great body of editors adhere to the common text. If that text is correct, then the interpretation given in our English version is the most natural and suitable. Calvin applies this whole passage, with his usual vigour, to the monks of his day. Hujus loci expositio non aliunde pe…
394 wordsSECTION 237II. CORINTHIAN^S 10, 13. 245
off to him. But this is not consistent ^^4th the ordinary mean- ing of the word, or with the context. Wliich God hath dis- tributed to us y ov ifxipicrev -qfjuv 6 «^eo5 ixirpov^ for fxirpov 6 i/xepL- o-ev 6 ^eos, by attraction. This clause is in apposition with Kaj/wos, and explains what was the rule or line which dete…
865 wordsSECTION 238II. CORINTHIANS 10, 15. 247
TctVo/xcv. * We do not stretch ourselves unduly — not boasting, &c.' The reproach to the false teachers here implied is of course obvious. They had done what Paul refused to do. They came to Corinth after the church had been gathered, assumed an authority to which they were not entitled, and endeavoured to destroy the …
446 wordsSECTION 239248 II. CORINTHIANS 10, 16-18.
dered, vobis adjuvantibus. They would aid Paul in his future labours. The same idea is brought out by rendering the clause thus, ' To become great among you as to that which is beyond.' 16. To preach the gospel in the (regions) beyond you, (and) not to boast in another man's Hne of things made ready to our hand. This…
381 wordsSECTION 240II. CORINTHIANS 11. 249
worthy of approbation, but he whom the Lord commendeth.' Paul did not commend himself; his claims were not founded on the suggestions of self-conceit ; neither did he rely on the commendation of others, his eye was fixed on God. If he could secure his favour, it was to him a small matter to be judged by man's judgment.…
62 wordsSource & rights
Public-domain historical edition (1860). Text from OCR of an original Internet Archive scan; OCR may contain recognition errors.
Project Gutenberg source record →
Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.