are your rejoicing, Paul was not afraid to go to Corinth. He did not doubt that the great majority of the church would receive him with confidence and affection. The change in the plan of his journey arose, as he afterwards states, from very different motives. Paul says he xoas minded^ i. e. intended to come to them before^ i. e. before going to Macedonia ; that ye might have a second benefit^ i. e. the benefit of peeing me twice, once before going to Macedonia, and again after my return. The other explanation of this passage is, that second here refers to his first visit to Corinth. The first benefit was their conversion, the second Avould be the good eflects to be anticij^ated from another visit. But it appears from 12, 14 and other passages that Paul had already been twice in Corinth, and therefore he could not speak of his intended visit as the second ; and the word second here evidently refers to the word before. He was to see them before and after going to Macedonia. Senefit^ X^P*-^? grace^ a term generally in the New Testament used of rehgious blessings. The word sometimes signifies joy^ so the sense here may be, 'That ye might have the pleasure of seeing me twice.' The former explanation is not only better suited to the com- mon use of the word, but also gives a higher sense. And of yoxi to be brought on my loay to Judea. UpoTreixSrjvaL, to be brought on my icay^ i. e. to be aided in ray journey. The word often, and perhaps most frequently, means to escort on a journey, or to furnish with the means of travelling. Acts 15, 3. 20, 38. &c. In ancient times when there were no established modes of travelling, it was customary for the friends of the traveller in one city to send him forward to the next, or at least to escort him on his w^ay. This office of friendship Paul was willing and desirous to receive at the hands of the Corinthians. He was not alienated from them. And his purpose to seek this kindness from them was a proof of his confidence in their affection for him.
17. When therefore I was thus minded did I use lightness ? or the things that I purpose, do I purpose according to the flesh, that Avith me there should be yea, yea, and nay, nay ?
Paul did not execute the plan of his journey above indi cated. His having changed his purpose was made the ground