who so orders events as to niake his power apjDarent. I am so perplexed, persecuted, down-trodden and exposed to death, as to render it evident that a divine power is exercised in my preservation and continued efficiency. My continuing to Hve and labour with success is a proof that Jesus lives. This he tells the Corinthians is for their benefit, vs. 7-12. Having the same faith that David had, he spoke with equal confidence, assured that God, who raised up Christ, would not only pre- serve him while in this world, but also raise him hereafter from the dead. As all Paul endured and did was for the benefit of the Church, thanks would be rendered by the peo- ple of God for his preservation and success, vs. 13-15. There- fore, adds this great apostle, I do not faint ; although my out- ward man perishes, my inward man is renewed day by day ; for I know that my present afflictions are not only temporary, but that they are to be succeeded by an eternal weight of glory, vs. 16-18.
1. Therefore, seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not.
Therefore^ i. e. on this account. This is explained by what follows; seeing we have this ministry^ that is, because we have it. In the former chapter he had proclaimed himself a minister of the new coA'enant, not of the letter, but of the spu'it, 3, 6 ; a ministry far more glorious than that of the law, inasmuch as the law could only condemn, whereas the gospel conveys righteousness and life. The possession of such an of- fice he assigns as the reason why he does not faint ; ovk Ikko.- Kovfxev, ice do not turn out had^ or prove recreant. That is, we do not fail in the discharge of duty, either through weari- ness or cowardice. As loe have received mercy. The position of these words in the text admits of their being connected either with what precedes or with what follows. In the for- mer case, the sense is, having through the mercy of God ob- tained this ministry ; in the latter, the meanmg would be, as we have obtained mercy we faint not. The former is almost universally preferred, both because his not fainting is referred to his having so glorious an office, and because he so often re- fers to his call to the apostleship as a signal manifestation of the mercy and grace of God. Rom. 15, 15. 16. 1 Cor. 15, 9.10. Eph. 3, 8. 'Having through the mercy of God ob- tained such a ministry, we famt not.'