(done) in (liis) body, according to tliat he hath done, whether (it be) good or bad.
In what precedes Paul had been speaking of himself. It was his own sufferings, hopes, and efforts which the occasion called upon him to exhibit. In all this, however, he spoke as a Christian, and therefore in the name of other Christians. In this verse he exj^ressly comprehends others, and all others. ' I strive to be acceptable to the Lord, for we must all (I as well as all behevers, and even all men) must, c%c.' As Christ is to decide upon our eternal destiny, it is of infinite moment that we should be acceptable, or well-pleasing, in his sight. We 'must all appear^ cjiavepw&rjvai. This means either nothing more than a judicial appearance, as when any one is said to appear in court before a judge; or, as Bengel explains it, manifestos fieri cum occultis nostris, ' we must all stand re- vealed in our true character before the judgment-seat of Christ.' 1 Cor. 4, 5. Col. 3, 4. As there can be no disguise, no deception before an omniscient judge, Paul was assiduous in his efforts to be prepared to stand the scrutiny of an all- seeing eye. The judgment-^eat of CJirist ; l^w^^ literally, stej), then a raised platform, or seat ; most frequently used of the elevated seat on which the Roman magistrates sat to ad- minister justice, an object of reverence and fear to all the people. As Christ is to be the judge, as all men are to appear before him, as the secrets of the heart are to be the grounds of judgment, it is obvious that the sacred writers beheved Christ to be a di"VT.ne person, for nothing less than omniscience could qualify any one for the office here ascribed to our Lord. That evei'^Qiie may receive^ Koixi^tM^ A\hich in the active form means to take up^ in the middle, as here, to take for one's self properly to take or receive what is one's due, or what on some ground one is entitled to. Matt. 25, 27. Col. 3, 25. 2 Pet. 2, 13. The punishment which men are to receive will be what they have jearned, and therefore what is in justice due to them. HDhg^xeward of the righteous, although a matter of grace and not of justice, yet being, agreeably to the tenor of the covenant of grace, according to their works, it is of the nature of. a reward. The pay of a faithful soldier is a matter of debt, titles and estates are matters of favour. ' There is no inconsistency, therefore, in the Scrij^tures denying all merit to believers, and yet teaching that they shall be rewarded ac- cording to their works. We are said to receive the tilings