1. Do we begin again. Rev., are we beginning. As if anticipating the taunt so often repeated, that he had no com- mendatory letters, and therefore was forced to commend him- self by self-laudation and by dishonest means. See ch. iv. 2; x. 12. You will say, “ You are beginning again the old strain of self-commendation as in the first epistle.”’ See 1 Cor. ix. 15-21.
To commend (cvmardva:). See on Rom. iii. 5.
302 WORD STUDIES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT. [Cxu. IIL
Some others. Others is superfluous. The reference is to certain false teachers accredited by churches or by other well- known teachers.
2. Our epistle. The figure which follows is freely and somewhat loosely worked out, and presents different faces in rapid succession. The figure itself is that of @ commendatory letter representing the Corinthian Church: ‘Ye are our letter.” This figure is carried out in three directions: 1. As related to the apostles’ own consciousness. The Corinthian Church is a letter written on the apostles’ hearts. Their own conscious- ness testifies that that Church is the fruit of a divinely accred- ited, honest, and faithful ministry. 2. As related to the Cor- inthians themselves, The Church needs no letter to commend the apostles to it. It is its own commendation. As the visible fruit of the apostles’ ministry they are a commendatory letter to themselves. If the question arises among them, ‘ Were Paul and his colleagues duly commissioned? ”—the answer is, “We ourselves are the proof of it.” 3. As related to others outside of the Corinthian Church. The answer to the charge that the Corinthians have been taught by irregular and uncom- missioned teachers is the same: “Behold the fruit of their labors in us. We are their commission.”
At this point the figure again shifts; the letter being now conceived as written on the Corinthians’ hearts, instead of on the hearts of the apostles: written by Christ through the apostles’ ministry. This suggests the comparison with the law written on tables of stone, which are used as a figure of the heart, fleshy tables, thus introducing two incongruities, namely, an eprsile written on stone, and writing weth ink on stone tables.
Written in our hearts. See above. Compare Plato: “I am speaking of an intelligent writing which is graven in the soul of him who has learned, and can defend itself” (“ Phae- drus,” 276).
3. An epistle of Christ ministered by us (évrony Xpic- Tod Siaxovnteica id Hudv). An epistle written by Christ through our ministry ; that is, you, as the converted subjects of
Cu. II.] THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS. 303
our ministry, are an epistle of Christ. Others explain: an epistle of which Christ forms the contents, thus making the apostles the writers. For the expression ministered by us, compare ch. viii. 19, 20; 1 Pet. i. 12.
Ink (wédav). From pédas black, Only here, 2 John 12 (see note), and 3 John 18.
The Spirit. Instead of ink.
Fleshy tables of the heart (rAaflv xapSias capxivais). The best texts read xapdiais, the dative case in apposition with tables. Render, as Rev., tables which are hearts of flesh. Com- pare Ezek. xi. 19; Jer. xvii. 1; xxxi. 33. For of flesh, see on Rom. vii. 14.
4. Confidence. In the fact that he may appeal to them, notwithstanding their weaknesses and errors.
Through Christ to God-ward (61a tod Xpuotod mpos tov @ecdv). Through Christ who engenders the confidence, toward God, with reference to God who gives us success, and to whom we must account for our work.
6. Hath made us able ministers (‘cavacev suas SvaKxdvous). An unfortunate translation, especially in view of the conven- tional sense of able. The verb ‘xavdw from ixaves sufficient (see on Rom. xv. 23), means to make sufficient or jit. It occurs only here and Col. i. 12. The correct sense is given by Rev., hath made us sufficient as ministers. Compare-enabled (évdur- ayw@oavrt), 1 Tim. i. 12.