And being absent now i write to them which heretofore, etc. (kal arav viv ypddw). I write must be omitted ; now con- nected with being absent ; and to them which connected with J say beforehand. Tender, so now being absent (I say before- hand) to them which, ete.
3. A proof of Christ speaking in me (Sonu rod év éyol Aaroovtos Xpictod). Lit., of the Christ that speaks in me. An experimental proof of what kind of a being the Christ who speaks in me is.
In you (ev vyiv). Detter, among you. He is speaking, not of Christ as He dwells in them, but as He works with reference to them (ets) and among their number, inflicting punishment for their sin.
Through (é&). Lit., owt of, marking the source of both death and life.
Are weak in Him. The parallel with ver. 3 must be care- fully noted. Christ will prove Himself not weak, but mighty among you. He was crucified out of weakness, but He is mighty out of the power of God. A similar weakness and power will appear in our case. We are weak in Him, in virtue of our
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fellowship with Him. Like Him we endure the contradiction of sinners, and suffer from the violence of men: in fellowship with His risen life we shall be partakers of the power of God which raised Him from the dead, and shall exhibit this life of power toward you in judging and punishing you.
Toward you. Oonstrue with we shall lwe.
5. Examine yourselves (éavtovs retpatere). Yourselves is emphatic. Instead of putting Christ to the test, test yourselves. Rev., try, is better than examine. Hxamination does not ne- cessarily imply a practical test. It may be merely from curi- osity. Zrzal implies a definite intent to ascertain their spirit- ual condition.
The faith. See on Acts vi. 7. In a believing attitude to- ward Christ.
Prove (Soxwafere). As the result of trying.
Or know ye not, etc. Assuming that you thus prove your- selves, does not this test show you that Christ is in you as the result of your faith in him ?
Reprobates (addxcpor). An unfortunate translation. 4 reprobate is one abandoned to perdition. The word is kindred to the verb prove (Soxydtere), and means disapproved on trial. See on Rom. i. 28.
7. Not that we should appear approved, etc. The sense of the verse is this: We pray God that you do no evil, not in order that your good conduct may. attest the excellence of our teaching and example, so that we shall be approved; but in order that you may do what is good, thus rendering it impos- sible for us to prove our apostolic authority by administering discipline. In that case we shall be as men wnapproved. Stan- ley remarks that, in the light of this verse, Paul might have added to ch. vi. 9, as without proof and yet as approved.
8. For we can do nothing against the truth. Your well- doing is what we truly aim at. For, if we had any other aim, with a view to approving ourselves, we should fail, because we should be going in the face of the truth—the Gospel ; and
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against that we are powerless. In that case we should be un- approved before God.
9. We are weak. Practically the same as unapproved. When your good conduct deprives us of the power of adminis- tering discipline, we are weak.
Perfection (xardpticw). Only here in the New Testament. See on be perfect, ver. 11. Rev., perfecting.
10. Use sharpness (drrordéuws xpynowuat). Rev., more lit- erally and correctly, deal sharply, thus giving the force of the adverb. For sharply see on the kindred doroula severity, Rom. xi. 22.
11. Finally (Aowrév). Lit., as for the rest. Sometimes rend- ered now, as Matt. xxvi. 45. “Sleep on now,” for the time that remains. Besides, as 1 Cor.i.16. Jt remaineth, 1 Cor. vii. 29. Henceforth, 2 Tim. iv. 8; Heb. x.13. Often as here, Jinally. In every case the idea of something left over is at the bottom of the translation.