The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Corinthians — Section 87

l~I. IN THE TEAClllNGS OF THE PROPHETS. __ It was almost the one essential thing in their work that they were to set free the spmt of the older revelation which was in danger of being overcrushed by the letter of commandment and ccrem'onial rule. It may even be shown that, in the prophets, there was a tendency to undervalue the letter, in the earnestness of their effort to get a right value set on the spirit of obedience. IV. IN TIIE LIFE AND GOSPEL OF THE Lono JESos. lllust1·ate by our Lord's parables, and by his teaching as in John vi. 63. V. IN THE APOSTOLIC MINISTRY. Especially illustrated in St. Paul's teachinas rcsptctin11: the relation of the Judaic and Chlistian systems, and equally illustrated fa St. John's revelation of the inner and mystical meanings of the Christian trnth and requirements. Conclude by showing how.this distinction is still applicuble to modern religious teaching. 1. 'l'he " letter" is needed. In some stages of religious experience and attainment precise directions are the best helps. 2. The mere" letter" may still be exaggerated, so as to become a mischievous bondage. 3. The true teacher uses the fonnal "Jetter" only to ca1Ty the "spirit." But the higher teaching of the very spitit of Christianity demancls from the teacher a very marked and cultured spiiituality or spiritual insight.-lt. T. ' Vers. 7-11.-The oW, covenant and the new. In some sense it may be said tliat teachings respecting the relations between the older revelation in Judaism and the newer revelation in Christianity were special to. the Apostle Paul. On this point he had direct revelations from Christ, and the liberal form which bisteachiags took exposed him to the peril of being misunderstood and misrepresented, and brought persecutions around him. No man could be found more truly loyal to the older revelation than the apostle of the Gentiles, but while he honoured it he saw clearly that it bad its day and its mission. That day had now passed; that mission had been fulfilled. 'l'he older covenant had made open and plain the way for the new, and it was loyalty to the old for Paul to accept fully the new, in which it found its fulfilment, its completion, its glory; for the ministration of Jesus and the Spirit is but Judaism glorified, the gospel of the letter passed into the gospel of the spirit, Three contrasts are here dwelt u1ion. The old coveuant and the new are conceived as- L A :MINISTRATION OF DEATH AND A IIIINISTBATION OF LIFE. St. Paul bad said (ver. 6) that the "letter killetb." He meant that it crushed hope und effort, since no man could reach a perfect obedience. 'l'he old covenant condemned all who failed even in the leost thing. It provided no life, no strength in which obedience could become possible. On the other hand, the new covenant provided a new life for the will and a new grace unto obedience. 'l'he old crushed down henrt and hope, and made a man cry out, "I cannot." 'rhe new cheered him, lifted him up, and made him say, "I can, through him who strengtheneth me." II. A :MINJBTRA'rION OF CONDEMNATION AND A MINIBTBATION OF BIGllTEOtJBNEBB, The old covenant said, "'l'hou shalt not," and it denounced its penalties on tho offenders. 'l'he new covenant says," 'l'hou shalt," holds before us the model.life of obedience lived by the Lord Jesus, and provides grace unto changing us into his image. JI!. A :MINISTRATION THAT WAS PASSING AND A IIIINISTBATION 1"HAT WAS l'EBMA• NENT. (Ver. 11.) The older covenant was of necessity transitory. It hnd but a temporary and preparatory mission. The new is abiding, for there can be nothing higher than or beyond that s1iiritual righteousness which is its sublime aim to accom- plish.-ll. T. Ver. 17.-The liberty of the Spirit. "The apostle assumes, almost as nn axiom of the spiritual life, that the presence of the Spirit gives freedom, ns contrnste<l with the bondage of the letter-freedom from slavish fear, frce<lom from the guilt and burden of 6in, freedom from the tyranny of the Law." Distinguish carefully between liberty 1md licence. Whether a man can have and uso liberty depends entirely upon what u man is. Some men are better in bonds; they must be in bonds; their fancied liberty is but a delusion. The point urged by the apostle is that the man who is renewed in Christ Jesus can be safely trusted with his full liberty, because he is established in principles, and upheld by a power which guarantees that he will put his liberty into reasonable and 1ighteous limitations. Wo observe some of the reasons why "wbera the Bpil"it of the Lord is, 1.here h llbe1·t1," oH. 111. l-18.] THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS. 87