The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Corinthians — Section 99

"Light," "knowledge," "glory of God,"" face of Jes\18 Christ,"-what n collocation ot sublime ideas !-L. V11s. 7-18.-Ministers in their weakneu and strength; present affliction and future issues. There is the ever-recurring contrast. It is now the ministry as a "treasure" and this treasure is " in earthen vessels." We understand the apostle to refer to the body ~~en spcakini;; ?f t~e "~lay_ vessel," the co~trasted elemen~s being the glory of the mm1stry as a Divine illummat1on and the fragile human form m which it was con- tained. It was thus that "the excellency of the power" was seen to be "of God and not of l~s." N~t only ,~as it ~he I!?wer of God, bt~t of ''. exceeding greatness" (Kiing), and while tbe ' surpa.ssIDg might demonstrated itself m the gracious and widespread effects of the ministry, it was also obvious in the physical support given in the midst of such unprecedented labours and trials. To illustrate this "surpassing might" (Cony- beare and Howson), St. Paul adduces his own experience. As it respects the "earthen vessel:" 1. Troubled on every side. 2. Perplexed. 3. Persecuted. 4. Cast down. 5. Always iiying; bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesns. As it respects the" excellency of the power:" 1. Not distressed. 2. Not in despair. 3. Not forsaken. 4. Not destroyed. 5. Life of Jesus made manifest in our mortal body. These ideas of su!Tcring are taken from the body. 1. Pressed or hemmed in on every side. 2. Benighted ou our path. 3. Pursued in a conflict. 4. Thrown down and expecting to be killed. 5. The dying of the Lord Jesus never absent as a. bodily impression. '!'his is the second of those vivid pictures St. Paul has given of his personal life, the :first being found in 1 Cor. iv. 9-13. There is a marked difference between the two representations, tho former referring to the contrast between himself and the self-sufficient Corinthians, while the latter sets forth the contrast between "the glorious gospel" and the weakness of its ministration by means of men. Here the prominence is given to the similarity of his own life to that of Christ, "that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh." Had he spoken in tbe previous Epistle of self-denials and voluntary sufferings over and above "other apostles," going on a warfare "at his own charges," planting a vineyard and eating not "of the fruit thet·eof," a shepherd who "eateth not of the milk of the flock"? No such allusions (except in the reference made in the twelfth verse) are found in this chapter. Before him, in full view, is the career of Jesus of Nazareth, his resignation of the comforts of earth, the homelessness and other privations he endured, and he, the apostle of the Gentiles, is conformed in outward or physical a.,pects to the sufferings of Christ. Still more, the life of Christ's resurrection and exalted glory appears in him, and this life, so manifested in " our mortal flesh" ancl the more signally exhibited because of infirmities and afflictions, is for their benefit. "Death worketh in us, but life in you." But is death a shadow, a discouragement, a pnralyzing terror? Nay; tlie life imparted to the Corinthians through him returned from them to his own soul. He believed and spoke ; they heard and believed. Furthermore, he had another consolation, the hope of a resurrection, when he and they should be_ presented by Christ to the Father for final acceptance. Yes; the fellowship would be immortal as well as glorious. "All things are for your sakes," whatever had befallen him, and this "abundant grace," extended to P.n ever-enlarging number, would swell the volume of thanksgiving to God. In his min? "the glory of God" is never associate~ ~ith nurrow bounds, never with a few, always with the" many"-" through the thanksg1vmg of many redound to the glory of God." 'l'his is his manhood; lnrgeness in everything ; breadth of thought and sentiment for this world and the futm:e I II manhood ~bat ~ould ~reathe in nothing smaller than a universe. ~ow much he 1s w~rth to us ~n t~1~ p11rt1cularl On this account" we faint not." Notbmg had power to dishearten his spmt or depress his efforts. The burden rallied the strength ; the heavier the weight the more energetic the resistance. Another contrast-outward men, inward man: man in each. St. Paul, who is the theologian of the 13ible on the subject of the_ bod:y: no less t~nn of tho soul, is here in one of his favourite moods, and, as usual, his philosophy (1f we choose so to'rcgard his discernment) is as profound as his piety. '"fhough our outward man periHb." It cannot but perish. "Dust thou. ar~, and unto dust shalt t~ou return." 'l'he body exists for no independent purpose, it 1B for the soul, and the 1deo.l of the soul determines the ideal of the body's history, It eats, eleeps, works, for the soul, It decays for the sake of the soul. Now, this decay which the apostle is consider.. CH, 1v, 1-18.] THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS. 99