The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Corinthians — Section 157

Vers. 11-18.-His warmth of ajfectioo; anxiety of the apostle lest the grace of God be received in vain. The ruling thought of the chapter is twofold. St. Paul, the amba.ssa.dor, is a fellow-worker with God in Christ, and as such he is deeply concerned that the Church at Corinth should not fail to use its. means and opportunity for salvation then within reach. A critical period had come in its history, and he saw it very clearly. What so sagacious as love? what love so abounding as his? "O.ye Corinthians," out of the depths of my heart, the heart just described-out of its purity, knowledge, long-suffering; "0 ye Corinthians," by my kindness, by the Spirit of God in me, by love unfeigned ; " 0 ye Corinthians," amid my chastenings from God and my a.ffiictions from men ;-wbom I have besought not to receive the grace of God .in vain, once more I pray you hearken. "Our mouth is open unto you, our heart is enlarged." Only e. very large and roomy nature could have entertained the thoughts and feelings, could have suffered, could have passed through the experiences which had just been described ; but varions and multiplied as were that ·heart's .burdens and tribulations, it had ample space for his brethren at Corinth. "Ye are not straitened in us [no narrow place you occupy in our affection], but ye are straitened in your own bowels [ narrowness in your love for us]," the word " bowels " being used to express the seat of the feelings. "For a recompense [return of Jove) . . . be ye also enlarged," and he asks this as a father seeking affection from his children. A sudden break occurs in the movement of thought. Did the use of the word "children " quicken a feeling akin to parental solicitude? Or did the sorrows he was undergoing in behalf of this Church at Corinth, a moment before so vividly pictured, give him a new insight into the dangers surrounding its mem.bers? 1 Or was he recalling the supreme truth in his theology, the atoning death of Christ, and the righteousness that came to us and became a part of us? One in whose mind associa~ tions gathered so very rapidly and suggestions arose with such spontaneous vigour would probably feel the sudden return of the ideas and images on which he had been twelling. A peculiarity with him is this partial development of a thought on its first appearance in his intellect. A similar Jaw is traceable in his emotional nature, There is a second production, and this "aftermath" is very valuable. The subject under consideration (vers. 14-18) had engaged attention in the First Epistle, and he now reverts to it under the apprehension that these Corinthians, who were particularly exposed to the "evil communications" that" corrupt good manners," might receive the grace of God in vain. If there had been a strong reaction against the J ud.aizing party in the Corinthian Church, that may have introduced unusual hazards as to 011. vt. 1-18.J THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIAN~. 153