The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Corinthians — Section 251

appeal to the superstitious fears of tnen ; the address to interest, and selfishness, In thl! use of worldly policy and craft. 2. Spiritual weapons are tehed upou. The truth of God, the gospel of Christ,-this wa.s the arm in which inspired apostles were wout to trust'. 3. 'l'bese ~capons are mighty. In fact, _there are no means of combating error and sin, of promotrng the cause of truth and righteousness, so powerful as those which aro taken from the armoury of the New Testament. They are "mighty throuah God,"' i.;· their power is of Divine origin, the Holy Spirit accompanying thetn to the souls ~rn~ .• II. 'l'HE EFFICACY OF THE WEAPONS WHICR CRRISTIANITY EMPLOYS AND SANCTIONS, 1. They are mighty to demolish. As in warfare fortresses ana. cities are to.ken by Ii ,·ictorions army, and are then demolished, razed to the ground, so when the reliaion of J~sus ~ent forth, conqu~ring an~ to conquer, it attacked, and broug~t lo; ~very high tbmg that exalteth itself agamst the knowledge of God;· Thus sin·, ianoranee: e17or, superstition, vice, crime, bigotry, malice, were again and again vanquish~d by t~J nctorious energy of the gospel. 2. They are ~might,y to subjugate. Captivity ·was the common lot of the conquered foe. And as thoughts are the motive power of life; the gospel attacked these; and rebellious, disobedient; indifferent, ungrateful thoughts were captured, and, by the gentle but mighty force of Divine truth, were brouaht into subjection to Christ, whom to obey is liberty, peace, and joy.-T. " •• • Ver. 5.-.77ie captivity of the thoughts. Spiritual warfare· is represented as leading tg spiritual victory, and this as involving spiritual captivity.· As the Roma.n. :general, having -vanquished his foe and taken multitudes of prisoners, reserved: his ca]:>tives'· td grace his triumph, so the apostle, commissioned by Christ, regards himself as contendhig' with all lawless and rebellious forces, and ·as resolved with Divme help to bting·al1 suoh forces into subjection to his great Commander and Lord, • • ';, • ' : .· 1 , I. THE FORCES WHICH ARE llBOUGBT Th'TO CAPTIVITY. Christianity does not' conten8_, with 11hysica;l powers, does not aim at the mere regulation of outward and bodily1acts\ It strikes at antagonists far more powerful-than any which are dealt with by tlie-powets of this world. Tl,aughts, i.e. the desires and purposes of the souls of men,-'-th'ese •are the foes with ·which the spiritual religion of the Lord Jesus contends. Disobedien_t thoughts, selfish thoughts, worldly tboughts, murmuring thougbts,-these it is that the reli'iion of the Lord Jesus assails. 'l'hese are the source and spring of all the outward evils that afflict and curse mankind. If these .can be m~stered, society may be n,generated and the world may be saved. II. THE SUB.JECTION A}."D SUllMISSION INTO WHICH THESE FOROES ARE TO BE BROUGHT. 1. lt is to the obedience of Christ, the rightful Lord of thoughts and.of. hearts, that the spiritual forces of humanity are to be rendered subject. A grand future is 'in this- view opened up before humanity. Tlie Son of :man is King of ;man; and he will then ascend his royal throne when men's hearts bow loyally before him, acknowledge 'his' unique spiritual authority, and offer: fu him their grateful •ai:;t'd cheerful ,allegiance. 2. lt is a. willing captidty into wliicli human thoughts \'\'ill be led. - I_n this.it.fa utterly unlike the subjection from which the metaphor is taken. Not brute fore&, but ~h.c convincing authority of reason, the sweet constraint of love, the admired m'ajesty of moral ex.cdlence, secure the submission of man's nature to the control of the Divine Lord 3. It is a lasting captivity, not temporary and brief. Whom Christ' govei'ns ho' governs for evermore. Time and earth cannot limit his empire. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom.-'l'. Ver. 8.-.Apostolic authori~y. Paul had to contend ~i~h _difficu:ltie~, not on~y fr6m without, but also from within, the Churches. There werenva_ls to his authority and claims. It happened that sometimes these rivals met with a certain m~sure of success . .And this drova the apostle into the assertion of bis rightful position a.nd demands. '. I. THE SOURCE OF APOSTOLIC POWER AND AUTHORITY. L It was not in himself, in aDy pertiopal gifts an4 qualifications, t4at this ppwer lay.. Pa~l was _indeed by n_aturc a highly gifted :man; but he laid np ·s,tress upon his abil~ties:- ·He was by ~1;l~at10n a ma11 oOearniug and culture; but ~e ?Id not rely upon ~1s knowle~ge for his .m~.uence'. 2. It was not in any human comrn1ss10n that Paul contided. A kmg comm1ss1ons an amLassaiior; a university confers a degree and right to teach; a Church liceniie~ and on. x. 1-18.J 'l'HE SECOND EPIS'rLE TO THE CORINTHIANS. 2Si