The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Corinthians — Section 275

excrci~e the undl'l'Bte.nding on its contents; more thRn treat it as a.n arcrument intended to ~et forth R definite conclusion; and, especially, more than R defeuc; on anv privRto µ-rounds, of St. Paul's character and conduct. First of all, I\ general vl~w of ti10 situa- tion is necessary. In this large, growing, and influential city, a bond of connection bl'twcen AsiR and Europe, a medium through ,vhich the most prominent agencies of tho da:r operated over a very broad surface,-in this active and aspiring city a Ohristian Church had been founded by St. Paul on his first visit. It was an era in his apostleship. Of Greek intellect and habits, he had learned enough at least to give a special bias to hie style of prea.ching. Thrown among a population of Jews, Romans, Greeks, and adven- turers from every qua.rter of the globe, he found a degree of skill and prudence necessary in the me.nagement of his work that had not been required in any previous stage of his career. Shrewd money-lovers were all around him; he would practise his trade and support himself. Aquila and Priscilla had stood faithfully by his side and cheered his toil He prea.ched in the synagogue, trouble came, and he transferred his work to the house of Justus. A vision from God assured him of help and protection, and one of its fulfilments occurred when Gallio drove the apostle's persecutors, the turbulent Jews from" the judgment-seat," and, in the subsequent tumult, "cared for none of thes~ things." But it was more than an era in his ministry. It was an epoch in the history of the gospel. There had been something like a repetition of Pentecost. None of the outward symbols, and yet a mighty descent of the Holy Ghost in the number and variety of gifts. If the gre.a.t Pentecost had been followed by sad lapses in the cases of Ananias and Sapphire., even by lying unto the Holy Ghost whose dispensation had just been inaugurated, could it be wondered at that disorder, misrule, heart-burnings, strife, immoralities, had sprung up as tares among the wheat in this luxuriant harvest? It was Corinth out and ont. It was the excitable emporium in one of those ferments, good and evil intermixed, which have happened at intervals in the history of the Church. To check the unhealthy excitement, t.o purify the Church from corruption, to suppress rivalries and animosities between parties, St. Paul had put forth all his wisdom, energy, and fidelity, and, in la.rge measure, had succeeded. At this point, a. closer view of the sitUJl.tion becomes necessary. Looking at St. Paul as the apostle to the Gentiles, we Bee at once the significance of his relation to the Corinthian Church. Humanly speaking, he had fought here bis greatest battle and had won a grand victory, Where was there a Church potentially of such promise? Where such an array of brilliant endowments~ Where su.ch a manifoldness and plenitude of captivating gifts? Here, in the very city where the Jews had required a sign and the Greeks had sought after wisdom; here, in the very metropolis of Achaia., where learning and culture and Jewish traditions were so strongly entrenched behind wealth and social influence, he ha.d chosen to lay a peculiar and profound stress on "the foolishness of preaching." And the Christ crucified had suddenly revealed himself as the Christ glorified, had refulfilled his promille of the Holy Ghost, and a glorious Pentecostal season had been granted to Corinth. It was the miracle of all the miracles in his career. How personal it was to him as the apostle to the Geutiles is obvious. It was akin to the demonstration made before Jerwia.lem and her Sa.nhedrim in behalf of the twelve; and if that event gave St. Peter a commanding attitude at once, only second to that, if indeed second, was this outpouring of the Holy Spirit as an attestation from Christ the Lord of the special ministry of St. Paul Amid these signs a.nd wonders dissension and bitter strife had appeared at Corinth. Most aJ.a.rm.iDg of all, J udaizers had come from J el'Wlalem to assail St. Paul's authority and destroy hie influence. Thoy had been ze.a.lous, unscru- pulous, persistent, malignant. At every point they had attacked him, and they had a sufficient following to make the apostle apprehend serious damage. The persecution, he had hoped, was cheeked if not ended. But it ha.cl broken out anew, and that, too, while writing this Second Epistle. It was a severe blow. He was not prepared for it. Could it be possible that his work here was to be undone, or, if not that, to be arrested by these unprincipled adversaries? Corinth was the key to the vast citadel of the West; should he 1080 it from his hand? It is in the light of these fact.s that we must read this eleventh chapt.er. And if we find him ma.king a most vigorous and determined effort to reinstate his authority over the disaffected portion of the Corinthian Church, let us remember that it is not Paul as an individual, but St. Paul as an apostle-the apostle to tL.e Gentiles-who pleaded for a cause far dearer to him than reputation, honour, or life CH. xt. 1-38.J THE SECOND EPISTLE 'l'O THE CORINTHIANS. 275