The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Corinthians — Section 547

your snfety, business, profession; fight like men, fight on, fight to the end. "De strong," or as it is in Eph. iii. 16, "Strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man." Bnt fight how? There are many sorts of fighting-business fightin" profes- sional fighting, legislative fighting, alas! even Church fighting. And there they arc, each class of fighters with his particular weapons and his code of warfare. Only in this are they all alike, viz. the fighter gets the help of the animal soul. Beastly fi"htin" he abhors; the fighting which b!"ings hot blood and excited nerves and quick bre~thin~ into service, he admires, encourages, and depends upon for victory. Not so is St. Paul~ view. "Let all your things be done with charity "-love, and, after his grand discourse on "love," an allusion is enough. To have a gentlemanly intellect in our fighting is a .rare thing and a great thing, but to have a loving intellect in fighting for what we believe to be truth is much rarer and infinitely greater. Christian fighting is a very unusual excellence. From this emotional digression, he returns to " the house of Stephanas." This family were "the firstfruits of Achaia." How he likes the figure! St. Paul had baptized this household. They have "addicted themselves to the ministry of the .aaints." What the precise ministry was, we know not, but we know that it was a kind, beautiful, noble service, for it was rendered to the "saints." Think of the manifold ministries that Christianity set a-going. It is Anno Domini, say, 57. Chris- tianity has in its Churches men of the generation that saw Christ die, that beheld him .risen, that witnessed Pentecost. ,Jerusalem, though approaching her overthrow, still shows the temple where he taught, the spot where he was crucified, aud the grave where he was buried. In this short space of time, what numerous workers have entered on careers of beneficence! From the apostles downward through all grades of kind an,\ loving agencies, mark the variety, the diffusion, the heterogeneous civilizations, the unity, the accordant response, the consecration, pervading these Christian ministries. Mark it, we say; for it is a solitary phenomenon, up to this time, in human annals. Mark it, we repeat; for all the antagonistic forces of the world are in league to crush it, nnd they are reinforced and augmented by Satanic power. 'l.'ake a single specimen, the household of Stephanas. No information is given as to his social position, no mention made or the sphere or spheres of usefulness filled. Enough to know, it was a" ministry" and a blessed one, since it was "a ministry to the saints." Yet we may picture that Corinthian home in the midst of a. mongrel aud licentious population, keeping alive the fervour of its love and the purity of its privnte heart, watching, standing fast in the faith, courageous and strong, and abounding in the work of the Lord. ,ve may be sure that the poor, the sick, the infirm, were duly cared for and helped, and that tbe home itselr was devoted to hospitality. Now, says the apostle, "submit yourselves unto such." '!'here are two kinds of submission-one to authority, the other to influence. We ucc,\ both. vVe need law, we need grace. Law and grace are coexisting constituents in modern civilization so far as Christianity has permeated, and, in our times, influence hns assumed a very significant relation to govemment and society. We are governetl much more by influence than authority. St. Paul urges that Stephanas and his housc- ·hold be respected and honoured, their wishes consulted, their ju<lgments followed. And not only they, but "every oue that helpeth with us and bbouretb." Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus had come from Corinth nnd visited St. Paul at Ephesus, am\ "they have refreshed my spirit and yours." 'l'hey had been sent as representatives or the Corinthian Church. The comfort and cheer were mutual; let them be acknowledged -(valued, recognized) for these good offices. Wise instruction this; to be influenced by excellence in others, and submit our minds to such a gracious power, is the strongest of all evidences that we are on the path of culture and piety. l!'or it has pleased Got! -0ur Father, not only to reveal himself in Jesus our Lord, but he manifests himself also in thoso who are Christ's. D:scipleship is a revelation nnd an inspiration. All the ministries are of God. 'l'hey are his presence, his helpfulness, his glory, among the habitations of men. And whether it be the "ministering spirits sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation,'' or the lowly ministrations that fall in the silent dew and breathe in the hidden violet, they are alike frolll him who "worketh J\ll in all."-L. Vers. 19-24.-0losing wcrds. The salutations follow: first, from the Churches of Asia: then from Aquila and Pr:scilla, honoured names in the Churches; again from  6G0 THE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS. [cu. XVI. l-2L