The apostle advises concerning I. CORINTHIANS. the collection for the poor saints. A. M. 4063. steadfast, unmoveable, always abound-|| as ye know "that your labour is not A. M. 4063. ing in the work of the Lord, forasmuch in vain in the Lord. A. D. 59. A. D). 59. u Chap. iii. 8. accepted, and that he had obtained justification for || bour shall not be in vain in the Lord--But that you believers, the Holy Spirit to raise them to newness shall receive a full reward in that day of final reof life, and a state of immortal glory. Therefore, compense for whatever ye do for his sake. Let us my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast-In faith, hope,|| endeavour, therefore, by cultivating holiness in all and love, and in an uninterrupted course of well- its branches, to maintain a lively hope of this felidoing; Col. i. 23; Rom. ii. 7; Gal. vi. 9; unmovea- city in all its spirit and energy, longing for that ble-By any temptations from within or without;|| glorious day when, in the utmost extent of the exfrom persons or things; from visible or invisible || pression, death shall be swallowed up for ever: and enemies; always abounding in the work of the millions of voices, after the long silence of the grave, Lord-In every service you are capable of perform- || shall burst out at once into that triumphant song, O ing for the glory of God, the good of your fellow-|| death, where is thy sting? O hades, where is thy creatures, or your own salvation; the work of faith, || victory? And when we shall join in everlasting or the labour of love to God and man. Forasmuch || thanksgivings to God for giving us the victory as ye know—On the surest evidence; that your la- || through Jesus Christ our Lord. CHAPTER XVI. In this chapter, the apostle, (1,) Gives some advices relating to the proposed collection for the poor saints in Judea, 1–4. (2,) Intimates his intention to visit the Corinthians, 5–9. (3,) Recommends Timothy to them, and encourages them to expect a visit from Apollos, 10–12. (4,) Exhorts them to`watchfulness and steadfastness in faith and love, and to show a respect to Stephanas and his family, and other fellow-labourers, 13-18. (5,) After Christian salutations, he concludes with a solemn admonition and benediction, 19–24. A. M. 4063. A. D. 59. NOW concerning a the collection for || prospered him, that there be no ga- A. M. 4063, the saints, as I have given order || therings when I come. to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. с 3 And when I come, whomsoever ye shall approve by your letters, them will I send to bring your 1liberality unto Jerusalem. b Acts xx. 7; Rev. i. 10. 2 Cor. viii. 19.——1 Gr. gift, 2 Cor. viii. 4, 6, 19. κατα μιαν σαββάτων here signifies, the Hebrews using the numeral for the ordinal numbers, as Gen. i. 5, The evening and the morning were one day; that is, the first day; and also using the word sabbath to denote the week, as Luke xviii. 12. I fast twice, T8 σabba78, in the week. So Mark xvi. 2, πрwi Tηs μias cabbarov, early the first day of the week. Let every one of you lay by him in store, &c.—Not the NOTES ON CHAPTER XVI. Verses 1, 2. Now concerning the collection-During the apostle's eighteen months' abode at Corinth," he had exhorted the brethren there to undertake the making a collection for the poor saints in Judea. But the divisions in their church, it seems, had hitherto hindered them from beginning it. The apostle therefore here requests them to set about it immediately, and directs them as to the mode of proceed-rich only: let him also that hath little gladly give of ing. The saints in Judea were, it appears, at this time, in great straits, both on account of a famine, and the persecution to which they were exposed. As I have given order, or a charge, Greek, dierağa, to the churches of Galatia—It is probable the apostle gave these orders to the churches of Galatia when he went throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, establishing the churches, as mentioned Acts xvi. 6. And he may have received the collections made by these churches when, in his way to Ephesus, where he now was, he went through all the churches of those parts in order, as related Acts xviii. 23. Verses 2-4 Upon the first day of the week-So that little, as God hath prospered him--Increasing his alms as God increases his substance. According to this lowest rule of Christian prudence, if a man, when he has or gains one pound, give a tenth to God, when he has or gains ten pounds, he will give a tenth to God; when he has or gains a hundred, he will give the tenth of this also. “And yet,” says Mr. Wesley, "I show unto you a more excellent way. He that hath ears to hear let him hear: Stint yourself to no proportion at all; but lend to God all you can." That there be no gatherings-No necessity of making any particular collections; when I comeFrom these last words it is inferred that oavoitwy, The apostle intimates his intention CHAPTER XVI. to visit the Corinthians. ▲. M. 4063. 4 d And if it be meet that I go also,|| 7 For I will not see you now by A. M. 4063. they shall go with me. the way; but I trust to tarry a while A. D. 59. 5 Now I will come unto you, when I shall pass through Macedonia: for I do pass through Macedonia. 6 And it may be that I will abide, yea, and winter with you, that ye may bring me on my journey whithersoever I go. * 2 Cor. viii. 4, 19. Acts xix. 21; 2 Cor. i. 16.f Acts xv. 3; xvii. 15; xxi. 5 ; Rom. xv. 24 ; 2 Cor. i. 16.———8 Acts xviii. 21; A. D. 59. here rendered laying by him in store, signifies to put || Through whatever parts I may pass thither. For, his charity into a common box; because, if they had | &c.-As if he had said, I speak of coming at some kept it at home, there would have been need of future time; for I will not see you now-In my way gathering it when the apostle came. But the words from hence to Macedonia. But I trust-That the ɛkaçoç tap' ɛavtw tidεrw, let every one place it with || little delay, which this plan may occasion, will be himself, admit not of this sense; nor, when each of || made up to your satisfaction; for I purpose to tarry them had done this, could there be any necessity of a while with you-When I come, which the necessimaking collections; or, as that expression imports, || ties of the churches of Macedonia will not at present soliciting the charities of others, but only of receiv- || give me leave to do. But I will tarry at Ephesus ing the contributions thus laid by for the use of the || until Pentecost-A plain intimation this that he was saints. We may observe here, that from the begin- || now at Ephesus, and consequently that the inscripning, the Christians were wont to assemble on the tion added at the end of this epistle, which tells us it first day of the week, called by them the Lord's was written from Philippi, is far from being authentic. day, to perform their religious worship. "This|| Indeed, this may be gathered also from the salutaday being the Lord's day," saith Dionysius, bishoptions in the close of this epistle, which are not from of Corinth, "we keep it holy." "On Sunday," the churches of Macedonia, but from Asia. And, saith Justin, "all Christians in the city or country it may be affirmed in general, that, as Dr. Doddridge meet together, because that is the day of our Lord's || justly observes, no credit is to be given to these adresurrection; and then we read the writings of the ditions, which have been presumptuously made tc prophets and apostles. This being done, the presiThis being done, the presi- || the epistles, and very imprudently retained. For a dent makes an oration to the assembly, to exhort great door and effectual is opened to me— "The door them to imitate and do the things they heard: then of a house being a passage into it, the opening of a we all join in prayer, and after that we celebrate || door, in the eastern phrase, signified the affording a the Lord's supper."-See Whitby. And when I come-When I am arrived at Corinth; whomsoever || ye shall approve by letters-Signed by the members of your church, or their representatives; them will I send to bring your liberality—Greek, TMηv xapıv vμwr; literally, your grace; that is, the fruit of your grace, or, your free gift, to Jerusalem, to be there distributed among the poor Christians. And if it be meet—If it be thought proper; that I also should go--Thither on this occasion; they shall go with me That they may witness for me that no part of the money received has been withheld, but that the whole of it has been delivered with the greatest fidelity, to be employed solely for the purposes for which it was contributed. Verses 5-9. Now I will come unto you-If Providence permit; when I shall pass-Or rather, when I shall have passed; through Macedonia; for I do pass through Macedonia-I purpose going that way, that I may visit the churches there, and receive their collections. And it may be that I will abide, &c.That I shall continue some time; yea, and winter with you-Having spent the summer and autumn in my progress through Macedonia. That ye may bring me on my journey-That some of you may accompany me a little way, and help me forward toward Jerusalem, or whithersoever else I go— || || || || || mon. person an opportunity of doing a thing. See Col. iv. 3; Hos. ii. 15. The apostle's long abode at Ephesus was owing to his great success in converting the Ephesians, and such strangers as had occasion to resort to that metropolis. But about the time this letter was written, his success was greater than comFor many, who used curious arts, the arts of magic and divination, were converted, and burned their books, containing the secrets of these arts, Acts xix. 17-20. This so enraged the idolaters at Ephesus, but especially the craftsmen, that they raised the great tumult described Acts xix. 23-41.”—Macknight. Therefore the apostle adds, and there are many adversaries—Many opposers, who, (he hereby insinuates,) if he were to leave Ephesus immediately, might perhaps take advantage of his absence, to the great injury of the new-planted church there. Verses 10-12. Now if—In the mean time; Timotheus come, see that he may be with you without fear -Of any one's despising him for his youth. Encou rage him in his labours; for he worketh the work of the Lord-The true ground of reverence and love to pastors: those who do so, none ought to despise or discourage; but conduct him forth-Bring him forward on his journey; in peace-And do all that you can to make it commodious and agreeable to him; that he may come unto me— that he may come unto me-At Ephesus, as soon as watchfulness and seadfastness A. M. 4063. may be with you without fear; for || selves to the ministry of the A. M. 4063 1he worketh the work of the Lord, as|| saints,) A. D 59. A. D. 59. 13 P Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit and Priscilla salute you much in the Lord, you like men, be strong. S 14 Let all your things be done with charity. 15 I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is "the first-fruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted them 1 Rom. xvi. 21; Phil. ii. 20, 22; 1 Thess. iii. 2.-—m 1 Tim. iv. 12. Acts xv. 33.-0 n Chap. i. 12; iii. 5.P Matt. xxiv. 42; xxv. 13; 1 Thess. v. 6; 1 Pet. v. 8.-9 Chap. xv. 1 ; Phil. i. 27; iv. 1; 1 Thess. iii. 8; 2 Thess. ii. 15.- Eph. vi. 10; Col. i. 11.- -s Chap. xiv. 1; 1 Pet. iv. 8.—t Chap. i. r d with the church that is in their house. 21 fThe salutation of me Paul with mine own hand. 16.—————" Rom. xvi. 5.———x 2 Cor. viii. 4; ix. 1 y Heb. xiii. 17.————2 Heb. vi. 10.—a 2 Cor. xi. 9 Phil. ii. 30; Philem. 13.- b Col. iv. 8.—c 1 Thess. v. 12; Phil. f Col. iv. 18; 2 Thess. iii. 17. possible; for I look for him with the brethren- || Stephanas, that it is the first-fruits of Achaia—That Namely, Erastus, who had been sent with Timothy he and they were the first converts in that province; to Corinth, (Acts xix. 22,) and Titus, who carried || and that they have addicted themselves-According this letter, and another brother, whose name is not to the rank in which Providence has placed them, mentioned; (see 2 Cor. xii. 17, 18;) perhaps also and the abilities which God hath given them; to the some of the Corinthian brethren, whom the apostle || ministry of the saints-To the supplying of thei: had desired Titus to bring with him to Ephesus, temporal and spiritual wants, both in promoting the having need of their assistance. As touching Apol-progress of the gospel, and succouring the afflicted. los-For whom many of you have so high a regard; That ye also-In your turn; submit yourselves to I greatly desired him to come to you with Timothy the admonitions of such; so repaying their free and the other brethren-Having an entire confidence service: And to every one that helpeth with us, and in his friendship, prudence, and fidelity, and hoping || laboureth-That labours in the gospel, either with that his presence among you might have been par- or without a fellow-labourer. ticularly useful at this crisis; but his will was not to Verses 17, 18. I am glad of the coming of Stephacome at this time-Perhaps lest his coming should|| nas, &c.-This Stephanas is supposed by many to increase the divisions among them; but he will come || have been the son of Stephanas mentioned verse when he shall have convenient time-Jerome says, 15. He, with Fortunatus and Achaicus, are supApollos actually went to Corinth, after the disturb-posed to have been the messengers sent, by the sinances had ceased. But whether in this, Jerome But whether in this, Jerome cere part of the Corinthian church, with the letter delivered his own opinion only, or some ancient tra- || mentioned chap. vii. 1. For that which was lacking dition, is uncertain. Verses 13, 14. To conclude. Watch ye-Against all your seen and unseen enemies; stand fast in the|| faith-Seeing and trusting in Him that is invisible: quit you like men-With courage and patience; be strong-To do and suffer his will. Let all your things be done with charity-Namely, your differences about worldly affairs, mentioned chap. vi., your disputes concerning marriage and a single state; (chap. viii.;) your eating things sacrificed to idols; (chapters viii., x;) your eating the Lord's supper; (chap. xi.;) and your method of exercising your gifts, chapters xii., xiv. In all these ye ought to have a regard to the good of your neighbours, that ye may not occasion each other to sin. Verses 15, 16. Ye know the house, or family, of || on your part they have supplied-They have performed the offices of love which you could not supply, by reason of your absence. For they have refreshed my spirit--By their obliging behaviour and edifying conversation, as I doubt not they have often refreshed yours, by their ministrations among you; or will refresh yours by informing you of my success in preaching the gospel. Verses 19-21. The churches of Asia--Especially those of Ephesus and its neighbourhood; salute you -With all Christian affection, heartily wishing you peace and prosperity. Aquila and Priscilla— Formerly members of your church, (Acts xviii. 2, 18,) but who at present are with me; salute you much -With singular Christian love; in the Lord--In his grace and Spirit. These worthy persons lived in Corinth all the time the apostle was there. And it is as if he had said, Though such a person's wickwhen he departed, they accompanied him to Ephe-edness cannot be discovered and punished by the sus, (Acts xviii. 18,) where they remained till after he left Ephesus to go to Jerusalem. For when he returned to Ephesus, he found them there, as is plain from their salutation sent to the Corinthians in this letter, which was written from Ephesus. But they seem to have left Ephesus about the time the apostle departed to go into Macedonia. For in the letter which he wrote to the Romans from Corinth, they are saluted as then residing in Rome. With the church which is in their house-The Christian congregation which assembles there. All the brethren -Who labour with me in the gospel, or are members of the church here; greet you--Wish you all felicity. Greet ye one another with a holy kiss--|| See on Rom. xvi. 16. The salutation of me Paul with mine own hand-What precedes having been written by an amanuensis. See 2 Thess. iii. 17; || lie under the heaviest curse which an apostle could Col. iv. 18. church, yet the Lord, at his coming, will find it out, and punish him with eternal perdition. This terri||ble curse the apostle wrote in his epistle to the Corinthians, because many of the faction, but especially their leader, had shown great alienation of mind from Christ. And he wrote it with his own hand, to show how serious he was in the denunciation ;" and he inserted it between his salutation and solemn benediction, that it might be the more attentively regarded. "Estius says, from his example, and from the anathemas pronounced Gal. i. 8, 9, arose the practice of the ancient general councils, of adding to their decisions, or definitions of doctrine, anathemas against them who denied these doctrines." Be this as it may, let it ever be remembered that professing Christians, who do not sincerely love their Master, ingenuous temper, ere the Lord, whom they neglect, and against whom they entertain a secret enmity, descend from heaven with unsupportable terror, and pronounce the anathema with his own lips, in circumstances which shall for ever cut off all hope, and all possibility of its being reversed! See Macknight and Doddridge. Verses 23, 24. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ--All the blessed tokens and effects of his favour; be with you-And rest upon you for time and eternity! My love--My most sincere, tender, and affectionate regards; be with you all in Christ Jesus pronounce, or God inflict. Let the unhappy creaVerse 22. If any man love not the Lord Jesus-tures take the alarm, and labour to obtain a more In sincerity, but is secretly alienated from him in heart, while he calls himself his servant, preferring some secular interest of his own to that of his Divine Master; if any one be an enemy to Christ's person, offices, doctrines, or commands; let him be Anathema Maran-atha-Anathema signifies a thing devoted to destruction, and it seems to have been customary with the Jews of that age, when they had pronounced any man anathema, to add the Syriac expression, Maran-atha, that is, the Lord cometh ; namely, to execute vengeance upon him. See note || on Rom. ix. 3. We may add further here, "Anathema Maran-atha, were the words with which the Jews began their greatest excommunications, whereby they not only excluded sinners from their society, but delivered them to the divine Cherem, or Anathema; that is, to eternal perdition. This form they used, because Enoch's prophecy concerning the || coming of God to judge and punish the wicked, began with these words, as we learn from Jude, who quotes the first sentence of that prophecy, verse 14. Wherefore, since the apostle denounced this curse against || the man, who, while he professed subjection to Christ, was secretly alienated from him in his heart, || things I have written. b Who is our peace, and the bond of our union with God and one another. There is a great propriety and beauty in this manner of ending an epistle, in which the apostle had so sharply reproved the Corinthians. By assuring them of his love, he showed them that all the severe things he had written proceeded from his anxiety for their eternal welfare, and thereby removed the prejudices which his reproofs might otherwise have raised in their minds. Amen--An expression which I add in testimony of my sincerity and seriousness in this and in all the 213 PREFACE то THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS. IT T was observed in the preface to the former epistle to the Corinthians, that it was written from Ephesus, and probably a little time before the riot of Demetrius, about A. D. 57. Near the con clusion of that epistle, the apostle mentioned his intention of tarrying at Ephesus till the pentecost following. This he doubtless did; but soon after left that city, and went to Troas, in expectation of meeting Titus there on his return from Corinth, and receiving from him an account of the state of the Corinthian church. But Titus not meeting him there as he expected, the apostle proceeded to Macedonia, where Titus came to him, and gave him a satisfactory account of the state of affairs in the church at Corinth, and of the effect which his epistle had produced on the minds of the Corinthians. From some place of this country he wrote this second epistle to the Corinthians, and probably within a year after his writing the former. For if the former, as has been observed, was written only a little while before the riot at Ephesus, there could only be a short interval between the dates of the two epistles, namely, the time of the apostle's abode at Ephesus after writing the first letter, and at Troas after leaving Ephesus, and the weeks which he spent in Macedonia before the arrival of Titus; all which united could not make above a year. It was also mentioned in the preface to the first epistle, that the design of it was twofold; first, to correct certain corruptions and abuses which had crept into the church at Corinth; and secondly, to answer some important queries which they had proposed to him. Now the intention of this second letter was more fully to illustrate some of the same points on which he had discoursed in the former, according to the farther information which Titus had given him of the circumstances of that church, and the temper of its members. But at the same time he intersperses and enforces such occasional reflections and advices upon various subjects as he judged would be most conducive to their instruction and edification. Two reasons seem especially to have urged the apostle to write this second epistle so soon after the former: 1. The case of the incestuous person that lay under censure, whom, as he was truly penitent, it was desirable with all speed to restore to the communion of the church. Concerning this, therefore, he gives directions, (chap. ii.;) and afterward (chap. vii.) declares the satisfaction which he had upon the information he had received of their conduct in that affair. 2. He had proposed, at the close of the former epistle, their making a contribution to the relief of the poor saints in Judea; and as, it seems, they delayed this business, and the apostle judged it expedient that it should be proceeded with and accomplished as soon as possible, he thought it proper to write immediately to them to that purpose, urging them withal to be liberal, after the example of the churches in Macedonia. There are, however, divers other things still more worthy of consideration in this epistle; as, 1. The account which the apostle gives of his labours and success in preaching the gospel in several places, chap. ii. 2. The comparison which he draws between the Mosaic and Christian dispensation, and his illustration of the superior glory of the latter to that of the former, chap. iii. 3. The manifold sufferings which he and his fellow-labourers met with, and their motives and encouragements to patience and diligence in their work, chap. iv., v. 4. The caution he gives the Corinthians against-associating with unbelievers, chap. vi. 5. The way and manner in which he justifies himself and his apostleship from the injurious insinuations and accusations of false teachers, who endeavoured to ruin his reputation at Corinth, chap. x., xi., xii., and in other parts of the epistle. It must be observed, the thread and connection of this whole letter are historical; other things being interwoven only by way of digression; and in every part of it the apostle beautifully displays the most tender affection toward the Corinthians, who had been greatly moved by the seasonable severity of his former address; and directs, encourages, and comforts them with various admonitions and considerations. |