32 I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. If, after the manner of men, I have fought with wild beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? 33 Let us eat and drink; for to-morrow we die. Be not deceived. Evil communications corrupt good manners. 34 Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame. $5 But some one will say, How are the dead raised? 36 And with what kind of body do they come? Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened except it die, 37 And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not the body that shall be, but a bare grain, perhaps of wheat, or of 38 any other corn: But God giveth it a body, as it hath pleased him, and to each of the seeds its own body. I die daily-I am daily in the very jaws of death. Beside that I live, as it were, in a daily martyrdom. V. 32. If to speak after the manner of men, that is, to use a proverbial phrase, expressive of the most imminent danger. I have fought with wild beasts at Ephesus--With the savage fury of a lawless multitude, (Acts xix. 29, &c.) This seems to have been but just before. Let us eat, &c. We might on that supposition, as well say, with the Epicureans, Let us make the best of this short life, seeing we have no other portion. V. 33. Be not deceived-By such pernicious counsels as this. Evil communications corrupt good manners-He opposes to the Epicurean saying, a wellknown verse of the poet Menander. Evil communications-Discourse contrary to faith, hope, or love, naturally tends to destroy all holiness. V. 34. Awake Au exclamation full of apostolical majesty. Shake off your lethargy! To righteousness-Which flows from the true knowledge of God, and implies, that your whole soul be broad awake; and sin not-That is, and ye will not sin. Sin supposes drowsiness of soul. There is need to press this; for some among you have not the knowledge of God-With all their boasted knowledge, they are totally ignorant of what it most concerns them to know. I speak this to your shame-For nothing is more shameful, than sleepy ignorance of God, and of the Word and works of God; to them especially, considering the advantages they had enjoyed. V. 35. But some one possibly will say, How are the dead raised up, after their whole frame is dissolved? And with what kind of bodies do they come again, after these are mouldered into dust? V. 36. To the inquiry concerning the manner of rising, and the quality of the bodies that rise, the apostle answers first by a similitude, ver. 36, 42, and then plainly and directly, ver. 42, 43. That which thou sowest, is not quickened into new life and verdure, except it die-Undergo a dissolution of its parts, a change analogous to death. Thus St. Paul inverts the objection; as if he had said, Death is so far from hindering life, that it necessarily goes before it. V. 37. Thou sowest not the body that shall be-Produced from the seed committed to the ground, but a bare, naked grain, widely different from that which will afterward rise out of the earth. V. 38. But God-Not thou, O man, nor the grain itself, giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, from the time he distinguished the various species of beings; and to each of the seeds, not only of the fruits, but animals also, (to which the apostle rises in the following verse,) its own body; not only peculiar to that species, but proper to that individual, and arising out of the substance of that very grain, 39 All flesh is not the same flesh; but there is one kind of flesh of men, another of beasts, another of birds, another of fishes. 40 There are also heavenly bodies, and there are earthly bodies: but the glory of the heavenly is one, and that of 41 the earthly another. There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: 42 and one star differeth from another star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead: it is sown in corruption; 43 it is raised in incorruption: it is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in 44 power: it is sown an animal body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is an animal body, and there is a spiritual 45 body. And so it is written, * The first Adam was made 46 a living soul, the last Adam is a quickening Spirit. Yet the spiritual body was not first, but the animal; afterward 47 the spiritual. The first man was from the earth, earthy; 48 the second man is the Lord from heaven. As was the * Gen. ii. 7. V. 39. All flesh-As if he had said, Even earthy bodies differ from earthy, and heavenly bodies from heavenly. What wonder then, if heavenly bodies differ from earthy! Or the bodies which rise, from those that lie in the grave! V. 40. There are also heavenly bodies-As the sun, moon, and stars; and there are earthy-As vegetables and animals. But the brightest lustre which the latter can have, is widely different from that of the former. V. 41. Yea, and the heavenly bodies themselves differ from each other. V. 42. So also is the resurrection of the dead-So great is the difference between the body which fell, and that which rises. It is sown (a beautiful word,) committed, as seed, to the ground, in corruption—Just ready to putrify, and by various degrees of corruption and decay, to return to the dust from whence it came. It is raised in incorruption-Utterly incapable of either dissolution or decay. V. 43. It is sown in dishonour-Shocking to those who loved it best: human nature in disgrace! It is raised in glory-Clothed with robes of light, fit for those whom the King of heaven delights to honour. It is sown in weakness Deprived even of that feeble strength which it once enjoyed: it is raised in power-Endued with vigour, strength, and activity, such as we cannot now conceive. V. 44. It is sown in this world, a merely animal body-Maintained by food, sleep, and air, like the bodies of brutes: but it is raised of a more refined contexture, needing none of these animal refreshments, and endued with qualities of a spiritual nature, like the angels of God. V. 45. The first Adam was made a living soul-God gave him such life as other animals enjoy: but the last Adam, Christ, is a quickening Spirit-As he hath life in himself, so he quickeneth whom he will: giving a more refined life to their very bodies at the resurrection. V. 47. The first man was from the earth, earthy; the second man is the Lord from heaven-The first man being from the earth, is subject to corruption and dissolution, like the earth from which he came. The second man-St. Paul could not so well say, "Is from heaven, heavenly:" because though man owes it to the earth, that he is earthy, yet the Lord does not owe his glory to beaven, He himself made the heavens, and by descending from thence shewed earthy, such are they also that are earthy, and as was the 9 heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. 50 But this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, neither doth corruption 51 inherit incorruption. Behold, I tell you a mystery; we 52 shall not all sleep, but we shall be all changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised 53 incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corrupible must put on incorruption, and this mortal put on 54 immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is 55 written, Death is swallowed up in victory. + O death, where is thy sting? O hades, where is thy victory? 56 The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the 57 law. But thanks be to God, who hath given us the * Isaiah xxv. S. + Hos. xiii. 14. himself to us as the Lord. Christ was not the second man in order of time; but in this respect, That as Adam was a public person, who acted in the stead of all mankind, so was Christ. As Adam was the first general representative of meu, Christ was the Second and the last. And what they severally did, terminated not in themselves, but affected all whom they represented. V. 48. They that are earthy-Who continue without any higher principle: They that are heavenly-Who receive a divine principle from heaven. V. 49. The image of the heavenly-Holiness and glory. V. 50. But first we must be entirely changed; for such flesh and blood as we are clothed with now, cannot enter into that kingdom which is wholly spiritual: Neither doth this corruptible body inherit that incorruptible kingdom. V. 51. A mystery-A truth hitherto unknown; and not yet fully known to any of the sons of men. We-Christians. The apostle considers them all as one, in their succeeding generations; shall not all die-Suffer a separation of soul and body; but we shall all-Who do not die, be changed-So that this animal body shall become spiritual. V. 52. In a moment-Amazing work of Omnipotence! And cannot the same power now change us into saints in a moment? The trumpet shall sound -To awaken all that sleep in the dust of the earth. V. 54. Death is swallowed up in victory-That is, totally conquered, abolished for ever. V. 55. O death, where is thy sting-Which once was full of hellish poison. O hades, the receptacle of separate souls, where is thy victory-Thou art now robbed of all thy spoils; all thy captives are set at liberty. Hades literally means the invisible world, and relates to the soul; death to the body. The Greek words are found in the Septuagint translation of Hos. xiii. 14. V. 56. The sting of death is sin-Without which it could have no power, But this sting none can resist by his own strength. And the strength of sin is the law-As is largely declared Rom. vii. 7, &c. V. 57. But thanks be to God, who hath given us the victory, over sin, death, and hades. 58 victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. CHAP. XVI. 1. Concerning the collection for the saints, as I have ordered the churches of Galatia, so also 2 do ye. On the first day of the week, let every one of you lay by him in store according as he hath been prospered, that there may be no collections when I come. 3 And when I am come, whomsoever ye shall approve, them will I send with letters, to carry your gift to Jerusalem. 4 And if it be proper, that I also should go, they shall go 5 with me. Now I will come to you, when I have passed through Macedonia, (for I pass through Macedonia,) 6 And perhaps I may stay, yea, and winter with you, that ye may bring me forward on my journey, whithersoever 7 I go. For I will not see you now in my way; but hope S to stay some time with you, if the Lord permit. But 9 I will stay at Ephesus till Pentecost. For a great and effectual door is opened to me, and there are many adversaries. V. 58. Be ye steadfast-In yourselves; unmoveable-By others, continually increasing in the work of faith and labour of love. Knowing your labour is not in vain in the Lord-Whatever ye do for his sake, shall have its full reward in that day. Let us also endeavour, by cultivating holiness in all its branches, to maintain this hope in its full energy; longing for that glorious day, when in the utmost extent of the expression, Death shall be swallowed up for ever, and millions of voices after the long silence of the grave, shall burst out at once into that triumphant song, O death, where is thy sting? O hades, where is thy victory? CHAP. XVI. Ver. 1. The saints-A more solemn and a more affecting word, than if he had said, The poor. V. 2. Let every one-Not the rich only: let him also that hath little, gladly give of that little; according as he hath been prospered-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 I shew 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. V. 4. They shall go with me-To remove any possible suspicion. V. 9. A great door-As to the number of hearers; and effectual-As to the effects wrought upon them: And there are many adversaries-As there must always be, where Satan's kingdom shakes. This was another reason for his staying there. 10 But if Timotheus come, see that he be with you without fear; for he worketh the work of the Lord, even as I. 11 Therefore let no man despise him, but conduct ye him forward on his journey in peace, that he may come to 12 me; for I look for him with the brethren. As to our brother Apollos, I besought him much, to come to you with the brethren; yet he was by no means willing to come now; but he will come when it shall be conve13 nient. Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, acquit your14 selves like men; be strong. Let all your affairs be done in love. 15 And I beseech you, brethren, as ye know the houshold of Stephanas, that it is the first-fruits of Achaia, and that 16 they have devoted themselves to serve the saints, That ye also submit to such, and to every one that worketh 17 with us and laboureth. I.rejoice at the coming of Ste phanas, and Fortunatus, and Achaicus: for they have 18 supplied what was wanting on your part. For they have refreshed my spirit and yours; such therefore acknow19 ledge. The churches of Asia salute you. Aquila and Priscilla, with the church that is in their house, salute 20 you much in the Lord. All the brethren salute you. Salute one another with an holy kiss. 21 The salutation of me Paul with my own hand. If any V. 10. Without fear-Of any one's despising him for his youth; for he worketh the work of the Lord-The true ground of reverence to pastors. Those who do so, none ought to despise. V. 11. I look for him with the brethren-That accompany him. V. 12. I besought him much to come to you with the brethren-Who were then going to Corinth. Yet he was by no means willing to come now-Perhaps lest his coming should increase the divisions among them. V. 13. To conclude. Watch ye-Against all your seen and unseen enemies. Stand fast in the faith-Seeing and trusting him that is invisible. Acquit yourselves like men-With courage and patience. Be strong To do and suffer all his will. V. 15. The first-fruits of Achaia-The first converts in that province. V. 16. That ye also in your turn submit to such-So repaying their free service: and to every one that worketh with us and laboureth-That labours in the ospel, either with or without a fellow-labourer. V. 17. I rejoice at the coming of Stephanus, and Fortunatus, and Achaicus— Who were now returned to Corinth; but the joy which their arrival had occasioned, remained still in his heart. They have supplied what was wanting on your part―They have performed the offices of love, which you could not, by reason of your absence. V. 18. For they have refreshed my spirit and yours-Inasmuch as you share in my comfort; such therefore acknowledge-With suitable love and respect. V. 19. Aquila and Priscilla had formerly made some abode at Corinth, and there St. Paul's acquaintance with them began, Acts xviii. 1, 2. V. 21. With my own hand-What precedes having been written by an ama nuensis. |