Page:An Exposition of the Old and New Testament (1828) vol 6.djvu/482



IN his former epistle, the apostle had signified his intentions of coming to Corinth, as he /lassed through Macedonia, {ch. 16. 6.) but being providentially hindered for some time, he writes his second e])istle"to them about a year after the former ; and there seem to be these two great urgent occasions : 1. The case of the incestuous person, who lay under censure, required that with all speed he should be restored and received again into communion. This therefore he gives directions about ; {ch. 2.) and afterward, (cA. 7.) he declares the satisfaction he had upon the intcfligence he received of their good behaviour in that affair. 2. There was a contribution now making for the poor saints at Jerusalem, which he ex- horts the Corinthians to join in, ch. 8, 9. Thire arc divers other things very observable in this epistle : I. The account the apostle gives of his labours and success in preaching the gospel in several places, ch. 2. II. The comparison he makes between the Old and New Testament dispensation, ch. 3. III. The manifold sufferings that he and his fellow-labourers met with, and the motives and encourage- ments for their diligence and patience, ch. 4, 5. IV. The caution he gives the Corinthians against mingling themselves with unbelievers, ch. 6. V. The way and manner in which he justifies himself and his apostleship from the opprobrious insinua- tions and accusations of false teachers, who endeavoured to iniin his reputation at Corinth, {ch. 10 — 12.) and throughout the whole epistle.

After the introduction, (v. 1, 2.) the apostle begins with the Uiirrative of his troubles and God's froodness, which he had met with in Asia, hy way of tlianksfjivingto God, (v. 3. . 6.) and for the edification of llie Corinthians, v. 7.. II. Then heatiostshisand lii'ifellow-laboiircrs' inteirrity,(v. 12. .14.) and aftijrward-i vindicates himself from the imputation of levity and inconstancy, v. 15. . 24.

AUL, an apostle of Jesus Christ by X ihe will of God, and Timothy our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia: 2. Grace he to you, and peace, from (lod our Father, and from the Lord Jesiis Christ. This is the intrmluction tn this epistle ; in which we h ' e, . The inscription : and iherein, (1.) The person fn ni whom it was scut, that is, P.ml, who rails himbeU"a7/ up.'Mle of J cam Christ by the ivillof God, The apostleship itself was ordamed by Jesus Christ, according to the will of God ; and Paul was called to it by Jesus Christ, according to the will of (iod. He joins Timotheus with himself, in writing this epistle ; not because he needed his assistance, but that out of the mouth of two witnesses tlie word might be established ; and his dignifying TinnHliy with the title of brother, (either in the common faith, or in the work of the ministry,) shews the humility of this great apostle, and his desire to re- commend Timothy (though he was then a young man) to the esteem ot the Corinthians, and give him a reputation aiTiong the churches. (2.) The per- sons to whom this epistle was sent, that is, the church of God at Cormth: and not only to them, but also to all the saints in all Achaia, that is, to all the Christians who lived in the region round about. Note, In Christ Jesus no distinction is made Ijetween the inhabitants of city or country ; all Achaia stands upon a level, in his account. . The salutation, or apostolical benediction, which is the same as in his former epistle : and