22 man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be anathema: 23 Maran-atha. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be 24 with you. My love be with you all in Christ Jesus.

V. 22. If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ—If any be an enemy to his person, offices, doctrines, or commands, let him be anathema: MaranathaAnathema signifies a thing devoted to destruction. It seems to have been customary with the Jews of that age, when they had pronounced any man an anathema, to add the Syriac expression maranatha, that is, The Lord cometh; namely, to execute vengeance upon him. This weighty sentence the apostle chose to write with his own hand: and to insert it between his salutation and solemn benediction, that it might be the more attentively regarded.

NOTES

ON

ST. PAUL'S SECOND EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS:

IN this Epistle, written from Macedonia, within a year of the former, St. Paul beautifully displays his tender affection toward the Corinthians, who were greatly moved by the seasonable severity of the former, and repeats several of the admonitions he had there given them. In that he had written concerning the affairs of the Corinthians; in this he writes chiefly concerning his own; but in such a manner, as to direct all he mentions of himself, to their spiritual profit. The thread and connexion of the whole epistle is historical; other things are interwoven only by way of digression.

IT CONTAINS,

I. The Inscription, 11. The Treatise itself.

1. In Asia I was greatly pressed; but God comforted me; as I acted uprightly; even in this, that I have not yet come to you; who ought to obey me:

2. From Troas I hastened to Macedonia, spreading the gospel every where, the glorious charge of which I execute, according to its Importance,

2-16.

3. In Macedonia I received a joyful Message concerning you, 4. In this Journey I had a Proof of the Liberality of the Macedonians, whose Example ye ought to follow, C. viii. 1.-C. ix. 15. 5. I am now on my Way to you, armed with the Power of Christ.. Therefore obey,

C. x. 1.-C. xiii. 10.

III. The Conclusion,

11-13.

JJ. Corinthians.

CHAP. I. 1. PAUL, an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the will of God, and Timotheus our brother, To the church of God that is in Corinth, with all the saints that 2 are in all Achaia: Grace and peace be to you from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 4 the Father of mercies, and God of all comfort, Who comforteth us in all our affliction, that we may be able to comfort them who are in any affliction, by the comfort 5 wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our comfort also 6 aboundeth through Christ. And whether we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; or whether we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which is effectual in the patient enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. 7 And our hope concerning you is steadfast, knowing that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so also of the com8 fort. For we would not have you ignorant, brethren, of the trouble which befel us in Asia, that we were exceed

CHAP. I. Ver. 2. Timotheus, a brother-St. Paul writing to Timotheus, styled him his son; writing of him, his brother.

V. 3. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ-A solemn and beautiful introduction, highly suitable to the apostolical spirit; the Father of mercies, and God of all comfort-Mercies are the fountain of comfort; comfort is the outward expression of mercy. God shews mercy, in the affliction itself. He gives comfort both in and after the affiction. Therefore is he termed The God of ALL comfort. Blessed be this God!

V. 4. Who comforteth us in all our affliction, that we may be able to comfort them who are in any affliction-He that has experienced one kind of affliction, is able to comfort others in that affliction. He that has experienced all kinds of affliction, is able to comfort them in all.

V. 5. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in is-The sufferings endured on his account; so our comfort also aboundeth through Christ-The sufferings were many, the comfort one: and yet not only equal to, but overbalancing them all.

V. 6. And whether we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation-For your present comfort, your present and future salvation: or whether we are comforted, it is for your comfort-That we may be the better able to comfort you; which is effectual in the patient enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer-Through the efficacy of which ye patiently endure the same kind of sufferings with us.

V. 7. And our hope concerning you-Grounded on your patience in suffering for Christ's sake, is steadfast.

V. s. We would not have you ignorant, brethren, of the trouble which befel us in Asia-Probably the same which is described in the 19th chapter of the Acts. The Corinthians knew before, that he had been in trouble. He now declares the greatness and the fruit of it. We were exceedingly pressed, above our strength-Above the ordinary strength even of an apostle.

VOL. II.

H

ingly pressed, above our strength, so that we despaired 9 even of life. Yea, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we might not trust in ourselves, but in God, 10 who raiseth the dead: Who delivered us from so great a

death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust, that he will 11 still deliver: You likewise helping together with us by prayer for us, that for the gift bestowed upon us, by means of many persons, thanks may be given by many on your bebalf.

12 For this is our rejoicing, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with carnal wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to13 ward you. For we write no other things to you, but what ye know and acknowledge, and I trust will acknowledge 14 even to the end. As also ye have acknowledged us in part, that we are your rejoicing, as ye also are ours, in the 15 day of the Lord Jesus. And in this confidence I was

minded to come to you before, that ye might have had a 16 second benefit. And to pass by you into Macedonia, and

to come to you again from Macedonia, and to be brought 17 forward by you in my way toward Judea. Now when I was thus minded, did I use levity? or the things which I purpose, do I purpose according to the flesh, so that there 18 should be with me yea and nay? ?As God is faithful, our

V. 9. Yea, we had the sentence of death in ourselves-We ourselves expected nothing but death.

V. 10. We trust, that he will still deliver-That we may at length be able to come to you.

V. 11. You likewise-As well as other churches, helping with us by prayer, that for the gift-Namely, my deliverance, bestowed upon us by means of many persons-Praying for it, thanks may be given by many.

V. 12. For I am the more emboldened to look for this, because I am conscious of my integrity: seeing this is our rejoicing-Even in the deepest adversity; the testimony of our conscience-Whatever others think of us, that in simplicity-Having one end in view, aiming singly at the glory of God, and godly sincerity-Without any tincture of guile, dissimulation, or disguise, not with carnal wisdom, but by the grace of God-Not by natural but divine wisdom, we have had our conversation in the world-In the whole world; in every cir cumstance.

V. 14. Ye have acknowledged us in part-Though not so fully as ye will do, that we are your rejoicing-That ye rejoice in having known us, as ye also are ours-As we also rejoice in the success of our labours among you; and we trust shall rejoice therein, in the day of the Lord Jesus.

V. 15. In this confidence-That is, being confident of this.

V. 17. Did I use levity-Did I lightly change my purpose? Do I purpose according to the flesh-Are my purposes grounded on carnal or worldly considerations? So that there should be with me yea and nay-Sometimes one, sometimes the other; that is, variableness and inconstancy.

V. 18. Our word to you The whole tenor of our doctrine, hath not been yea and nay-Wavering and uncertain.

19 word to you hath not been yea and nay. For Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who was preached among you by us, by me, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, was not yea and 20 nay; but was yea in him. For all the promises of God are yea in him, and amen in him, to the glory of God by 21 us. For he that establisheth us with you in Christ, and 22 that hath anointed us, is God: Who hath also sealed us, and given us the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.

23

But I call God for a record on my soul, that to spare you, I came not as yet to Corinth. Not that we haye dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy; for by faith ye have stood.

CHAP. II. 1. But I determined this with myself, not 2 to come to you again in grief. For if I grieve you, who

V. 19. For Jesus Christ, who was preached by us That is, our preaching concerning him, was not yea and nay--Was not variable and inconsistent with itself: but was yea in him-Always one and the same centring in him.

V. 20. For all the promises of God are yea and amen in him-Are surely established in and through him. They are yea, with respect to God promising; amen, with respect to men believing: Yea, with respect to the apostles; amen, with respect to their hearers.

V. 21. I say, to the glory of God-For it is God alone that is able to fulfil these promises; that establisheth us-Apostles and teachers, with you-All true believers, in the faith of Christ; and hath anointed us-With the oil of gladness, with joy in the Holy Ghost, thereby giving us strength both to do and suffer his will.

V. 22. Who also hath sealed us-Štamping his image on our hearts, thus marking and sealing us as his own property: and given us the earnest of his Spirit-There is a difference between an earnest and a pledge. A pledge is to be restored when the debt is paid; but an earnest is not taken away, but completed. Such an earnest is the Spirit. The first-fruits of it we havez (Rom. viii. 23.) And we wait for all the fulness.

V. 23. I call God for a record upon my soul-Was not St. Paul now speaking by the Spirit? And can a more solemn oath be conceived? Who then can imagine, that Christ ever designed to forbid all swearing? That to spare you, I came not yet to Corinth-Lest I should be obliged to use severity. He says elegantly to Corinth, not to you, when he is intimating his power to punish.

V. 24. Not that we have dominion over your faith-This is the prerogative of God alone: but are helpers of your joy-And faith from which it springs. For by faith ye have stood-To this day.

We see the light in which ministers should always consider themselves, and in which they are to be considered by others: Not as having dominion over the faith of their people, and having a right to dictate by their own authority, what they shall believe, or what they shall do, but as helpers of their joy, by helping them forward in faith and holiness. In this view, how amiable does their office appear! And how friendly to the happiness of mankind! How far then are they from true benevolence, who would expose it to ridicule and contempt!

CHAP. II. Ver. 1. In grief-Either on account of the particular offender, or of the church in general.

V. 2 For if I grieve you, who is he that cheereth me, but he that is grieved by me-That is, I cannot be comforted myself, till his grief is removed.