2 Corinthians 2

2 Corinthians 2:1

IN heavinesse] Causing griefe amongst you, which he should have done, if he had come unto them before they had repented them.

2 Corinthians 2:4

not that you should be grieved] The Apostle in sharply reproving them, though he could not but make them sorry, ye that was not his intent, but to shew his affectionate love towards them, and care of their salvation; that by sorrowing after a godly manner they might receive spirituall consolation. For as worldly joy ends in sorrow, so godly sorrow ends in joy; whence is that exhortation of S. Jerome to the penitent Dolea & de dolore gaudeat, Let him grieve and rejoyce for such griefe.

2 Corinthians 2:5

But in part: that I may not overcharge you all] Gr. overburthen. The words may carry different interpretations, either he hath not grieved me in my own particular, but as a part and member of the Church, whom that incestuous person hath offended: or he hath not wholly grieved me, as if you were all delinquents. For although before I knew of your detestation of his crime, I wrote unto you in generall tearmes, 1 Corinthians 5:2. Yet are puffed up, and have not rather sorrowed, that he which hath done this thing might be put from among you. Yet now since I have proofe of your love and obedience, and you have cleared your selves by excommunicating him, I have cause to sorrow but in part, only for his sake who was guiltie, not for you all, who have cleared your selves, that you are no upholders or maintainers of him.

2 Corinthians 2:6

punishment] Or, censure.

of many] Gr. by.

2 Corinthians 2:7

to forgive him, and comfort him] Or, gratifie. Release him of the sentence of excommunication, and receive him again into the Church, and upon his unfained tokens of repentance minister a word of comfort to him, that he be not swallowed up in the gulph of despaire.

2 Corinthians 2:8

confirm your love towards him] That at my entreatie you would declare by the consent of the whole Church that you take him again for a brother.

2 Corinthians 2:10

forgive any thing] Or, grant any thing of favour; or, freely give.

to whom I forgave it] Gr. Tec. what I forgave.

in the person of Christ] Or, in the sight. Although Ferrandus the Deacon, in his Epistle to Egippius, taketh the person of Christ for the hypostasis, which is one in Christ, though he consist of two natures, saying, si quid donavi, donavi propter vos in persona Christi, vult probare unitatem personae; nam melius personas diceret si vellet in Christo significare duas substantias: yet Oecumenius his interpretation is more agreeable to the scope of the Apostle in this place, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, in the person of Christ, that is, in stead of Christ, or by Christs authoritie and command, who said, As my Father sent me, I send you: whose sinnes ye remi, they are remitted, John 20:23.

2 Corinthians 2:11

Lest Satan should get advantage of us] Lest Satan over-reach us. The Greeke word, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, signifieth to have more then belongs to one, and it is commonly used of the covetous: the comparison is taken from the greedy merchant, that seeketh and taketh all opportunities to beguile and deceive others. The meaning then is, that we give not Satan an occasion by our immoderate rigour to snatch away from us, or ruine any member of the Churc, to make the Gospel and the ministery thereof more hatefull, and to pervert the holy use of discipline, which consisteth in the temper of charitie, and hath no other end then the salvation of the sinner.

ignorant of his devices] Or, plots, or machinations. Machinations or stratagems, of which Acontius hath written a singular book: The particular wiles to which the Apostle here pointeth seeme to be these, whereby he endeavoureth to gaine upon the Church both wayes, both by remissenesse of Church discipline, and too much severitie: by remissenesse to rock the sinner a〈…〉sleep in securitie, and by too much severitie to plunge him in despaire.

2 Corinthians 2:12

was opened] Gr. being.

2 Corinthians 2:14

Now] Or, But.

causeth us to triumph] It is word for word, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, triumpheth us, that is, subdueth us to the Gospel, and maketh usobedient thereunto. So saith Livei, triumphavit Mummius Achoeos, Mummius triumphed the Acheans, that is, triumphed over those of Achaia. Or, triumphare facit, causeth us to triumph over the world, the flesh, and the devill; or giveth us conquest in every place where we preach his word, to bring all countries to the obedience of faith.

the savour of his knowledge] He alludeth to the oyntment of the Priests, and the sweet incense they offered: and withall intimateth the farre spreading of the Gospel, which like a sweet odour was blown by the breath of the Apostles, preaching unto all parts of the world.

2 Corinthians 2:15

unto God a sweet savour of Christ] That is, pleasing and acceptable to God, in regard that by us is made manifest the mercy of God.

in them that are saved, &c.] The Gospel is preached indifferently to all manner of persons, but it worketh in a very different manner: forasmuch as being received by the faithfull, it produceth in them life and salvation, as containing all the causes thereof in it self; but being rejected by unbeleevers, it becomethin them the occasion of a greater condemnation, and maketh their perdition inevitable. As the same light of the Sunne, saith Chrysostome, offendeth weake eyes, but recreateth and comforteth the strong sighted; and as the same Starre is to some 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, to others 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, to some a morning Starre bringing light and day, and to others an evening Starre bringing darknesse and night: So the Gospel is a comfort to some, and a terrour to others, bringeth eternall life and salvation to some, but by accident, everlasting darknesse and damnation to others, according to the prophecie of Simeon, Luke 2:34. Behold, this child is set of the fall and rising again of many in Israel.

2 Corinthians 2:16

savour of death unto death] Gr. Tec. out of. A deadly savour: not as if the Gospel of its own nature breathed out death to any; for it is the Ministery of life, 2 Cor. 5. 6, 7. and the power of God to salvation unto all beleevers, Romans 1:16. but by reason that unbeleevers and impenitent sinners, wilfully set themselves against it, and thereby draw upon themselves the heavier judgement of God, John 3:36. 1 Pt. 2. 7, 8.

of life] Gr. Tec. out of.

sufficient] Or, fit.

2 Corinthians 2:17

which corrupt the word of God] Or, deal deceitfully with. See Chap. 4. 2. Word for word, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, play the hucksters with the word of God; So Enius sait elegantly, cauponari bellum, & Herodian, caupnari pacem, & Plato,〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and Nazianzen calleth deceitfull Teachers, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and Ignatius〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. By this phrase he taxeth the false Apostles with two grevous crimes: first, that they adulterated and sophisticated the word of God bymingling Philosophicall errours or humane traditions with it, as craftie Merchants sophisticate their wines by mingling them with water or other liquors: secondly, tha tthey set the word of God as it were to saloe, and handled it craftily and covetously, not sinceredly as they ought to have done in the sight of God.