2 Corinthians 1

1 After the usual superscription of the Epistle, 3 Paul thanketh God for the consolations which he receive by Christ in all affliction, for an example unto others; 8 and cometh afterwards to the relation of the great persecution which had befallen in Asia, 10 out of which nevertheless he was delivered through their prayers. 12 Testifies that he had conversed uprightly in the world, but most of all among them, 15 and that he had also sincerely intended to come unto them again, 17 although the same was not yet done. 18 Not because his word was yea and certain, 21 and confirmed in us by the Holy Ghost, 23 but testifieth with an oath that he yet delayed his coming unto them, to spare them.

1. Paul [Of the name Paul, his Apostleship and and this whole Apostolic salutation, see the exposition on Rom. 1.v.1,7. and 1 Cor. 1.v.1.2,3.] an Apostle of Jesus Christ, by the will of God, and Timothy the brother, [forasmuch as Timothy was sent before by him to Corinth, and now was returned unto him again, by whom he was informed the state of the Church, he here joined him with him, to procure him the repute with them, as in the first Epistle he had also joined Sosthenes with him by the same title of brother, 1 Cor. 1.1. See als 1 Cor. 16.v.10,11.] to the Church of God which is at Corinth, with all the Saints which are in all Achaia. [this is the name of a principal province in Greece, in which Corinth lay, and was the head thereof. See 1 Cor. 1.2.]

2. Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

3. Praised be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, [That is, God who is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. See 1 Cor. 15.24.] the Father of mercies, [that is, who is himself merciful towards us, and the author of all mercy and consolation in us] and the God of all Consolation.

4. Who comforteth us from all our tribulation, [Namely, by his Word and by his Spirit, as Christ promiseth, Job. 14.v.16.] that we might be able to comfort those that are in all manner of tribulation, by the consolation with which we our selves are comforted of God.

5. For even as the suffering of Christ [That is, which we suffer for Christ sake: or that we suffer as members of Christ, after the example of Christ, who accounts the sufferings which are put upon his members as his own, Acts 9:4. Romans 8:17. Colossians 1:24. Gr. sufferings] is abundant in us, even so also by Christ, our consolation is abundant. [namely, wherewith our selves we are comforted: and consequently also get fitness the better to comfort others, See v.4.]

6. But whether we are afflicted (it is) for your consolation. [namely, not only because you should be strengthened by our example, but also because thereby we get more matter and experience to comfort and strengthen you. See the annotate on Col1.24.] and salvation, which is wrought, [that is, is brought about: or which is powerful by patience. For patience worketh experience of Gods help and faithfulness, and consequently also of hope of salvation, Romans 5:3,4.] in the enduring of the same suffering, which we also suffer: or whether we are comforted (it is) for your consolation and salvation: [namely, because we being comforted, you also rejoice at it, and we also are the better able to comfort you, and further your salvation.]

7. And our hope of you [Gr. over you] is firm, as who know that as ye have communion it the suffering, so also (ye have communion) in the consolation.

8. For we will not brethren, [Here the Apostle begins to come to the handling of the matter it self, and relates the first cause that hindered him from coming to them, the exceeding great affliction in Asia, whereof may be read, Acts 19.] that ye should be ignorant of our tribulation which came upon us in Asia, that we were very exceedingly burdened, above (our) strengthen [that is, so grievously that we should have fainted under it, were it not that the Lord had wonderfully strengthened us, and kept us by his power as is declared in the two following verses] so that we were greatly in doubt, even of life.

9. Ye we our selves had in our selves the sentence of death, [That is, we had already made account that we should not escape] that we might not trust in our selves, but in God, who raiseth up the dead. [that is, who then much more by the same power can deliver them that are in danger of death.]

10. Who delivered us out of so great a death, [That is, out of so great a danger of death, Exodus 10:17.] and (yet) delivers: in whom we hope that he will also yet deliver (us.)

11. Seeing ye also labour together (for us) by prayer, that for the gift [That is, the gracious deliverance] brought to pass on us by many persons, [that is, by the intercession of maybe] thanksgiving may (also) be made for us. [namely, who before had prayed for us. For thanksgiving must follow upon the hearing of our prayers.

12. For our glorying is, The Apostle speaks thus to prevent slanders of the false Apostles, who sought to make the Apostles suspected of unstedfastness in his promise, and of lightness in all his dealings, because according to his promise in the end of the former Epistle, he was not yet come over them] (namely) the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and uprightness of God [that is, God requires of us, and whereof God is a witness] not in fleshly wisdom [that is, deceitful, such as fleshly men were wont to use, and amongst them also the false Apostles, to seduce others, and to further their own honour and profit] but in the grace of God, [that is, in the power and sincere wisdom which God of grace imparted] we have conversed in the world, and most of all [Gr. more abundantly. This Paul saith not as if he had been less uprightly elsewhere, but in respect of the long time which he have conversed among them more than in other churches, Acts 18.v.11.] with you.

13. For we write unto to you no other things which ye know, [Namely, by my world and walking, when I was among you. Or read, namely, in the Epistle written to you which is clear and simple] or even acknowledge: and I hope that ye shall also acknowledge them unto the end.

14. Even as ye have also acknowledged us in part, [This the Apostle saith either in respect of the best part who always willingly acknowledged this, or else in respect of the whole church who had already amended some faults upon his former writing, as appears from chapter 2.7. although they yet gave too ear to some, who too much esteemed outward respect and worldly wisdom] that we are your glorying, [i.e. that we are your teachers of whom ye glory, and by whom ye acknowledge that ye were brought to Christ] as ye also are ours. [namely, of whom we glory in Christ, that we have brought you to the knowledge and communion in Christ, and by whom ye are adorned with many spiritual gifts] in the day of the Lord Jesus. [that is, at the last day, when Christ shall appear to judge ever ones actions: which Paul adds to show, that this and their glorying was not fleshly or vain, but well grounded, and should be approved by Christ himself at the last day.]

15. And in this confidence, [Namely, that ye are in such esteem with me, and I was with you] I would before come unto you, [namely, according to my writing, 1 Cor. 16.5,6,7.] that ye may have a second grace. [that is, might be more and more strengthened by me in the grace and gifts of Christ, wherewith ye were already graced in my first coming unto you.]

16. And through your (City) go to Macedonia, and from Macedonia come again unto you, and by you [That is, aby some of you thereunto appointed] be conducted towards Judea.

17. When therefore I purpose this, did I also use lightness? Or do I purpose it according to the flesh [That is, after the manner of carnal men, or out of fleshly considerations which are unstedfast, and come easily to be altered, 2 Cor. 10.3.] that which I purpose, that with me there should be, yea, and nay? [that is, saying, and denying: or saying and not doing that which we say.]

18. But God is faithful, [A phrase when men will strongly testify any thing; and is as much as if he should say, as true as God is faithful, our word was not, etc. Or God who is faithful knows that, &c.] that our word which (was passed) to you, [namely, that preached unto you by us. For in these five following verse, the Apostle first gainsays the conclusion of the false teachers, who because the Apostle seemed not to have kept this promise of coming unto them, from thence would conclude that therefore his whole preaching was infirm and not to be relied upon. But unto the promise it self of coming to them he answers hereafter. V.23,24.] was not yea and nay. [that is, infirm and uncertain, as men who now say yea, now nay, about one and the same thing, are unstedfast and uncertain in their words and deeds.]

19. For the Son of God Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, (namely) by me, and Sylvan us, and Timotheus, was not yea and nay, [namely, in our preaching. As Christ our Saviour is not changeable, but yesterday, today, and for ever the same, Hebrews 13:8.So also he was no otherwise preached by us, and the same Gospel of Christ hath always been propounded to the church by us, Galatians 1:6,7,8,9.] but was yea in him. [namely, God. For as he had called him the Son of God, so he testifieth that Christ is yea, that is, stedfastness and truth in God, or in Gods promises, which are mere truth and firmness, as is declared in the following verse.]

20. For as many promises of God as there be, that are in him yea, and are in him Amen. [Namely, in Christ Jesus; for even as Christ is always the same in Gods promises of our salvation yea, that is, truth, and Amen, i.e. certainly and firmness in Christ, because in the new covenant God neither makes nor fulfills any promises of salvation but in Christ, and through Christ. See John 14:6. Acts 4:12. Ephesians 1:3. etc.] to the glory of God by us. [that is, by the ministry of us Apostles Teachers, who in this doctrine also must know none but Christ and him crucified, 1 Cor. 2.2. Colossians 2:9,10. etc.]

21. But he that confirmeth [Namely, in the truth] us with you into Christ, [that is, to seek the fruit and virtue of all Gods promises in Christ, and through communion with Christ]] and he that hath anointed us [that is, hath endured us with the gifts of the Holy Ghost, which is oftentimes in Scriptures compared to oil or pure ointment. See Psalms 45:8. Acts 4:27. and 10.38. 1 John 2:20,27.] is God.

22. Who hath also sealed us, [That is, as with impression of his seal assured, namely, of our communion with Christ, and consequently of our adoption to children and to be heirs of God, Romans 8:15,16. 1 Cor. 2.12.] and given us the earnest of the Spirit of our hearts. [Gr. Arrhabon, which word, as also Arrha signifies properly an earnest, which is a part or beginning of the future good which is promised and assured us: as any one hath some ready mony for a beginning and assurance of the payment which is promised. See 2 Cor. 5.5. Ephesians 1:13,14. The first gift of the Spirit and of life is earnest of our whole inheritance. So that this anointing, sealing, and giving earnest, serve to one and the same end. But the rehearsal of this benefit serves for this purpose, to show that the same becomes always more powerful and more sure in our hearts.]

23. But I call upon God for a witness upon my soul, [Namely, that he punish it, if I spoke not the truth. A right manner of a true oath, which the Apostle therefore adjoins, because there lay much upon it that his word should not be accounted unstedfast] that to spare you [that is, that I might be constained to use my Apostolical power in punishing of the disobedient. See 2 Cor. 10.] I came not yet to Corinth.

24. Not that we Lord it over your faith, [The Apostle speaks thus to molestie that which he had said immediately before of not sparing them, of which the sense is, that he did not say this to threaten them, or Lord it over them, as a Lord over them and their faith. But as a Minister and co-worker with Christ to bring to a right acknowledgement and amendments of their faults, and consequently to true joy with them, before he came to them: and so more and more to strengthen their faith in which they stood, as is declared in the beginning of the following chapter] but we are fellow-workers of your joy: for ye stand by faith.