2 Corinthians 2

2 Corinthians 2:1

Doth not behave itself unseemly. Discourteously and in a way to shock good manners or morals. Seeketh not its own. Is unselfish and disinterested. See Romans 12:10. Is not easily provoked. Does not fly into a rage, but keeps the temper under control. Thinketh no evil. “Taketh not account of evil”. The idea of the Revised Version is that love does not keep a record of evil rendered so as to return it.

2 Corinthians 2:2

Rejoiceth not in iniquity. Instead of rejoicing, is filled with sadness by wrong doing of any kind, but does rejoiceth in the truth, or, as in the Revised Version, “with the truth” in its triumphs.

2 Corinthians 2:3

Beareth all things. Bears up in spite of all things evil, and is not overcome. This is the idea of “beareth”. Love bears up against the tide of evil, as the rock against the waves. Believeth all things. Is not distrustful and suspicious. Hopeth all things. Is hopeful instead of despondent, and hopes for the best. How hard for the loving mother to give up hope for her recreant son! Endureth all things. Endures patiently persecution and suffering. The cardinal quality of fortitude, hardihood, unyielding persistence is meant.

2 Corinthians 2:4

Charity never faileth. The superiority of love over all besides is shown by its survival of all with which it is compared. It is eternal and imperishable. Whether [there are] prophecies. The gift of prophesying shall cease. As a matter of fact, we know that it has long since done so. Whether [there be] tongues. The gift of speaking in unknown tongues was transitory. Knowledge. Even the supernatural knowledge, granted as a spiritual gift, is temporary. All these were only granted while the church was in an immature state.

2 Corinthians 2:5

For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. A reason why these gifts should pass away. Our knowledge is now only partial, and the prophecy only gives glimpses. These are all imperfect and fragmentary, and hence must give way to something better.

2 Corinthians 2:6

When that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. Then the partial knowledge and prophecy will be done away. The imperfect will give way to the perfect; the perishable to the enduring. “The perfect” was expected at the coming of Christ. Some think that it came when the church was fully matured, since the special gifts then ceased. If there is a reference to this, the final and complete reference is to the glorified church.

2 Corinthians 2:7

When I was a child. In these verses the change he has declared will take place is illustrated by the change from childhood to manhood. When I became a man. The speech, thoughts and feelings of the child give way to those of the man. So it will be when the church moves on from childhood to full development.

2 Corinthians 2:8

For now we see through a glass. “In a mirror”, as in the Revised Version. The mirrors of the ancients were of polished metal, and were far inferior to ours. The images were indistinct in comparison. They were seen darkly, indistinctly, imperfectly. Thus in this state of our knowledge of divine things–imperfect and incomplete. But then face to face. We will not look in a glass in the coming state, but will see face to face, without a veil, or obscurity. Now I know in part. There were limitations upon the knowledge even of Paul; only a part was seen. But then. When the veil is taken away, and the full revelation has come in the presence of Christ. Shall I know even as I am known. fully, know God, eternity and its secrets, even as he is known to God. Thus it is shown that all these spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12:8-10) are fleeting.

2 Corinthians 2:9

But now abideth faith, hope, charity. These three shall survive. They are eternal. They continue to exist in the church, and shall not fail in its glorified state. As long as the redeemed saint shall have future ages before him, so long will trust in God and hope give them brightness, while love itself is the very atmosphere of the divine life. The greatest of these is charity. Love is the greatest because it glorifies both faith and hope, sanctifies every faculty and Christian grace, is the very moving impulse of the gospel, and is the one quality that is divine. “God is love” (1 John 4:8).

2 Corinthians 2:11

Order in Public Worship SUMMARY OF I CORINTHIANS 14: Of the Spiritual Gifts Prophecy Gives the First Place. Speaking with Tongues Secondary. Both Must Be Used So As to Edify. In the Church Assemblies What Is Spoken in a Tongue Must Be. Interpreted. One Only Must Speak at Once. The Women Must Keep Silent. Follow after charity and desire spiritual [gifts]. Though love is to be a supreme pursuit, yet this is not intended to disparage spiritual gifts. But rather that ye may prophesy. Let spiritual gifts be sought, but in seeking, desire above all the gift of prophecy.

2 Corinthians 2:12

For he that speaketh in an [unknown] language. Hath the gift of tongues. The tenor of Paul’s remarks shows that the Corinthians placed too high a comparative estimate on this gift. In the spirit he speaketh mysteries. Things that are unknown and mysterious to his hearers. Men do not understand him.

2 Corinthians 2:13

He that prophesieth. To prophesy means more than to foretell. It is to declare the will of God under a divine impulse. When Peter spoke on Pentecost, he did the work of a New Testament prophet. In this formative period of the church, before the New Testament was written, it was needful that there be these inspired guides in the churches. Unto men [to] edification. Instruction, and strengthening.

2 Corinthians 2:14

He that speaketh in an [unknown] language edifieth himself. His speech in the unknown tongue tends to strengthen him, though not instructing others. He is made to feel that he is moved by God, and so is filled with awe.

2 Corinthians 2:15

Greater [is] he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues. Greater, because he serves the church best. Unless the tongues were interpreted, they were an unmeaning sound to the church, while he who prophesied, instructed and built up. NOTE.–Concerning this gift of tongues, there is considerable confusion among commentators. Some have held that it was a sort of rhapsody under the influence of the Spirit in no earthly language. Others have held that it was a gift of the knowledge of foreign languages to the early Christians to enable them to preach the gospel to all nations.

Neither view appears to be correct. (1) Undoubtedly there was a manifestation of the gift of tongues on the Day of Pentecost. Parthians, Medes, Elamites, Greeks, Romans, heard in their own language (Acts 2:8-11). (2) It was not a gift of the “knowledge” of a foreign language, for the speaker did not understand his own words (1 Corinthians 14:13,14). (3) It was a gift, not for exercise in the church, but a “sign to them that believe not” (1 Corinthians 14:22). When they heard the gospel message in a tongue which the speaker did not understand, but in their own tongue (as on the Day of Pentecost), their wonder was excited, and many would confess that it was the work of God.

2 Corinthians 2:16

What shall I profit you? The gift of tongues, exercised to the church, cannot profit unless it does one of four things named: A revelation. The inspired utterance of him who “prophesies”. Knowledge. The gift of teaching the inspired truths of the Scriptures, or those revealed by the prophets.

2 Corinthians 2:17

Even things without life giving sound. Musical instruments that give forth a sound, such as a pipe or a harp, the chief musical instruments of the Greeks, must give a distinction of sounds, if one would know what is played.