Bible Commentary (1871–1879 Edition) (continued)
Why Paul had gone to Macedonia. 2 CORINTHIANS III. A Sufficient Comnttndation of his Minutry,
(but to the believer) an odour arising o«<o/ life (J,. e.,Xte announcement of a risen and living Saviour), eni/uij; in life (to the believer) (Matthew 21. 44; Luke 2.31; John 9.39). who Is sufficient for these things l—i'i2., for diffusing aright everywhere tlie savour of Christ, so diverse in its effects on believers and unbelievers. He here prepares the way for one purpose of his Epistle, viz., to vindicate his apostolic mission from its detractors at Corinth, who denied his sufficiency. The Greek order puts prominently foremost the momentous and difficult task assigned to him, "For these things, who is sufficient?" He answers his own question (ch. 3. 5), " Not that we are sufficient of ourselves, &c., but our sufficiency is of God, who hath made us able {Greek, 'sufficient') ministers," &c. I'J'. not as many—(Ch. 11. 18 ; Philippians 2. 21.) Rather, " the many,'' the Lord, i.e.. In His work, and by His gracious Providence. 13. no rest In my spirit—rather, " no rest/or my spirit" (Genesis 8. 9). As here his "spirit" had no rest; eo In ch. 7. 5, his "flesh." His "spirit" under the Holy
Spirit, hence, concluded that it was not necessary to avail himself of the "door" of usefulness at Troas any longer, taking. . . . leave of them—the disciples at Troas. 14. Now— G> t ek, " But." Though we left Troas disappointed in not meeting Titus there, and in having to leave so 8oon so wide a door, " thanks be unto God," we were triumphantly blessed in both the good news of you from Titus, and in the victories of the Gospel everywhere in our progress. The cause of triumph cannot be restricted
(as Alford explains) to the former; for "always," and "In everyplace," show that the latter also is intended, causeth us to triumph—Tlie Greek is rather, as in Colossians 2. 15, " triumphs over us :" " leadeth us in triumph."
viz., the false teachers of whom he treats (chs. 10.-12., especially ch. 11. 13; 1 Thessalonians 2. .3). which cornipt— Greek, "adulterating, as hucksters do wine for gain" (ch.
St. Paul regarded himself as a signal trophy of God's victorious power in Christ. His Almighty Conqueror was leading him about, through all the cities of the Greek and Roman world, as an illustrious example of His power at once to subdue and to save. The foe of Christ was now the servant of Christ. As to be led in triumph by man is the most miserable, so to be led in triumph by God is the most glorious, lot that can befall any. [Trench.] Our only true triumphs are God's triumphs over us. His de-
4. 2; Isaiah 1. 22; 2 Peter 2. 3, "Make merchandise of j'ou"). as of sincerity . . . as of God—as one speaking from (out of) sincerity, as from (i. e., liy the command of, and so :n dependence on) God. In Christ—as united to Him in living membership, and doing his work (cf. ch. 12. 19). The whole Gospel must be delivered such as it is, without concession to men's corruptions, and without selfish aims, if it is to be blessed with success (Acts 20. 27).
feats of us are our only true victories. [Alford.] The image is taken from the triumphal procession of a victorious general. The additional idea is perhaps included, which distinguishes God's triumph from that of a human general, that the captive is brought into willing obedience
CHAPTER III.
Ver. 1-18. The sole Commendation he needs to prove God's sanction of his Ministry he has in his Corinthian Converts: His Ministry excels the Mosaic, as THE Gospel of Life and Liberty excels the Law of Condemnation. 1. Are we beginning again to recommend ourselves (ch.5. 12) (as some of them miglit say he had done in his first Epistle; or, a reproof to "some" who had begun doingso)? commendation—recommendation. (Cf.ch. 10.
(ch. 10. 5) to Christ, and so joiits in the triumph : God " leads him in triumph" as one not merely triumphed over, but also as one triumphing over God's foes with God (which last will apply to the apostle's triumphant missionary progress under the leading of God). So Bengel: "Who shojvs us in triumph, not [merely] as conquered, but as the ministers of His victory. Not only the victory, but the open 'showing 'of the victory is marked : for there follows. Who maketh manifest." savonr—retaining the image Of a triumph. As the approach of the triumphal procession was made known by the odour of incense scattered
18.) The "some" refers to particular persons of the " many"
(ch. 2. 17) teachers who opposed him, and who came to Corinth with letters of recommendation from other churches; and when leaving that city obtained similar letters from the Corinthians to other cliurclies. The 13th canon of the Council of Chalcedon (451 A. D.) ordained that "clergymen coming to a city where they were unknown, should not be allowed to officiate without letters commendatory fi'om their own bishop." The history (Acts 18. 27) confirms the existence of the custom here alluded to in the Epistle: "V/hen Apollos was disposed to pass into Achaia (Cofar and wide by the incense-bearers in the train, so God "makes manifest by us" (his now at once triumphed over and triumphing captives, cf. Luke 5. 10, " Catch," lit., "Take captive so as to preserve alive :") the sweet savour of the knowledge of Christ, the triumphant Conqueror (Colossians 2. 15), everywhere. As the triumph strikes the eyes, so the savour the nostrils; thus every sense feels the power of Christ's Gospel. This manifestation {a, vioril often recurring in his Epistles to the Corinthians, cf. 1 Corinthians 4. 5) refutes tlie Corinthian suspicions of his dishonestly, by reserve, hiding anything from them (r.
rinth), the brethren (of Ephesus) wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him." This was about two years before the Epistle, and is probably one of the instances to which
St. Paul refers, as many at Corinth boasted of their being followers of Apollos (1 Corinthians 1. 12). 2. our Epistle —of recommendation. In our hearts—not letters borne merely in the hands. Your conversion througli my instrumentality, and your faith which is "known of all men" by widespread report (1 Corinthians 1. 4-7), and which is written by memory and affection on my inmost heart, and is borne about wlierever I go, is my letter of recommendation (1 Corinthians 9. 2). known and read —words akin in root, sound, and sense (so ch. 1. 13). "Ye are known to be my converts by general knowledge : then ye are knoivii more particularly by your reflecting my doctrine in your Christian life." The handwriting is first "known," then the Epistle is "read" [Grotius] (ch. 4. 2;
17; ch.4. 2). 15. The order Is in Greek, "For (it is) of Christ (that) we are a sweet savour unto God:" thus, the " for" justifies his previous words (v. 14), "the savour of His (Christ's) knowledge." We not only scatter the savour, but "we are the sweet savour" Itself (Song of Solomon 1.
3; cf. John 1. 14, 16; Ephesians 5. 2; IJolin 2. 27). In them that are saved—rather, " thatare being saved . . . tliat are perisliing" (Note, 1 Corintliians 1. 18). As the light, thougli it blinds in darkness the weak, is for all that still light; and honey, though It taste bitter to the sick, is in
Itself still sweet; so the Gospel Is still of a sweet savour, though many perish through unbelief [Chrysostom, Homilies, 5. 4()7] (ch. 4. 3, 4, 6). As some of the conquered foes led In triumph were put to death when the procession reached the capltol, and to them the smell of the incense was the "savour of death unto death," whilst to those saved alive, it was the "savour of life," so the Gospel wa.s to the different classes respectively. In them—in the case of them. "Those being saved"
1 Corinthians 14.25). There is not so powerful a sermon in the world, as a consistent Cliristian life. The eye of the world takes in more than the ear. Christians' lives are the oiily religions books the world reads. Ignatius (ad JSphesum, ch. 10.) writes, "Give unbelievers the chance of believing through you. Consider yourselves employed by God ; your lives the form of language in which He aildresses them. Be mild when they are angry, humble when they are haughty ; to their blasphemy oppose prayer witnout ceasing; to their inconsistency, a steadfast adherence to your faith." 3. declared-The letter is written so legibly that It can be "read by all men" (v. 2). Trans-
(ch. 3. 1, to 4. 2): "Those that are perishing " (ch. 4. .3-5). 10. savour of death unto death ... of life unto life an odour arising out of death (a mere announcement of a dead Christ, and a virtually lifeless Gospel, in which liglit unbelievers regard the Gospel message), ending (as the ;u8tai natural consequence) in deat/i (to the unbeliever;; late, "Being manifestly shown to be an Epistleof Christ