Commentary on the Epistles to the Corinthians John Calvin
Commentary on the Corinthians a certain day of rest from labor — not as if the worship of God consisted in idleness, but because it is of importance for the common harmony, that a certain day should be appointed for holding sacred assemblies, as they cannot be held every day. For as to Paul's forbidding elsewhere (Galatians 4:10) that any distinction should be made between one day and another, that must be understood to be with a view to religion, 1044 and not with a view to polity or external order. 1045
Treasuring up I have preferred to retain the Greek participle, as it appeared to me to be more emphatic. 1046 For although {θησανρίζειν} means to lay up, yet in my opinion, he designed to admonish the Corinthians, that whatever they might contribute for the saints would be their best and safest treasure. For if a heathen poet could say — "What riches you give away, those alone you shall always have, 1047 how much more ought that consideration to have influence among us, who are not dependent on the gratitude of men, but have God to look to, who makes himself a debtor in the room of the poor man, to restore to us one day, with large interest, whatever we give away? (Proverbs 19:17.) Hence this statement of Paul corresponds with that saying of Christ —
Lay up for yourselves treasure in heaven, where it will not be exposed either to thieves, or to moths. (Matthew 6:20.)
According as he has prospered. Instead of this the old translation has rendered it, What may seem good to him, misled, no doubt, by the resemblance between the word made use of, and another. 1048 Erasmus renders it, What will be convenient. 1049 Neither the one nor the other pleased me, for this reason — that the proper signification of the word brings out a meaning that is much more suitable; for it means — to go on prosperously. Hence he calls every one to consider his ability — "Let every one, according as God hath blessed him, lay out upon the poor from his increase."
3. And when I come As we are cheerful in giving, when we know for certain, that what we give is well laid out, he points out to the Corinthians a method, by which they may be assured of a good and faithful administration — by selecting approved persons, to whom they may intrust the matter. Nay
1044See Calvin's Institutes, volume 1. 1045"Quand on le fait pour deuotion, comme cela estant vn seruice de Dieu, et non pas pour la police externe;" — "When it is done for the sake of devotion, as though it were a service done to God, and not with a view to external polity'."
1046"On a par ci deuant traduit, amassant; mais i'ay mieux aired retenir la propriete du mot Grec;" — "The word before us has been rendered laying up; but I have preferred to retain the peculiar force of the Greek word."
1047"Quas dederis, solas semper habebis opes." (Martial. Epage 5:42.) A similar sentiment occurs in the writings of the poet Rabirius. "Hoc habeo, luodeunque dedi;" — "I have whatever I have given away." (See Seneca, ib. 6, de Beneft) Alexander the Great, (as stated by —Plutarch,) when asked where he had laid up his treasures, answered, "Apud amicos;" — "Among my friends." — Ed.
1048"S'abusant a l'affinite des deux mots Grecs;" — "Misled by the resemblance between two Greek words." Calvin's meaning seems to be that the verb {εὐοδόομαι}, (to be prospered,) made use of here by Paul, had been confounded with {εὐδοκέω} (to seem good.) Wiclif (1380) in accordance with the Vulgate, renders as follows --- Kepynge that that plesith to hym. --- Ed.
1049"C'est a dire, selon sa commodite;" — "That is to say, according to his convenience."