Commentary on the Epistles to the Corinthians John Calvin
John Calvin
Las! oui, mais iusques au bout Le viure et le parler desormais le martyre: Car son cœur rien ne desire, Sinon en mesme creux estre pres toy couché Puis qu'auec toy gist caché Le beau chœur des neuf sœurs, du ciel de fauorites, La douceur, les Charites. III. Mausolee superbe, et vous, tant rechantees, En l'Egypte iadis Pyramides plantees, A iust occasion vous pouuez d'vn faux œil Regarder maintenant de ces deux le cercueil. Il n'y a rien meilleur que nostre Melior, 1085
La perle ou Marguerite 1086 est d'Inde le Thresor.
Calvin's Commentary On The Second Epistle To The Corinthians appears to have been published by him only a few months after his Commentary on the First Epistle, his dedication to his Commentary on the Second Epistle bearing date 1st August 1546, while his first dedication to the Commentary on the First Epistle bears date 24th January 1546.
In Senebier's Literary History of Geneva, quoted in Calvin on Genesis, (vol. 1.) a list of Calvin's Commentaries is given in the order in which they are supposed to have been published. In that list the Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans is placed first in order, and is stated to have been published in 1540. Next in order is the "Commentary on all the Epistles of Paul," which
1085There is here, obviously, a play upon words, (common in that age,) founded on the coincidence between the names of Melior and Margaret with melior (Fr. meilleur) better, and margarita (Fr. marguerite) a pearl. — Ed.
1086The original versions of the first and third Epigrams are given in Beza's "Poemata Varia," (Genevae, 1614,) p. 47, as follows: — "Melioris Volmarii, patria Rotvillensis, viri spectatiss. tum pietatis, tum doctrinae, praeceptoris perpetua memoria colendi, et Margaritae ipsius coniugis: uno eodemque die fato functorum, et eodem tumulo conditorum, Memoriae;" — "To the memory of Melchior Wolmar, a native of Rotweil, a man most highly esteemed at once for piety and learning, an instructor to be ever kept in remembrance, and Margaret, his spouse, who died on one and the same day, and were buried in the same tomb" "Coniugii exemplum rarum, certumque beati Spectate cuncti coniuges: Una dies nobis Meliorem sustulit, una Et Margaritam sustulit: Sic uno quos vita thoro coniunxerat, uno Mors una tumulo condidit: Una ambos donec reddat lux unius olim Beatitatis compotes." "Quum tumulo lateat Melior Volmarius isto, Cui Margarita adest comes, Est illi cur inuideas Mausole, diuque Celebrata Pyramidum strues, Namque nihil melius Meliore, nec India quidquam Fert Margarita carius." In addition to the above, two Latin Epigrams by Beza, in honor of Wolmar, are to be found in his "Poemata Varia:" — "In Meliorem Volmarum praeceptorem summe observandum, doctissime Homerum in Academia Bituricensi interpretantem, anno Domini cloloXXXiv, quum ageret annum Beza 15 "Flacce, tibi quandoque bonus dormitat Homerus, Sed num propterea caecus Homerus erat? Immo oculis captus quinam credatur Homerus, Quem sequitur vaturn caetera turba ducem? Illius sed enim splendorem longa vetustas Obruerat densis, heu, nimium tenebris. Tu Melior, donec fato meliora renato Dux ipsi fieres, Volmare magne, duci." BEZA's "Poemata Varia," p. 77. "Meliori Volmaro praeceptori, summe observando. Ergo placet nostros iterum vulgare furores? Ergo semel non est desipuisse satis? Sic, Volmare, iubes: et ego tibi (quaeso) iubenti Quid tandem iusta cum ratione negem? Quid facerem? quae nos tibi consecrauimus olim, Eripere haec eadem quo tibi iure queam? Adde, quod ipse tuus quum sit quoque muneris auctor Haec quum dona petis, tu tua dona petis. Fama igitur valeat, nos iam nil fama moratur Fas, tibi quo placeam, displicuisse mihi." Beza's "Poemata Varia," p. 87.
Commentary on the Corinthians is stated to have been published in 1548. It will be observed, however, that while the Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans is supposed to have been published in 1540, the first dedication to the Commentary on the First Epistle to the Corinthians, and the dedication to the Commentary on the Second Epistle, both of them bear date 1546. It is stated by Beza in his Life of Calvin, that during the contentions which prevailed in the Church in 1548, and some preceding years, Calvin was "not only not idle, but, as if he had been living in retirement, wrote most learned commentaries on six of Paul's Epistles." 1087 The six Epistles referred to appear to have been the two Epistles to the Corinthians, and the Epistles to the Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians, Calvin's Commentary on the last four of these having been published, as appears from the dedication prefixed to it, in 1548.
What is chiefly of importance to be observed, in connection with the respective dates of the Epistles above referred to, is the circumstance noticed by Beza — that Calvin wrote his "most learned Commentaries" on those Epistles "as if he had been living in retirement," while in reality amidst scenes, which would have incapacitated any ordinary mind for such pursuits. In the careful study of these interesting portions of the Volume of Inspiration, Calvin's devout mind found refreshment amidst scenes of turmoil; and we cannot doubt, that while preparing, under circumstances like these, his Commentaries on the Epistles to the Corinthians, and most of Paul's other Epistles, he had ample experience of what he himself so beautifully expresses, when commenting on Psalm 119:50,
This is my comfort in my affliction, for thy word hath quickened me: "The Prophet… had good reason for stating, that in the time of affliction the faithful experience animation and vigour solely from the word of God inspiring them with life. Hence, if we meditate carefully on his word, we shall live even in the midst of death, nor will we meet with any sorrow so heavy for which it will not furnish us with a remedy. And if we are bereft of consolation and succour in our adversities, the blame must rest with ourselves; because, despising or overlooking the word of God, we purposely deceive ourselves with vain consolation." 1088
J.P. Elgin, June 1849.
1087Calvin's Tracts, volume 1. 1088Calvin on the Psalms, vol. 4, p. 437.
Second Corinthians: Calvin's Dedicatory
Epistle
THE AUTHOR'S DEDICATORY EPISTLE.
TO THAT MOST ACCOMPLISHED MAN, MELCHIOR WOLMAR RUFUS, LAWYER. JOHN CALVIN HEALTH. Should you be disposed to charge me, not merely with neglect, but even with incivility, for not having written to you for so long a time, I confess I have scarcely any apology to offer. For if I were to allege that the distance between us is so great, and that, during fully five years, I have met with no one that was going in your direction, this indeed were true, but it would be, I readily acknowledge, but a lame excuse. It appeared to me, accordingly, that I could not do better than offer to you some compensation, that might make up for the errors of the past, and might at once set me clear from all blame. Here, then, you have a commentary on the Second Epistle of Paul to the Corinthians, prepared by me with as much care as was in my power. 1089 For I have no doubt that you will, in your kindness, accept of this as a sufficient compensation. At the same time there are other and weightier considerations, that have induced me to dedicate this to you.
First of all, I remember with what fidelity 1090 you cherished and strengthened the friendship, which had begun, (now long since,) in some small degree, to subsist between us — how generously you were prepared to lay out yourself and your services on my account, when you thought that you had an opportunity presented to you of testifying your affection towards me; how carefully you made offer to me of your assistance 1091 for my advancement, had not the calling in which I was at that time engaged prevented me from availing myself of it. Nothing, however, has had greater weight with me than the recollection of the first time I was sent by my father to learn civil law. Under your direction and tuition, I conjoined with the study of law Greek literature, of which you were at that time a most celebrated professor. And certainly it was not owing to you that I did not make greater proficiency; for, with your wonted kindness of disposition, you would have had no hesitation in lending me a helping hand for the completion of my course, had
et dressé par moy, auec le plus grand soin et dexterite qu'il m'a este possible;" — "Composed and prepared by me with the utmost care and skill in my power."
1090"De quelle affection;" — "With what affection." 1091"Votre credit;" — "Your influence."
Commentary on the Corinthians
I not been called away by my father's death, when I had little more than started. I am, however, under no small obligations to you in this respect, that I was initiated by you in the rudiments, at least, which were afterwards of great advantage to me. Hence I could not satisfy myself without leaving to posterity some memorial of my gratitude, and at the same time rendering to you some fruit, such as it is, of your labor. 1092 Farewell.
Geneva, 1st August 1546.
1092"De vostre labeur ancien, duquel ie sens encore auiourd'huy le proufit;" — "Of your ancient labor, of which I feel even at this day the advantage."
Second Corinthians: The Argument
THE ARGUMENT
ON THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS. So far as we can judge from the connection of this Epistle, it appears that the first Epistle was not without some good effect among the Corinthians, 1093 but at the same time was not productive of so much benefit as it ought to have been; and farther, that some wicked persons, despising Paul's authority, persisted in their obstinacy. For the fact of his being so much occupied, at one time in declaring his fidelity, and at another in maintaining the dignity of his office, is itself a token that they had not as yet been thoroughly confirmed. He himself, too, complains in express terms, that there were some that made sport of his former Epistle, instead of deriving benefit from it. Understanding, then, the condition of the Church among them to be such, and being detained by other matters, so as to be prevented from coming to them so soon as he had at that time contemplated, he wrote this Epistle from Macedonia. We are now in possession of the purpose which he had in view in writing this Epistle — that he might perfect what he had already begun, in order that he might, when he came, find every thing in proper order.
He begins, as he is wont, with thanksgiving, rendering thanks to God, that he had been marvellously rescued from the most imminent dangers, and at the same time he calls them to notice, that all his afflictions and distresses tended to their benefit and welfare, that he may the better secure their favor by this farther pledge of union, 1094 while the, wicked perversely took occasion from this to lessen his influence. Farther, when wishing to apologize for delaying to come to them, he declares that he had not changed his purpose from lightness or unsteadiness, and that he had not, for the purpose of deceiving, professed anything that he had not really had in view; 1095 for there was the same consistency to be seen by them in all his sayings, that they had had experience of in his doctrine. Here, too, he briefly notices, how stable and sure was the truth of his preaching, as being founded on Christ, by whom all the promises of God are fixed and ratified — which is a
1093"N'auoit point este du tout inutile et sans fruit;" — "Was not altogether useless and without fruit."
1094"Afin que cela luy serue d'vn gage et nouueau lien pour entrer en leur bonne grace;" — "That this may serve as a pledge and new tie to establish them in their good graces."
1095"Qu'il n'a point pretendu de les tromper, leur donnant à entendre d'vn, et pensant d'autre;" — "That he had not intended to deceive them, by giving them to understand one thing while he was thinking of another."
Commentary on the Corinthians
high recommendation of the gospel.
After this he declares, that the reason why he had not come was this, that he could not appear among them cheerful and agreeable. In this statement, he reproves those, who, from his change of purpose, took occasion to calumniate him. He accordingly throws the blame upon the Corinthians, as being not yet well prepared for receiving him. He shows, at the same time, with what fatherly forbearance he was actuated, inasmuch as he kept himself back from visiting their city for this reason — that he might not be under the necessity of exercising severity upon them.
Farther, lest any one should object, that he had in the mean time not at all refrained from handling the Corinthians severely in his writings, he apologizes for the vehemence that he made use of in his first Epistle, by saying that it was owing to others — they having shut him up to the necessity of this against his will. That this keenness had proceeded from a friendly disposition he satisfactorily shows, by ordering that the incestuous person himself, on whose account he had been much exasperated, should be received back into favor, having since that time given some evidence of repentance. Farther, he brings forward this additional evidence of his affection towards them, that he had no rest in his mind (2 Corinthians 2:13) until he had learned through means of Titus the state of their affairs, for an anxiety of this kind originates in affection.
Having had occasion, however, to make mention here of his journey to Macedonia, he begins to speak of the glory of his ministry. As, however, those darling Apostles, who endeavored to detract from him, had obtained an easy victory over him by trumpeting their own praises, that he may have nothing in common with them, and that he may at the same time beat down their foolish boasting, he declares that he derives commendation from the work itself, 1096 and does not borrow it from men. In the same passage, he extols in magnificent terms the efficacy of his preaching, and sets off to advantage the dignity of his Apostleship by comparing the gospel with the law, declaring, however, first of all, that he claimed nothing as his own, but acknowledged everything, whatever it might be, to have come forth from God.
After this he relates again, with what fidelity and integrity he had discharged the office intrusted to him, and in this he reproves those who malignantly reproached him. Nay more, rising still higher in holy confidence, he declares, that all are blinded by the devil, who do not perceive the lustre of his gospel. Perceiving, however, that the meanness of his person (as being contemptible) 1097 detracted much from the respect due to his Apostleship, embracing this favorable opportunity, he does not merely remove this occasion of offense, but turns it into an opposite direction, by saying, that the
1096"De l'auancement de l'oeuure;" — "From the advancement of the work." 1097"Comme de faict il estoit contemptible au monde;" — "As in fact he was contemptible in the view of the world."
John Calvin excellence of God's grace shines forth so much the more brightly, from the circumstance that so valuable a treasure was presented in earthen vessels. (2 Corinthians 4:7.)
Thus he turns to his own commendation those things which the malevolent were wont to cast up to him by way of reproach, because on his being weighed down with so many distresses, he always, nevertheless, after the manner of the palm tree, 1098 rises superior to them. He treats of this subject up to the middle of the fourth chapter, (2 Corinthians 4). As, however, the true glory of Christians lies beyond this world, he teaches that we must, by contempt of this present life and mortification of the outward man, set ourselves with the whole bent of our mind to meditation on a blessed immortality.
Farther, near the beginning of the fifth chapter, (2 Corinthians 5), he glories in this — that being actuated by such a disposition, he has nothing else as the object of his desire, than to have his services approved unto the Lord, and he entertains a hope, that he will have the Corinthians as witnesses of his sincerity. As, however, there was a danger of his being suspected of vanity, or arrogance, he again repeats, that he is constrained to this by the unreasonableness of wicked persons, and that it was not for his own sake, as though he were eager to retain their good opinion, but for the benefit of the Corinthians, to whom it was of advantage to have this opinion and persuasion; and he declares that he is concerned for nothing but their welfare. With the view of confirming this, he subjoins a universal statement, showing what ought to be the object aimed at by the servants of Christ — that, losing sight of themselves, they should live to the honor of their Lord; and at length he concludes, that everything except newness of life ought to be reckoned of no importance, so that he alone, who has denied himself, is to be held in esteem. From this he passes on to unfold the sum of the Gospel message, that by the magnitude and excellence of it he may stir up both ministers and people to a pious solicitude. This he does in the beginning of the sixth chapter, (2 Corinthians 6).
Here again, after having noticed how faithfully he discharged his office, he gently reproves the Corinthians, as being hinderances to themselves in the way of their reaping advantage. To this expostulation he immediately subjoins an exhortation, to flee from idolatry — from which it appears, that the Corinthians had not yet been brought so far as he wished. Hence it is not without good reason that he complains, that they had themselves to blame, inasmuch as they had not had their ears open to doctrine so plain. But lest he should, by pressing too severely their tender minds, dishearten or
1098The palm is one of the most beautiful trees in the vegetable kingdom; it is upright, lofty, verdant, and embowering. It grows by the brook or well of living water; and, resisting every attempt to press or bend it downwards, shoots directly towards heaven. For this reason, perhaps, it was regarded by the ancients as peculiarly sacred, and, therefore, most frequently used in adorning their temples. The chosen symbol of constancy, fruitfulness, patience, and victory; the more it is oppressed the more it flourishes, the higher it grows, and the stronger and broader the top expands. — Paxton's Illustrations, (Edin. 1842,) volume 2. — Ed.
Commentary on the Corinthians alienate them, he again assures them of his kind disposition towards them, and resuming his apology for severity, which he had left off in a manner abruptly, he brings it to a conclusion, though in a different way. For assuming greater confidence, he acknowledges that he is not dissatisfied with himself for having grieved them, inasmuch as he had done it for their good; 1099 while at the same time, by congratulating them on the happy issue, he shows them how cordially he desires their best interests. These things he treats of to the end of the seventh chapter, (2 Corinthians 7).
From the beginning of the eighth chapter, (2 Corinthians 8), to the end of the ninth, (2 Corinthians 9), he stirs them up to cheerfulness in giving alms, of which he had made mention in the last chapter of the first Epistle. He commends them, it is true, for having begun well, but lest the ardour of their zeal should cool in process of time, as often happens, he encourages them by a variety of arguments to go on perseveringly in the course on which they had entered.
In the tenth chapter, (2 Corinthians 10), he begins to defend himself, and his office as an Apostle, from the calumnies with which the wicked assailed him. And in the first place, he shows that he is admirably equipped with the armor that is requisite for maintaining Christ's warfare. 1100 Farther, he declares, that the authority which he had exercised in the former Epistle was grounded on the assurance of a good conscience, and he shows them that he had no less power in his actions, when present, than authority in his words when absent. Lastly, by instituting a comparison between himself and them, he shows how vain their boasting is. 1101
In the eleventh chapter, (2 Corinthians 11), he calls upon the Corinthians to renounce those depraved inclinations, by which they had been corrupted, showing them that nothing is more dangerous than to allow themselves to be drawn aside from the simplicity of the Gospel. The fact of his having begun to be somewhat disesteemed among them, while others had been more favorably received by them, had arisen, as he shows, not from any fault on his part, but from their being haughty or nice to please; inasmuch as those others had brought them nothing better or more excellent, while he was contemptible in their view because he did not set himself off to advantage by elegance of speech, 1102 or because he had, by voluntary subjection, by way of humouring their weakness, given up his just claim. This irony 1103
1099"Pour ce que ce qu'il en auoit fait, estoit tourné à leur grand proufit;" — "Because, what he had done had turned out to their great advantage."
1100"Pour bataillier sous l'enseigne de Iesu Christ;" — "For fighting under the banners of Jesus Christ."
1101"Finalement, faisant comparaison de sa personne auec telles gens, il monstre que c'est folie à eux de s'esleuer et vanter ainsi, sans auoir dequoy;" — "Lastly, by drawing a comparison between himself and such persons, he shows that it is folly in them to exalt themselves and vaunt, as they did, without having any ground for doing so."
1102"Par vne eloquence de paroles ornees et magnifiques;" — "By an eloquence of elegant and magnificent words."
1103"Qui est vne façon de parler par ironie (c'est à dire par maniere de moequerie);" — "Which is an instance of irony, that is to say, by way of mockery."
John Calvin contains in it an indirect reproach for their ingratitude, for where was the reasonableness of esteeming him the less, because he had accommodated himself to them? He declares, however, that the reason why he had refrained from taking the wages to which he was entitled, was not that he had less affection to the Corinthians, 1104 but in order that no advantage might be gained over him in any respect by the false apostles, who, he saw, laid snares for him by this stratagem.
Having reproved the unreasonable and malignant judgment of the Corinthians, he magnifies himself in a strain of pious glorying, letting them know in what magnificent terms he could boast, were he so inclined, premising however, that it is for their sakes that he acts the fool 1105 in heralding his own praises. At length, checking himself, as it were, in the middle of the course, he says that his chief ground of glorying is that abasement which was despised by the proud, for he had been admonished by the Lord, not to glory in anything but in his infirmities.
Towards the close of the twelfth chapter, (2 Corinthians 12), he again expostulates with them for shutting him up to the necessity of thus playing the fool, while they give themselves up to ambitious men, 1106 by whom they are estranged from Christ. Farther, he inveighs keenly against those who wantonly raged against him, adding to their previous crimes this impudence of opposition. 1107
In the thirteenth chapter, (2 Corinthians 13), by forewarning such persons, that he will treat them with peculiar severity, he exhorts all in general to recognise his apostleship, as it will be for their advantage to do so; while it is a dangerous thing for them to despise one, whom they had found by experience to be a trusty and faithful ambassador from the Lord.
1104"Qu'enuers les autres Eglises;" — "Than to the other Churches." 1105"Que pour l'amour d'eux il est contraint de faire du sot;" — "That it is from love to them, that he is constrained to act the fool."
1106"Ils se laissoyent manier et gouuerner à un tas d'ambitieux;" — "They allowed themselves to be directed and governed by a band of ambitious men."
1107"Ne se contentans point de leurs fautes passees, sinon qu'ils poursuyuissent de luy resister impudemment;" — "Not contented with their previous faults, without persisting in impudently opposing him."