Commentary on the Epistles to the Corinthians John Calvin
Commentary on the Corinthians the testimony of our apostleship, on this side and on that, engraven on men's hearts."
Which is known and read It might also be read — "Which is known and acknowledged," owing to the ambiguity of the word {ἀναγινωσκεσαι}, 1257 and I do not know but that the latter might be more suitable. I was unwilling, however, to depart from the common rendering, when not constrained to do so. Only let the reader have this brought before his view, that he may consider which of the two renderings is the preferable one. If we render it acknowledged, there will be an implied contrast between an epistle that is sure and of unquestionable authority, and such as are counterfeit. 1258 And, unquestionably, what immediately follows, is rather on the side of the latter rendering, for he brings forward the Epistle of Christ, in contrast with those that are forged and pretended.
3. Ye are the Epistle of Christ Pursuing the metaphor, he says that the Epistle of which he speaks was written by Christ, inasmuch as the faith of the Corinthians was his work. He says that it was ministered by him, as if meaning by this, that he had been in the place of ink and pen. In fine, he makes Christ the author and himself the instrument, that calumniators may understand, that it is with Christ that they have to do, if they continue to speak against him 1259 with malignity. What follows is intended to increase the authority of that Epistle. The second clause, 1260 however, has already a reference to the comparison that is afterwards drawn between the law and the gospel. For he takes occasion from this shortly afterwards, as we shall see, to enter upon a comparison of this nature. The antitheses here employed — ink and Spirit, stones and heart — give no small degree of weight to his statements, by way of amplification. For in drawing a contrast between ink and the Spirit of God, and between stones and heart, he expresses more than if he had simply made mention of the Spirit and the heart, without drawing any comparison.
Not on tables of stone He alludes to the promise that is recorded in Jeremiah 31:31, and Ezekiel 37:26, concerning the grace of the New Testament.
I will make, says he, a new covenant with them, not such as I had made with their fathers; but I will write my laws upon their hearts, and engrave them on their inward parts. Farther, I will take away the stony heart from the midst of thee, and will give thee a heart of flesh, that thou mayest walk
1257Calvin has had occasion to notice the double signification of this word when commenting on 2 Corinthians 1:13. An instance of the ambiguity of the word occurs in Matthew 24:15, where the words {ὁ} {ἀναγινώσκων} {νοείτω} are understood by Kypke as the words, not of the evangelist, but of Christ, and as meaning --- ``He who recognises this, (that is, the completion of Daniel's prophecy by the `abomination of desolation standing where it ought not,') let him take notice and reflect, while most other interpreters consider the words in question as an admonition of the evangelist to the reader --- ``Let him that readeth understand or take notice.'' --- Ed.
1258"Celles qui sont attitrees et faites à plaisir;" — "Such as are procured by unfair means, and are made to suit convenience."
1259"De son apostre;" — "Against his apostle." 1260"Le dernier membre de la sentence;" — "The last clause of the sentence."