Commentary on the Epistles to the Corinthians John Calvin (continued)
Commentary on the Corinthians of a good pastor, not merely to keep aloof from all desire of domineering, but to regard it as the highest pitch of honor, at which he aspires — that he may serve the people of God. It is the duty of the people, on the other hand, to esteem the servants of Christ first of all on the ground of the dignity of their Master, and then farther on account of the dignity and excellence of their office, that they may not despise those, whom the Lord has placed in so illustrious a station.
6. God who commanded light to shine out of darkness. I see that this passage may be explained in four different ways. In the first place thus: "God has commanded light to shine forth out of darkness: that is, by the ministry of men, who are in their own nature darkness, He has brought forward the light of His gospel into the world." Secondly, thus: "God has made the light of the gospel to take the place of the law, which was wrapt up in dark shadows, and thus, He has brought light out of darkness." Those that are fond of subtleties, would be prepared readily to receive expositions of that sort, but any one, who will examine the matter more closely, will perceive, that they do not correspond with the Apostle's intention. The third exposition is that of Ambrose: "When all things were involved in darkness, God kindled up the light of His gospel. For mankind were sunk in the darkness of ignorance, when God on a sudden shone forth upon them by his gospel." The fourth is that of Chrysostom, who is of opinion, that Paul alluded to the creation of the world, in this way: "God, who by his word created light, drawing it, as it were, out of the darkness 1348 — that same Being has now enlightened us in a spiritual manner, when we were buried in darkness." This transition, 1349 from light that is visible and corporeal to what is spiritual, has more of elegance, and there is nothing forced in it. The preceding one, 1350 however, is not unsuitable. Let every one follow his own judgment.
Hath shined in our hearts. He speaks of a twofold illumination, which must be carefully observed — the one is that of the gospel, the other is secret, taking place in our hearts. 1351 For as God, the Creator of the world, pours forth upon us the brightness of the sun, and gives us eyes to receive it, so, as the Redeemer, in the person of his Son, He shines forth, indeed, upon us by His gospel, but, as we are blind, that would be in vain, if He did not at the same time enlighten our understandings by His Spirit. His meaning, therefore, is, that God has, by His Spirit, opened the eyes of our understandings, so as to make them capable of receiving the light of the gospel.
In the face of Jesus Christ. In the same sense in which he had previously said that Christ is the image of the Father, (2 Corinthians 4:4) he now
1348"Du profond des tenebres;" — "Out of the depth of darkness." 1349Anagoge. The Reader will find in the Harmony (vol. 1, p. 436, n. 1,) a lucid view of the import of the word anagoge, or rather {ἀναγωγὴ} as employed, on the one hand, by ``divines of the allegorizing school,'' and on the other by Calvin, whose reverence for the inspired oracles would not permit him to give way to mere fancy in the interpretation of them, even in a single instance. --- Ed.
1350"La troisieme exposition;" — "The third exposition." 1351"Interieurement en nos coeurs;" — "Inwardly in our hearts."