Commentary on the Epistles to the Corinthians John Calvin (continued)
John Calvin
8. By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true;
8. Per gloriam et ignominiam, per infamiam, et bonam famam: tanquam impostores, tamen veraces:
9. As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed;
9. Tanquam ignoti, tamen celebres: tanquam morientes, et ecce, vivimus; tanquam castigati, tamen morte non affecti:
10. As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.
10. Tanquam moerore affecti, semper tamen gaudentes: tanquam inopes, multos tamen ditantes: tanquam nihil habentes, et omnia possidentes.
1. Assisting. He has repeated the instructions of embassy with which the ministers of the gospel have been furnished by God. After they have faithfully communicated these instructions, they must also use their endeavor, that they may be carried into effect, 1466 in order that their labor may not be in vain. They must, I say, add continual exhortation's, 1467 that their embassy may be efficacious. This is what he means by {συνεργοῦντες}, (fellow-workers,) that is, devoted to the advancement of the work; for it is not enough to teach, if you do not also urge. In this way, the particle {σύν} would have a relation to God, or to the embassy, which he assigns to his servants. For the doctrine of the gospel is helped by exhortations, so as not to be without effect, and ministers connect their endeavors with God's commission; 1468 as it is the part of an ambassador to enforce by arguments, what he brings forward in the name of his prince.
The particle {σύν} may also be taken as referring to the endeavors of ministers in common; for if they do the Lord's work in good earnest, they must mutually lend a helping hand to each other, so as to give assistance to each other. I rather prefer, however, the former exposition. Chrysostom interprets it as referring to the hearers, with whom ministers are fellowworkers, when they rouse them up from slothfulness and indolence.
Ministers are here taught, that it is not enough simply to advance doctrine. They must also labor that it may be received by the hearers, and that not once merely, but continually. For as they are messengers between God and men, the first duty devolving upon them is, to make offer of the grace of God, 1469 and the second is, to strive with all their might, that it may not 1466"Qu'ils ayent lieu, et proufitent;" — "That they may have place, and may be profitable." 1467"Les exhortations par chacun iour;" — "Exhortations daily." 1468"Les ministres auec leur mandement qu'ils ont en charge, de declarer de par Dieu, conioignent aussi leur diligence, et affection ardente;" — "Ministers, along with their commission which they have in charge to declare, as from God, conjoin also their diligence, and ardent desire."
1469"The grace of God," says Dr. Brown, when commenting on Peter 5:12, "properly signifies — the kindness, the free favor of God, as a principle in the Divine mind; but is often employed to signify the deeds of kindness, the gifts and benefits, in which the principle finds expression. It has been common to interpret the phrase here as equivalent to the gospel, the revelation of God's grace; and the Apostle has been considered as affirming that the doctrine which