Commentary on the Epistles to the Corinthians John Calvin (continued)
Commentary on the Corinthians
11. Os nostrum apertum est ad vos, O Corinthii, cor nostrum dilatatum est.
12. Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your own bowels. 12. Non estis angusti in nobis, sed angusti estis in visceribus vestris. 1494
13. Now, for a recompence in the same, (I speak as unto my children,) be ye also enlarged. 1495
13. Eandem vero remunerationem, nem, ut a filiis, exigo: dilatamini et vos.
14. Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
14. Ne ducatis iugum cum infidelibus: quæ enim participatio iustitæ cum iniquitate: quæ communicatio luci cum tenebris?
15. And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
15. Quis consensus Christo cum Belial: aut quo portio fideli cum infideli? 16. And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
16. Quautem conventio templo Dei cum idolis? vos enim estis templum Dei viventis: quemadmodum dicit Deus (Leviticus 26:12,) Habitabo in ipsis, et in medio eorum ambulabo: et ero Deus illorum, et erunt mihi populus.
17. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
17. Quamobrem exite de medio eorum et separamini, dicit Dominus (Ies. lii. 11,) et immundum ne tetigeritis:
18. And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
18. Et ego suscipiam vos, et ero vobis in patrem, et eritis mihi in filios et filias, dicit Dominus omnipotens, (Jeremiah 31:9.)
11 Our mouth is opened. As the opening of the mouth is a sign of boldness, 1496 if you are inclined to connect this with what goes before, the meaning will be this, — "I have ample ground of glorying, and an upright conscience opens my mouth. Your entertaining unfavorable views of us, is not owing to any fault on our part, but arises from your being unfair judges. For you ought to have entertained more favorable views of my ministry, which God has rendered honorable to you in so many ways." I explain it, however, 1494"En vos entrailles, ou, affections;" — "In your bowels, or, affections." 1495"Or ie requier de vous la pareille, comme de mes enfans, ou, Or pour nous recompenser de mesmes (ie parle comme … mes enfans;)" — "But I require the like from you — as from my children, or, But for a recompense to us of the same, I speak as to my children."
1496God promised to Ezekiel that he would give him "the opening of the mouth in the midst of the house of Israel," (Ezekiel 29:21,) which is explained by Gill to mean, "boldness and courage of speech when he should see his prophecies fulfilled." Paul himself makes use of a similar expression in Ephesians 6:19, "that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly." — Ed.