Commentary on the Epistles to the Corinthians John Calvin
John Calvin otherwise; for he says that the reason why his mouth was opened was, that his heart was enlarged Now what is meant by enlargement of heart? Undoubtedly it means the cheerfulness that springs from benevolence. 1497 It is quite a common figure, to speak of a narrow and contracted heart as denoting either grief, or disgust, while, on the other hand, an enlarged heart is employed to denote dispositions of an opposite kind. Hence Paul here says nothing but what we every day experience, for when we have to do with friends, our heart is enlarged, all our feelings are laid open, there is nothing there that is hid, nothing shut, — nay more, the whole mind leaps and exults to unfold itself openly to view. 1498 Hence it is, that the tongue, also, is free and unfettered, does not faulter, does not with difficulty draw up from the bottom of the throat broken syllables, as usually happens when the mind is influenced by a less joyful affection.
12. Ye are not straitened in us That is, "It is owing to your own fault that you are not able to share in this feeling of cheerfulness, which I entertain towards you. My mouth is opened, so that I deal familiarly with you, my very heart would willingly pour itself forth, 1499 but you shut up your bowels." He means to say, that it is owing to their corrupt judgment, that the things that he utters are not relished by them.
13. Now the same requital He softens his reproof by addressing them kindly as his sons, and also by this exhortation, by which he intimates that he still entertains good hopes of them. By the same requital he means — mutual duty, for there is a mutual return of duty between a father and his sons. For as it is the duty of parents to nourish their children, to instruct them, to direct them by their counsel, and to defend them, so it is the dictate of equity, that children should requite their parents. (1 Timothy 6:4.) In fine, he means what the Greeks call {ἀντιπελαργίαν} — affection exercised in return. 1500
1497The same view, in substance, is taken by Chrysostom. — {Καθάπερ} {γὰρ} {τὸ} {θερμαῗνον} {εὐρύνειν} {εἴωθεν}, {οὓτω} {καὶ} {τὢς} {ἀγάπης} {ἔργον} {τὸ} {πλατύνειν} {ἐστί}· {θερμν}<& ga>{ρ} {ἐστιν} {ἠ} {ἀρετὴ}· {καὶ} {ζέουσα} {αὕτη} {καὶ} {τὸ} {στόμα} {ἀνεπέτασε} {Παύλου} {καὶ} {τὴν} {καρδίαν} {ἐπλάτυνεν} --- ``For as heat is wont to expand, so it is the part of love to enlarge. For virtue is warm and fervent. It was this that opened Paul's mouth, and enlarged his heart.'' --- Ed.
1498"From a tender and considerate regard to the good of the Christians at Corinth, he" (Paul) "had determined not to revisit them, until their unseemly heats and factions were allayed. How was he affected while he waited at Ephesus to receive the tidings of this longed-for but protracted issue? 'O ye Corinthians! our mouth is opened unto you; our heart is enlarged!' What a picture of a heart! We see him standing on the shore of the 'gean Sea, over against Corinth, with his arms extended towards that city, and in the attitude of speaking. We hear the words by which he seeks to relieve his overcharged breast, heaving and ready to burst with the fullness of those desires which he had long felt to come among them, satisfy them of the sincerity of his affection, and replenish their souls with the consolation with which he himself had been comforted. 'O ye Corinthians, our mouth is open to you, our heart is enlarged! Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your own bowels. Now, for a recompense in the same, (I speak as unto my children,) be ye also enlarged.' " — M'Crie's Sermons, p. 29. — Ed.
1499"Mon coeur mesme s'ouuriroit volontiers pour vous mettre deuant les yeux l'affection que i' ay enuers vous;" — "My very heart would willingly open itself up, so as to place before your eyes the affection which I entertain towards you."
1500The term {ἀντιπελαργία} is compounded of {αντι} over against, and {λαργος}, a stork. It is employed to denote reciprocal affection, from an interesting peculiarity in the disposition of the stork. ``This bird,'' says Paxton, in his Illustrations of Scripture, (Edin. 1842,) volume 2, p. 432, ``has long been celebrated