Commentary on the Epistles to the Corinthians John Calvin (continued)
Commentary on the Corinthians condition, of all the members. Now 1859 he alludes to good physicians, who cure particular diseases in such a way as not in any part to mutilate the body; 1860 and, as he is concerned to secure a perfection of this nature, he says, that, for that reason, he provides against the necessity of having recourse to severer measures. 1861 For we see, that those, who at first shrink back from the slight pain, or uneasy feeling of a plaster, are at length constrained to endure the torture of burning, or amputating, and that, too, where the issue is extremely doubtful. 1862
2 Corinthians 13:10-14
2 Corinthians 13:10-14 10. Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the power which the Lord hath given me to edification, and not to destruction.
10. Propterea haec absens scribo: ne quum praesens fuero, rigidus sim iuxta potestatem, quam dedit mihi Dominus in aedificationem, et non in destructionem.
11. Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.
11. Quod superest, fratres, valete, integri estote, 1863 consolationem habete, unanimes sitis, in pace agite: et Deus caritatis ac pacis erit vobiscum.
12. Greet one another with an holy kiss. 12. Salutate vos mutuo in osculo sancto. 13. All the saints salute you. 13. Salutant vos sacti omnes. 14. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.
14. Gratia Domini Iesu Christi, et caritas Dei, et communicatio Spiritus sancti sit cum omnibus vobis. Amen.
The second epistle to the Corinthians was written from Philippi, a city of
1859"Or en parlant ainsi;" — "Now in speaking thus." 1860The same view, in substance, is taken by Beza, of the meaning of the term {κατάρτισιν}, which he renders --- integram concinnationem (complete adjustment.) ``Varia enim est et multiplex verbi, {καταρτίζειν} significatio. Mihi veto proximum versiculum cure isto comparanti videtur Apostolus nilhil aliud hoc nomine significare, quam suum hoc csse consilium ut Corinthiacae Ecolesiae membris, quae luxata fuerant, rursus in locum suum veluti repositis, totum illud corpus mutuo connexis membris instauretur, Galatians 6, 1. Itaque licebat etiam reconcinnationem interpretari;'' --- ``For the meaning of the word {καταρτίζειν} is various and manifold. On comparing, however, this verse with a subsequent one, I am of opinion that Paul by this term simply means, that it was his design, that those members of the Corinthian Church which had been dislocated, as it were, having been restored to their proper place, the entire body should be renovated by the members being mutually connected together, (as in Galatians 6:1.) Hence we might even render the term --- readjustment.'' See Calvin on the Corinthians, vol. 1, p. 63, n. 2. --- Ed.
1861"Plus facheux et aspres;" — "More irksome and: severe." 1862"Voire sans asseurance de guarir pour cela;" — "Even where there is no confidence as to effecting a cure by that means."
1863"Soyez enticrs, ou, Auanccz-vous t vous parfaire;" — "Be perfect, or Go on to perfect yourselves."