Commentary on the Epistles to the Corinthians John Calvin
John Calvin as to the shortness of the time that is to come.
As though they had none All things that are connected with the enjoyment of the present life are sacred gifts of God, but we pollute them when we abuse them. If the reason is asked, we shall find it to be this, that we always dream of continuance in the world, for it is owing to this that those things which ought to be helps in passing through it become hindrances to hold us fast. Hence, it is not without good reason, that the Apostle, with the view of arousing us from this stupidity, calls us to consider the shortness of this life, and infers from this, that we ought to use all the things of this world, as if we did not use them. For the man who considers that he is a stranger in the world uses the things of this world as if they were another's — that is, as things that are lent us for a single day. The sum is this, that the mind of a Christian ought not to be taken up with earthly things, or to repose in them; for we ought to live as if we were every moment about to depart from this life. By weeping and rejoicing, he means adversity and prosperity; for it is customary to denote causes by their effects. 424 The Apostle, however, does not here command Christians to part with their possessions, but simply requires that their minds be not engrossed in their possessions. 425
31. And they that use this world In the first clause there is the participle {χρώμενοι} (using,) in the second, there is a compound of it — {καταχρώμενοι} (abusing.) Now the preposition {κατα} in a compound state is generally taken in a bad sense, or at least denotes intensity. 426
Paul, therefore, directs us to a sober and frugal use of things, such as may not impede or retard our course, but may allow of our always hastening forward toward the goal.
For the fashion of this world passeth away By the term here used, the Apostle has elegantly expressed the vanity of the world. "There is nothing," says he, "that is firm or solid; 427 for it is a mere show or outward appearance, as they speak." He seems, however, to have had an allusion to theatrical representations, in which, on the curtain being drawn up in a single moment, a new appearance is presented, and those things that held the eyes of the spectators in astonishment, are immediately withdrawn from their view. I do not see why it is that Erasmus has preferred the term habitus (form.) He certainly, in my opinion, obscures Paul's doctrine; for the term fashion is tacitly opposed to substance. 428
32. But I would wish you. He returns to the advice which he had spoken of,
424"Or de prosperite s'ensuit ioye, comme d'aduersitez pleurs;" — "Now joy is attendant on prosperity, as tears are on adversities."
425"Enterrez en icelles;" — "Buried in them." 426"Tellement que le mot signifie yci, Abusans, ou Vsans trop;" — "So that the word means here abusing, or using too much." The verb {καταχράομαι}, is frequently made use of by classical writers to mean using to the uttermost, using up, or misusing See Dem 430, 10, and Lys 153, 46. --- Ed
427"En ce monde;" — "In this world." 428"Comme s'il disoit, que ce monde n'ha point vn estre, mais seulement vne monstre et vaine apparence;" — "As if he had said, that this world has not an existence, but only a show and mere appearance."