2 Corinthians 1

2 Corinthians 1:1

ANd Timothy our brother] Not according to the flesh, for we read not that Timothy was of kinne to Saint Paul; but brother in Christ in the profession of the Gospel, and brother also in the Ministery of the word, being Saint Pauls companion, and fellow-labourer in the office of an Apostle and an Evangelist.

at Corinth] Gr. in Corinth.

with all the saints] All who embrace the holy profession of Christians, who were admitted into the Church which is the communion of Saints, who attend upon the holy ordinances of God, and follow after peace and holinesse, without which no man shall see God. The Greek Scholiast noteth, that he useth not the word, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. not holy, but unearthly, whereby all those among the Corinthians that were earthly minded, and sought not the things that are above, but the things that are below, are excluded out of the Apostles salutation.

2 Corinthians 1:3

Blessed be God] See Ephesians 1:3. 1 Pet. 1. 3. God is essentially blessed, and cannot be made blessed or happy by us: this phrase therefore signifieth no more then praised be God: in the Originall, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 that is word for word, let God be well spoken of. God blesseth us really, but we blesse God but verbally, by lauding and magnifying him: or at the most, mentally. For as the kingly Prophet professeth, Psalms 16:2. our goodnesse extendeth not to him. The Apostle here beginneth with thanksgiving, which notwithstanding otherwise then he was wont, he applyeth to himself; beginning his Epistle with the setting forth of the dignitie of his Apostleship, constrained as it should seem thereunto by their importunitie, who tooke occasion to despise him, by reason of his great crosses, and afflictions: but he answereth, that he is not so afflicted, but that his comforts do exceed his afflictions, shewing the ground of them, even the mercy of God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

the Father of mercies] Though judgements proceed from God as well as mercies, yet he is not in Scripture any where called the Father of judgements, as he is here, the Father of mercies: because mercie and compassion ariseth meerely from himself, and he delighteth in it, Micah 7:18. but our sinnes are the cause why he inflicteth any judgements upon us. And it is further here to be noted, for the comfort of all those that grone under any heavie crosse, or suffer conflicts with desperation it self, that the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ is the Father also of mercy, and not of mercy only in the singular number, but of mercies in the plurall, and which is yet more, the God of all consolation.

2 Corinthians 1:4

Who comforteth us in all our tribulation] He saith no, who suffereth us not to be afflicted: for he knoweth that it is good for us to be afflicted, as the holy Prophet David professeth; and Christ himself saith, As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: Revelation 3:19. but who comforteth us in our afflictions.

that we may be able to comfort them] Oecumenius out of this passage rightly observeth the singular modestie of the Apostle, who saith not, that he received comfort from God in those tribulations which he suffered for the Gospel, for his owne sake, because his patience or diligence in his ministery deserved any such consolation; but that God afforded him those comforts for the good of others, that he might be the better enabled to comfort them by those cordials, which he received by the hand of his heavenly Physitian.

2 Corinthians 1:5

For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us] Gr. unto us. The afflictions and calamities which we suffer for Christ, or Christ suffereth in us his members.

2 Corinthians 1:6

which is effectuall in the enduring of the same sufferings] Or, is wrought. Although salvation be given us freely: yet because there is a way appointed to us, whereby we must come to it, which is the race of an innocent and upright life which we must run, therefore we are said to worke our salvation: Phil. 2. 12. and because it is God only that of his free goodwill worketh all things in us, therefore is he said to worke this salvation in us by the selfe same things, by which we must passe to everlasting life, after that we have once overcome all incumbrances.

2 Corinthians 1:8

For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant] He witnesseth, that he is not only not ashamed of his afflictions, but that he desireth also to have all men know the greatnesse of them, as also his delivery from them, although it be not yet perfect.

which came to us in Asia] Whether he meane by this affliction, the great opposition he found by those many adversaries mentioned by him, 1 Corinthians 16:9. or the great tumult at Ephesus by Demetrius and his fellow craftsmen, Acts 19. or some very dangerous sicknesse wherewith he was visited, it is not certain: but here he thought good to acquaint them with it, partly to shew his great love to them, in that he concealed nothing from them, which befell him: partly to stirre them up to give God thanks for his great deliverance.

2 Corinthians 1:9

the sentence of death in our selves] Or, answer. We resolved in our selves to die, or we gave our selves for dead, we were not only past hope in other mens judgements, but even in our own.

2 Corinthians 1:10

so great a death] He saith not, out of so great a danger, but so great a death, because the danger was so great, that it was past mans help, or hope of delivery. He taketh the word death, as else-where, in death often, (2 Cor. 11 23.) either for such sicknesse, or persecutions in which there appeared no hope of escaping with life, or such torments as were equivalent to the pangs of death.

2 Corinthians 1:11

You also helping together by prayer for us] Gr. Tec. we also helping together by prayer for you. See Romans 15:30. That he may not seeme to boast himself, he attributeth all to God, and withall acknowledgeth himself to be much indebted unto them for their prayers for him.

thanks may be given] The end of the afflictions of the Saints is the glory of God, and therefore they ought to be precious unto us.

2 Corinthians 1:12

that in simplicity] Gr. Tec. puritie. Here he putteth away another slander, to wit, that he was a light man, and inconstant, seeing that he promised to come unto them, but brake his word and came not: and first he speaketh of the simplicitie of his minde, and plain and open dealing, which they knew by his speech when he was present, and they ought also to acknowledge it in his letters being absent; and moreover he protesteth that he will never be otherwayes.

and glory sinceritie] Gr. and sinceritie of God. In the Originall, it is the sinceritie of God, that is, such sinceritie as is in the God of truth, who is alwayes constant and immutable; or sinceritie before God, or in the sight of God, not feigned or hypocriticall.

with fleshly] Gr. in fleshly.

by the grace] Gr. in the grace.

2 Corinthians 1:13

or] Gr. Tec. and.

2 Corinthians 1:14

That we are your rejoycing] Pauls rejoycing in the Lord was, that he had gained the Corinthians to the Lord, and they themselves rejoyced, that they had such an Apostle to be their instructor, who taught them so purely and sincerely.

2 Corinthians 1:15

a second benefit] Or, grace. Some render a double joy, but the word is not, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, but 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉: and the Apostles meaning is, that they might reape a double fruit, both of his letters and of his presence.

2 Corinthians 1:17

purpose] Or, consult.

be yea, yea, and nay, nay] Christ commandeth, Matthew 5:37. that our communication be yea, yea, and nay, nay; neither doth the Apostle here contradict it, but his meaning is, that with him there was not yea, and nay, concerning the same thing, that he was not light and inconstant in his words, as those who affirme and deny with a breath, promising and not performing, and changing their purpose at every turning of the hand, but according to the saying of the Hebrews; etiam justorum est etiam, & orum non est non, so his yea, was alwayes yea, and his nay, nay, not his yea now, nay at another time, nor his nay yea.

2 Corinthians 1:18

true] Gr. faithfull.

word] Or, preaching.

was not] Gr. Tec. is not.

2 Corinthians 1:20

For all the promises of God in him are yea] God purposing to be glorified and perfectly acknowledged for his truth, in the accomplishment of his promises in Christ, preached by us, hath withall given unto us the Apostles, such an infallible guidance of his Spirit, that the truth of our preaching might answer to the truth of Christ his practice, even as himselfe did answer exactly by his performance unto the promises of God.

and in him amen] Gr. Tec. therefore also they are by him amen. As Christ is the same in Gods promises which are unchangeable, so are all such promises touching our salvation, yea, that is, truth; and amen, that is, assurance. For so much as God in the new covenant maketh no promises of salvation, nor fulfilleth any but in Christ, and by Christ.

unto the glory of God by us] Gr. to God for glory by us.

2 Corinthians 1:21

hath anointed us] With the grace of his holy Spirit. So Saint John also speaketh, 1 John 2:27. But the anointing which you have received of him abideth in you, and the same anointing teacheth you of all things.

2 Corinthians 1:22

Who hath also sealed us] He wrought the same in us, in regard of our Apostleship, by the virtue of the same Spirit, that ratifieth both in us and in all his faithfull children, his vocation and election, by the grace of regeneration, signing us for his an with a seale, 2 Tim. 2. 19. and as by a pledge assuring us of our future inheritance.

earnest of the Spirit] That is, the holy Spirit, which is unto us an an earnest, whereby God assureth us, that he will pay as it were the whole summe of his promises. For an earnest is as a pledge, whereby we confirme a bargain, or a piece of money, whereby we assure the payment of the whole. The first gift therefore of the Spirit, and of life, is a pledge of our whole inheritance; Insomuch, that this anointing, sealing and pledging, all serve to one and the same end.

2 Corinthians 1:23

I call God for a record upon my soul] That is, against my self, and to the danger of my own life. So the Hebrews say, to carry our soul in our hands, and Xenarhus in Athenaeus useth the same phrase, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, whereby they signifie that the life is in great danger. This is then a deep adjuration, whereby the Apostle assureth them even by oath, that he did not only not change his purpose of coming to them out of levitie, but rather that he came not to them for this cause, that he might not be constrained to deale more sharply with them being present, then he would.

2 Corinthians 1:24

Not for that we have dominion] He removeth all suspition of arrogancy, declaring that he speaketh not what he said before as a Lord over them, but as a servant appointed of God to comfort them.

but are helpers of your joy] He setteth the joy and peace of conscience, which God is the Author of, against tyrannous fear, and withall sheweth the end of the Gospel, which is peace and joy in the holy Ghost.