1Paul entreateth the Corinthians not to frustrate God's grace: 3setting forth his own inoffensive, painful, and patient, demeanour in the discharge of his ministry: 11of which he telleth them he spake more freely out of the great love he bare them; 13challenging the same affection from them in return. 14He dissuadeth from any intimate connections with unbelievers. 16Christians are the temples of the living God.
1WE1 then, as 2workersa together with him, 3beseech you also thatb4ye receive not the grace of God 5in vain.
1 He includes Timothy with him, in whose name he also writes.
2 Or, working together. Namely, with God, as the ministers of the Word are also elsewhere called as being instruments and ambassadors of God, 1 Cor. 3:9, 10.
a 1 Cor. 3:9.
3 Or, exhort.
b Heb. 12:15.
4 Namely, which was offered you by the Gospel and our ministry and received by you.
5 That is, without bringing forth appropriate fruits of thankfulness, and increasing in faith.
2(Forc6he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: 7behold, now is the 8accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)
c Isa. 49:8.
6 Namely, Isa. 49:8, where God, the Father, speaks thus to His Son, and promises the building up of His congregation through Him at His coming.
7 These are now the words of Paul wherewith he expounds the words just mentioned, and applies them to the time of the New Testament.
8 Or, the time of the good pleasure, as the Hebrew word in Isaiah properly has it, namely, which God in His good pleasure had appointed to call, by Christ and His ministers, people everywhere to repentance, and to bring them thereunto powerfully by His Spirit, Acts 2:16, 17; 17:30, 31, etc.
3Givingd no offence in any thing, that 9the ministry 10be not blamed:
d Rom. 14:13; 1 Cor. 10:32.
9 Namely, of the Holy Gospel, which is entrusted to us, and of which he spoke in the end of the previous chapter.
10 Or, reproached, reproved, as the Greek word properly entails, which usually happens when the life of the ministers of the Word are not in conformity with their doctrine.
4But in all things 11approving ourselves ase the ministers of God, inf much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,
11 Gr. we commend ourselves, or, cause, that after trial made, we are approved. Or, prove.
e 1 Cor. 4:1.
f 2 Cor. 11:23.
5In stripes, in imprisonments, 12in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;
12 Or, confusions, instabilities, whereby is understood the state of those who are pursued or driven hither and thither.
6By 13pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, 14by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned,
13 Or, chastity. From henceforth the apostle relates as such the virtues and means whereby he overcame the previous troubles.
14 Hereby he understands the boldness and joy of the Spirit, Who supports us even in the midst of all tribulations, John 16:33; Rom. 5:3, 4, 5; 14:17.
7By 15the word of truth, by 16the power of God, 17by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,
15 That is, the preaching of the Gospel, as John 17:17.
16 Namely, which accompanied this preaching of the apostles, not only with signs and miracles, Heb. 2:3, 4, but also with power to resist and to subdue the wicked, as with weapons which were mighty in God to gain on all sides the elect to Christ, and to keep away the others from them, 2 Cor. 10:4, 5, 6.
17 Or, by the right and left weapons of righteousness.
818By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true;
18 That is, in the midst of honor and dishonor; namely, honor with the godly, and dishonor with the ungodly and worldly men. Understand the same distinction also in the following contrasts; and see an example of Christ, John 7:12, and in Paul, Acts 17:17, 32.
9As unknown, and yet well known; 19asg dying, and, 20behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed;
19 Namely, according to the judgment of men accounted as dead.
g Psalm 118:18; Isa. 26:19.
20 Namely, by the special grace and protection of God, Psalm 118:18.
10As sorrowful, 21yet alway rejoicing; 22as poor, yet making many 23rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing 24all things.
21 That is, comforted in God, Rom. 5:3; 1 Thes. 5:16.
22 Namely, in respect of worldly riches.
23 Namely, with spiritual gifts.
24 Namely, in Christ and with Christ, 2 Cor. 3:21, 22.
11O ye Corinthians, 25our mouth is open unto you, our heart is enlarged.
25 That is, I speak boldly and at large with you concerning all my opportunities, as my affection and good heart towards you is also great. An Hebrew phrase.
1226Ye are not straitenedh in us, but 27ye are straitened in your own bowels.i
26 That is, you possess our heart completely. We set our hearts wide open for you.
h limited, restricted*
27 That is, you do not open your heart enough, but similarly you keep it yet partly closed for us.
i affections*
13Now for a recompence in the same, (I speak asj unto my children,) 28be ye also enlarged.
j 1 Cor. 4:14.
28 Namely, in your bowels or heart; to bear the like affection or love unto us.
14Bek ye not unequally 29yoked together with unbelievers: forl what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
k Deut. 7:2; 1 Cor. 5:9.
29 That is, a yoke or communion with them who are of unlike religion, as the idolatrous Gentiles were. Wherewith he does not forbid all manner of communion, for that would contradict what he said in 1 Cor. 5:10, but only such communion, whereby they might also be brought unto communion with their idolatry or other sins, or unbelievers be strengthened in their sins; and is a similitude taken from the law, Deut. 22:10, where God forbids that in plowing they would join together an ox and an ass.
l 1 Sam. 5:1, 2; 1 Kings 18:21; 1 Cor. 10:21; Eph. 5:11.
15And what concord hath Christ with 30Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
30 This is an Hebrew word and signifies one who is without a yoke, or profitable to no man. Here it is taken for Satan himself, who has cast all obedience to God from him. See 1 Sam. 1:16.
16And what agreement hath 31the temple of God withm idols? forn32ye are the temple 33of the living God; as 34God hath said, Io will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
31 Namely, which is sanctified for the service of the true God.
m 1 Cor. 10:7, 14.
n 1 Cor. 3:16; 6:19; Eph. 2:21; Heb. 3:6; 1 Peter 2:5.
32 Namely, who believe in Christ, Eph. 2:21, 22; 1 Peter 2:5.
33 That is, Who not only lives Himself, but is the Author of life unto all, Acts 17:25, and this title is here given to God, in opposition to dumb and dead idols.
34 These words are partly taken out of Lev. 26:11, 12, partly out of Ezek. 37:26.
o Exod. 29:45; Lev. 26:11; Ezek. 37:26.
1735Wherefore comep out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
35 These words are taken out of Isa. 52:11, so that this exhortation of Paul is out of several places joined together.
p Isa. 52:11; Rev. 18:4.
18Andq will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
q Isa. 31:1.