2 Corinthians 13

Notes

Ver. 1, 2. As I am now for the third time preparing to visit you, ye may be assured that if I find any obstinately scandalous notwithstanding my former admonitions, I will immediately proceed against them with high and solemn censures: 3. And that in vindication of my sacred office, and for the honour of Christ, of whose commission to me, and speaking and acting in me, some of you insolently demand a proof; yet whose working by me to youward has not been weak, but with mighty power and energy, in your actual conversion, and in the gifts and graces bestowed on you, and miracles wrought among you, and in inflicting sickness and death on some of your disorderly walkers. 4. For though, through the weakness of his manhood and voluntary subjection to death, he was crucified, as if merely a weak and mortal creature, yet by virtue of his own and his Father's divine power he rose from the dead, and now lives in his exalted state, to exercise all authority in heaven and on earth: even so we, his faithful servants, are, in the opinion of our adversaries, weak and contemptible, and are exposed to manifold sufferings for his sake; but, connected with him, we show, by the same power, in remarkable effects, that the life of our risen Redeemer animates us in our vigorous actings towards you, and that in due time we shall live and reign with him in glory. 5. Instead therefore of censuring and reproaching me and my faithful brethren, Timotheus, Sosthenes, or others, seriously and thoroughly examine your own hearts and practices, by the standard and touchstone of God's Word, whether, from a principle of faith awakened in your hearts by the Holy Ghost, ye really believe in Christ, and live on him through the word of the gospel. What! amidst all your pretences to knowledge, and all your contentions and disputes, are ye strangers to what has passed between God and your own souls, and to your state, condition, and behaviour before him? Know ye not that if Jesus Christ, the only Saviour, does not dwell in your hearts by faith, with powerful influence and dominion, ye are but mere hypocrites, and very unfit for the approbation of God? 6. But whatever ye may prove upon trial, I hope that, by the power and gracious influence of Christ, ye shall have full evidence of his owning us as true believers and faithful ministers of the gospel. 7. Yea, my earnest prayer to God for you is, that ye may be preserved and reclaimed from every evil way. For I would gladly be without the opportunity of exercising my apostolic powers against scandalous persons, even though some should thence take occasion to suspect me as disapproved of God and destitute of such power. 8. I have neither inclination nor authority to do anything but what is right and fit, nor to do anything against them that walk orderly according to the gospel, any more than against the gospel itself; but am only authorized and inclined to reclaim backsliders, and to encourage and promote your soundness in the faith, and integrity in heart and life. 9. Gladly would I, by your repentance and reformation, be entirely restrained from severe censures; happy should I be were ye so strong in faith and holiness as to need no reproof, and that all things in the state of your church, the temper of your soul, and course of your life, were brought to the highest perfection. 10. It is with these kind views that I have wrote you these warnings, cautions, advices, and encouragements, that when I come I may not be obliged to make use of any awful methods in exercising that authority which Christ has given me for establishing and increasing the faith, comfort, holiness, and order of his church, and not for the hurt, discouragement, or final destruction of any member of it. 11, 12. But to conclude—may all prosperity and happiness attend you, whom I esteem as my brethren in Christ! Rectify everything amiss or disjointed in your church, heart, or practice. Encourage yourselves and one another in the Lord your God; and labour to do whatever is truly excellent, that ye may be filled with the joys of faith and of a good conscience. Unite heartily in your views of gospel truths, in your zeal to promote their influence, and in a Christian temper one towards another. Study what makes for peace and brotherly love, that there may be no more party strifes and angry contentions and schisms among you; and in an attention to these things ye may expect that God, the fountain, author, giver, commander, and supreme approver of all love and peace, will take up his gracious and complacential abode with you, manifest his special favour to you, and bestow his best blessings upon you—in token of which, let even your common salutations be truly chaste, holy, and affectionate. 13. To set you an example of mutual kindness and respect, all the holy brethren here send you their most affectionate salutations, wishing above all things that your souls may prosper. 14. And for this end, as well as to mark my apostolic authority and testify my respect to you, I conclude with solemnly blessing you in the name of the Lord. May the full favour, gracious presence, and influence of our Lord Jesus Christ, through whose merits and mediation all spiritual and eternal blessings are procured and conveyed to men—may the self-moving love of God the Father, which is the original source of all spiritual blessings—and may the richest communications of the Holy Ghost, by whom these blessings are graciously applied, and we are brought into blessed fellowship with the Father and Son, and into a participation of their love and grace in all their happy effects—be continually with and abound towards you as a church, and every individual member of it!

Reflections.—Professed Christians are often more given to censure and reproach their neighbours, and especially their ministers, than to try and know themselves. But very important is the certain knowledge whether we be really united to and hold fellowship with Jesus Christ by faith ; and it is shameful for us to live ignorant of it. It is very desirable that offending church-members should be reclaimed by gentle methods. But if they continue obstinate they must be sharply dealt with to bring them to repentance. What an honour is it for ministers to employ all their power, care, and labour to promote the edification and comfort of souls! It is only for this purpose they received their authority and commission from Christ ; and if he approve them they need care the less what men think of them. If in conformity to him, and for his sake, they be exposed to suffering and death, it is enough if he support and crown them with a share in his glory. Happy is the church whose members, under the gracious influence of a reconciled God, live together in unity of sentiment and affection, and who hold distinct and intimate communion with Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. And transcendently wonderful is it, and ravishingly sweet, that these divine Persons should so harmoniously concur in unceasing mercy and grace to mean and sinful men.

Concluding Remarks on the Second Epistle to the Corinthians.

'The most remarkable circumstance in this epistle is the confidence of the apostle in the goodness of his cause, and in the power of God to bear him out in it.' He was evidently opposed by a powerful faction who rejected his apostolic authority. Yet with the utmost intrepidity he appeals to the miraculous works he had done in presence of his opponents, and to the gifts he had instrumentally conferred on the people, whom his opponents (whom he boldly denominates false apostles and agents of Satan) were endeavouring to turn against him.

It cannot be denied that divisions in the churches of Christ are deeply to be deplored; for they are the evidence at once both of Satan's working and success. Still out of every evil the Lord can extract good: and here there is furnished an incontestable evidence both of the apostle's integrity and divine inspiration. Had there been anything hollow or rotten in the principles of the apostle—had there been any imposture to be detected or exposed—this conflict of parties, this terrible assault of the apostle, must have provoked his adversaries to the disclosure. Nothing, however, of the kind appears. His miraculous powers could not be denied; and, upon that head at least, opposition was hushed into silence. He visited Corinth again as he had originally purposed, Ac. 20. 2, 3; was received as an apostle; remained for several months; and had the contributions for the saints at Jerusalem brought to him from the surrounding districts, Ro. 15. 26. Of the false teachers no more is heard—their memory and their name are blotted out; and this epistle abides a monument of apostolic integrity and courage, and an additional and irresistible evidence that Christianity is no 'cunningly devised fable.' C.