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2
Corinthians Chapter One
I.
Content of the Chapter
The Ministry of
Receiving Consolation and Giving Consolation
A. Introduction (v.1-2);
B. The consolation of Christ (v.3-7);
C. The full and perfect salvation (v.8-11);
D. Boast of one another (v.12-14);
E. The definite journey (v.15-17);
F. The definite message (v.18-22);
G. Spare others (v.23-24);
II.
Verse by Verse Commentary
2Cor. 1:1 “Paul, an apostle of Jesus
Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the
YLT: “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, through the will of
God, and Timotheus the brother, to the assembly of God that is in
Meaning of Words: “apostle”: the one who is sent, messenger;
“Paul”: littleness; “saint”: the one who is separated unto God;
Literal
Meaning: “by the will of God”, it shows that the
present status of Paul is totally of God, not gained by himself.
“An apostle of Jesus Christ”, it indicates that: a) he is of the Lord; b) he
is sent by the Lord; c) he receives the authority of opening the truth from the
Lord; d) he is not proud but fulfills the responsibility entrusted to him by
the Lord faithfully.
“And Timothy our brother”,
the word “and” shows that Timothy also puts
his signature
on the epistle with Paul, but actually it is written by Paul (see 10:1). “Brother”, it refers to the one who has common faith
in the Lord (see Acts 9:17; Heb.2:11).
“To the
“With all the saints who are in all Achaia”, “Achaia” refers to the southern part of
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1)
The name of the
author was changed as “Paul”, which was “littleness” (the meaning of the
original). The servant of God should not be puffed up, but humble himself to
serve others (Matt. 20:26-28).
2)
If we do not know
the will of God, we are unworthy of being the workers of God.
3)
Everyone who serves
God should keep the will of God instead of holding his own will. Therefore,
one’s works should please God only rather than be affected by himself or
others.
4)
What the preacher
should introduce is not his worldly status or title but the proof that he is
truly speaking by the will of God.
5)
Since one is the
servant of Christ by the will of God, he should be sure that God is with him
and will help him to fulfill the great responsibility.
6)
The apostle of
Christ should be with Him first and abide in Him and let the words of the Lord
abide in him (John 15:7), and then he can go out to speak for the Lord.
7)
The church is a
group of members called out from the world. She is out of the world but of God
and still in the world. She can preach the will of God to the world and can
also bring men in the world into God.
2Cor. 1:2 “Grace to you and peace from
God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
YLT: “Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the
Lord Jesus Christ!”
Meaning of Words: “grace”: pleasantness, thanks, pleasure,
favor, and liberality;
Literal
Meaning: “grace”: the gift
given by God to men to enjoy freely. The greatest grace to men is that God lets
them receive and enjoy Him.
“Peace”, it is not peace or smoothness in environment, but peace and
quietness in one’s heart. In other words, peace is a kind of mood after men
have enjoyed the salvation of God which perfects the peace between God and men
and among men themselves.
“From
God our Father”, God is the God of
the world, and the Father of us. God is the fountain of grace and peace. We
believers are vessels that partake of grace and peace.
“And the Lord Jesus Christ”, Paul mentions God the Father and the Lord Jesus
together, showing that they are equal.
“To you”, “you” refers to believers. God is
the origin, and the Lord Jesus is the channel. God’s grace and peace have
fallen upon us through our Lord Jesus.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Christians are men who have enjoyed the
grace of God, so their life must have its pleasantness. The Christianity that
lacks of attraction is not real Christianity.
2) Grace is a gift that cannot be obtained by
man himself, for no one is worthy of receiving grace.
3) Grace is the source of peace, and peace is
the fruit of grace. It is impossible to receive the peace of God without
seeking the grace of God first.
4) “Grace” is the origin of all blessings. And
those who have received the grace of God will have peace in his life.
5) The peace bestowed by the Lord is different
from the so-called peace of the world. Peace given by the Lord is of the heaven
and cannot be robbed by the world.
6) We should not seek peace outside of God. The
shortcut of the true peace is keeping the will of God.
2Cor. 1:3 “Blessed be the God and
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,”
YLT: “Blessed God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
the Father of the mercies, and God of all comfort,”
Meaning of Words: “blesses”: blessing, good words, thanks and
praise; “mercy”: compassion, sympathy; “comfort”: encourage near;
Literal
Meaning: “blessed be the God and
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort”, “blesses”: we praise God because of God’s
being and words; the word “our” indicates that such a Lord Jesus Christ belongs
to all believers; “Lord” focuses on His status, who exists over all and is
worshipped by all those who are of Him. “Jesus” refers to his humanity ---- he
was incarnated to be the Nazaraean Jesus who humbled himself to take the image
of a bondman; “Christ” relates to His ministry ---- he is anointed by God and
sent by God to keep the will of God and is the Messiah who comes to fulfill his
works.
“God
and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ”,
father indicates that God is the origin of life. This verse means that God who
is the origin of life makes us partakers of His life and nature through the
Lord Jesus Christ.
“The
Father of mercies and God of all comfort”, “mercy”: the heart of God to His children;
“comfort”: the actions of God to His children; “mercy” is a feeling of God to
us; “comfort” is a feeling of us because of the mercy of God; “God of all comfort”, God is origin of various comforts.
“Comfort” is comfort and encouragement. This comfort comes upon them
when believers suffer in tribulation (see v.4-7).
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Common believers desire to be blessed from
God, but has never desired to obtain
2) Today, a lot of praise is mixed with praise
to men. May all the blessings are unto God and let all glory be unto God.
3) “Our Lord Jesus Christ” ---- the Lord
belongs to all believers ---- Christ is their Lord as well as ours (1Cor. 1:2).
4) “God the Father of Jesus Christ” ----
whoever denies the Son has not the Father either; he who confesses the Son has
the Father also. (John 2:23) ---- God the Father of Jesus Christ has also
become ours since we have believed Jesus Christ.
5) Paul praises God according to his knowledge
about God, for he has experienced the rich mercy and gracious comfort of God in
tribulation……
6) God has the richest mercies. He is never
indifferent to us or silent to our supplication. Though we have many troubles,
God can supply various comforts. There is no tribulation of us that God can not
deal with through his comfort.
7) Though we have tribulations, we can still
find comfort in God and remove the taste of tribulation by His comfort.
8) The comfort of God is not only appeasement
but also encouragement that makes us exert ourselves and fight increasingly
bravely.
2Cor. 1:4 “who comforts us in all our
tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with
the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”
YLT: “who is comforting us in all our tribulation, for our
being able to comfort those in any tribulation through the comfort with which
we are comforted ourselves by God;”
Meaning of Words: “tribulation”: pressure, affliction
(especially physical affliction);
Literal
Meaning: “who comforts us in all our
tribulation”, “we” here includes all the children of God, who can
obtain the comfort of God in tribulation; “comfort”: the present tense
indicates that the comfort of God happens all the time.
“That we may be able to comfort those who are in any
trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God”, “that we may be able to”, it contains the meaning of bringing a
kind of ability in the original. Tribulation is an opportunity for us to learn
some abilities. “With
the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God”, it shows that he who comforts others
should use the equipment of God. “Those who are in any trouble”, it indicates that the objects are not limited
---- anyone who is in tribulation can be benefited from our experience.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) God comforts us in all our tribulation.
“All” points that God does not comfort us sometimes, but all times.
2) Our abilities of comforting others are
obtained beforehand when we ourselves have experienced the tribulation.
3) The whole life of Christians is not all
smooth, but often interrupted by storms. However, thank God! Though we are in
tribulation, He comes to comfort us so that we can comfort those who are in the
troubles.
4) He who has never experienced the tribulation
has never tasted the comfort given by God. He who has never been comforted by
God does not know how to comfort others. We ourselves should firstly experience
the comfort of God and then comfort others with the comfort with which we ourselves are
comforted by God.
5) The gift of comforting others in the church can
be obtained with great cost. All the comforts without paying any cost are
merely comforts with tongue that can only enter into men’s ears but not hearts.
6) Only man like Paul in whom no difficulty can
touch him can comfort others.
7) The true comfort of Christians is comfort
that brings courage to others and can deal with the problems of men in their
life.
2Cor. 1:5 “For as the sufferings of
Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ.”
YLT: “because, as the sufferings of the Christ do abound to
us, so through the Christ doth abound also our comfort;”
Meaning of Words: “abound”: be in excess, be superfluous,
excel; “suffering”: hardship, pain (especially mental affliction);
Literal
Meaning: “for as the sufferings of
Christ abound in us”, there are two kinds “sufferings of Christ”: one is the suffering of death on the
cross for redemption. No one could have part in such suffering, for it is only
Christ that suffered. The other one is the suffering not for redemption but for
cherishing and nourishing the church. We can have part in it and suffer with
Him so as to “fill up that which is behind of the tribulations of Christ” (Col.
1:24).
“So our consolation also abounds through Christ”, there is the definite article before
“Christ” which is mentioned twice in this verse in the original, so here it
refers to the suffering and comfort of Christ Himself. If we have part in this
suffering Christ (Matt.20:22; Rom. 8:17; Phil.3:10; 1Pet. 4:13), we will
receive comfort from Him.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) If the sufferings that we suffer are “the sufferings of Christ”, they are valuable. However, if we suffer
for the sake of our sins or carelessness, there will be of no value.
2) The sufferings of the Lord are different
from our sufferings for the sake of the Lord, for no one gave Him comfort in
his sufferings (Ps. 69:20). However, if we suffer for the sake of Him, “our consolation also
abounds through Christ”.
3) If we taste the bitter fruit for the sake of
our own transgressions, we have no consolation. However, if we walk in the way
of the cross and drink the bitter cup because of the obedience of His will, we
will surely receive the consolation of the Lord.
4) The more suffering one suffers, the more
consolation we will receive. The more we suffer the sufferings of Christ, the
more consolation we will receive so that “we can comfort those who are in many
troubles” (v.4). This is supplying the fullness of Christ through the death of
Christ on the cross.
5) The more one suffers, the more he can
comfort others. The suffering can profit man himself as well as all.
6) When we are in an afflicted circumstance, we
shall remind us that every trial we endure will not be in vain, for it provides
us with valuable experience so that we will be able to comfort those who are in
similar troubles.
7) The Lord Jesus “Himself has suffered, being
tempted, he is able to help those that are being tempted” (Heb. 2:18). True
disciples of Christians will be willing to experience “the sufferings of
Christ” in order to help those who are struggling in the waves of life.
2Cor. 1:6 “Now if we are afflicted, it
is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same
sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for your
consolation and salvation.”
YLT: “and whether we be in tribulation, for your comfort and
salvation, that is wrought in the enduring of the same sufferings that we also
suffer; whether we are comforted, for your comfort and salvation;”
Literal
Meaning: “now if we are afflicted, it
is for your consolation and salvation”, Paul endured the sufferings for the sake of
preaching the gospel so as to save those who had received the gospel (here, it
especially referred to believers in
“Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and
salvation”, one shall “be
comforted” first so that he will obtain the power of comforting others
afterwards (see v.4). “Consolation”, such consolation is not the general
consolation, but a kind of consolation that carries a power of dealing with the
problems in the circumstance.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) The true ministry of God, no matter he is
suffered or comforted, can bring consolation to others.
2) The great work of a true comforter is to put
strength and courage into those who are in sufferings so as to make them endure
all and rejoice to walk in the way of the cross in extreme affliction.
2Cor. 1:7 “And our hope for you is
steadfast, because we know that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also
you will partake of the consolation.”
YLT: “and our hope stedfast for you, knowing that even as ye
are partakers of the sufferings -- so also of the comfort.”
Meaning of Words: “hope”: expectation, confidence;
“steadfast”: stable, firm, of force, sure;
Literal
Meaning: “and our hope for you is
steadfast”, “steadfast” was a legal word in business. When the
both sides had signed the contract, it would not be changed. When Paul saw
believers who were enduring sufferings, he was sure that they would be
comforted.
“Because we know that as you are partakers of the
sufferings, so also you will partake of the consolation.” Such steadfast hope of Paul was on account
of his own experience of constantly being comforted in sufferings as well as
the good news brought back by Titus (see 7:7). He knew believers in
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) What the true workers of the Lord care for
is not personal loss, but the spiritual condition of believers.
2) Our knowledge of others is based on our own
spiritual experience ---- the experiences of men in the way of the Lord
approximately the same with that of our own.
2Cor. 1:8 “For we do not want you to
be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in
YLT: “For we do not wish you to be ignorant, brethren, of our
tribulation that happened to us in
Meaning of Words: “be burdened”: heavy, press; “despair”: of no way;
Literal
Meaning: “for we do not want you to be
ignorant, brethren”, it is “reminding” them something they have known
but not “telling” something to them that they do not know.
“Of our trouble which came to us in
“That we were burdened beyond
measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life.” “Be burdened”, an
excessively heavy load beyond the safety margin; “above strength”: surpass the
limit that our strength can bear; “despair”: be utterly at a loss, cannot go
out; “despaired even of life”: be faced with the hopeless situation without the
hope of passing from death to life.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) God does not let us “be faced with troubles” aimlessly. Instead, He builds us through
trouble. And the more afflicted the tribulation is, the deeper we will be
edified.
2) God shall firstly make us not rely on our
own strength before giving his own strength to us. The trouble makes us know
that our own strength is limited (“above strength”) so that we will turn to God
and seek His power.
3) The power of the life of God can only be
produced from the pressure of life. No pressure, no power. The pressure is in
proportion to power. The more one is pressed, the more he will receive power.
Christians should not hope to live a trouble-free life, for God gives them His
power through their being troubled everyday.
4) Men’s extremity is God’s opportunity. When
we are “despairing even of life”,
we have totally lost hope to ourselves. And at that time, the only hope lies in
God. When man has no way on the earth, he has to life up his head to look upon
God and seek the way from the heaven.
2Cor. 1:9 “Yes, we had the sentence of
death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises
the dead,”
YLT: “but we ourselves in ourselves the sentence of the death
have had, that we may not be trusting on ourselves, but on God, who is raising
the dead,”
Literal
Meaning: “we had the sentence of
death in ourselves”, if we ask us in
our hearts what our future will be under the burden of the trouble, our answer
must be death.
“That we should not trust in ourselves”, in such a condition that we can not
conquer though our own strength, we have only to stop our own struggle.
“But in God who raises the dead”, “trust in God”, it is one of the main principles
in this book. God’s grace is sufficient to us and our weakness is just an
opportunity through which the power of God will be manifested (see 12:9-10). “Who raises the dead”, it shows that the trouble that Paul
suffers has seriously threatened his life so that he regards his survival and
restoration just as resurrection from the death.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Man’s life is in the hands of God. To live
or to die, it is totally decided by God. Death may not be bad, and survival may
not be good. What is really important is how we live before God.
2) If man lives in smooth and stable condition,
he can only rely on himself, for he can easily deal with all the circumstances.
However, when we are faced with severe crises, especially when we feel we are
strengthless, we will turn to God and rely on Him. Therefore, crisis is often
transformed into a turning point through which we learn to draw the power of
God.
3) The Holy Spirit will bring us into extremity
of the death of the cross through the troubles in circumstance so as to force
us not to trust in our natural life ---- “not trust in ourselves” and then let us experience how the risen
Christ ---- “but
trust in God who raises the dead” ---- is our full salvation ---- “who delivered … and does deliver us … will
still deliver…” (v.10).
4) The experience of death leads us into that
of resurrection. If we have not experienced the spiritual death, we shall not
experience the spiritual resurrection, for “it is not quickened unless it die”
(1Cor. 15:36).
5) The works of the cross aim to end our
“selves” so that we can experience and have fellowship with God who raises the
dead in the risen realm.
2Cor. 1:10 “who delivered us from so
great a death, and does deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver
us,”
YLT: “who out of so great a death did deliver us, and doth
deliver, in whom we have hoped that even yet He will deliver;”
Literal
Meaning: “who delivered us from so
great a death”, “delivered”: the past tense shows that it refers to
the eternal salvation, namely, the deliverance of our spirits.
“And does deliver us”, “delivered”: the present tense shows that it
refers to the present salvation, including the preservation of body and the
renewal and transformation of soul.
“In whom we trust that He will still deliver us,” “delivered”: the future tense shows that
it refers to the salvation in the future, namely, the redemption of our bodies;
Controversial Clarification: there are many Bible exegetes who think this
verse tells that God delivers us from dangerous conditions after we have
believed the Lord. Due to the past and present experience of Paul, he believes
the delivering power of God will not disappoint him. Though such explanation is
not false (for this paragraph focuses on the experience of God in
tribulations), we should still be careful and not think God must always deliver
us from all troubles that we have met so that we shall not die. It is like that
many Christians quote the Lord’s words: “This sickness is not unto death” (John
11:4) to comfort themselves or others, but the result is not so. Therefore,
when this verse is adopted, one should know that “he must firstly desire the
will of God will be fulfilled”. If God does not permit, we will not die.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) This verse indicates: how everlasting and
perfect of the Lord’s salvation is!
2) God’s salvation is perfect and eternal. Once
He has saved us, He will save us forever! And His salvation is sure and unchangeable.
No one in the world can take away God’s salvation from us.
3) God’s power of deliverance is of the same
effect, no matter in the past, or at present or in the future.
4) The more one is in despair, the more hope he
will receive. The more times we die, the more we will know the risen God.
5) Experience in the past will produce new
faith in us and bring about new experience as well as build new trust in the
Lord. No one can deal with the present experience through the experience in the
past. And no one can solve the present problems by faith yesterday.
2Cor. 1:11 “you also helping together
in prayer for us, that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for
the gift granted to us through many.”
YLT: “ye working together also for us by your supplication,
that the gift through many persons to us, through many may be thankfully
acknowledged for us.”
Meaning
of Words: “help”: be a co-auxiliary, assist;
Literal
Meaning: “you also helping together
in prayer for us”, believers should cooperate with God in order to perfectly fulfill
the deliverance of God in the previous verse.
“That thanks may be given by many persons on
our behalf”, “person”: it is “countenance” in the original, which shows that
men offer thanks to God with joyful countenances.
“For the gift granted to us through many”,
it indicates that grace we have received from God is obtained on account of
many people’s prayers. According to the context here, the word “gift” does not
refer to the talents in works (1Cor. 12:4-11), but the gift concerning the
fellowship in life (Rom. 6:23).
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Though we often feel that we can only offer
little help to others, one thing we can be sure is that we can help others by
prayers. The help to others by prayers is more than any help in things outside.
2) We should not think that only some common
believers need prayers and yet the servants of the Lord need not. We should
know that everyone who is used by the Lord and works for God is the object of
the attacks of Satan.
3) The Lord’s workers need the support of
prayers of the church. Without the support of the church, the workers of the
Lord will be weak and strengthless. Believers should not have a false thought
that the workers of the Lord are “supermen” who specially pray for others and
need not others to pray for them.
2Cor. 1:12 “For our boasting is this:
the testimony of our conscience that we conducted ourselves in the world in
simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom but by the grace of
God, and more abundantly toward you.”
YLT: “For our glorying is this: the testimony of our
conscience, that in simplicity and sincerity of God, not in fleshly wisdom, but
in the grace of God, we did conduct ourselves in the world, and more abundantly
toward you;”
Meaning
of Words: “boast”:
whereof I may glory, glorying, rejoicing; “simplicity”: singleness, separation,
without dissimulation or self-seeking; “sincerity”: clearness, purity (pure and
clear in the trial of sun);
Literal
Meaning: “for our boasting is this… our conscience”,
if man walk in conscience (Acts 23:1), he will have boasting before God and men
without any shamefulness.
“The testimony…
that we conducted ourselves in the world in simplicity and godly sincerity”, “testimony” refers
to the testimony borne by one’s conscience; “simplicity and godly sincerity”: the perfect goodness and purity can make
men pass the severest trial, but should not be performed before men
“Not with fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God”, “fleshly
wisdom”: use fleshly method; “the grace of God”: whereto we have attained in
grace, walk in the same steps (see Phil. 3:16).
“And more abundantly toward
you”, “more”: it might be because believers in
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1)
Believers should keep a clear
(2Tim. 1:3) conscience and a conscience without offence (Acts 24:16) in walking
so that men can have good witness before men.
2) The gentiles in the world
conduct with fleshly wisdom lest they should suffer loss. We believers conduct ourselves in the world “not with fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God”, for the
fleshly wisdom may fail, but the grace of God is reliable forever. This is the
mystery of Christians.
3) He who always conducts with “fleshly”,
expedient and political wisdom does not know to rely on “the wisdom of God”.
Only those who reject fleshly, expedient and political wisdom can live in the
principle of God’s grace. That is why the apostle can bear strong “witness”.
4) He who conducts with “fleshly wisdom” is conducting with himself.
He who “conducts the grace of God” is conducting God Himself. Tribulation can
make one know the fleshly wisdom is vain, and know that God is really worthy of
being trusted.
5) If believers conduct with “fleshly wisdom”
in the world, he will lose simplicity
and godly sincerity before God and will
feel guilty in his conscience and thus can not be peaceful.
6) If believers in the world conduct themselves
“with fleshly wisdom” only, they will not be shameful no matter in what
condition they fall, for it is God that takes the responsibility, not
ourselves.
2Cor. 1:13 “For we are not writing any
other things to you than what you read or understand. Now I trust you will
understand, even to the end”
YLT: “for no other things do we write to you, but what ye
either do read or also acknowledge, and I hope that also unto the end ye shall
acknowledge,”
Meaning of Words: “to the end”: at last, finally;
Literal
Meaning: “for we are not writing any
other things to you than what you read or understand”,
it indicates that Paul’s mind has been
sincerely written in the epistle without concealment. Therefore, one should
understand Paul as long as he has read the epistle.
“Now I trust you will understand, even to the end”, Paul also knows that men can only understand in part through words in the epistle (see v.14,
“understand in part”). Though men can infer from the lines, misunderstandings
are sometimes unavoidable. Therefore, he hopes that believers in
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) “Communication” of men is difficult. In the
church, may the Lord improve our skills of expression and reinforce our
comprehensive power.
2) “Sincerity” is the best way to man’s
communication. Distrust of one another can be avoided if there is no
concealment or ornament. Sometimes, men cannot know or be known sufficiently,
but they have got the chance to know one another further.
2Cor. 1:14 “(as also you have
understood us in part), that we are your boast as you also are ours, in the day
of the Lord Jesus.”
YLT: “according as also ye did acknowledge us in part, that
your glory we are, even as also ye ours, in the day of the Lord Jesus;”
Literal
Meaning: “(as also you have
understood us in part)”, “in part”, it indicated that they did not know Paul
perfectly and yet had already had some knowledge to a certain degree.
“That we are your boast”: boast of knowing Paul; it is shown in this verse
that Paul hopes that believers in
“As you also are ours, in the day of the Lord Jesus”, “the day of the Lord Jesus”
refers to the judgment day when the Lord comes again (see 5:10); “you are
ours”, it indicates that the Lord’s workers will render account of their works
to him when judgment comes. And the fruit by preaching the gospel and the
growth of our spiritual life are both fruit of the works of the Lord’s workers.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) The workers of the Lord and believers should
know one another increasingly. And the more they know each other, the more they
will trust each other and boast of such relationship. If the relationship is
destroyed because of knowledge, it shows that one side or both have distracted
from the spiritual principles, “with fleshly wisdom, but not by the grace of
God” (see v.12).
2) If the Lord’s workers are perfectly known by
believers they serve, it shows that the workers have works worthy of boasting,
for they have improved the level of believers’ spiritual knowledge.
2Cor. 1:15 “And in this confidence I
intended to come to you before, that you might have a second benefit--”
YLT: “and in this confidence I was purposing to come unto you
before, that a second favour ye might have,”
Meaning
of Words: “before”: first, previous; “benefit”: grace;
Literal
Meaning: “and in this confidence”, it indicates that Paul is confident that believers in
“I intended to come to you before”,
since he will come again (see v.16), there are two times of visitation.
“That you might have a
second benefit--”, wherever Paul goes, he will come in fullness of blessing of
Christ (see Rom. 15:29). Therefore, every time he comes, he will make men be
blessed.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) If we desire to let others be benefited
through us, we ourselves should enjoy and be immersed in the grace of God
previously.
2) Our steps should spiritually benefit those
whom we are in touch with. When we should go or when we should not go should be
decided by whether others will be benefited.
2Cor. 1:16 “to pass by way of you to
YLT: “and through you to pass to
The Background: previously Paul set his journey from Achaia to
Literal
Meaning: “to pass by way of you to
“To … Macedonia”, “Macedonia”, a province of the Roman Empire, was
located in the northern part of the province of Achaia, in which there were
cities like Philippi and Thessalonians and etc.
“Come again from
“And be helped by you on my way to Judea”, “be helped”: help him in travelling expenses to
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Though believers can prearrange their next
journeys, they should still look upon the Lord’s guidance everyday and change
their plans according to the Lord’s guidance (see James 4:13-15) rather than
cling to their own opinions.
2) The normal relationship of the Lord with
believers everywhere should be like that of family members or even it is closer
and deeper than family members (because spiritual life excels physical life).
2Cor. 1:17 “Therefore, when I was
planning this, did I do it lightly? Or the things I plan, do I plan according
to the flesh, that with me there should be Yes, Yes, and No, No?”
YLT: “This, therefore, counselling, did I then use the
lightness; or the things that I counsel, according to the flesh do I counsel,
that it may be with me Yes, yes, and No, no?”
Meaning of Words: “do it lightly”:
do it in a fickle manner; “Yes, and No”: go back on one's word; to contradict
oneself;
Literal
Meaning: “therefore, when I was
planning this, did I do it lightly?” “do
it lightly”: change one’s plan
frequently so that man can not understand;
“Or the things I plan, do I plan according to the flesh,
that with me there should be Yes, Yes, and No, No?” “According to the flesh”: the mind of man’s natural flesh is mostly for
one’s own benefit; “be
Yes, Yes, and No, No”: now yes, now no;
Paul changed his journey because of the
Lord’s guidance (see v.15-16), which caused some misunderstanding among
believers in Corinth who criticized him for doing
it “lightly”, “according to the flesh” or “being Yes, Yes, and No, No”. Therefore, Paul here especially points
out the principles of his conduct and the real reason for his change of journey
from 1:18 to 2:13.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) All things that are done in selfishness are
done according to the flesh. Such things will make men do lightly.
2) If one changes his plan in order to benefit
others spiritually, he does not do it lightly, for it is not changed according
to the flesh.
2Cor. 1:18 “But as God is faithful, our
word to you was not Yes and No.”
YLT: “and God faithful, that our word unto you became not Yes
and No,”
Literal
Meaning: “but as God is faithful”, since God whom Paul
trusts in is faithful, he himself is by no means a man who does things lightly
or unfaithfully.
“Our word to you”,
“word”: that is the message concerning the Son of
God Jesus Christ (see v.19). “Our word”, it may also refer to common
conversation.
“Was not Yes and No”, it is not that today
there is one opinion and there is another one tomorrow.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) But let your "Yes' be
"Yes,' and your "No,' "No.' For whatever is more than these is
from the evil one. (Matt. 5:37).
2) If preachers often change the content and
manner of his preachment according to the difference of the audience so as to
please men and not offend them, such way of preachment is “Yes-and-No preachment”.
3) “Making a trade of the word of God” (2Cor.
2:17) and “falsifying the word of God” (2Cor. 4:2) both belong to “Yes-and-No”
preachment. The true workers of the Lord will disdain to do like this.
2Cor. 1:19 “For the Son of God, Jesus
Christ, who was preached among you by us--by me, Silvanus, and Timothy--was not
Yes and No, but in Him was Yes.”
YLT: “for the Son of God, Jesus Christ, among you through us
having been preached -- through me and Silvanus and Timotheus -- did not become
Yes and No, but in him it hath become Yes;”
Literal
Meaning: “for the Son of God, Jesus
Christ, who was preached among you by us—”, verse eighteen focuses on “the word”, and this verse emphasizes “the Son of God, Jesus
Christ who was preached”, “of God”, it is particularly highlighted
in the arrangement of the words in the original. Such special order seems to
response to “as
God is faithful” in verse eighteen.
“By me,
Silvanus, and Timothy—”, Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy had preached the word of God in
“Was not Yes and No, but in Him was Yes”, “Yes”, it is perfect tense, which indicates that such
“Yes” is an ultimate, definite,
credible and immutable “Yes”. When
the Lord Jesus said “I am”, all men went away backward and fell to the ground
(John 18:6). For “I am that I am” (see Ex. 3:14).
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) He who plans
according to the flesh is always Yes, Yes, and No, No (v.17). However, what is of Christ never
changes and is sure forever. No matter the pursuit of individuals or the
guidance of the church, they can both be judged by this principle.
2) The message of the one who lacks the vision
of Christ is always “uncertain sound”. If man has really seen “the Son of God
Jesus Christ”, what he has seen is “Yes” and his message is also “Yes”.
3) Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to-day,
and to the ages (Heb. 13:8).
2Cor. 1:20 “For all the promises of God
in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.”
YLT: “for as many as promises of God, in him the Yes, and in
him the Amen, for glory to God through us;”
Meaning of Words: “Yes”: properly, firm, trustworthy, surely;
Literal
Meaning: “for all the promises of God
in Him are Yes”, all the promises of God concerning His Son Jesus
Christ have already fulfilled one by one.
“And in Him Amen”, “Amen” is “verity” in the original. God is faithful
(see v.18). The pronunciation of the word “faithful” in Hebrew is close to the
word “amen” in Greek, and the Lord calls himself “the Amen” (Rev. 3:14). God’s
promises have become reality through Christ.
“To the glory of God through us”, all of us say “Amen” through Him so that God is
thus glorified.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Christ is a better covenant through whom God
bestows grace to God (Heb. 7:22). Thanks God, today we have already obtained
Christ. Therefore, we can practically partake of the blessings of all the
promises of God.
2) If men have not touched Christ, they will
doubt whether the promises of God can be fulfilled. Only when men have touched
the reality of Christ, will they find the verity of the promises of God and can
“amen” the promises of God from their deep heart. Oh, the full Christ has
become the reality, surety and assurance of all the promises of God.
3) The Lord Jesus says “Yes, Father” (Matt.
11:26) to all the arrangement of God, and says “verily, verily, I say to you”
(John 1:51; 3:3, 5, 11; 5:19, 24, 25; 6:26, 32, 47, 53…). It is what we
Christians are supposed to do of saying “amen” to God and “true words” to men (
2Cor. 1:21 “Now He who establishes us
with you in Christ and has anointed us is God,”
YLT: “and He who is confirming you with us into Christ, and
did anoint us, God,”
Meaning of Words: “establish”: stabilize, confirm (a commercial word, containing the meaning of
assurance);
“Christ”: the anointed, the Messiah;
Literal
Meaning: “now He who establishes us
with you in Christ”, “He who firmly
joints you and us in Christ”, “us” refers to Paul and his fellow-workers; “you”
refers to believers in
“And has anointed us is God”, “anoint”: the anointment of the Spirit; Christ
means the anointed one in the original. Paul tells us what God has done on us
in Christ, and here it is believers that are anointed in this verse.
“Anointed”, be entrusted with mission or consecration (see Ex. 40:13-15).
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) How Christ has been anointed by the Spirit,
we shall be anointed by the Spirit in like manner. The anointment of the Spirit
firstly makes us hollowed so that we shall have new life and new service. Thus
our life and service will be only for God henceforth.
2) The Holy Spirit comes upon us so that we
will receive the power of the Spirit (see Acts 1:8) and that we can fulfill the
mission in life and service entrusted to us.
3) The anointment of the Spirit also works the
divine quality of the holy Trinity on us so that we will not only obtain the
life and disposition of God but also be increasingly constituted by God.
2Cor. 1:22 “who also has sealed us and
given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.”
YLT: “who also sealed us, and gave the earnest of the Spirit
in our hearts.”
Literal
Meaning: “who also has sealed us”, “seal”: seal with a seal, brand
something, which contains the meaning of “possession”. This verse indicates
that we are possessed by God and we are of Him and He is our Lord. “Seal” also
carries a meaning of “carving the image”, so the seal of the Spirit makes
believers conformed to the image of God.
“And given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee”, “guarantee” is “earnest” in the original,
that is “the previous part”, which suggests that the rest will be given of
course. Therefore, since believers have already had the indwelling Spirit, the
salvation they have got will be in no wise lost in the future.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) The seal of the Spirit shows that we are the
possession of God and we are of God. Since we Christians have so noble status,
we should be sanctified without humiliating ourselves.
2) The Spirit in our hearts as an earnest shows that God is our inheritance and the
Spirit in us guarantees that we will receive all the heavenly blessing in the
future.
3) The Spirit in our hearts as an earnest is also a pre-taste. We believers need
not wait for the rapture into the heaven, for we can enjoy all the fullness of
the divine Trinity.
4) It is not an uncertain thing that we will be
saved forever, for God has already put His Spirit “in our hearts as a guarantee”. The Spirit is as the seal of God sealed
in our hearts to guarantee that He will take the responsibility for us forever.
Hallelujah, how assured!
2Cor. 1:23 “Moreover I call God as
witness against my soul, that to spare you I came no more to
YLT: “And I for a witness on God do call upon my soul, that
sparing you, I came not yet to
Literal
Meaning: “moreover I call God as
witness against my soul”, Paul calls the faithful God to testify to believers
in
“That to spare you I came no more to
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Lord does not delay his promise, as some
account of delay, but is longsuffering towards you (2Pet. 3:9). Therefore, we
should prepare and watch as long as it is called To-day.
2) Christians should learn to be strict to them
but spare others, bearing with one another in love (Eph. 4:2).
2Cor. 1:24 “Not that we have dominion
over your faith, but are fellow workers for your joy; for by faith you stand.”
YLT: “not that we are lords over your faith, but we are
workers together with your joy, for by the faith ye stand.”
Literal
Meaning: “not that we have dominion
over your faith”, faith is the outcome of man’s active response to
the grace of God by using his freewill. “Dominion”: not allow to have freewill;
“For by faith you stand”, “by faith”, here faith is not the channel
but the sphere of our standing. The faith of Christians has close relation with
his standing (see
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Anyone cannot force men in faith, but can
only point a right way to them to help him in faith.
2) The elders in the church should not lord
over the flock that God entrusts to them, but be models for them (see 1Pet.
5:1-3).
III.
Outlines of the Spiritual Lessons
Thanks God for
Confronting Tribulations
A. For tribulation brings comfort (v.3-4a);
B. For tribulation brings the power of
comforting others (v.4b-5);
C. For tribulation brings endurance (v.6);
D. For tribulation brings hope, for those who
are suffered on account of the Lord shall be comforted together (v.7);
E. For tribulation brings faith to men
(v.8-10);
F. For tribulation brings grace (v.11);
God that Paul Knew
in Tribulations
A. To know He is a God of all comfort (v.3-7);
B. To know He is a God who raise the dead
(v.8-11);
Paul’s Principles in
His Conduct
A. Not with fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God (v.12);
B. Not do it lightly, but let others be
benefited (v.15-17);
C. Not preach the word which is Yes and No, but
always focus on God who is Yes (v.18-20);
D. Not rule over your faith, but helpers of
faith of the divine Trinity (v.21-24);
Procedures of
Receiving Help
A. Be confronted with troubles (v.8);
B. Be burdened (v.8) ---- be dead;
C. Beyond measure
(v.8) ---- be dead in his own power;
D. Despair even of life (v.8) ---- be dead in affection;
E. We had the sentence of death in ourselves (v.9) ---- be dead in mind;
F. That we should not trust in ourselves (v.9) ---- be dead in will;
G. But in God who raises the dead (v.9) ---- begin to appropriate the help of God;
There is Only Yes of
Those Who Really Trust in God
A. The word they preach is not Yes and No (v.18).
B. The Lord Jesus is Yes, and not Yes and No (v.19).
C. All the promises of God are
Yes (v.20).
D. The works of God in Christ are Yes
(v.21-22).
Paul Serves the Lord
According to Three Immutable Things
A. The word of God is not Yes and No
(v.18).
B. The Son of God, Jesus Christ is
not Yes and No, but in Him was Yes
(v.19).
C. All the promises of God in Christ are Yes, and in Him Amen (v.20).
Four Things that the
Faithful God Has Done When Believers Have Saved
A. Establish believers (v.21);
B. Anoint believers (v.21);
C. Seal believers (v.22);
D. Give the Spirit in believers as a guarantee (v.22);
The Beings of the
Spirit
A. God’s “anointment” (v.21) ---- anoint …holy;
B. God’s “seal” (v.22) ---- seal … of God;
C. God’s “earnest” (v.22) ---- foretaste the
fullness;
──
Caleb Huang《Christian Digest Bible
Commentary Series》
Translated by Mary Zhou