This presents a little difficulty: for 1 Corinthians 4:1717For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church. (1 Corinthians 4:17) says, “For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus,” and nothing is said of Titus also being sent. When the second epistle was written Timothy was with Paul (2 Cor. 1:11Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia: (2 Corinthians 1:1)): did he bring no tidings of the effect of the first epistle? Or, though sent by Paul, did anything prevent his reaching Corinth? It is not recorded.
While Paul waited at Troas, his anxiety was such that he had no rest in his spirit, and though a door was opened unto him for the gospel, he left and went into Macedonia. It was a critical moment, for a whole assembly might have refused the messenger of Christ and made shipwreck of faith. He had written to them with “many tears” (2 Cor. 2:44For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you. (2 Corinthians 2:4)).
Titus met Paul in Macedonia and brought the good tidings that the assembly at Corinth was humbled, and had dealt with the wicked person. The guilty one was also repentant and broken down.
Paul’s heart was now enlarged towards them, and he was led by the Holy Spirit to give them higher truth than was in the first epistle. You get the superiority and power of life in circumstances of death. “Bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus” is the practice of the truth contained in Romans 6; and “If one died for all, then were all dead” is the truth as to man’s condition taught in Ephesians 2. We have also, “If anyone be in Christ, there is a new creation: the old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (ch. 5:17 JND).
Paul naturally rejoiced at the effect of the first Epistle; but other parts of this epistle prove that there was still unjudged evil among them, and there were some who despised the apostle and spoke against him.
This epistle is addressed to the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints who are in the whole of Achaia, being a smaller circle than that of the first epistle.
Written about A.D. 57, from Macedonia, but from what city is unknown.
Chapter 1
After the salutation, Paul begins by speaking of comfort and consolation, which was a great relief to his own soul, after having been in doubt as to the Corinthians.
Verses 8-11. It is thought by many that Paul alludes to some sore tribulation beyond what is related in Acts 19, because of the strong language here employed: he despaired even of life, and had the sentence of death in himself, held himself as a child of Adam under sentence of death. (The “gift” that was bestowed, in verse 11, was that his life had been spared.)
Verses 17-19 declare that Jesus Christ the Son of God was preached, and was the same whether proclaimed by Paul, Silvanus, or Timotheus: it was verity and realization.
Verses 20-24. The establishment of all the truth of God is in the Person of Christ: He embodies the fulfilment of all promises.
We are established (or rather bound together with Christ); anointed (1 John 2:20-2720But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. 21I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth. 22Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. 23Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also. 24Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father. 25And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life. 26These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you. 27But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. (1 John 2:20‑27)); sealed (Eph. 1:1313In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, (Ephesians 1:13)); and have the pledge of the Holy Spirit.
Paul asserts his authority, but with tenderness.
Chapter 2
Paul was sorry that he had been compelled to cause them sorrow; but it had wrought repentance. The discipline had been exercised by the many (verse 6).
Paul rehearses how anxious he had been on their behalf: and though he had left an open door for the gospel, he thanked God who “always leads us in triumph in the Christ” (verse 14 JND). He was led about as in the triumphal procession of a conqueror, and the perfume to God of the gospel message was a token of death to those who refused it, and of life to the believers. He had not dealt deceitfully with (adulterated or ‘made a trade of’) the Word of God.
Chapter 3
Verses 1-6. The Corinthians were living proofs that Paul and his companions had been true new-covenant ministers of Christ: for the saints were epistles of Christ, written by the Spirit of God, in contrast to the covenant of Sinai. The letter (as the law) kills; but the Spirit giveth life.
Verses 7-16 contrast the glory attached to the giving of the law, with the abiding glory attached to the ministration of the Spirit. The Israelites could not look at the glory that shone on the face of Moses (contrast with this verse 18), nor could they see the end of the old covenant annulled (God’s purpose in it, even Christ). The veil is now on their minds and hearts, but it shall be taken away when Israel turns to the Lord.
Verses 7 to end of 16 may be read as a parenthesis: this would connect verse 17 with verse 6. “The Spirit giveth life. ... Now the Lord is that [or, the] Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty,” in contrast with the bondage of the law.
Verse 18 is in contrast with a veiled face: we all with unveiled face behold the glory of the Lord, and thereby are now being transformed into the same image from glory to glory (that is, making progress therein), even as by the Lord the Spirit (verses 6,17).
Chapter 4
The ministry of Paul and his companions was honest: they preached Christ Jesus the Lord. God had shone into them, for the shining forth from them of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ: and this was in earthen vessels, in order that the power might be all of God.
They endured much persecution and distress. They were always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that is, the cross applied to the flesh’s life, and realizing Christ’s own dying, in order that the life of Jesus might shine out of those earthen vessels.
As to the Corinthians, life worked in them. The faithful and self-denying service to Christ of the apostle resulted to them in blessing and progress in divine life: they were benefited by his labours. (This was the present result of his affliction; verse 17 speaks of the eternal results.)
In verse 1 Paul had received mercy, and says, “we faint not.” In verses 15-16 all was to redound to the glory of God, therefore he adds, “we faint not.” All resources must come from God. The body might perish, but the inner man is constantly renewed. The light afflictions, though so trying to the flesh, work out an eternal weight of glory; we look at the things not seen, which are eternal.
Chapter 5
The present state of things is contrasted with the future. The tabernacle, in which we groan, may be destroyed; but we have an eternal house in the heavens ready for us, that is, the glorified body.
We have the pledge of the Spirit, and are confident that to be absent from the body is to be at once present with the Lord. If Paul had any choice he preferred to depart.
Till then we labour that we may be (not accepted, but) acceptable, or well-pleasing to God.
We must all be manifested before the judgment-seat of Christ (see John 5:24,24Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (John 5:24) reading “shall not come into judgment,” and Rom. 14:11-1211For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. 12So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. (Romans 14:11‑12)), that each may receive the things done in the body, whether it be good or bad. Paul was already manifested to God, and trusted he was in their consciences. Knowing the terror of the Lord, he persuaded men, and preached the gospel to them (see verse 20).
Verses 12-13. Paul honestly sought their welfare, notwithstanding those who despised him, and who were not true men.
Verses 14-17. Paul proves that all were dead, because Christ had died for all. Some of those for whom Christ died now lived: they should not therefore live unto themselves, but unto Him who died for them, and rose again.
Then if Christ died for dead sinners, and has been raised, there is an end of the state of things that existed when He was here in the flesh. Christ having been raised into a new place, and the days of His flesh ended, we know Him no more after the flesh but as the glorified Man. His death has separated us from men in the flesh. And if anyone be in Christ, it is a new creation; old things have passed away and all things are become new.
Verses 18-21. God had reconciled the apostles to Himself and sent them forth with the gospel of reconciliation. When Christ was here, God was in Christ reconciling the world — was in that attitude, ready to do it, and not reckoning their sins to them. Alas! but few received Him: the world would not be reconciled. But the apostles were ambassadors for Christ, and the gospel still goes forth, “Be ye reconciled to God.” Reconciliation was effected by Christ being made sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him. (In verse 20 the word ‘you,’ added twice by the translators, should be omitted. It is a declaration of the message, not an appeal to the Corinthians.)
Chapter 6
Verses 1-10. Paul again refers to the ministry of the apostles: they were ministers of God, and were fellow-workers; and he then gives a list of their afflictions and exercises of soul in their labours and their trials.
Verses 11-13. The Corinthians were now in a better state, and Paul could in some measure open out his heart to them; he exhorts them to be expanded.
Verses 14-18. Separation from unbelievers is enforced; and then relationship with God as a Father would be realized: they should be to Him for sons and daughters.
Chapter 7
Suited individual holiness is called for, as collective holiness had been in chapter 6.
Paul refers to his love for the Corinthians, and to the great anxiety he had had for their spiritual welfare. He had regretted that he had made them sorry, but could now rejoice that the sorrow had wrought repentance. In verse 11 he gives them credit for the zeal they had shown to clear themselves of the defilement.
Paul did not write in view of the one that injured, nor of the one that was injured; but in view of the assembly, that they might witness his apostolic care for them in the sight of God (verse 12).
Paul was comforted in the result, and Titus also rejoiced at their obedience.
Chapter 8
This chapter treats of the collection for the poor saints in Judaea. They were reminded how the Lord, who was rich, had become poor for them, that they might be rich. Titus and trustworthy brethren would be sent for this service.
Chapter 9
The subject of the collection for the saints continued. Paul was anxious that his boasting of them should not be to their shame. “God loveth a cheerful giver.”
Chapter 10
The apostleship of Paul enforced. He speaks of his authority (verse 8). He was ready to avenge all disobedience when their obedience was fulfilled, that is, he desired to have the assembly with him in any action (verse 6). Yet he besought them by the meekness and gentleness of Christ. He had their welfare really at heart.
Chapter 11
Paul had espoused them individually, as a chaste virgin, to Christ. But there was danger from false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ, after the manner of Satan, who transformed himself into an angel of light.
Because the false teachers pleased them they allowed them to bring them into bondage, exact from them, and even to strike them (verse 20)!
All that the false teachers claimed for themselves was also true of Paul: yea, he exceeded them in his labours, and in his sufferings and trials. Added to these things he cared for all the churches. He could appeal to God that what he said was true. His ministry began with persecution, but the Lord delivered him (see Acts 9:2424But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him. (Acts 9:24)).
Chapter 12
Paul had had wonderful revelations: he had been caught up to the third heaven — to Paradise — and heard things he was not permitted to repeat. The visions were so real that he knew not whether his spirit was carried out of his body or not. He could glory of such things, but of himself he would not glory.
When the revelations were over, lest he should be exalted, a thorn for the flesh was given him — a messenger of Satan to buffet him. (See Job 1; Heb. 12:1-111Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. 4Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. 5And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: 6For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 7If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? 8But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. 9Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? 10For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. 11Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. (Hebrews 12:1‑11). It shows that the flesh in the most advanced saint is never improved, and has to be judged as long as he is in the body.)
The sufficiency of God’s grace enabled him to bear the thorn, and he could glory in infirmities that the power of Christ might rest upon him.
He was ready to come to them, but he would receive nothing from them for himself. His love was such that their want of love to him would make no difference.
Paul feared that when he arrived at Corinth he should find ‘many’ who had sinned and had not repented. Their great pretensions might be associated with the allowance of evil.
Chapter 13
It was the third time he was ready to come, though his visit would be but the second time (see ch. 1:15). If he found evil he would not spare.
Christ had been crucified in weakness, but lived again in the power of God: so Paul, though weak also, would be found to live towards them by the power of God.
If they sought for a proof of Paul’s being a minister of Christ, let them examine themselves. If they were Christians, were they not such through his ministry? unless indeed they were not Christians at all.
Paul hoped to use his authority for edification, and not for casting down: he sought their perfection.
The salutation is from all the saints; but none at Corinth are greeted by name.