mh_parser/vol_split/47 - 2Corinthians/Chapter 3.xml

<div2 id="iiCor.iv" n="iv" next="iiCor.v" prev="iiCor.iii" progress="51.91%" title="Chapter III">
<h2 id="iiCor.iv-p0.1">S E C O N D   C O R I N T H I A N
S.</h2>
<h3 id="iiCor.iv-p0.2">CHAP. III.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="iiCor.iv-p1">The apostle makes an apology for his seeming to
commend himself, and is careful not to assume too much to himself,
but to ascribe all praise unto God, <scripRef id="iiCor.iv-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:2Cor.3.1-2Cor.3.5" parsed="|2Cor|3|1|3|5" passage="2Co 3:1-5">ver. 1-5</scripRef>. He then draws a comparison between
the Old Testament and the New, and shows the excellency of the
later above the former (<scripRef id="iiCor.iv-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:2Cor.3.6-2Cor.3.11" parsed="|2Cor|3|6|3|11" passage="2Co 3:6-11">ver.
6-11</scripRef>), whence he infers what is the duty of gospel
ministers, and the advantage of those who live under the gospel
above those who lived under the law, <scripRef id="iiCor.iv-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:2Cor.3.12-2Cor.3.17" parsed="|2Cor|3|12|3|17" passage="2Co 3:12-17">ver. 12, to the end</scripRef>.</p>
<scripCom id="iiCor.iv-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:2Cor.3" parsed="|2Cor|3|0|0|0" passage="2Co 3" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="iiCor.iv-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:2Cor.3.1-2Cor.3.5" parsed="|2Cor|3|1|3|5" passage="2Co 3:1-5" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:2Cor.3.1-2Cor.3.5">
<h4 id="iiCor.iv-p1.6">Apology for Seeming
Self-Commendation. (<span class="smallcaps" id="iiCor.iv-p1.7">a.
d.</span> 57.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="iiCor.iv-p2">1 Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or
need we, as some <i>others,</i> epistles of commendation to you, or
<i>letters</i> of commendation from you?   2 Ye are our
epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men:   3
<i>Forasmuch as ye are</i> manifestly declared to be the epistle of
Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit
of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of
the heart.   4 And such trust have we through Christ to
God-ward:   5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think
any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency <i>is</i> of
God;</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiCor.iv-p3">In these verses,</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiCor.iv-p4">I. The apostle makes an apology for seeming
to commend himself. He thought it convenient to protest his
sincerity to them, because there were some at Corinth who
endeavoured to blast his reputation; yet he was not desirous of
vain-glory. And he tells them, 1. That he neither needed nor
desired any verbal commendation to them, nor letters testimonial
from them, as some others did, meaning the false apostles or
teachers, <scripRef id="iiCor.iv-p4.1" osisRef="Bible:2Cor.3.1" parsed="|2Cor|3|1|0|0" passage="2Co 3:1"><i>v.</i> 1</scripRef>. His
ministry among them had, without controversy, been truly great and
honourable, how little soever his person was in reality, or how
contemptible soever some would have him thought to be. 2. The
Corinthians themselves were his real commendation, and a good
testimonial for him, that God was with him of a truth, that he was
sent of God: <i>You are our epistle,</i> <scripRef id="iiCor.iv-p4.2" osisRef="Bible:2Cor.3.2" parsed="|2Cor|3|2|0|0" passage="2Co 3:2"><i>v.</i> 2</scripRef>. This was the testimonial he most
delighted in, and what was most dear to him—they were written
<i>in his heart;</i> and this he could appeal to upon occasion, for
it was, or might be, <i>known and read of all men.</i> Note, There
is nothing more delightful to faithful ministers, nor more to their
commendation, than the success of their ministry, evidenced in the
hearts and lives of those among whom they labour.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiCor.iv-p5">II. The apostle is careful not to assume
too much to himself, but to ascribe all the praise to God.
Therefore, 1. He says they were the <i>epistle of Christ,</i>
<scripRef id="iiCor.iv-p5.1" osisRef="Bible:2Cor.3.3" parsed="|2Cor|3|3|0|0" passage="2Co 3:3"><i>v.</i> 3</scripRef>. The apostle and
others were but instruments, Christ was the author of all the good
that was in them. The law of Christ was written in their hearts,
and the love of Christ shed abroad in their hearts. This epistle
was not written with <i>ink, but with the Spirit of the living
God;</i> nor was it written in <i>tables of stone,</i> as the law
of God given to Moses, but on the <i>heart;</i> and that heart not
a stony one, but a heart of flesh, upon the <i>fleshy</i> (not
<i>fleshly,</i> as fleshliness denotes sensuality) <i>tables of the
heart,</i> that is, upon hearts that are softened and renewed by
divine grace, according to that gracious promise, <i>I will take
away the stony heart, and I will give you a heart of flesh,</i>
<scripRef id="iiCor.iv-p5.2" osisRef="Bible:Ezek.36.26" parsed="|Ezek|36|26|0|0" passage="Eze 36:26">Ezek. xxxvi. 26</scripRef>. This was
the good hope the apostle had concerning these Corinthians
(<scripRef id="iiCor.iv-p5.3" osisRef="Bible:2Cor.3.4" parsed="|2Cor|3|4|0|0" passage="2Co 3:4"><i>v.</i> 4</scripRef>) that their
hearts were like the ark of the covenant, containing the tables of
the law and the gospel, written with the finger, that is, by the
Spirit, of the living God. 2. He utterly disclaims the taking of
any praise to themselves, and ascribes all the glory to God: "<i>We
are not sufficient of ourselves,</i> <scripRef id="iiCor.iv-p5.4" osisRef="Bible:2Cor.3.5" parsed="|2Cor|3|5|0|0" passage="2Co 3:5"><i>v.</i> 5</scripRef>. We could never have made such
good impressions on your hearts, nor upon our own. Such are our
weakness and inability that we cannot of ourselves think a good
thought, much less raise any good thoughts or affections in other
men. <i>All our sufficiency is of God;</i> to him therefore are
owing all the praise and glory of that good which is done, and from
him we must receive grace and strength to do more." This is true
concerning ministers and all Christians; the best are no more than
what the grace of God makes them. Our hands are not sufficient for
us, but our sufficiency is of God; and his grace is sufficient for
us, to furnish us for every good word and work.</p>
</div><scripCom id="iiCor.iv-p5.5" osisRef="Bible:2Cor.3.6-2Cor.3.11" parsed="|2Cor|3|6|3|11" passage="2Co 3:6-11" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:2Cor.3.6-2Cor.3.11">
<h4 id="iiCor.iv-p5.6">Law and Gospel Compared. (<span class="smallcaps" id="iiCor.iv-p5.7">a.
d.</span> 57.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="iiCor.iv-p6">6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the
new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter
killeth, but the spirit giveth life.   7 But if the
ministration of death, written <i>and</i> engraven in stones, was
glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly
behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which
<i>glory</i> was to be done away:   8 How shall not the
ministration of the spirit be rather glorious?   9 For if the
ministration of condemnation <i>be</i> glory, much more doth the
ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.   10 For even
that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by
reason of the glory that excelleth.   11 For if that which is
done away <i>was</i> glorious, much more that which remaineth
<i>is</i> glorious.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiCor.iv-p7">Here the apostle makes a comparison between
the Old Testament and the New, the law of Moses and the gospel of
Jesus Christ, and values himself and his fellow-labourers by this,
that <i>they were able ministers of the New Testament,</i> that God
had made them so, <scripRef id="iiCor.iv-p7.1" osisRef="Bible:2Cor.3.6" parsed="|2Cor|3|6|0|0" passage="2Co 3:6"><i>v.</i>
6</scripRef>. This he does in answer to the accusations of false
teachers, who magnify greatly the law of Moses.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiCor.iv-p8">I. He distinguishes between the letter and
the spirit even of the New Testament, <scripRef id="iiCor.iv-p8.1" osisRef="Bible:2Cor.3.6" parsed="|2Cor|3|6|0|0" passage="2Co 3:6"><i>v.</i> 6</scripRef>. As able ministers of the New
Testament, they were ministers not merely of the letter, to read
the written word, or to preach the letter of the gospel only, but
they were ministers of the Spirit also; the Spirit of God did
accompany their ministrations. The <i>letter killeth;</i> this the
letter of the law does, for that is the ministration of death; and
if we rest only in the letter of the gospel we shall be never the
better for so doing, for even that will be a <i>savour of death
unto death;</i> but the Spirit of the gospel, going along with the
ministry of the gospel, giveth life spiritual and life eternal.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiCor.iv-p9">II. He shows the difference between the Old
Testament and the New, and the excellency of the gospel above the
law. For, 1. The Old-Testament dispensation was the <i>ministration
of death</i> (<scripRef id="iiCor.iv-p9.1" osisRef="Bible:2Cor.3.7" parsed="|2Cor|3|7|0|0" passage="2Co 3:7"><i>v.</i> 7</scripRef>),
whereas that of the New Testament is the <i>ministration of
life.</i> The law discovered sin, and the wrath and curse of God.
This showed us a God above us and a God against us; but the gospel
discovers grace, and <i>Emmanuel,</i> God with us. Upon this
account the gospel is more glorious than the law; and yet that had
a glory in it, witness the shining of Moses's face (an indication
thereof) when he came down from the mount with the tables in his
hand, that reflected rays of brightness upon his countenance. 2.
The law was the <i>ministration of condemnation,</i> for that
condemned and cursed every one who <i>continued not in all things
written therein to do them;</i> but the gospel is the
<i>ministration of righteousness:</i> therein the righteousness of
God by faith is revealed. This shows us that the just shall live by
his faith. This reveals the grace and mercy of God through Jesus
Christ, for obtaining the remission of sins and eternal life. The
gospel therefore so much exceeds in glory that in a manner it
eclipses the glory of the legal dispensation, <scripRef id="iiCor.iv-p9.2" osisRef="Bible:2Cor.3.10" parsed="|2Cor|3|10|0|0" passage="2Co 3:10"><i>v.</i> 10</scripRef>. As the shining of a burning
lamp is lost, or not regarded, when the sun arises and goes forth
in his strength; so there was no glory in the Old Testament, in
comparison with that of the New. 3. The law is done away, but the
gospel does and shall <i>remain,</i> <scripRef id="iiCor.iv-p9.3" osisRef="Bible:2Cor.3.11" parsed="|2Cor|3|11|0|0" passage="2Co 3:11"><i>v.</i> 11</scripRef>. Not only did the glory of
Moses's face go away, but the glory of Moses's law is done away
also; yea, the law of Moses itself is now abolished. That
dispensation was only to continue for a time, and then to vanish
away; whereas the gospel shall remain to the end of the world, and
is always fresh and flourishing and remains glorious.</p>
</div><scripCom id="iiCor.iv-p9.4" osisRef="Bible:2Cor.3.12-2Cor.3.18" parsed="|2Cor|3|12|3|18" passage="2Co 3:12-18" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:2Cor.3.12-2Cor.3.18">
<h4 id="iiCor.iv-p9.5">Superiority of the Gospel. (<span class="smallcaps" id="iiCor.iv-p9.6">a.
d.</span> 57.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="iiCor.iv-p10">12 Seeing then that we have such hope, we use
great plainness of speech:   13 And not as Moses, <i>which</i>
put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not
stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished:   14
But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same
vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which
<i>vail</i> is done away in Christ.   15 But even unto this
day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart.   16
Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be
taken away.   17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the
Spirit of the Lord <i>is,</i> there <i>is</i> liberty.   18
But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the
Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory,
<i>even</i> as by the Spirit of the Lord.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiCor.iv-p11">In these verses the apostle draws two
inferences from what he had said about the Old and New
Testament:—</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiCor.iv-p12">I. Concerning the duty of the ministers of
the gospel to use great plainness or clearness of speech. They
ought not, like Moses, to put a veil upon their faces, or obscure
and darken those things which they should make plain. The gospel is
a more clear dispensation than the law; the things of God are
revealed in the New Testament, not in types and shadows, and
ministers are much to blame if they do not set spiritual things,
and gospel-truth and grace, in the clearest light that is possible.
Though the Israelites could not look <i>stedfastly to the end</i>
of what was commanded, but is now abolished, yet we may. We may see
the meaning of those types and shadows by the accomplishment,
seeing the veil is done away in, Christ and he is come, who was the
end of the law for righteousness to all those who believe, and whom
Moses and all the prophets pointed to, and wrote of.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiCor.iv-p13">II. Concerning the privilege and advantage
of those who enjoy the gospel, above those who lived under the law.
For, 1. Those who lived under the legal dispensation had their
minds blinded (<scripRef id="iiCor.iv-p13.1" osisRef="Bible:2Cor.3.14" parsed="|2Cor|3|14|0|0" passage="2Co 3:14"><i>v.</i>
14</scripRef>), and there was a <i>veil upon their hearts,</i>
<scripRef id="iiCor.iv-p13.2" osisRef="Bible:2Cor.3.15" parsed="|2Cor|3|15|0|0" passage="2Co 3:15"><i>v.</i> 15</scripRef>. Thus it was
formerly, and so it was especially as to those who remained in
Judaism after the coming of the Messiah and the publication of his
gospel. Nevertheless, the apostle tells us, there is a time coming
when this <i>veil also shall be taken away,</i> and <i>when it</i>
(the body of that people) <i>shall turn to the Lord,</i> <scripRef id="iiCor.iv-p13.3" osisRef="Bible:2Cor.3.16" parsed="|2Cor|3|16|0|0" passage="2Co 3:16"><i>v.</i> 16</scripRef>. Or, when any particular
person is converted to God, then the veil of ignorance is taken
away; the blindness of the mind, and the hardness of the heart, are
cured. 2. The condition of those who enjoy and believe the gospel
is much more happy. For, (1.) They have liberty: <i>Where the
Spirit of the Lord is,</i> and where he worketh, as he does under
the gospel-dispensation, <i>there is liberty</i> (<scripRef id="iiCor.iv-p13.4" osisRef="Bible:2Cor.3.17" parsed="|2Cor|3|17|0|0" passage="2Co 3:17"><i>v.</i> 17</scripRef>), freedom from the yoke
of the ceremonial law, and from the servitude of corruption;
liberty of access to God, and freedom of speech in prayer. The
heart is set at liberty, and enlarged, to run the ways of God's
commandments. (2.) They have <i>light;</i> for with <i>open face we
behold the glory of the Lord,</i> <scripRef id="iiCor.iv-p13.5" osisRef="Bible:2Cor.3.18" parsed="|2Cor|3|18|0|0" passage="2Co 3:18"><i>v.</i> 18</scripRef>. The Israelites saw the glory of
God in a cloud, which was dark and dreadful; but Christians see the
glory of the Lord as in a glass, more clearly and comfortably. It
was the peculiar privilege of Moses for God to converse with him
face to face, in a friendly manner; but now all true Christians see
him more clearly with open face. He showeth them his glory. (3.)
This light and liberty <i>are transforming;</i> we are changed into
the <i>same image, from glory to glory</i> (<scripRef id="iiCor.iv-p13.6" osisRef="Bible:2Cor.3.18" parsed="|2Cor|3|18|0|0" passage="2Co 3:18"><i>v.</i> 18</scripRef>), from one degree of glorious
grace unto another, till grace here be consummated in glory for
ever. How much therefore should Christians prize and improve these
privileges! We should not rest contented without an experimental
knowledge of the transforming power of the gospel, by the operation
of the Spirit, bringing us into a conformity to the temper and
tendency of the glorious gospel of our Lord and Saviour Jesus
Christ.</p>
</div></div2>