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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1721)
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>S E C O N D C O R I N T H I A N S.</B></FONT>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. XIII.</FONT>
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<P>
In this chapter the apostle threatens to be severe against obstinate
sinners, and assigns the reason thereof
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+13:1-6">ver. 1-6</A>);
then he makes a suitable prayer to God on the behalf of the
Corinthians, with the reasons inducing him thereto
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+13:7-10">ver. 7-10</A>),
and concludes his epistle with a valediction and a benediction,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+13:11-14">ver. 11-14</A>.</P>
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<A NAME="2Co13_1"> </A>
<A NAME="2Co13_2"> </A>
<A NAME="2Co13_3"> </A>
<A NAME="2Co13_4"> </A>
<A NAME="2Co13_5"> </A>
<A NAME="2Co13_6"> </A>
<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Apostle Asserts His Claims.</I></FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT VALIGN=BOTTOM><FONT SIZE=-1>A. D.</FONT> 57.</TD></TR>
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<P>
<FONT SIZE=+1>1 This <I>is</I> the third <I>time</I> I am coming to you. In the mouth
of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.
2 I told you before, and foretell you, as if I were present,
the second time; and being absent now I write to them which
heretofore have sinned, and to all other, that, if I come again,
I will not spare:
3 Since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, which to
you-ward is not weak, but is mighty in you.
4 For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth
by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall
live with him by the power of God toward you.
5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your
own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is
in you, except ye be reprobates?
6 But I trust that ye shall know that we are not reprobates.
</FONT></P>
<P>
In these verses observe,</P>
<P>
I. The apostle threatens to be severe against obstinate sinners when he
should come to Corinth, having now sent to them a first and second
epistle, with proper admonitions and exhortations, in order to reform
what was amiss among them. Concerning this we may notice,
1. The caution with which he proceeded in his censures: he was not
hasty in using severity, but gave a first and second admonition. So
some understand his words
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+13:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>):
<I>This is the third time I am coming to you,</I> referring to his
first and second epistles, by which he admonished them, as if he were
present with them, though in person he was absent,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+13:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>.
According to this interpretation, these two epistles are the witnesses
he means in the first verse, referring rather to the direction of our
Saviour
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+17:16">Matt. xvii. 16</A>)
concerning the manner how Christians should deal with offenders before
they proceed to extremity than to the law of Moses
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+17:6,19:15">Deut. xvii. 6; xix. 15</A>)
for the behaviour of judges in criminal matters. We should go, or send,
to our brother, once and again, to tell him of his fault. Thus the
apostle had told these Corinthians before, in his former epistle, and
now he tells them, or <I>writes to those who heretofore had sinned, and
to all others,</I> giving warning unto all before he came in person
<I>the third time,</I> to exercise severity against scandalous
offenders. Others think that the apostle had designed and prepared for
his journey to Corinth twice already, but was providentially hindered,
and now informs them of his intentions a third time to come to them.
However this be, it is observable that he kept an account how often he
endeavoured, and what pains he took with these Corinthians for their
good: and we may be sure that an account is kept in heaven, and we must
be reckoned with another day for the helps we have had for our souls,
and how we have improved them.
2. The threatening itself: <I>That if</I> (or when) <I>he came
again</I> (in person) <I>he would not spare</I> obstinate sinners, and
such as were impenitent, in their scandalous enormities. He had told
them before, he feared <I>God would humble him among them,</I> because
he should find some who <I>had sinned and had not repented;</I> and now
he declares he would not spare such, but would inflict church-censures
upon them, which are thought to have been accompanied in those early
times with visible and extraordinary tokens of divine displeasure.
Note, Though it is God's gracious method to bear long with sinners, yet
he will not bear always; at length he will come, and will not spare
those who remain obstinate and impenitent, notwithstanding all his
methods to reclaim and reform them.</P>
<P>
II. The apostle assigns a reason why he would be thus severe, namely,
for <I>a proof of Christ's speaking in him,</I> which they <I>sought
after,</I>
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+13:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>.
The evidence of his apostleship was necessary for the credit,
confirmation, and success, of the gospel he preached; and therefore
such as denied this were justly and severely to be censured. It was
the design of the false teachers to make the Corinthians call this
matter into question, of which yet they had not weak, but strong and
mighty proofs
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+13:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>),
notwithstanding the mean figure he made in the world and the contempt
which by some was cast upon him. Even as Christ himself <I>was
crucified through weakness,</I> or appeared in his crucifixion as a
weak and contemptible person, <I>but liveth by the power of God,</I> or
in his resurrection and life manifests his divine power
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+13:4"><I>v.</I> 4</A>),
so the apostles, how mean and contemptible soever they appeared to the
world, did yet, as instruments, manifest the power of God, and
particularly the power of his grace, in converting the world to
Christianity. And therefore, as a proof to those who among the
<I>Corinthians sought a proof of</I> Christ's speaking in the apostle,
he puts them upon proving their Christianity
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+13:5"><I>v.</I> 5</A>):
<I>Examine yourselves,</I> &c. Hereby he intimates that, if they could
prove their own Christianity, this would be a proof of his apostleship;
for if they were in the faith, if Jesus Christ was in them, this was a
proof that Christ spoke in him, because it was by his ministry that
they did believe. He had been not only an instructor, but a father to
them. He had begotten them again by the gospel of Christ. Now it could
not be imagined that a divine power should go along with his
ministrations if he had not his commission from on high. If therefore
they could prove themselves <I>not to be reprobates,</I> not to be
rejected of Christ, <I>he trusted they would know that he was not a
reprobate</I>
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+13:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>),
not disowned by Christ. What the apostle here says of the duty of the
Corinthians to <I>examine themselves,</I> &c., with the particular view
already mentioned, is applicable to the great duty of all who call
themselves Christians, to examine themselves concerning their spiritual
state. We should examine whether we be in the faith, because it is a
matter in which we may be easily deceived, and wherein a deceit is
highly dangerous: we are therefore concerned to <I>prove our own
selves,</I> to put the question to our own souls, whether Christ be in
us, or not; and <I>Christ is in us, except we be reprobates:</I> so
that either we are true Christians or we are great cheats; and what a
reproachful thing is it for a man not to know himself, not to know his
own mind!</P>
<A NAME="2Co13_7"> </A>
<A NAME="2Co13_8"> </A>
<A NAME="2Co13_9"> </A>
<A NAME="2Co13_10"> </A>
<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Apostle Asserts His Claims.</I></FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT VALIGN=BOTTOM><FONT SIZE=-1>A. D.</FONT> 57.</TD></TR>
<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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<P>
<FONT SIZE=+1>7 Now I pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we should
appear approved, but that ye should do that which is honest,
though we be as reprobates.
8 For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.
9 For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong: and
this also we wish, <I>even</I> your perfection.
10 Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being
present I should use sharpness, according to the power which the
Lord hath given me to edification, and not to destruction.
</FONT></P>
<P>
Here we have,</P>
<P>
I. The apostle's prayer to God on the behalf of the Corinthians, that
they might <I>do no evil,</I>
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+13:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>.
This is the most desirable thing we can ask of God, both for ourselves
and for our friends, to be kept from sin, that we and they may do no
evil; and it is most needful that we often pray to God for his grace to
keep us, because without this we cannot keep ourselves. We are more
concerned to pray that we may not do evil than that we may not suffer
evil.</P>
<P>
II. The reasons why the apostle put up this prayer to God on behalf of
the Corinthians, which reasons have a special reference to their case,
and the subject-matter about which he was writing to them. Observe, he
tells them,
1. It was not so much for his own personal reputation as for the honour
of religion: "<I>Not that we should appear approved, but that you
should do that which is honest,</I> or decent, and for the credit of
religion, though we should be reproached and vilified, and accounted as
reprobates,"
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+13:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>.
Note,
(1.) The great desire of faithful ministers of the gospel is that the
gospel they preach may be honoured, however their persons may be
vilified.
(2.) The best way to adorn our holy religion is <I>to do that which is
honest,</I> and of good report, to walk as becomes the gospel of
Christ.
2. Another reason was this: that they might be free from all blame and
censure when he should come to them. This is intimated in
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+13:8"><I>v.</I> 8</A>,
<I>We can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.</I> If
therefore they did not do evil, nor act contrary to their profession of
the gospel, the apostle had no power nor authority to punish them. He
had said before
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+10:8"><I>ch.</I> x. 8</A>)
and says here
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+13:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>)
that the power which the Lord had given him was to edification, not to
destruction; so that, although the apostle had great powers committed
to him for the credit and advancement of the gospel, yet he could not
do anything to the disparagement of the truth, nor the discouragement
of those who obeyed it. He could not, that is, he would not, he dared
not, he had no commission to act against the truth; and it is
remarkable how the apostle did rejoice in this blessed impotency:
"<I>We are glad,</I>" says he
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+13:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>),
"<I>when we are weak and you are strong;</I> that is, that we have no
power to censure those who are strong in faith and fruitful in good
works." Some understand this passage thus: "Though we are weak through
persecutions and contempt, we bear it patiently, and also joyfully,
while we see that you are strong, that you are prosperous in holiness,
and persevering in well-doing." For,
3. He desired their perfection
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+13:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>);
that is, that they might be sincere, and aim at perfection (sincerity
is our gospel-perfection), or else he wished there might be a thorough
reformation among them. He not only desired that they might be kept
from sin, but also that they might grow in grace, and increase in
holiness, and that all that was amiss among them might be rectified and
reformed. This was the great end of his writing this epistle, and that
freedom he used with them by <I>writing these things</I> (those
friendly admonitions and warnings), <I>being absent, that so, being
present, he should not use sharpness</I>
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+13:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>),
that is, not proceed to the utmost extremity in the exercise of the
power which the Lord had given him as an apostle, <I>to revenge all
disobedience,</I>
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+10:6"><I>ch.</I> x. 6</A>.</P>
<A NAME="2Co13_11"> </A>
<A NAME="2Co13_12"> </A>
<A NAME="2Co13_13"> </A>
<A NAME="2Co13_14"> </A>
<A NAME="Sec3"> </A>
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Apostolic Benediction.</I></FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT VALIGN=BOTTOM><FONT SIZE=-1>A. D.</FONT> 57.</TD></TR>
<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
</TABLE>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>11 Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort,
be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace
shall be with you.
12 Greet one another with a holy kiss.
13 All the saints salute you.
14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and
the communion of the Holy Ghost, <I>be</I> with you all. Amen.
</FONT></P>
<P>
Thus the apostle concludes this epistle with,</P>
<P>
I. A valediction. He gives them a parting farewell, and takes his leave
of them for the present, with hearty good wishes for their spiritual
welfare. In order to this,</P>
<P>
1. He gives them several good exhortations.
(1.) To be perfect, or to be knit together in love, which would tend
greatly to their advantage as a church, or Christian society.
(2.) To be of good comfort under all the sufferings and persecutions
they might endure for the cause of Christ or any calamities and
disappointments they might meet with in the world.
(3.) To be of one mind, which would greatly tend to their comfort; for
the more easy we are with our brethren the more ease we shall have in
our own souls. The apostle would have them, as far as was possible, to
be of the same opinion and judgment; however, if this could not be
attained, yet,
(4.) He exhorts them to live in peace, that difference in opinion
should not cause an alienation of affections--that they should be at
peace among themselves. He would have all the schisms that were among
them healed, that there should be no more contention and wrath found
among them, to prevent which they should avoid <I>debates, envyings,
backbitings, whisperings,</I> and such like enemies to peace.</P>
<P>
2. He encourages them with the promise of God's presence among them:
<I>The God of love and peace shall be with you,</I>
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+13:11"><I>v.</I> 11</A>.
Note,
(1.) God is the God of love and peace. He is the author of peace, and
lover of concord. He hath loved us, and is willing to be at peace with
us; he commands us to love him, and to be reconciled to him, and also
that we love one another, and be at peace among ourselves.
(2.) God will be with those who live in love and peace. He will love
those who love peace; he will dwell with them here, and they shall
dwell with him for ever. Such shall have God's gracious presence here,
and be admitted to his glorious presence hereafter.</P>
<P>
3. He gives directions to them to salute each other, and sends kind
salutations to them from those who were with him,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+13:12,13"><I>v.</I> 12, 13</A>.
He would have them testify their affection to one another by the sacred
rite of a kiss of charity, which was then used, but has long been
disused, to prevent all occasions of wantonness and impurity, in the
more declining and degenerate state of the church.</P>
<P>
II. The apostolical benediction
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+13:14"><I>v.</I> 14</A>):
<I>The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the
communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all.</I> Thus the apostle
concludes his epistle, and thus it is usual and proper to dismiss
worshipping assemblies. This plainly proves the doctrine of the gospel,
and is an acknowledgment that Father, Son, and Spirit, are three
distinct persons, yet but one God; and herein the same, that they are
the fountain of all blessings to men. It likewise intimates our duty,
which is to have an eye by faith to Father, Son, and Holy Ghost--to
live in a continual regard to the three persons in the Trinity, into
whose name we were baptized, and in whose name we are blessed. This is
a very solemn benediction, and we should give all diligence to inherit
this blessing. The grace of Christ, the love of God, and the communion
(or communication) of the Holy Ghost: the grace of Christ as Redeemer,
the love of God who sent the Redeemer, and all the communications of
this grace and love, which come to us by the Holy Ghost; it is the
communications of the Holy Ghost that qualify us for an interest in the
grace of Christ, and the love of God: and we can desire no more to make
us happy than the grace of Christ, the love of God, and the communion
of the Holy Ghost. <I>Amen.</I></P>
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