2 CORINTHIANS
2 Corinthians 3:7-18
The apostle Paul gathers instruction from the veiled face of Moses, and presents it to us in 2 Corinthians 3:7-8.
2 Corinthians 3:8
Moses taught the letter—the outward signs and details of rule and order—but the gospel reveals the inner secret, the essence, the spirit of truth; surely this is more glorious than forms. Babes in knowledge may be most impressed with the glory which blazes before the eye, but men esteem most that inner light of spiritual beauty which irradiates the soul.
2 Corinthians 3:9
The law only reveals condemnation and death, how much more glorious is the gospel, which reveals righteousness and life! If the trumpets of a judge, when he opens an assize, are held in esteem, how much more the chariots of love and the banners of grace which adorn the procession of a beloved Prince!
1 Corinthians 3:10
As the moon's light is no more bright when the sun appears, so is Moses eclipsed by our Lord.
1 Corinthians 3:11
Transient things can never, to the eyes of wisdom, shine with the same luster as eternal realities. Sparks can never rival stars. It is the crowning excellence of the gospel that it shall never pass away. It is "the everlasting gospel". Blessed be God for this.
Our Lord's transfiguration was a visible token of the superior glory of the gospel, for not his face alone but his whole body glowed with a light excessive, which quite overpowered the three disciples. The glory of the gospel of grace astounds the angels, delights the perfect spirits, and deserves to be the constant theme of our reverent wonder. God in the gospel has laid open more of the glory of his nature and character than in all the world besides.
1 Corinthians 3:12-14
The glory of the gospel, in the types, was too great for the Jews, and a veil was needed; and now, alas, the glory of the unveiled truth has quite confounded them; but it is not so with us, we delight in a plain, unveiled gospel.
1 Corinthians 3:12, 13
Whatever work we do will be tested, by present opposition, by the lapse of time, by the advance of light, and especially by the judgment of the last great day.
1 Corinthians 3:15
Being a good man he shall be saved, but having wasted his life in mistaken work he will lose the fruit of his pains; and having unwittingly caused injury to others, he will himself barely escape.
Or else they would clearly see Jesus revealed in their law, and would at once accept Him as Messiah. A veil over the intellect is bad, but a veil upon the heart is worst of all.
Or else they would clearly see Jesus revealed in their law, and would at once accept Him as Messiah. A veil over the intellect is bad, but a veil upon the heart is worst of all.
1 Corinthians 3:16
Poor Israel shall yet see her Messiah. The heart-veil shall be removed by His Spirit.
1 Corinthians 3:17
The Spirit of God forbids our standing afar off because of the terrible presence of the Lord, and gives us in lieu thereof liberty to draw near to our heavenly Father in the sweet familiarity of reverent love.
2 Corinthians 4
The Second Epistle to the Corinthians was written by Paul from Macedonia, after Titus had returned from Corinth, and informed him how the Corinthian church had received his first letter. The news was of a mingled kind, and caused him both joy and sorrow. The apostle seems at the time of writing it to have been much troubled and perplexed. We shall commence our reading with the fourth chapter.
2 Corinthians 4:1, 2
All underhand dealing and trickery Paul denounced. He said what he meant, and meant what he said. If we cannot spread the truth by plain speech, we cannot spread it at all.
2 Corinthians 4:3, 4
If men do not understand the gospel, we must take care that the fault does not lie in our language; but wholly with their blinded carnal hearts.
2 Corinthians 4:7
The weakness of the preacher only shows the power of God when he uses such poor means to accomplish so great an end. Never let us refuse to do good, because our abilities are slender; let us the rather yield up our weakness unto the Lord that he may use it to his own glory.
2 Corinthians 4:12
Paul rejoiced that good came to them by his sufferings. He loved them even as a mother who strips off her own clothing, and exposes herself to the cold to screen her child.
2 Corinthians 4:13, 14
He feared not death, for he expected resurrection.
2 Corinthians 4:13
His ruling passion was God's glory, and this sustained him under sickness, depression, and persecution.
2 Corinthians 4:17, 18
See how little Paul makes of trial; he calls it light and momentary; but how much he makes of glory! he labors for expressions, he cannot with the utmost exertion deliver himself. The way to live above trouble is to look up: we shall grow giddy if we look down upon earthly things, for they are tossed to and fro like waves of the sea.
2 Corinthians 5:1
For we know not we think or hope only, but we know
2 Corinthians 5:1
Our clay cottage will come down, but our heavenly mansion is ready to receive us.
2 Corinthians 5:2-4
We cannot be satisfied here, for we are exiled from the glory land and compassed with infirmities. We await with expectation the summons, "Rise up and come away."
2 Corinthians 5:5
God is preparing us for Heaven, and has given us already a sure pledge of it in the possession of the Holy Spirit.
2 Corinthians 5:8
The exile longs to return, the child pines for his fathers house, and so do we pant for our own dear country beyond the river, and sigh for the bosom of Jesus.
2 Corinthians 5:9-10
With this is view, we cannot afford to trifle or to sin. Every day should be viewed in the light of the last day, and then we shall live as we should.
2 Corinthians 5:13
The apostle did everything for Jesus and his church, and if any blamed his actions, he bade them remember that love to them was the sole motive of all he did.
2 Corinthians 5:14
then were all dead or rather, all died
2 Corinthians 5:15
The death of Jesus for us has made us reckon ourselves dead to all but him, and for him alone would we exist.
2 Corinthians 5:16
Everything was spiritual, even his sight of Jesus with his mortal eyes was no longer cared for, in comparison with faith's view of him after a spiritual fashion.
2 Corinthians 5:21
Are we thus made righteous? These verses are wonderfully weighty: do we understand them by personal experience? Are we new creatures, reconciled by Jesus, blood, accepted in the Beloved, and one with him? These are points which demand immediate inquiry.
2 Corinthians 6:1, 2
The apostle was therefore anxious that none should hear the gracious word of God without obtaining eternal life. He also longed to see the truly saved more and more fruitful, that it might not even seem that God's grace had been ineffectual in their lives and characters. No minister can be satisfied unless grace is seen to produce fitting results in those who profess to partake of it.
2 Corinthians 6:10
Dr. Hawker, himself a minister of the Church of England, has beautifully said:—"What a lovely portrait the apostle has here drawn of a minister of Jesus! How totally dissimilar in every feature, from the rank and opulence of modern prelacy! Who should have thought, when Paul wrote this epistle to the church at Corinth, that a time would come when state and grandeur would be considered suitable appendages to the sacred order! Great part of what the apostle has here said, concerning the 'all things,' in which he recommends the Lord's servants to approve themselves, as ministers of God, is done away. How is it possible, for such as the present hour furnishes, to manifest whose servants they are, in stripes, in imprisonment, in tumults, labors, watchings, fastings, and the like? But there are some of the characters of the ministry, which the apostle has sketched in this picture, still to be found. 'By honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true; As unknown, and yet well known.' Some in every age of the world will be found to treat the distinguishing truths of the gospel with hatred and contempt; and to dishonor the preachers of those truths, with evil report and reproach. While the highly-taught few, whom God the Holy Spirit teaches, will honor his messengers...
Reader, learn from this portrait of the apostles, and drawn under God the Spirit's direction, to form an estimate of the Lord's ministers: not by outward show, but by the inward illumination of the heart, and the blessing of God on their labors, both in word and doctrine.")
2 Corinthians 6:14, 15
Be you not unequally yoked together with unbelievers either in marriage or any other intimate union
2 Corinthians 6:18
The great duty of believers in all ages is to maintain their character as a separate people, no more conformed to the world. May this family never fall into worldly fashions, amusements, or pursuits, but be distinguished as following the Lord fully; so shall we be peculiarly dear to our heavenly Father.
Oh, that the Lord may make us, as a family, separated unto himself.
2 Corinthians 9:6
Both in temporals and spirituals men will find that this rule holds good. Those who stint the Lord stint themselves. Little give, little have.
2 Corinthians 9:8
Notice the many "alls" here, may we have them all, and then abound in giving.
2 Corinthians 11:1
Paul was not pleased to have to speak of himself; he calls self-commendation folly, for so it usually is; but it was needful for him to vindicate his position and authority, in order that his letters might have weight with the Corinthian believers for their lasting good.
2 Corinthians 11:2, 3
By the admixture of philosophy with the gospel, he feared that they would be seduced from the truth. Too much ground is there for the same anxiety about the churches of our own day.
2 Corinthians 11:4
If any man could bring us a better gospel, more sure, more full, more free, we might listen to his novelties; but so long as this is not attempted or pretended, we will abide by the old form of doctrine, and those men of God who preach it.
2 Corinthians 11:8
He received nothing from the Corinthians, but allowed other churches to relieve his necessities that he might in no degree burden them; yet they were not grateful, but spoke of him disrespectfully. Gratitude is far too rare even among professing Christians.
2 Corinthians 11:9
The apostle, to vindicate his character and prove his apostleship, then mentioned what he had done and suffered.
2 Corinthians 11:23
He was called in a more remarkable way, had been more fully instructed, and enabled to accomplish more than any one of them.
2 Corinthians 11:23
in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, or far exceeding any one else
2 Corinthians 11:28
comes upon me or rushes upon me
2 Corinthians 11:28
Which was a heavy burden; there were so many things to think about, that his mind was wearied.
2 Corinthians 11:29
He sympathized with all, and was the focus for all sorrows.
2 Corinthians 11:30
Surely after this recital these Corinthians would value the apostle, and trouble him no more with their criticisms. Better far is it for us to profit by good men than to find fault with them. Let not the Pauls among us now have to suffer for our unkindness.
2 Corinthians 12:1
The most modest man may be driven to speak his own praises if his usefulness is jeopardized by the depreciations of enemies.
2 Corinthians 12:2-5
Fourteen years he had kept the secret, so that clearly he was not given to boasting.
2 Corinthians 12:7
From devout exaltation to self-exaltation is but a step, and that step our nature is prone to take. To be proud is one of the worst of calamities, and therefore to keep us humble the Lord sends us sharp trials. A thorn pierces, lacerates, festers, and yet it is but a little thing; very insignificant, yet very painful. Paul had a secret grief which cuffed him as schoolmasters punish boys, and the ignominy of it was its worst feature.
2 Corinthians 12:9
One evening, as Bunyan was in a meeting of Christian people, full of sadness and terror, suddenly there "brake in" upon him with great power, and three times together, the words, "My grace is sufficient for you; My grace is sufficient for you; My grace is sufficient for you." And "Oh! methought," says he, "that every word was a mighty word unto me, as 'My,' and 'grace,' and 'sufficient,' and 'for you;' they were then, and sometimes are still, far bigger than others be."
2 Corinthians 12:1, 11
The Corinthians ought not to have required a defense from Paul, but should themselves have been among his warmest advocates.
2 Corinthians 12:14, 15
What a Christian spirit! He will not cease to seek their good, however base their conduct.
2 Corinthians 12:16-18
He accepted nothing for himself, and he did not impose his friends upon them; he had served them in the most unselfish way.
2 Corinthians 12:19
It was shameful that so good a man as Paul should have been troubled by cavilers. May God grant that none of us may ever figure in the history of our church as discontented members and opposers of faithful ministers.