C O P Y R IG H T BY W ILLIA M EV A N S
SECOND CORINTHIANS (Continued)
I N our study o f 2 Corinthians we have considered Introductory matters and the Synopsis o f thé book; also the Introduc tion (i. 1-14). W e shall now present the first main division o f the book which is as follows : L MATTERS CONCERNING THE APOS TLE’S VISIT TO THE CHURCH AT CORINTH (i. 15-vii. 16) 1. The Deferred Visit and Its Purpose (i. 15-ii. 17). (a) The Matter Discussed in General ( i. 15 - 22 ). For legitimate reasons the apos tle had deferred his visit to Corinth. The enemies o f the apostle had taken this post ponement as an occasion to charge him with fickleness and double-dealing in his plans —with making promises with no thought of keeping them; they accused him o f being a man moved too much by the impulse of the flesh (i. 17) rather than by a deter mined purpose. They inferred that he was a diplomat or a Jesuit, or perhaps both. The apostle appeals to the faithfulness of God and to the unchanging nature o f the gospel he had preached in their midst to witness against any such insinuations laid against his character. “ Prophets and apos tles can be trusted because God, who chose them, is faithful” (cf. 1 Timothy i. 12). The Son o f God, whom Paul had preached among them, was not a vacillating Saviour —a reed shaken with the wind. Christ was
a rock, and on Him every promise o f God was established. Is it not likely, therefore, that His ministers also will be likewise? Jesus Christ was God’s “Amen” to every promise, and upon Him we may absolutely rely and firmly build our hopes. He is immutable and unchangeable. Such a Christ and gospel Paul proclaims, lives for, and glorifies. Is it not likely that the ministers o f such a Saviour would be likewise? Is it likely that Paul, as an apostle o f Christ, would be guilty o f duplicity, fickleness, and unreliableness in statement? It is surely incredible that a true minister o f Christ, the “Amen” o f God, should be insincere, fickle, and unfaithful. God had anointed the Apostle Paul, even as He had anointed Jesus, and- sealed him also to this minister ial work (i. 21, 22). Whom God anoints and seals He also confirms. God, who is faithful, would not call an unworthy and unreliable instrument, nor are those whom God calls likely to be fickle and unfaithful, but cause glory to be given to God for His faithfulness. Such a God Paul calls as a witness to his sincerity and vindication of his character (i. 23). Not levity, but con sideration (1 Corinthians iv. 21; vii. 28) led to the apostle’s change o f plans (cf. xiii. 10; 1 Corinthians iv. 18, 19). It was to spare the Corinthians, not because of any fickleness on his part, that the intended visit to Corinth had been postponed. Con ditions were such in the Corinthian church as to make it necessary that Paul should come to them with a rod o f iron (1 Cor-
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