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THE KING’S BUSINESS
are “ in readiness to avenge all disobedience, when your obedience shall be fulfilled.” By these closing words Paul implies that he' was' confident that the great majority o f the Corinthian church would obey his word and that he is simply waiting until that obedience is freely manifested, and then he will punish the few disobedient ones. There was much kindness, and at the same time- much force, good sense, and tact in this way o f putting it.. Saturday, March ■ 16 . \ ,2 Cor. 10 : 7 - 9 . Paul protests against the Corinthians judging by mere outward appearance, such as personal appearance, stately bearing, an impressive manner, gifts o f oratory, and the like. The translation o f the Authorized Ve^ion, “Ye look on things after the out ward appearance” seems to be far nearer giving the force o f the original than the Re vised Version,“Ye look at the things that are before your face.” The literal translation is, “ Ye look at the things according to face (or, presence).’’ The Corinthians have many followers in their foolish estimating o f religious teachers by such things as those, mentioned. Whatever might be the insignificance o f his personal appearance, Paul affirms that -he was *none - the less “ Christ’s.” Nay, more than this, if he should “glory somewhat abundantly con cerning his (our) authority—which the Lord gave for building them (you) up, and not for casting them (you) down”—he should not “be put to shame.” (That is to say, God would vindicate this glorying, _ 'fo r this authority was really his). Paul,' however, did not forget that this God-given authority was given to him that he might build them up and not that he might cast them down. Paul makes this assertion -of his authority that he might not seem to terrify, them by his letters, i. e., by making empty threats that he could not carry out.
in verse 9, viz., that he was terrifying them by letters, making empty threats in his letters that he could not carry, out when he was present. They were saying, “His letters are weighty and strong, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech (or discourse) t^f no account.” Paul seems t'O: have been o f inferior size and appear ance, with some marked physical defect (cf. 2 Cor. 12:7-9; 1 Cor. 2 :3 ), and besides this he was not a gifted orator, but he had what was infinitely better , than the gift o.f oratory, the power of. the Holy Ghost (1 Cor. 2:4 ). But the power o f the Holy Ghost did not count for much with some in Corinth, even as it does not count for much with many in the church today. Paul goes on to give those in Corinth who were making these disparaging remarks about him to understand that what he was in word by letters when absent, such he would also be by deed (i. e., by action if not oratory) when present. Now comes a bit o f irony (v. 12), Paul tells them he is not bold to number himself with or compare himself with certain that were at work in Corinth who were commending themselves. He insinuates that that was a business at which he was no expert and he must leave it to them; for they certainly were experts in that direction. However, he says that they in measuring themselves by themselves and comparing themselves with themselves were “without understanding” ; and the one who does the same thing today is “without understanding.” Monday, March 18 . 2 Cor. 10 : 13 - 18 . Paul tells them that these men in Corinth had entered into other men’s labors (prin cipally into Paul’s, who had laid the foun dation o f the church in Corinth, Acts 18:1- 11). Paul refused to do this; i. e.’ to enter into other men’s labors. He will not glory beyond his measure, but according to the measure o f the province (or measuring rod) which God, had apportioned to him. This measure reached even unto the church in Corinth, for he had gone that far by God’s appointment, in preaching the gospel
Sunday, March 17 . \-t 2 Cor. 10 : 10 - 12 .
Th$re were those in Corinth who were insinuating the very thing that Paul denies
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