CHAPTER IV
GLORY
THROUGH SUFFERING
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Summary—Paul’s Sincerity and Earnestness in the Ministry. The
Eyes of Some Blinded by the God of the World. Troubles and Persecution Redound
to the Glory of God. Paul’s Sufferings for the Gospel’s Sake. Exposed to Death
in Order to Carry Life. The Present Affliction Working Glory. The Unseen Things
Eternal.
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1–4. Seeing we have this ministry. The ministry of the Spirit and of Life; of the new
covenant, described in the preceding chapter. As we have received mercy.
Christ, though he was a persecutor, had mercy on him and called him to the
ministry. Hence, he was under obligations to “faint not,” though meeting
trouble and persecution. 2. But have renounced the hidden things of
dishonesty. This glorious ministry was under no “veil” and was not
hidden. Its ministers must turn away from all dishonest practices or teachings.
Paul intends to rebuke, by his example, the false and deceitful teachers who
sought to bring the Corinthians under the old Jewish covenant. Nor handling
the word of God deceitfully. His enemies not only resorted to calumny,
but perverted the word of the Lord by adulterating it with the elements of the
law, of tradition, and with false ideas of Christ. See Gal. 6:12, 13. Commending
ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. He presented the
truth and made his appeal directly to the human conscience, that monitor which
God has given to all men. 3. But if our gospel be hid. He has shown
(3:16) that there is no veil in Christ, and declared (verse 2) that he
preached not things hidden by a veil. But the Judaizing opposers replied that
his gospel was as much veiled to them as he said that the law was veiled to the
Jews. He replies that it is only veiled to the lost, who are blinded by the god
of this world. In order to understand the allusions the reader must keep in
mind Paul’s life-long contest with Judaism in the church. See notes on Acts
15:1, and Gal. 2:4. 4. The god of this world. See John 12:31, 40;
Phil. 3:19. Satan is called the prince of this world, and the god of this
world. By his devices he blinds the eyes of men so they should not see the
light of gospel. Image of God. He who would see God may see him in the
face of Christ. John 14:9.
5, 6. We preach not ourselves. We have no self-seeking sins in preaching, but only seek to
preach Christ Jesus, the Lord. We know that Paul’s preaching was
perverted. He called on the disciples to follow him as he followed Christ (1
Cor. 11:1; 4:16; 7:6), and they asserted that he preached himself. Instead he
made himself “the servant of all” (1 Cor. 9:19) for Christ’s sake. 6.
For God, who commanded light to shine out of darkness. Gen. 1:3. Hath
shined in our hearts. By bringing to the light of the gospel. The light
of the knowledge, etc. Knowledge is light. The glory of God is revealed in
his Son, who hath shown for the divine excellency, tenderness and love.
7–9. We have this treasure in earthen vessels. The treasure of the knowledge of Christ and of the ministry
of the gospel of life. Perhaps his enemies pointed to his sorrows as a proof
that he was not so favored as a minister of Christ. A splendid treasure was
placed in a fragile, cheap earthen vessel. Then it was manifest that the great
work wrought was the power of God, not of us, the apostles and
evangelists. 8, 9. We are troubled on every side. In verses 8 and 9 are
four pairs of contrasts which should the frailty of the instruments and the
greatness of the power: (1) “pressed on every side” (Revision), but not
hemmed in by the pressure; (2) in apparently overwhelming difficulties, but
never reduced to despair; (3) persecuted by their enemies, but not forsaken and
delivered over to them; (4) overthrown and cast to the earth, but even then
rescued from the enemy, standing over them prostrate, so that they are not
destroyed.
10–12. Always bearing about in the body the dying of the
Lord Jesus. Always bearing sufferings and danger
of death, as the Lord died, so that we may carry the life which the Lord gives
to others. In constant suffering and peril of death the apostle was the
messenger of life. 11. For we which live are always delivered unto death.
This verse more fully explains the meaning of verse 10. The ministers of the
gospel were always exposed to death, and at their cost bore the precious charge
of life to men. 12. Death working in us. The ever present image of
death, threatening the gospel ministers, was the means of life to the saved.
13–15. We having the same spirit of faith. Yet in spite of all the sufferings and peril described, we
preach right on. Like the psalmist (Ps. 116:10) we are moved by the power of
faith; we also believe, therefore we speak. 14. Knowing that he which
raised up the Lord Jesus. Assured that we shall all be raised and stand
together before the Lord, we preach. This is our faith. If we die for Christ
God will raise us. 15. For all things are for your sakes. Our suffering,
our dying daily, and the glorious hope, and the result of these things is that
the thanksgiving of multitudes of the saved should redound to the glory of God.
16–18. For which cause.
Moved by faith, hope, the love of souls and desire for the glory of God, we
faint not; do not for a moment give way and relax our efforts. Though
our outward man perish. Though our body waste away under the trials, or is
threatened with death. Yet the inward man. His spiritual strength is
constantly renewed by Christ. The “inward man” is the immaterial nature in
contrast with the material body. See Rom. 7:22 and Eph. 3:16. 17. For our
light affliction. Great as his afflictions were, he calls them light in
view of the glorious reward they will bring; continual as they were, he speaks
of them as but for a moment in view of eternity. They were the more
easily borne for they work for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of
glory. Bearing the cross weaves an eternal crown. Sorrows endured for
Christ’s sake prepare for eternal joys. 18. While we look not at things
which are seen, but, etc. Our eyes are fixed on the unseen things beyond,
the glory that the flesh cannot behold. Hence, we turn away from present
afflictions as momentary, as belonging to the seen and the transient, and only
regard them as adding to the weight of our unseen, eternal joys. Our goal is
beyond. For the things which are seen are temporal. All material things,
and all that the world values, are perishing. All things of sense shall pass
away; Cæsar’s greatness, the might of Roman power, the strength of man, the
glory of the magnificence of Corinth; even the visible heavens and the earth. But
the unseen things are eternal. The things which the senses see not, but
which faith reveals—God, heaven, the unseen spirit. Let the eye be turned upon
the unseen, rather than the things of sense.
Excerpt from:
The People's New Testament
by Barton
Warren Johnson
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