An Exposition of Pauls Epistles, Letter 3 · Chapter 13
CHAP. XIII.
IN this last Chapter hee proceeds to vindicate his Apostolical Authoritie from contempt, and to make it awful and amiable amongst them: The Proposition to bee confirmed is this, My Authority ought to bee reverenced by you. The Arguments which confirm this Thesis are ten.
Vers. 1. This is the third time I am coming to you … in the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word bee established.
Argum. 1. I fore-warn you by that authority committed unto mee, of the purpose of my coming unto you, now the third time, that you being twice or thrice fore-warned concerning my coming, it might bee instead of two or three witnesses to certifie you of my firm purpose to exercise Ecclesiastical censure amongst you: Therefore my authority is to bee feared by you.
Vers. 2▪ I told you before, and foretell you, as if I was 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:
Argum. 2. From the commination of exercising severity, when hee came, upon the impenitent, who had first sinned, and not repented: Bee perswaded that I will severely punish the impenitent when I come: Therefore fear yee and repent.
Vers. 3. Since yee seek a proof of Christ speaking in mee, which to you-ward is not weak, but is mighty in you.
Hee gives the reasons of this his severe commination: Because they tempted Christ, and the Apostle, doubting whether Christ spake in the Apostle, or the Apostle from the authority of Christ: And also hee adds Argum. 3. for the vindicating of his authority. Christ hath powerfully manifested himself amongst you by my Ministery; partly by grace given to sinners, partly by the gifts of the Spirit conferred upon the Presbyters, and others, partly by miracles done amongst you, partly by the correcting of stubborn sinners. Fear therefore.
Vers. 4. For though hee was crucified through weakness, yet hee lived by the Power of God: for wee also are weak in him, but wee shall live with him by the Power of God toward you?
Argum. 4. That as Christ was crucified in the infirmity of the flesh, but is found alive by the Spirit and Power of his Deity, so I am weak in appearance, and have carried my self humbly for Christs sake, that I might bee conformable to Christ, but by the Power of God I have been able, and shall bee also powerful in my Ministery, when the matter requires it: Therefore my authority is to bee feared.
Vers. 5. Examine your selves whether yee bee in the Faith: prove your own selves, know yee not your own selves, how that Iesus Christ is in you, except yee bee reprobates?
Argum. 5. All you, after your examination, shall know that Christ dwells in you, through my Ministery, unless some of you are cast-awayes, and unworthy of the name of Believers, or at least as yet unregenerate: Therefore the authority of my Apostleship ought to bee reverenced by you.
Vers. 6. But I trust that yee shall know, that wee are not reprobates.
Argum. 6. Whatsoever yee now are, I hope it will come to pass that at length yee being overcome by the truth, and convicted by the signs of my Apostleship, may acknowledge mee to bee the true servant of Christ, and not a false or a reprobate Apostle: Therefore my authority ought to bee reverenced by you.
Vers. 7. Now I pray to God that yee do no evil, not that wee should appear approved, but that yee should do that which is honest, though wee bee as reprobates.
Argum. 7. By which hee doth not onelyonly vindicate his authority from contempt, but by the moderation of his mind maketh it lovely: I earnestly desire you to abstain from all evil, and do good, lest I should need to exercise my authority amongst you: And to this end I pray God, that I may not regard my reputation, whether approved or disapproved by the judgement of men, I am indifferent, so that it may bee well with you: Therefore my authority ought to bee reverenced by you.
Vers. 8. For wee can do nothing against the Truth, but for the Truth.
Argum. 8. Confirming the former, my authority doth not prevail against Truth, or Righteousness, that they may bee destroyed, but for preserving the Truth, and therefore if you do no evil, my authority amongst you will cease: Therefore that ought to bee beloved by you.
Vers. 9. For wee are glad when wee are weak, and yee are strong: and this also wee wish, even your perfection.
Argum. 9. Confirming the seventh: I rejoyce when there is no occasion for the exercise of my authority (I as if I had none) do not shew my power, having nothing more in my desires, than your integrity, that all things being duly composed, and the members of the Church, which are now dis-joynted, being restored, I may never have need to extol myself to your terrour: Therefore my authority ought both to bee reverenced and loved by you.
Vers. 10. Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the power which the Lord hath given mee to edification, and not to destruction.
Argum. 10. Now I deal with you more severely by Letters, that you may repent, lest being present, I bee compelled more severely to punish the impenitent, according to my power given mee for your good, but not for your hurt: Therefore my authority ought to bee reverenced by you.
Vers. 11. Finally, Brethren, farewel: bee perfect, bee of good comfort, bee of one mind, live in peace, and the God of love and peace shall bee with you.
12. Greet one another with an holy kiss.
13. All the Saints salute you.
14. The Grace of our Lord Iesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, bee with you all. Amen.
Hee concludes the Epistle with a very fit Exhortation, which is sixfold. Exhort. 1. That they may rejoyce in obeying my admonitions with real joy. 2. That they may bee perfect, or sound, and schisme being laid aside, may bee joyned together amongst themselves. 3 That they may have comfort by obeying him. 4 That in opinions they may agree amongst themselves. 5 That joyned in affections they follow peace. Which exhortations hee confirms by promising the divine presence in the fuller gifts of his Grace, which God, who delights in peace and love, is wont to give to those that indeavour after peace and love.
Greet] 6. Hee exhorts, that they would shew towards one another the signs of mutual love without dissimulation, as it becommeth Saints.
The Grace of our Lord] After his salutation in the name of the Saints, in the end hee applies himself to them by an Apostolical benediction, and wishes furthermore, that there might not onelyonly bee granted a right to all the comfortable benefits of Christ, but also an acknowledgement, a sense and more full fruition; first, of the Grace of Reconciliation made by Christ; further of his divine Love, which by Christ descends upon us: and thirdly, all sorts of gifts of the Holy Ghost, sealing, even as with his Seal, his desire and hope.
Amen.