An Exposition of Pauls Epistles, Letter 3 · Chapter 5
CHAP. V.
HEE goes on to shew more fully his faithfulness in the Ministery, by mentioning seven impellent causes, whereby hee was moved to faithfulness in the discharge of his duty.
Vers. 1. For wee know that if our earthly house of this Tabernacle were dissolved, wee have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
The first impellent cause to faithfulness in the Ministery is his certain confidence of a blessed immortality, which after death remains for him, and all the rest of the faithful Ministers of Christ, of which felicity also the body shall bee partaker in the Resurrection. I am perswaded (saith hee) that after the dissolution of this my frail body, I shall continually injoy felicity of soul, and the glorious immortality of a raised body, why should not I therefore bee faithful, so long as I dwell in this mortal body.
Vers. 2. For in this wee groan earnestly, desiring to bee cloathed upon with our house which is from Heaven.
The solidity of this his confidence or perswasion is confirmed by seven Signs, all which did stir up his mind to faithfulness.
Sign 1. Is a desire of departing out of this life, that hee might obtain immortality, or bee endued, instead of a corruptible body, with immortal glory. An Argument certainly of a mind conscious of its sincerity, and certified of future happiness.
Vers. 3. If so bee that being clothed wee shall not bee found naked.
Hee limits this sign and priviledge of being endued with future glory, That it may belong to those onelyonly, who departing out of this life to an immortal and immutable state, are not found naked, i. e. not destitute of that true covering, whereby our filthy nakedness is covered, which covering is Christ, or Christs Righteousness, which can alone cover our sins, wherein our nakedness consists: This therefore is the second Sign of his solid desire of going out of this life, and of a mind very conscious of the faithful administration of his office, that hee knew himself to bee in the number of those, to whom alone the certainty of being cloathed upon with glory belonged, to wit, of those, who are cloathed already with that covering, whereby the foul nakedness of sinners is covered, i. e. the Righteousness …f Christ, with which, except a man bee cloathed in this life, hee shall bee found naked in the other, and shall remain naked for ever.
Vers. 4. For wee that are in this Tabernacle do groan, being burdened, not for that wee would bee uncloathed, but cloathed upon, that mortality might bee swallowed up of life.
Sign 3. That the desire of his departing this life arising from this confidence, was holy, i. e. it was derived not so much from the weariness of natural life, but from the hope of a better: This is that which hee saith, although hee groan and bee sorrowful in his body, yet hee would not bee uncloathed of this body, but that this body might bee cloathed upon with immortality, and that mortality might bee swallowed up of immortality.
Vers. 5. Now hee that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of this Spirit.
Sign 4. That this desire is not natural, but the supernatural work of God, stirred up, and formed in the hearts of his own by the special work of God: It is God that hath wrought, formed and created us for this thing. His confidence therefore is solid.
Who also] Sign 5. That this confidence of a better life is sealed by the earnest of the Spirit, having as it were a taste and experience of that life in the peace and joy of the Spirit, i. e. in the first fruits of that happiness which is to come.
Vers. 6. Therefore wee are alwaies confident, knowing that whilst wee are at home in the body, wee are absent from the Lord.
Sign 6. That this confidence is firmly grounded in the certain perswasion of his nigher access to the Lord, which should bee vouchsafed to him after death, when doubtless, even as in one house, hee should dwell with God, who now in the body is as absent from the Lord.
Vers. 7. (For wee walk by Faith, not by sight.)
8. Wee are confident, I say, and willing rather to bee absent from the body, and to bee present with the Lord.
Sign 7. Confirming the former, that hee knoweth himself to walk by Faith in this life, and not by sight of the beatifical vision, which abideth for us in the life to come, who in our sense are absent from the Lord, while wee are present i… the body: Therefore more vehemently and confidently hee did both desire and chuse to go to the Lord, rather than to remain in the body.
Vers. 9. Wherefore wee labour, that whether present or absent, wee may bee accepted of him.
That this confidence confirmed by so many signs of sincerity was the impellent cause to his faithfulness in his Ministery, hee now expresly declares: Because whatsoever change towards life or death did happen to him, out of this confidence hee did indeavour to please God, with no less diligence than those which contend for honour, that both in this life or pilgrimage, and in his death or approaching to God, hee might bee made acceptable to him.
Vers. 10. For wee must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ, that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that hee hath done, whether it bee good or evil.
His second impellent cause to faithfulness in his Ministery, is the consideration of punishments and rewards which abide every one according to their works at the last judgement, in which God will inflict punishments upon the wicked, but to the godly (whose good works after their sins are pardoned onelyonly remain) hee shall render rewards.
Vers. 11. Knowing therefore the terrour of the Lord, wee perswade men, but wee are made manifest unto God, and I trust also, wee are manifest in your consciences.
He shews by calling God and the consciences of the Corinthians to bee his witnesses, that this Argument hath urged him to faithfulness in the Ministery: For the apprehension of that future terrible judgement hath affected this, that he exhorted all to reconciliation with God by Faith.
Vers. 12. For we commend not our selves again unto you, but give you occasion to glory on our behalf, that you may have somewhat to answer them, which glory in appearance, and not in heart.
He solves two Objections, which his adversaries may object against him so earnestly glorying of his faithfulness.
Object. 1. Thou O Paul gloriest (some one may say) whilst thou commendest thy self. Hee answers, that hee did not say these things for that end, but that the Corinthians may have that for his defence, whereby to repress their vain and boasting Teachers, who did diminish the authority of the Apostle amongst them, and did glory in the presence of men, otherwise than their conscience and the truth of the matter did permit; For they being destitute of piety, or matter of glorying in heart, they gloried in their adulterated eloquence.
Vers. 13. For whether wee bee besides our selves, it is to God, or whether wee bee sober, it is for your cause.
Object. 2. But O Paul, thou art besides thy self, who doest so openly confute such Teachers. Hee answers, that hee did not dispute, but give a reason of the fact, as it did become a wise man, to wit, that hee uttered those things for the glory of God and their salvation: For (sayes hee) if I praise my Ministery, which seems to bee the part of one besides himself; I do it for the Glory of God, lest my Gospel should bee undervalued: If I speak humbly of my self, as sober men use to do, I do it for your good.
Vers. 14. For the Love of Christ constraineth us, because wee thus judge: that if one d…ed for all, then were all dead:
The third impellent cause to faithfulness containing a reason of the former saying, is his love, wherewith hee loved Christ, which did cast upon him, as it were bonds, and constrained him, that hee being unmindful of himself, did both speak and do those things onelyonly, which might promote the Glory of Christ, and the good of the Church.
Vers. 15. And that hee died for all, that they which live, should not henceforth live to themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.
Hee giveth a reason of his love, and adds the fourth impellent cause, to wit, the love of Christ to us: Christ (saies hee) when wee were all dead in respect of our desert, and the justice of God, alone died in the room of all of us, that beleeve in him: That wee being delivered from deserved perdition, should not serve our selves, but Christ our Redeemer: why therefore should not I bee faithful in the business of Christ?
Vers. 16. Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh; yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know wee him no more.
Hee prevents an Objection, to this end, that hee might give account why hee checked those glorious Corinthian Doctors; not regarding his esteem with the ignorant; So that hee might promote the Glory of Christ, and the Churches safety. Some one might say, but it behoved him to regard the dignity of so many worthy Teachers amongst the Corinthians, who shined with Eloquence, Learning, Riches, Honours and Nobility of Parentage: For some of these were of the Jews, and perhaps did boast, that they were of the Tribe of Iudah, and did arrive to Christs kindred, as it is credible from what follows▪ Hee answers three waies, drawing every one of his answers as conclusions from vers. 12.
Answ. 1. That hee doth not look at Riches, Honours, Parentage, Eloquence, and the rest, neither did hee esteem any man from outward things, by which the esteem of men is encreased or diminished with worldlings, and those that are carnal.
Tea] Answ. 2. That hee did not judge any more of Christ himself, according to his external condition, or detract from his estimation, by reason of his poverty and ignominy in the world, as in times past hee esteemed being in a mistake: And therefore hee did not esteem any one more valuable, because of his Riches, Honours, and Parentage, &c.
Vers. 17. Therefore if any man bee in Christ, hee is a new Creature, old things are passed away, behold, all things are become new:
Answ. 3. Shewing the duty of the faithful ingrafted into Christ to bee this, that as new Creatures they should labour for the newness of a right judgement, and an holy life. And that these worldly things should not bee so highly esteemed, hee proves from Isa. 65.17. where God promiseth an abolition of old things, and that hee will make a new Heaven and a new Earth; i. e. all things new under the Kingdome of Christ: Whence it follows, that those things onelyonly are to bee had in estimation amongst Christians, which reach to a new Creature, or Regeneration; For all things are made new to those that are renewed, when they are reconciled to God, they have all Creatures as it were reconciled to them, and now they use them after a new manner, for the Glory of God, and their own salvation, setting a price upon every thing, according as it makes, or not makes, for the promoting of the Kingdome of God in themselves and others.
Vers. 18. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Iesus Christ, and hath given unto us the Ministery of reconciliation.
The fifth impellent cause to faithfulness in his Ministery, is the grace and goodness of God towards him, which cause (returning to his purpose, and looking up to God) hee asserts the Author of the New Creature (whereof hee had even now spoken) and of all graces: Because the Grace of God towards him had brought to him a double priviledge, to wit, reconciliation by Christ, and a Ministerial office for the reconciliation of others; from hence hee acknowledges a twofold Obligation for his faithfulness in the Ministery: Why therefore should not hee approve himself faithful?
Vers. 19. To wit, that God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them, and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
The sixth impellent cause, is the excellency of preaching, of which hee propounds a short collection, wherein, 1 The Father, who by reason of sin was removed far from us, declares himself to come near unto us in Christ, who is the true IMMANUEL God with us. 2 The Father reconciled, as for his part, declares himself to do that in Christ, for the Elect world, that they beholding their enmities betwixt themselves, and God, as for their part, may come again into favour, and bee reconciled with God through Christ. 3 The means is shewn by which men may bee reconciled to God, viz. by remission, or a not imputing of sins, which God most graciously doth offer. 4 The instrument of applying the Grace of reconciliation obtained by Christ is shewn, viz. the word of reconciliation committed to the Apostles, and to the other Ministers. In which so excellent and so necessary a Ministery, hee could not bee but faithfull when hee set those things before him.
Vers. 20. Now then wee are Embassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us; wee pray you in Christs stead, bee yee reconciled to God.
The seventh impellent cause to faithfulness is, the excellency of the person which hee represents, which cause hee propounds, and together with the whole precedent Doctrine hee makes use of, by which very thing shewing the endeavour of his faithfulness. To this end hee importunes all, and diligently urges all with his authority as an Embassadour, and also submissively and lovingly, as bearing the Image of God, that every one would more heartily accept the reconciliation offered of God, that the remainders of enmity being taken away, which unbelief cherisheth within, all may become the same Spirit with God.
Vers. 21. For hee hath made him to bee sin for us, who knew no sin, that wee might bee made the righteousness of God in him.
Lastly, That hee may perswade to the obedience of Faith, and to the receiving of a fuller measure of reconciliatio…, hee sheweth that an open and expedient way to reconciliation, is because Christ the innocent Mediator, and pure from sin, by his consent and agreement with the Father in a judicial manner, is accounted guilty of our sin, yea truly hee was made an Expiatory Sacrifice for our sin, expresly for that end, that wee believing in Christ may bee made partakers of Christs righteousness judicially by imputation, and so may bee made perfectly righteous, and as it were by that righteousness which chiefly pleases God through this excellent and divine way of reconcilement, which the wisdome of God hath invented, and grace hath made ours.
But hee adds this (in him) that wee might necessarily understand that wee are engraffed into Christ by Faith, by which this righteousness may bee ours, because from our conjunction with Christ by Faith, follows our judicial union with Christ, from this union imputation is made of the obedience and righteousness of Christ to us, and at length the application of all his gifts, even to perfect felicity, which being considered, what can bee said more efficaciously to stir all of us up, that our enmities being acknowledged, and our necessities, wee may imbrace reconciliation offered in Christ.
The sum therefore of these three verses is, That the Apostle when hee had weighed the dispensation of mans Redemption, and the reason of bringing the Elect to Reconciliation and Salvation, hee could not but imploy himself strongly and faithfully in his Ministery: For when hee knew by the Covenant, (concerning the Redemption of the Elect) between God and his Son, (the second person of the Trinity invested with the office of a Mediator and a Surety) God being so abundantly satisfied, hee now becomes gracious to the world of the redeemed, or Elect, concurring with Christ the Mediator for the applying of Reconciliation obtained for all the Redeemed; and hee importunes them by Christ, and by the Servants of Christ, the Ministers of the Gospel, no less seriously than the Redeemer himself, and prayes them▪ that now hee himself being reconciled, they would bee reconciled. When I say the Apostle knew these things, and that there was a charge committed to him, that hee should promote this reconciliation, what wonder then, if hee earnestly strived, that men might be turned to God? And when hee knew that by Covenant Christ had took upon himself all the sins of all the Redeemed, and was made a Propitiatory Sacrifice for the expiating of their sins imputed to him, under this condition, that the Redeemed (such all the faithful shew themselves to bee) clothed with the Righteousness of God, or the Righteousness of Christ, should bee accounted most righteous in the mind of God, and at length should bee fully renewed by the Holy Spirit, what wonder then if hee confidently and constantly prosecuted the business of reconciliation, and shewed himself faithful in executing his Ministery?