The Key of the Bible, Biblical commentary · Part 2 · Section 2 · Subsection 3
II Corinth.
THe II. Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the CORINTHIANS, So called from Paul the Penman of it. (of whom see before in Epistle to the Romans) and from the parties to whom he wrote, viz. The Church at Corinth, (of which see in I. to Corinth.) and to all the Saints in all Achaia, 2 Cor. 1.1. probably there being many Saints in that Province, who could not so safely and conveniently meet in Church-Assemblyes, but were dispersed up and down by reason of the turbulency of those times. Calvin in loc.
When this Epistle was written, see before in the Table.
Occasion of this Epistle seems to be, those Calumnies and aspersions cast upon Pa…ls words and actions by false Apostles and other his adversaries after his former Epistle; they charged him with l…vity, that he came not to them according to his premise: with pride and tyrannicall severity, because of the incestuous person: with less…ning the authority of the law: and that however he was glorious in his letters, yet in person he was but base, &c. Paul therefore wipes off these aspersions, & shows that he wrote not his former Epistle to them for any such ends, but for promoting of their salvation. So that this Epistle is for most part of it Apologeticall, viz. Pauls Apology against his adversaries calumnies, and this the end and Scope of it; as also to testify his love to them, and to prevent his having sorrow from them, when he should come unto them. 2 Cor. 2.3, 4.
Principall parts. are
I. An introduction or Exordium to his Epistle, c. 1, 1. to 8.
II. The substance of his Epistle, containing a Treatise Apologeticall and Hortatory.
1. In the Apologeticall or excusatory part of he Epistle.
1. He purgeth himselfe both from the charge of l…vity and temerity that he came not to them according to his promise, 1 Cor. 16.2. to 8. And of severity in the case of the incestuous person, showing them the true causes of his absence, wherein (to clear himself from severity, &c,) he inserts his exhortation to them, touching the restoring and comforting of the incestuous person, excommunicated according to his former Epistle, but now repenting c. 1, 8. to the end, and c. 2.
2. He commends and magnifies his ministery to them, 1 Partly from the effect it had on them, Converting them, c. 3, 1. to 6. 2 Partly from the subject matter of his ministry, viz. The Gospel farre surpassing the law in glory, c. 3, 6. to the end. 3 Partly from his undaunted constancy in preaching the Gospel, notwithstanding all afflictions thereupon incident unto him, those afflictions working for him a far more exceeding and eternall weight of glory, c. 4. His assurance of which glory he demonstrates upon divers grounds, c. 5.
2. In the Hortatory part of the Epistle, He exhorts the Corinthians, and beseecheth them
1. To walke worthy of the Gospel, and not to receive the grace of God in vaine, and this is done more Generally, c. 6, 1, to 14. More specially by avoiding the fellowship of insidels and idolaters, c. 6, 14. to the end, and c. 7, 1.
2. To beare him like affection in receiving his doctrine and exhortations, as he beares towards them for their repentance; and kindnesse to Titus, c. 7, 2. to the end.
3. To a liberall contribution, to the poor Saints at Ierusalem, and in Iudea; and this by many emphaticall Arguments, c. 8, and c. 9.
4. To behave themselves with such du…ifull obedience to his doctrine and ministry, that he may have cause to use lenity and gentlenesse towards them, and not be put to exercise that severity against them which he intended against some, c, 10. whereupon (that he may vindicate himselfe and his Apostleship from contempt in their eyes, who preferred the false Apostles before him) he enters upon a necessitated and forced commendation of himselfe and his Apostleship by many considerations, c. 11. and c. 12.
III. The Conclusion of the whole Epistle,
1. With Comminations of severity and sharpnesse, which he will use towards them, if they repent not, c. 13, 1. to 11.
2. With valedictory exhortations and salutations, c. 13. v. 11, 12, 13, 14.