{"commentary":{"id":"jamieson-fausset-brown","name":"Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary","website":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jamieson-Fausset-Brown_Bible_Commentary","licenseUrl":"https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/","licenseNotes":null,"licenseNotice":null,"englishName":"Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary","language":"eng","textDirection":"rtl","sha256":"db3d4c8b3c1f32ef9d1430a57392e02bda3a17aac1f9bbe398461de021a3cb13","availableFormats":["json"],"listOfBooksApiLink":"/api/c/jamieson-fausset-brown/books.json","listOfProfilesApiLink":"/api/c/jamieson-fausset-brown/profiles.json","numberOfBooks":66,"totalNumberOfChapters":1187,"totalNumberOfVerses":17056,"totalNumberOfProfiles":0,"languageName":"English","languageEnglishName":"English"},"book":{"id":"2CO","commentaryId":"jamieson-fausset-brown","name":"2 Corinthians","commonName":"2 Corinthians","introduction":"THE following reasons seem to have induced Paul to write this Second Epistle to the Corinthians: (1) That he might explain the reasons for his having deferred to pay them his promised visit, by taking Corinth as his way to Macedonia (Co1 4:19; Co2 1:15-16; compare Co1 16:5); and so that he might set forth to them his apostolic walk in general (Co2 1:12, Co2 1:24; Co2 6:3-13; Co2 7:2). (2) That he might commend their obedience in reference to the directions in his First Epistle, and at the same time direct them now to forgive the offender, as having been punished sufficiently (Co2 2:1-11; Co2 7:6-16). (3) That he might urge them to collect for the poor saints at Jerusalem (Co2 8:1-9, Co2 8:15). (4) That he might maintain his apostolic authority and reprove gainsayers.\n\nThe external testimonies for its genuineness are IRENÆUS [Against Heresies, 3,7,1]; ATHENAGORAS [Of the Resurrection of the Dead]; CLEMENT OF ALEXANDRIA [Miscellanies, 3, p. 94; 4, p. 101]; TERTULLIAN [On Modesty, 13].\n\nThe TIME OF WRITING was after Pentecost, A.D. 57, when Paul left Ephesus for Troas. Having stayed in the latter place for some time preaching the Gospel with effect (Co2 2:12), he went on to Macedonia, being eager to meet Titus there, having been disappointed in his not coming to Troas, as had been agreed on between them. Having heard from him the tidings he so much desired of the good effect produced on the Corinthians by his First Epistle, and after having tested the liberality of the Macedonian churches (Co2 8:1), he wrote this Second Epistle, and then went on to Greece, where he abode for three months; and then, after travelling by land, reached Philippi on his return at Passover or Easter, A.D. 58 (Act 20:1-6). So that this Epistle must have been written about autumn, A.D. 57.\n\nMacedonia was THE PLACE from which it was written (Co2 9:2, where the present tense, \"I boast,\" or \"am boasting,\" implies his presence then in Macedonia). In Asia (Lydian Asia) he had undergone some great peril of his life (Co2 1:8-9), whether the reference be [PALEY] to the tumult at Ephesus (Acts 19:23-41), or, as ALFORD thinks, to a dangerous illness in which he despaired of life. Thence he passed by Troas to Philippi, the first city which would meet him in entering Macedonia. The importance of the Philippian Church would induce him to stay there some time; as also his desire to collect contributions from the Macedonian churches for the poor saints at Jerusalem. His anxiety of mind is recorded (Co2 7:5) as occurring when he came into Macedonia, and therefore must have been at Philippi, which was the first city of Macedonia in coming from Troas; and here, too, from Co2 7:6, compared with Co2 7:5, must have been the scene of his receiving the comforting tidings from Titus. \"Macedonia\" is used for Philippi in Co2 11:9, as is proved by comparison with Phi 4:15-16. So it is probably used here (Co2 7:5). ALFORD argues from Co2 8:1, where he speaks of the \"grace bestowed on the churches (plural) of Macedonia,\" that Paul must have visited other churches in Macedonia, besides Philippi, when he wrote, for example, Thessalonica, Berea, &c., and that Philippi, the first on his route, is less likely to have been the scene of his writing than the last on his route, whichever it was, perhaps Thessalonica. But Philippi, as being the chief town of the province, was probably the place to which all the collections of the churches were sent. Ancient tradition, too (as appears from the subscription to this Epistle), favors the view that Philippi was the place from which this Epistle was sent by the hands of Titus who received, besides, a charge to prosecute at Corinth the collection which he had begun at his first visit (Co2 8:6).\n\nThe STYLE is most varied, and passes rapidly from one phase of feeling to another; now joyous and consolatory, again severe and full of reproof; at one time gentle and affectionate, at another, sternly rebuking opponents and upholding his dignity as an apostle. This variety of style accords with the warm and earnest character of the apostle, which nowhere is manifested more beautifully than in this Epistle. His bodily frailty, and the chronic malady under which he suffered, and which is often alluded to (Co2 4:7; Co2 5:1-4; Co2 12:7-9; compare Note, see on Co2 1:8), must have been especially trying to one of his ardent temperament. But besides this, was the more pressing anxiety of the \"care of all the churches.\" At Corinth, as elsewhere, Judaizing emissaries wished to bind legal fetters of letter and form (compare 2Co. 3:3-18) on the freedom and catholicity of the Church. On the other hand, there were free thinkers who defended their immorality of practice by infidel theories (Co1 15:12, Co1 15:32-36). These were the \"fightings without,\" and \"fears within\" (Co2 7:5-6) which agitated the apostle's mind until Titus brought him comforting tidings from Corinth. Even then, while the majority at Corinth had testified their repentance, and, as Paul had desired, excommunicated the incestuous person, and contributed for the poor Christians of Judea, there was still a minority who, more contemptuously than ever, resisted the apostle. These accused him of crafty and mercenary motives, as if he had personal gain in view in the collection being made; and this, notwithstanding his scrupulous care to be above the possibility of reasonable suspicion, by having others besides himself to take charge of the money. This insinuation was palpably inconsistent with their other charge, that he could be no true apostle, as he did not claim maintenance from the churches which he founded. Another accusation they brought of cowardly weakness; that he was always threatening severe measures without daring to execute them (Co2 10:8-16; Co2 13:2); and that he was vacillating in his teaching and practice, circumcising Timothy, and yet withholding circumcision from Titus; a Jew among the Jews, and a Greek among the Greeks. That most of these opponents were of the Judaizing party in the Church, appears from Co2 11:22. They seem to have been headed by an emissary from Judea (\"he that cometh,\" Co2 11:4), who had brought \"letters of commendation\" (Co2 3:1) from members of the Church at Jerusalem, and who boasted of his purity of Hebrew descent, and his close connection with Christ Himself (Co2 11:13, Co2 11:23). His partisans contrasted his high pretensions with the timid humility of Paul (Co1 2:3); and his rhetoric with the apostle's plain and unadorned style (Co2 11:6; Co2 10:10, Co2 10:13). It was this state of things at Corinth, reported by Titus, that caused Paul to send him back forthwith thither with this Second Epistle, which is addressed, not to Corinth only (Co1 1:2), but to all the churches also in Achaia (Co2 1:1), which had in some degree been affected by the same causes as affected the Corinthian Church. The widely different tone in different parts of the Epistle is due to the diversity which existed at Corinth between the penitent majority and the refractory minority. The former he addresses with the warmest affection; the latter with menace and warning. Two deputies, chosen by the churches to take charge of the contribution to be collected at Corinth, accompanied Titus (Co2 8:18-19, Co2 8:22). \n\n\n\nNext: 2 Corinthians Chapter 1\n\n","order":47,"numberOfChapters":13,"sha256":"90286450b61b72bcc6f42b0d0d5b45cafdeabce5f4f3d78e1fddf60a95cf8970","firstChapterNumber":1,"firstChapterApiLink":"/api/c/jamieson-fausset-brown/2CO/1.json","firstChapterReference":{"commentaryId":"jamieson-fausset-brown","book":"2CO","chapter":1},"lastChapterNumber":13,"lastChapterApiLink":"/api/c/jamieson-fausset-brown/2CO/13.json","lastChapterReference":{"commentaryId":"jamieson-fausset-brown","book":"2CO","chapter":13},"totalNumberOfVerses":240},"chapter":{"number":9,"content":[{"type":"verse","number":2,"content":["ready a year ago--to send off the money, owing to the apostle's former exhortation (Co1 16:1-2). \n\nyour zeal--Greek, \"the zeal from you,\" that is, on your part; propagated from you to others. \n\nprovoked--that is, stimulated. \n\nvery many--Greek, \"the greater number,\" namely, of the Macedonians.\n\n"]},{"type":"verse","number":3,"content":["have I sent--we should say, \"I send\"; whereas the ancients put it in the past, the time which it would be by the time that the letter arrived. \n\nthe brethren-- (Co2 8:18, Co2 8:22) --Titus and the two others. \n\nshould be in vain in this behalf--\"should be proved futile in this particular,\" however true in general (Co2 7:4). A tacit compliment, softening the sharp monition. \n\nas I said--as I was saying (Co2 9:2).\n\n"]},{"type":"verse","number":4,"content":["if they of Macedonia--rather as Greek, \"if Macedonians.\" \n\nunprepared--with your collection; see Co2 9:2, \"ready,\" Greek, \"prepared.\" \n\nwe, not to say ye--Ye would naturally feel more ashamed for yourselves, than we (who boasted of you) would for you. \n\nconfident boasting--The oldest manuscripts read simply \"confidence,\" namely, in your liberality.\n\n"]},{"type":"verse","number":5,"content":["that they would go before--Translate, \"that they should,\" &c. \n\nwhereof ye had notice before--rather, \"promised before\"; \"long announced by me to the Macedonians\" (Co2 9:2) [BENGEL]. \"Your promised bounty\" [ELLICOTT and others]. \n\nnot as of covetousness--Translate, \"not as matter of covetousness,\" which it would be, if you gave niggardly.\n\n"]},{"type":"verse","number":6,"content":["I say--ELLICOTT and others supply the ellipsis thus: \"But remember this.\" \n\nbountifully--literally, \"with,\" or \"in blessings.\" The word itself implies a beneficent spirit in the giver (compare Co2 9:7, end), and the plural implies the abundance and liberality of the gifts. \"The reaping shall correspond to the proportions and spirit of the sowing\" [BENGEL]. Compare Eze 34:26, \"Showers of blessing.\"\n\n"]},{"type":"verse","number":7,"content":["according as he purposeth in his heart--Let the full consent of the free will go with the gift [ALFORD]. Opposed to \"of necessity,\" as \"grudgingly\" is opposed to \"a cheerful giver\" (Pro 22:9; Pro 11:25; Isa 32:8).\n\n"]},{"type":"verse","number":8,"content":["all grace--even in external goods, and even while ye bestow on others [BENGEL]. \n\nthat--\"in order that.\" God's gifts are bestowed on us, not that we may have them to ourselves, but that we may the more \"abound in good works\" to others. \n\nsufficiency--so as not to need the help of others, having yourselves from God \"bread for your food\" (Co2 9:10). \n\nin all things--Greek, \"in everything.\" \n\nevery good work--of charity to others, which will be \"your seed sown\" (Co2 9:10).\n\n"]},{"type":"verse","number":9,"content":["As it is written--realizing the highly blessed character portrayed in Psa 112:9. \n\nHe--the \"good man\" (Psa 112:5). \n\ndispersed--as seed sown with full and open hand, without anxious thought in what direction each grain may fall. It is implied also that he has always what he may disperse [BENGEL]. So in Psa 112:9. \n\nthe poor--The Greek word is found here only in New Testament, \"one in straitened circumstances, who earns his bread by labor.\" The word usually employed means \"one so poor as to live by begging.\" \n\nhis righteousness--Here \"beneficence\": the evidence of his being righteous before God and man. Compare Deu 24:13; Mat 6:1, \"alms\"; Greek, \"righteousness.\" \n\nremaineth--unexhausted and unfailing.\n\n"]},{"type":"verse","number":10,"content":["Translate, as in Isa 55:10, \"He that ministereth (supplieth) seed to the sower and bread for food\" (literally, \"bread for eating\"). \n\nminister--rather future, as the oldest manuscripts, \"Shall minister (supply) and multiply.\" \n\nyour seed--your means for liberality. \n\nthe fruits of your righteousness--the heavenly rewards for your Christian charity (Mat 10:42). Righteousness shall be itself the reward, even as it is the thing rewarded (Hos 10:12; Mat 5:6; Mat 6:33).\n\n"]},{"type":"verse","number":11,"content":["Compare Co2 9:8. \n\nbountifulness--Greek, \"single-minded liberality.\" Translated \"simplicity,\" Rom 12:8. \n\ncauseth through us--literally, \"worketh through us\"; that is, through our instrumentality as the distributors. \n\nthanksgiving--on the part of the recipients.\n\n"]},{"type":"verse","number":12,"content":["Greek, \"The ministration of this public service (on your part) is not only still further supplying the wants of the saints (besides the supplies from other quarters), but is abounding also (namely, in respect to relieving the necessities of others in poverty) through many thanksgivings to God.\"\n\n"]},{"type":"verse","number":13,"content":["by--through occasion of. \n\nexperiment--Translate, \"the experience\" [ELLICOTT and others]. Or, \"the experimental proof\" of your Christian character, afforded by \"this ministration.\" \n\nthey--the recipients. \n\nfor your professed subjection--Greek, \"for the subjection of your profession\"; that is, your subjection in accordance with your profession, in relation to the Gospel. Ye yield yourselves in willing subjection to the Gospel precepts, evinced in acts, as well as in profession. \n\nyour liberal distribution--Greek, \"the liberality of your contribution in relation to them,\" &c.\n\n"]},{"type":"verse","number":14,"content":["Translate, \"Themselves also with prayer for you, longing after you on account of the exceeding grace of God (resting) upon you.\" English Version is, however, good sense: They glorify God (Co2 9:13) by the experimental proof, &c., \"and by their prayer for you.\" But the Greek favors the former.\n\n"]},{"type":"verse","number":15,"content":["his unspeakable gift--the gift of His own Son, which includes all other inferior gifts (Co2 8:9; Rom 8:32). If we have received from God \"His unspeakable gift,\" what great thing is it, if we give a few perishing gifts for His sake?\n\n\n\n\nNext: 2 Corinthians Chapter 10\n\n"]}],"introduction":"REASONS FOR HIS SENDING TITUS. THE GREATER THEIR BOUNTIFULNESS, THE MORE SHALL BE THE RETURN OF BLESSING TO THEM, AND THANKSGIVING TO GOD. (Co2 9:1-15)\n\nFor--connected with Co2 8:16 : \"Show love to the messengers of the churches; for as concerns the ministration for the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you who are so forward already.\" \n\nwrite--emphatical: It is superfluous to \"write,\" for you will have witnesses present [BENGEL].\n\n"},"thisChapterLink":"/api/c/jamieson-fausset-brown/2CO/9.json","thisChapterReference":{"commentaryId":"jamieson-fausset-brown","book":"2CO","chapter":9},"nextChapterApiLink":"/api/c/jamieson-fausset-brown/2CO/10.json","nextChapterReference":{"commentaryId":"jamieson-fausset-brown","book":"2CO","chapter":10},"previousChapterApiLink":"/api/c/jamieson-fausset-brown/2CO/8.json","previousChapterReference":{"commentaryId":"jamieson-fausset-brown","book":"2CO","chapter":8},"numberOfVerses":14}