1 This is the third time I am comming to you: in the mouth of two or three witnesses shal euery word be established.
2 I told you before, and foretell you as if I were present the second time, and being absent, now I write to them which heretofore haue sinned, and to all other, that if I come againe I will not spare:
3 Since ye seeke a proofe of Christ, speaking in me, which to you-ward is not weake, but is mightie in you.
4 For though hee was crucified through weaknesse, yet he liueth by the power of God: for wee also are weake in him, but wee shall liue with him by the power of God toward you.
5 Examine your selues, whether ye be in the faith: proue your owne selues. Know yee not your owne selues, how that Iesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
6 But I trust that yee shall knowe that we are not reprobates.
7 Now I pray to God, that ye doe no euill, not that we should appeare approued, but that ye should doe þt which is honest, though we be as reprobates.
8 For wee can doe nothing against the trueth, but for the trueth.
9 For wee are glad when wee are weake, and ye are strong: and this also we wish, euen your perfection.
10 Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should vse sharpnesse, according to the power which the Lord hath giuen me to edification, and not to destruction.
11 Finally, brethren, farewell: Bee perfect, bee of good comfort, bee of one minde, liue in peace, and the God of loue and peace shalbe with you.
12 Greet one another with an holy kisse.
13 All the Saints salute you.
14 The grace of the Lord Iesus Christ, and the loue of God, and the communion of the holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen. The second Epistle to the Corinthians, was written from Philippos a citie of Macedonia, by Titus and Lucas.
The apostle threatens obstinate offenders. (1-6) He prays for their reformation. (7-10) And ends the epistle with a salutation and blessing. (11-14)1-6 Though it is God's gracious method to bear long with sinners, yet he will not bear always; at length he will come, and will not spare those who remain obstinate and impenitent. Christ at his crucifixion, appeared as only a weak and helpless man, but his resurrection and life showed his Divine power. So the apostles, how mean and contemptible soever they appeared to the world, yet, as instruments, they manifested the power of God. Let them prove their tempers, conduct, and experience, as gold is assayed or proved by the touchstone. If they could prove themselves not to be reprobates, not to be rejected of Christ, he trusted they would know that he was not a reprobate, not disowned by Christ. They ought to know if Christ Jesus was in them, by the influences, graces, and indwelling of his Spirit, by his kingdom set up in their hearts. Let us question our own souls; either we are true Christians, or we are deceivers. Unless Christ be in us by his Spirit, and power of his love, our faith is dead, and we are yet disapproved by our Judge.
7-10 The most desirable thing we can ask of God, for ourselves and our friends, is to be kept from sin, that we and they may not do evil. We have far more need to pray that we may not do evil, than that we may not suffer evil. The apostle not only desired that they might be kept from sin, but also that they might grow in grace, and increase in holiness. We are earnestly to pray to God for those we caution, that they may cease to do evil, and learn to do well; and we should be glad for others to be strong in the grace of Christ, though it may be the means of showing our own weakness. let us also pray that we may be enabled to make a proper use of all our talents.
11-14 Here are several good exhortations. God is the Author of peace and Lover of concord; he hath loved us, and is willing to be at peace with us. And let it be our constant aim so to walk, that separation from our friends may be only for a time, and that we may meet in that happy world where parting will be unknown. He wishes that they may partake all the benefits which Christ of his free grace and favour has purchased; the Father out of his free love has purposed; and the Holy Ghost applies and bestows.
Commentary by Matthew Henry, 1710.