1 He threatens severity, and the power of his apostleship, against obstinate sinners.
5 And, advising them to a trial of their faith,
7 and to a reformation of their sins before his coming,
11 he concludes his epistle with a general exhortation and a prayer.

the third. See on. 12:14

In. Nu 35:30 De 17:6 19:15 1Ki 21:10,13 Mt 18:16 26:60,61 Joh 8:17,18 Heb 10:28,29

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 have sinned, and to all other, that, if I come again, I will not spare:

told. 1:23 10:1,2,8-11 12:20 1Co 4:19-21 5:5

being. 10

heretofore. 12:21

3 Since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, which to you-ward is not weak, but is mighty in you.

ye seek. 10:8-10

Christ. 2:10 Mt 10:20 18:18-20 Lu 21:15 1Co 5:4,5

which. 2:6 3:1-3 12:12 1Co 9:1-3

4 For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you.

he was. Lu 22:43,44 Joh 10:18 1Co 15:43 Php 2:7,8 Heb 5:7 1Pe 3:18

yet. Ac 2:36 4:10-12 Ro 6:4,9,10 14:9 Eph 1:19-23 Php 2:9-11 1Pe 3:18,22 Re 1:17,18

we also. 4:7-12 10:3,4,10 1Co 2:3

in him. or, with him. Php 3:10 2Ti 2:11,12

but. Ac 3:16 Ro 6:8-11

5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

Examine. Ps 17:3 26:2 119:59 139:23,24 La 3:40 Eze 18:28 Hag 1:5,7 1Co 11:28,31 Ga 6:4 Heb 4:1 12:15 1Jo 3:20,21 Re 2:5 3:2,3

in the faith. Col 1:23 2:7 1Ti 2:15 Tit 1:13 2:2 1Pe 5:9

Know. 1Co 3:16 6:2,15,19 9:24 Jas 4:4

Jesus Christ. 6:16 Joh 6:56 14:23 15:4 17:23,26 Ro 8:10 Ga 2:20 4:19 Eph 2:20-22 3:17 Col 1:27 2:19 1Pe 2:4,5

reprobates. 6,7 Jer 6:30 Ro 1:28 2Ti 3:8 Tit 1:16 1Co 9:27 Heb 6:8

6 But I trust that ye shall know that we are not reprobates.

3,4,10 12:20

7 Now I pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we should appear approved, but that ye should do that which is honest, though we be as reprobates.

I pray. 9 1Ch 4:10 Mt 6:13 Joh 17:15 Php 1:9-11 1Th 5:23 2Ti 4:18

approved. 6:4 10:18 Ro 16:10 1Co 11:19 2Ti 2:15 Jas 1:12 *Gr:

honest. 8:21 Ro 12:17 13:13 Php 4:8 1Ti 2:2 1Pe 2:12

as reprobates. 6:8,9 10:10 1Co 4:9-13

8 For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.

10 10:8 Nu 16:28-35 1Ki 22:28 2Ki 1:9-13 2:23-25 Pr 21:30 Pr 26:2 Mr 9:39 16:17-19 Lu 9:49-56 Ac 4:28-30 5:1-11 13:3-12 Ac 19:11-17 1Co 5:4,5 1Ti 1:20 Heb 2:3,4

9 For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong: and this also we wish, even your perfection.

when. 8 11:30 12:5-10 1Co 4:10

even. 7,11 7:1 Eph 4:13 Php 3:12-15 Col 1:28 4:12 1Th 3:10 2Ti 3:17 Heb 6:1 12:23 13:21 1Pe 5:10

10 Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the power which the Lord hath given me to edification, and not to destruction.

I write. 2:3 10:2 12:20,21 1Co 4:21

lest. See on ver. 2,8 Tit 1:13

according. 10:8

11 Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.

farewell. Lu 9:61 Ac 15:29 18:21 23:30 Php 4:4 1Th 5:16 *Gr:

Be perfect. 9 Mt 5:48 Joh 17:23 Jas 1:4 1Pe 5:10

be of good. 1:4 Mr 10:49 Ro 15:13 1Th 4:18 2Th 2:16,17

be of one. Ro 12:16,18 15:5,6 1Co 1:10 Eph 4:3 Php 1:27 2:1-3 3:16 4:2 1Pe 3:8

live. Ge 37:4 45:24 Mr 9:50 Ro 12:18 14:19 1Th 5:13 2Ti 2:22 Heb 12:14 Jas 3:17,18 1Pe 3:11

the God. Ro 15:33 16:20 Php 4:9 1Th 5:23 Heb 13:20 1Jo 4:8-16

with. 14 Mt 1:23 2Th 3:16 Re 22:21

12 Greet one another with an holy kiss.

Ro 16:16 1Co 16:20 1Th 5:26 1Pe 5:14

13 All the saints salute you.

Ro 16:16,21-23 Php 4:21,22 Phm 1:23,24 Heb 13:24 1Pe 5:13 2Jo 1:13 3Jo 1:14

14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.

The grace. Nu 6:23-27 Mt 28:19 Joh 1:16,17

See on Ro 1:7 16:20,24 1Co 16:23 Re 1:4,5

the love. Ro 5:5 8:39 Eph 6:23 1Jo 3:16 Jude 1:21

the communion. Joh 4:10,14 7:38 14:15-17 Ro 8:9,14-17 1Co 3:16 6:19 12:13 Ga 5:22 Eph 2:18,22 5:9 Php 2:1 1Jo 1:3 3:24

Amen. See on Mt 6:13 28:20 Ro 16:20,27 1Co 14:16

CONCLUDING REMARKS ON THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS

The most remarkable circumstance in this Epistle, observes Mr. Scott, is the confidence of the Apostle in the goodness of his cause, and in the power of God to bear him out in it. Opposed as he then was by a powerful and sagacious party, whose authority, reputation, and interest were deeply concerned, and who were ready to seize on every thing that could discredit him, it is wonderful to hear him so firmly insist upon his apostolical authority, and so unreservedly appeal to the miraculous power which he has exercised and conferred at Corinth. So far from shrinking from the contest, as afraid of some discovery being made, unfavourable to him and the common cause, he, with great modesty and meekness indeed, but with equal boldness and decision, expressly declares that his opposers and despisers were the ministers of Satan, and menaces them with miraculous judgments, when as many of their deluded hearers had been brought to repentance and re-established in the faith, as proper means could in a reasonable time effect. It is inconceivable that a stronger internal testimony, not only of integrity, but of divine inspiration, can exist. Had there been any thing of imposture among the Christians, it was next to impossible but such a conduct must have occasioned a disclosure of it. Of the effects produced by this latter epistle we have no circumstantial account; for the journey which Said. Paul took to Corinth, after he had written it, is mentioned by Said. Luke only in a few words, (Ac. 20:2,3.) We know, however, that Said. Paul was there after he had written this Epistle; that the contributions for the poor brethren at Jerusalem were brought to him from different parts to that city (Ro. 15:26;) and that, after remaining there several months, he sent salutations from some of the principal members of that church, by whom he must have been greatly respected, to the church of Rome (Ro. 16:22, 23.) From this time we hear no more of the false teacher and his party; and when Clement of Rome wrote his epistle to the Corinthians, Said. Paul was considered by them as a divine apostle, to whose authority he might appeal without fear of contradiction. The false teacher, therefore, must either have been silenced by Said. Paul, by virtue of his apostolical powers, and by an act of severity which he had threatened, (2 Co 13: 2, 3;) or this adversary of the apostle had, at that time, voluntarily quitted the place. Whichever was the cause, the effect produced must operate as a confirmation of our faith, and as a proof of Said. Paul's divine mission.