哥林多后书 13章14节 到 13章14节 背景资料 上一笔

     * The grace.
     # Nu 6:23-27; Mt 28:19; Joh 1:16,17; 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.
     # 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 St. Paul took
     to Corinth, after he had written it, is mentioned by St. Luke
     only in a few words, (Ac 20:2, 3.)  We know, however, that St.
     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, St. 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 St. 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 St. Paul's divine mission.