Christians should be steadfast, their labour not being in vain. 361 1 Cor. is thy sting? Ograve, pleasure take up his song of triumph; Where SECT. where is thy victory? [is] thy pointed and destructive sting, O death? xxx. Where [is] thy victory, O gruve? How little hurt canst thou do me? For how little a while 56 The sting of shalt thou be able to triumph over me? death is sin; and the very sting and torture of death, that which arms strength of sin is the it with its greatest terrors, [is] the considera law. xv. 55 The 56 tion of its being the punishment of sin, and consequently its foreboding future misery, as the effect of the Divine displeasure; and the power of sin, that which constitutes its malignity, and gives it these killing weapons, [is] that it is a 57 But thanks be transgression of the Divine law: But thanks 57 to God, which giv- [be] to God, who in his infinite mercy hath taken through our Lord away the sting and terror of death, giveth us the prospects and the joys of a complete victory over it, by the displays of his pardoning grace, through our Lord Jesus Christ. May we ever remain under those grateful impressions that suit so important an obligation! eth us the victory, Jesus Christ. labour is not in vain in the Lord. 58 Therefore, my Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye fixed on 58 beloved brethren, be this as the great foundation of your souls, and ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abound. immoveable in your regards to it, though strongly ing in the work of borne and pressed upon, by a variety of tempthe Lord, forasmuch tations and dangers; be abounding always in as ye know that your the work of the Lord, in every service you are capable of performing, which may be acceptable to this your great and compassionate Redeemer; as well knowing, that your labour in the service of such a Lord is not, on the whole, in vain; but that whatsoever you may at present suffer for his sake, you shall receive a most glorious reward, in that happy day of the resurrection, concerning which I have been speaking so largely. IMPROVEMENT. LET us learn from this incomparable discourse of the apostle, verse to curb that vain curiosity which is so ready in matters of 35 Where is thy sting, &c.] The original has a kind of poetical turn, which seems in some measure to suit the sublimity of the sentiment; for the first of the clauses is an ionick, and the second, a trochaick verse, Ix ox, Javale, To xevigov; π8 σs, aɗn, To vix☞; and Mr. Pope has only transposed them to make them, as they stand in our version, the conclusion of one of his stanVOL. 4. 47 zas; O grave, where is thy victory? O death, where is thy sting? It is generally thought, that these words are borrowed from Hos. xiii. 10, 14, which we render, "O death, I will be thy plague, &c." and some urge that has been read for ; but I do not see there is any certain evidence that the apostle intended any quotation at all. 362 Reflections on the glory of the resurrection. SECT. Divine revelation, to break out into an unbecoming petulance; xxx. and where we are sure, that God declares the thing, let us leave it to him to overcome every difficulty that may seem to attend the manner in which it shall be effected. Nothing may be more useful, in order to the conquering such a weakness, than to observe the operations of God, in the works of nature, where he verse gives to every seed, whether animal or vegetable, such a body as 38 shall please him. Each is proper for its sphere, and beautiful in its connection and order, though the degree of their glory be dif39, 40 ferent. And thus all the diversity of glory, which shall at last be apparent, among the children of God, even the children of the resurrection, shall serve to illustrate the Divine wisdom, and goodness, and faithfulness. The alterations made in every instance, will indeed be won53 derful, when this mortal puts on immortality, and this corruptible 47 puts on incorruption. Let us for ever adore the Divine goodness, &c. that when, by our relation to the first Adam, we were under a sentence of condemnation and death, he was pleased in his infinite mercy to appoint, that we should stand related to Christ, as the second Adam, in so happy a bond, that by him we might recover what we had lost in the former; yea and far more: so that, 49 as we have borne the image of the earthy, we might as surely bear the image of the heavenly. O let us earnestly aspire after this blessedness; and remember, that our bearing the image of his holiness, is inseparably connected with the hope of so glorious a privilege! 57 Let us endeavour, therefore, by cultivating holiness in all its branches, to maintain this hope in all its spirit and energy; longing for that glorious day, when in the utmost extent of the pro54 phetic expression, Death shail be swallowed up in victory, and millions of voices, after the long silence of the grave, shall burst 55 out at once into that triumphant song, O death, where is thy sting? 56 O grave, where is thy victory? And when we see death disarmed, and the terrors of the law silenced, let us bless God for Jesus Christ, by whom the precepts of the law were perfectly fulfilled, and its penalty endured; that so we might not only be 18, 19 delivered from the curse, but called to inherit the blessing. Let it be considered, as an engagement to universal obedience; and 58 in the assurance, that whatever other labours may be frustrated, those in the Lord shall never be vain, let gratitude, and interest, concur to render us steadfast, immoveable, and continually active in his service. The apostle proposes a collection for the saints in Judea. SECT. XXXI. 363 The apostle gives some advices, relating to the proposed collection for the poor saints in Judea. 1 Cor. XVI. 1–12. 1 COR. XVI. 1. 1 CORINTHIANS XVI. 1. OW concerning BEFORE I conclude this epistle, I must szer. the collection xxxi. add a word or two concerning the collecfor the saints, as I tion which you propose making for the have given order to poor 1 Cor. the churches of Ga. saints which are in Judea, who are in such xvi. 1 Ratia, even so do ye. great straits, both on account of the famine and the persecution to which they are exposed. And here I would only say this; as I have given it in charge to the churches of Galatia, so also do ye proceed: for nothing occurs to my thoughts at present, which can be more subservient to 2 Upon the first that generous and good design. When you 2 day of the week, let hold your Christian assemblies on the first day every one of you lay by him in store, as of the week, in commemoration of the resurGod hath prospered rection of our Lord, which has made that day him, that there be no sacred amongst us, let every one of you lay some gatherings when I thing by, in proportion to the degree in which, come. by the Divine blessing, he hath been prospered in his affairs; and let him bring it with him to the place where you meet for your public worship; then treasuring it up bin the common stock, that so it may be ready in one sum, and there may be no necessity of making any particular collections when Icome. This will save us some trouble, at a time when we shall necessarily have so much important business on our hands; and when a little is added to the stock weekly, it may rise by almost imperceptible degrees, to a greater sum than could perhaps. be expected if the whole were to be deposited 3 And when I at once. But when I am arrived at Corinth, 3 come, whomsoever whomsoever ye shall appoint and recommend by you shall approve by your letters, them your letters, signed by the congregation, or its proper representatives; them will I send, to On the first day of the week.] So xxx May σabbalar signifies. Compare Luke xxiv. 1. John xx. 1; with Matt. xxviii. 1; Mark xvi. 2. Treasuring it up: exasos map' sau7w r7 Inoαupiv.] We render it, let every one of you lay by him in store. But the following words shew, that it was to be put into a common stock. The argument drawn from hence for the religious observation of the first day of the week in these primitive churches of Corinth, and Galatia, is too obvious to need any farther illustra tion, and yet too important to be passed by in an entire silence.. 364 He would come to them when he passed through Macedonia; xvi. 4 SECT. Carry your favour to Jerusalem, and shall cheer- will I send to bring xxxi. fully intrust them to deliver it with their own your liberality unto Jerusalem. hands to the poor Christians there. And if it4 And if it be meet 1 Cor. be thought convenient, that I shall also go up that I go also, they thither myself on this occasion, they shall go shall go with me. with me, that every thing may be conducted in the most open and honourable manner, and that your messengers may witness for that me, none of the money has been employed to any purposes whatsoever, different from those for which it was given. 5 5 Now I will come on my This, I hope, will quickly be dispatched; for Iwill, if Providence permit, come to you, when unto you, when I shall pass through I have passed through Macedonia; and I am just Macedonia: (for I 6 upon my journey through Macedonia; And then do pass through Maperhaps may continue awhile with you, and even cedonia.) 6 And it may be spend the winter with you; that so, when I that I will ab de have made you as long a visit as my affairs will yea, and winter with admit, you may bring me forward on my journey you, that ye may to Jerusalem, or whithersoever else I shall go,d bring me journey, whitherso or through whatever parts I may pass to it ; for ever I go. that is a circumstance about which I am not yet determined, and in which I refer myself to the 7 future direction of Providence. I speak of my 7 For I will not coming as at some distance: for though from see you now by the these maritime parts I might easily come to you tarry a while with by sea, and so travel northward, when I have you, if the Lord perdispatched my business at Corinth, I will not mit. now see you in this manner, in my way; but hope the little delay which this scheme may occasion, will be made up to your satisfaction: for I fully purpose to spend some time with you, if the Lord permit; which the necessities of the churches of Macedonia will not at present give me leave 8 But I will' tarry 8 to do. But I shall continue here at Ephesus till at Ephesus until about pentecost, reserving the remainder of the pentecost. I am just upon my journey through Macedonia.] Thus, I think, we may justly rendler, Μακεδονίαν γαρ διέρχομαι. Macedonia was not the direct way from Ephesus to Corinth. It seems by his second epistle to the Corinthians, written a few months after this, that he was either in Macedonia or on his way thither, (compare 2 Cor. i. 16;) from whence it appears, that he had a secret purpose of seeing Corinth in his way to, as well as from Macedonia; but he does not express this purpose here, so way, but I trust to that we know not how it was signified to them, as from the text last mentioned it seems that it was. & Whithersoever else I go.] In the forecited text, Judea is mentioned; but St. Paul does not seem to have fixed his scheme so particularly, as yet. I shall continue at Ephesus till pentecost.] I look upon this as a very plain intimation, that he was now at Ephesus; and consequently, that the inscription added at the end of this epistle, which but would tarry at Ephesus till Pentecost. ed unto me, and there ries. 365 xxxi. 1 Cor. 9 For a great door summer for my tour through Macedonia, and sECT, and effectual is open- the neighbouring parts. In the mean time, are many adversa. though I have spent so many months here, I am willing to make my stay as long, as with xvi. 9 any tolerable convenience I can; for a great and effectual door of usefulness is opened to me under my apostolical character, in this popu lous and celebrated city, and [there are] many opposers, who may perhaps take the advantage of my absence, to injure this new planted church which I have bestowed so much labour, and for the interest of which I have the tenderest concern.f 10 Now if Timo without fear: for he on But if, in the mean time, my beloved friend 10 theus come, see that and brother Timothy should come to you, see he may be with you that he be with you without fear of any unkind worketh the work of usage, or of any attempt to set him up as the the Lord, as I also head of a party; as in some instances you have do. been ready to do by others; for as he is a man of a very tender and affectionate, so he is likewise of a very candid and humble spirit, and he laboureth in the work of the Lord Jesus Christ with great sincerity and zeal; as I also [do :] and we are in all respects so much in the same sentiments, that I am well assured, the things which would grieve me in your conduct, would And there- 11 11 Let no man be equally disagreeable to him. therefore despise fore, though he be yet but a young man, (1 Tim. him but conduct him forth in peace, iv. 12,) let no man despise or make light of him; that he may come but on the contrary, bring him forward on his unto me: for I look journey in peace, and do all that you can to for him with the make it commodious and agreeable to him; that so he may come to me at Ephesus, as soon as possible: for I expect him here with the other brethren, who are now the companions of his brethren. tells us it was written from Phillippi, is very far from being authentic, and I hope it will be remembered, that no credit is to be given to any of these additions, which have been very presumptuously made, and I think very imprudently retained. A great and effectual door is opened, &c.] Some think that here is an allusion to the door of the Circus, from whence chariots were let out when the races were to be gin; and that the word avlevo, which I render opposers, signifies the same with antagonists, with whom the apostle was to contend, as in a course. (Acts xix. 20, &c.) This opposition rendered his presence more necessary, to preserve those that were already converted, and to increase the number, if God should bless his min. istry. Accordingly a celebrated church was planted at Ephesus; and so far as we can learn from the tenor of his epistle to it, there was less to correct and reprove among them, than in most of the other churches to which he wrote. 8 I expect him here with the brethren.] The original words are something ambigu ous; but I have taken the sense which seemed most natural. Accordingly I think |