A. D. 57. corruptible and immortal ones, before they can be fit to be joined again to our glorified and happy Souls. 54. And thus by our Attainment to this happy and immortal State, will thofe prophetical Words be fulfilled, in their most eminent Acceptation, Death fhall be fwallowed up of Life, and conquered for ever, (Ifai. xxv. 8.) 54. So when this 55. O death, where is thy fting? O grave, 55. Then may every good Chriftian fing his Triumph over Death where is thy victory? in the Language of another Prophet (Hof. xiii. 10.) O Death, where is thy Sting to hurt us! O Grave, where is thy Victory over us! 56. The fting of death is fin; and the ftrength of fin is the 56. Sin was the first and baneful Caufe, and is the only Terror of Death; and the Malignancy of Sin is from this, that it is the Tranfgreffion of a juft and righteous Law of God. law. 57. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory, thro' our Lord Jefus Chrift. 58. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forafmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain 57. But, bleffed be GOD! our Chriftian Religion fets us eternally free from them both. 58. Wherefore, dear Brethren, be stedfaft in this grand Article; ftrive to excel in your Faith in it; and live fo as to enjoy the Bleffings of it; remembring what a for all your Chriftian Labours glorious Recompence it will be and Endeavours*. CHAP. Ver. 58. Always abounding περιπέυοντες, always excelling. CHAP. XVI. The CONTENTS. Their laft Enquiry about collecting Contributions for the I. poor Chriftians of Judea. He gives Directions how to do it. Promifes again to come and fee them. Recom mends Timothy to them. Unity and Peaceableness. Repeats his Exhortations to Fortunatus, and Achaicus, to them. Concludes with Salutations. OW concerning the collection for the faints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even fo do ye. "NOW I. A S to your laft Enquiry a- A. D. 57. bout the Collection defir'd of you for the poor Chriftiobferve the fame Method I preans of Judea, I would have you fcribed to the Galatian Churches, viz. 2. Upon the first day of the week, let every one of you lay by him in flore, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come. 3. And when I come, whom foever you fhall approve by your letters, them will 1 fend to bring your liberality unto Jerusalem. 4. And if it be meet that I go alfo, they shall go with me. 5. Now I will come unto you, when I fhall pafs through Macedonia; (for I do país through Macedonia.) 2. That, every Sunday, each of you put what he can fpare into a common * Stock, that fo* Onsauwhen I come I may find it all to- ρίζων. gether. 3 5. In the mean while, affure yourfelves I fhall certainly fee you, when I am arrived at Macedonia, which Place I must take in my Way. D d 4 6. And 1 * Ver. 9. Θύρα ανέωγε, καὶ ἀντικειμενοι πολλοί, 4 Door opened, and many Adverfaries. He feems plainly to allude to the Oftia Circi Maximi ; from whencs the Race Horfes and Chariots were wont to be started. And this is very much countenanced by the Phrafe dixievor, thofe Adverfaries answering to the Antagonifts in the Races, against whom the Apoftle was to run, as it were, and ftrive to out-do. This is not taken Notice of by Faber or Dr. Hammond, but is handfomely explain'd by Jacobus Lydius, in his Agonistica Sacra, Cap. 30. his Return back to me; for I, A. D. 57. come unto me: for I 12. As touching our brother Apollos, I greatly defired him to come unto you with the brethren: but his will was not at all to come at this time; 12. We would fain have had Brother Apollos come with this Letter to you, but he excufed himself at this Juncture, and promifes to fee you at a more proper Season. but he will come when he fhall have convenient time. 13. Watch ye, stand faft in the faith, quit you like men, be ftrong. 13. And now to conclude my Advices to you: Be upon your Guard against all the defigning Heads of your Factions; ftand firm to the Doctrines at firft deliver'd to you, and behave yourselves with manly Courage and Resolution. 14. Let all your 14. Let all your Behaviour things be done with both in your publick Affemblies, charity. and in private Conversation, be with a conftant Eye to the Good of your Brethren, and the Church's Peace. 15. I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the houfe of Stephanas, that it is the first fruits of Achaia, and that they have addict ed themselves to the ministry of the faints) Minifters. 15. I defire you to pay a particular + Regard to Stephanas and his Family. They were (you know) the firft + Converts I made in Greece, and have ever fince been induftrious in inftructing and managing your Church, and in fupporting and maintaining its Ver. 11. Ἐκδέχομαι αυ]ὸν μετὰ the Brethren expect him. So in Ver. 12. 16. Where ἀδελφῶν, or, I and + Ver. 15. "Oldals, Ye know, or rather know, i. e. refpe& the Houfe of Stepbanas. Chap. i. 15. 'Els Nanoviar Tois dias, To the Miniftry of the Saints. I should chufe to interpret this of Teaching and Governing, rather than in any other Senfe of Miniftring, because the fol 16. Wherefore hearken to, and be guided by them; and instead of new Teachers, let them, and all my Fellow-Preachers, be your Chriftian-Leaders. 17 & 18. I am very glad you fent him, and Fortunatus, and Achaicus, with your Letter of Enquiries to me; for they have given me a much fuller Account of the State and Difpofition of your Church, than I fhould otherwife have had; and prevented a great many Jealoufies and Sufpicions between you and me, to the Satisfaction of us both: Refpect and value fuch Men therefore as give fo favourable a Character of you. 19. The churches the Lord, with the 20. All the brethren 21. The falutation of me Paul with mine own hand. 19. The Churches of the Leffer Afia falute you; so does Aquila, his Wife, and Chriftian Family, with all good Chriftian Wishes. 20. All the Chriftians here falute you. Salute each other, for my Sake, with the Kifs of Love in your Affemblies. 21. I here falute you with my own Hand-writing *. 22. Whoever lowing Words feem plainly to favour it, Verfe 16. But indeed διακονία τοῖς ἁγίοις, is properly fupplying the Saints by Way of Charity, as dianovia Tav ayir, is doing it by Way of Teaching. However I thought it not inconvenient to exprefs both Senfes. Ver. 21. With my own Hand Epiftle being written by his Amanuenfis. 2 The. iii. 17. The reft of the See Rom. xvi. 26. |