The Signs of the Times, vol. 10

January 10, 1884

“The Sabbath-School. 2 Corinthians, Chaps. 11-13” The Signs of the Times, 10, 2.

E. J. Waggoner

LESSON FOR THE PACIFIC COAST-JAN. 19.
2 Corinthians, Chaps. 11-13
Brief Comments on 2 Corinthians 11.

“Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly; and indeed bear with me.” 2 Corinthians 11:1. The translators took unwarranted liberty in this case, as in some others, in inserting the word God when there is nothing in the original to indicate it. A literal translation would be, “Would that ye could bear with me;” or, “I wish that ye could bear with me.” This would properly represent the apostle, and not make it appear that he was in the habit of making a strong appeal to God on every slight location. This item should be emphasized, and carefully noted, in order that none may think that they have apostolic example for such appeals. Very many persons who would be shocked at any intimation that they are profane, are really guilty of violating the third commandment. That precept says, “Thou shall not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.” That is, The name of the Lord must never be spoken unless it is absolutely necessary. Repeating oaths that others have uttered; a light use of the sacred name of the Deity in ordinary conversation; very frequent repetition of this name even in prayer; and an appeal to God in any ordinary occasion,-these are all violations of the third commandment. We may be assured that Paul was never guilty of taking the name of the Lord in vain. SITI January 10, 1884, page 21.1

In this chapter and the following one, the apostle enters into a commendation of himself. He was forced to do this for the sake of the cause, and not for any personal consideration. The second and third verses give this reason for this boasting. It was his intense love for those who have accepted the truth under his labors, and his fear that they would be led astray, that moved him to do it. Someone was trying to overthrow the faith of the Corinthians, by setting forth that Paul was an impostor. If the people should lose their confidence in Paul, all his preaching would go for nothing. But he knew that he had been sent by the Lord, and had preached the truth; and rather than have been seduced from their allegiance, he reluctantly vindicated his claim to be an inspired apostle. On verse 2, Dr. Barnes says: “The allusion here, according to Doddridge, is to the custom among the Greeks ‘of having an officer whose business it was to educate and form young women, especially those of rank and figure, designed for marriage, and then to present them to those who were to be their husbands; and if this officer through negligence permitted them to be corrupted between the espousals and the consummation of the marriage, great blame would fall upon him.’ Such a responsibility Paul felt.” There never was a man who had more of which he might boast, than Paul had, and there are few who do less. His humility is apparent even in the midst of his enforced self-commendation, and shows that it was others, and not self, of whom he was thinking. SITI January 10, 1884, page 21.2

“For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.” Verse 4. Most commentators think that this means that if the one who was seeking to supplant Paul could offer to them a more powerful Saviour, and more exalted spiritual advantages than he had done, they would be excusable for following the new comer. But there is no pronoun expressed in the Greek, and the translators have placed the pronoun “me” in the margin. This, we are inclined to think, should be inserted in the text, so that the last clause would read, “ye might well bear with me.” The next verse seems to make this necessary. Even if another Jesus, and another gospel were preached to them, Paul argues that they ought to still bear with him; “for,” says he, “I suppose I was not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles.” This was a good reason why they should be slow to accept the teachings of another in preference to his. SITI January 10, 1884, page 21.3

“But though I be rude in speech, and yet not in knowledge.” Verse 6. Paul’s traducers had evidently sought to weaken his hold on the Corinthians, by sneering at his manner of speaking. Paul does not deny that his speech was rude, i.e., unpolished, but he claims with truth that his manner of speaking did not in the least affect the truth of what he preached. From his childhood Paul had doubtless been familiar with the Greek language, but it could not be expected that he would speak it with all the polish of a native Greek. Corinth occupied somewhat the same position that Paris does in modern times. Its inhabitants prided themselves on the elegance of their language, and could be easily led to ridicule one whose speech showed that he was not a native of the metropolis. “Critics profoundly acquainted with the Greek language remark that while there is great energy of thought and of diction in the writings of Paul; while he chooses or coins most expressive words, yet there is ever a want of Attic elegance of manner, and of the smoothness and beauty which were so grateful to a Grecian ear.”-Barnes. This attempt to weaken Paul’s influence by ridiculing his straightforward, terse language, shows clearly the contemptible spirit that actuated his opposers. Such men have their successors at the present day. SITI January 10, 1884, page 21.4

It is not opposers alone who criticize to their own and others’ detriment. Many professors often lose the greater part of a valuable discourse, by letting their minds dwell upon some inaccuracies in the language of the speaker; for they will stop to note some statement that might be construed to mean exactly the opposite of what the speaker intended. And while they are thus engaged, they are oblivious to golden truths which are being uttered. Persons with such a critical turn of mind as that are to be pitied. They feed on husks, and miss the wholesome, nourishing grain. Instead of cultivating such a disposition, they should seek to get rid of it as quickly as possible, and learn to “desire the sincere milk of the word,” that they may grow thereby. SITI January 10, 1884, page 21.5

“Have I committed an offense in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I have preached to you the gospel of God freely?” Verse 7. This verse contains a most delicate yet pointed reproof, and at the same time a vindication of Paul’s own integrity. He had not accepted anything from the Corinthians, but had been supported by other churches, especially those of Macedonia, and had also contributed to his own support, by manual labor. It seems that the Corinthian church had been negligent of Paul’s wants, and had willingly allowed others to provide for him. But while rebuking the church for this neglect of a plain duty, he declares that he will still keep himself from being burdensome to any; not because he does not love them, but because he is determined that his captious critics shall have no occasion of accusing him of trying to enrich himself at the expense of his converts. SITI January 10, 1884, page 21.6

We cannot get the full force of Paul’s language in verses 7-9 without reading verses 12 and 13 of the next chapter. Continuing the same subject, he says: “Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds. For what is it wherein ye were inferior to other churches, except it be that I myself was not burdensome to you? forgive me this wrong.” From this, as well as from many other passages, we learn that it is a privilege as well as a duty for the churches to contribute to the support of the gospel. Indeed, an absolute necessity, for in this same epistle Paul says that “He which soweth sparingly shall reap all so sparingly.” He here has reference to money, and it naturally follows that he who neglects to sow will surely fail to reap. Paul had not urged the Corinthians to the employment of this privilege in his case, and he humbly says, “forgive me this wrong.” And now we can see how completely he turns the tables upon his accusers in chapter 11:7. He shows them that the only thing in which he can be said to be inferior to the other apostles is the fact that he supported himself; and while the members of the Corinthian church allowed him to do that which in reality exalted him above all others, they were proving themselves to be inferior to other churches. Most churches are very ready to forgive an offense of this kind on the part of their minister; but if the Corinthians were not more active in supporting the cause of God after this, they must have been obtuse and careless in the extreme. Let modern church-members take good heed to the apostle’s delicate reproof, lest they show themselves to be inferior, and thus lose a great blessing. SITI January 10, 1884, page 21.7

In verse 13 Paul declares that those who have been seeking occasions against him are “false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.” And lest any should be inclined to doubt this statement, thinking it impossible that impostors could so successfully personate true apostles, he adds: “And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness.” SITI January 10, 1884, page 21.8

Some persons make a great ado when a professor, and especially a minister, is found to be a rascal, and would make the Christian religion responsible for the misdeeds of all who may profess to be its followers. The fact that the fall of a professed Christian, be he minister or layman, is so loudly heralded by unbelievers, is a compliment to the cause which they despise, for it proves that they expect better things of Christian professors. But why should it be thought a strange thing that bad men should be in the church, and even in the ministry? Do men express surprise when they find a wolf in the sheepfold? Do they not expect that the wolf will go, if he can, where he can inflict the most injury on the flock? Would they not be more surprised if he should willingly stay outside? Then why should they marvel that wicked men seek to accomplish their master’s work by the same methods? Satan himself appears as an angel of light, and he is able to help his servants to play the hypocrite to perfection also. Every valuable coin is counterfeited, but the base coin does not make the truth any less valuable. SITI January 10, 1884, page 21.9

While the gospel ministry is the most exalted of any calling, and the true minister of Christ is worthy of esteem and affection, a man should not be received, nor all that he says believed, simply because he ranks as a minister. No one need be deceived, if he will only apply the proper test. John says: “Beloved, believed not every spirit [teacher], but try the spirits whether they are of God; for many false profits are gone out into the world.” 1 John 4:1. And the prophet Isaiah gives the rule by which we are to try them: “To the law and to the testimony; if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” Isaiah 8:20. Although it is the office of preachers to handle the word of God, and explain it to the people, we are not to throw away reason, and accept everything that they may teach, simply because they speak with authority. We are to sanctify the Lord in our hearts, as much for the purpose of being able to discern between truth and error, as to be able to tell the reason of our hope. SITI January 10, 1884, page 21.10

The minister may be far superior to his flock in intellectual endowments, if God is able to give spiritual discernment so that the humblest may be able to judge correctly as to the truth of what is preached. Many at the present time seek to excuse themselves for observing the first day instead of the seventh day, which God commanded, on the ground that many learned ministers of the gospel teach and practice first-day observance. This excuse is often made as a last resort, when the person is really convinced of the truth. Like the ostrich that hides its head in the sand and thinks itself secure from its pursuers, they seem to imagine that the error of their teachers, whether ignorant or willful, will shield them from the wrath of God. Such ones should remember that Paul’s words are as true of lay members as of ministers, that their “end shall be according to their works.” See also Romans 14:10-12; Revelation 20:12; 22:12. E. J. W. SITI January 10, 1884, page 22.1