Matthew Henry

Indeed, we felt we were under the sentence of death, in order that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God, who raises the dead.

“Note, God often brings his people into great straits, that they may apprehend their own insufficiency to help themselves, and may be induced to place their trust and hope in his all-sufficiency. Our extremity is God's opportunity.”

Indeed, we felt we were under the sentence of death, in order that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God, who raises the dead.

“God's raising the dead is a proof of his almighty power. He that can do this can do any thing, can do all things, and is worthy to be trusted in at all times.”

And this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in relation to you, in the holiness and sincerity that are from…

“(2.) Concerning the nature or manner of their conversation; that it was in simplicity and godly sincerity. This blessed apostle was a true Israelite, a man of plain dealing; you might know where to have him.”

For all the promises of God are “Yes” in Christ. And so through Him, our “Amen” is spoken to the glory of God.

“If in the promises that the ministers of the gospel make as common men, and about their own affairs, they see cause sometimes to vary from them, yet the promises of the gospel covenant, which they preach, stand firm and inviolable.”

Now it is God who establishes both us and you in Christ. He anointed us,

“They are confirmed by the Holy Spirit. He does establish Christians in the faith of the gospel; he has anointed them with his sanctifying grace, which in scripture is often compared to oil; he has sealed them, for their security and confirmation; and he is…”

I call God as my witness that it was in order to spare you that I did not return to Corinth.

“He assures them that this is the true reason, after this very solemn manner: I call God for a record upon my soul --a way of speaking not justifiable where used in trivial matters; but this was very justifiable in the apostle, for his necessary…”

I wrote as I did so that on my arrival I would not be saddened by those who ought to make me rejoice.

“He had written with tears, that they might know his abundant love to them. Note, [1.] Even in reproofs, admonitions, and acts of discipline, faithful ministers show their love. [2.]”

So instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow.

“He was so sensible of this fault, and so much afflicted under his punishment, that he was in danger of falling into despair.”

So instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love for him.

“They must also confirm their love to him; that is, they should show that their reproofs and censures proceeded from love to his person, as well as hatred to his sin, and that their design was to reform, not to ruin him.”

Now when I went to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ and a door stood open for me in the Lord, I had no peace in my spirit, because…

“He went to Troas from Philippi by sea ( Acts xx. 6 ), and thence he went to Macedonia; so that he was prevented from passing by Corinth, as he had designed, ch. i.”

For we are to God the sweet aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.

“God will accept of sincere intentions, and honest endeavours, though with many they are not successful. Ministers shall be accepted, and recompensed, not according to their success, but according to their fidelity.”

For we are to God the sweet aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.

“Those who are willingly ignorant, and wilfully obstinate, disrelish the gospel, as men dislike an ill savour, and therefore they are blinded and hardened by it: it stirs up their corruptions, and exasperates their spirits.”

Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, like some people, letters of recommendation to you or from you?

“His ministry among them had, without controversy, been truly great and honourable, how little soever his person was in reality, or how contemptible soever some would have him thought to be.”

You yourselves are our letter, inscribed on our hearts, known and read by everyone.

“Note, There is nothing more delightful to faithful ministers, nor more to their commendation, than the success of their ministry, evidenced in the hearts and lives of those among whom they labour.”

It is clear that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets…

“The apostle and others were but instruments, Christ was the author of all the good that was in them. The law of Christ was written in their hearts, and the love of Christ shed abroad in their hearts.”

And He has qualified us as ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

“The letter killeth; this the letter of the law does, for that is the ministration of death; and if we rest only in the letter of the gospel we shall be never the better for so doing, for even that will be a savour of…”

Now if the ministry of death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at the face of Moses because of…

“The law was the ministration of condemnation, for that condemned and cursed every one who continued not in all things written therein to do them; but the gospel is the ministration of righteousness: therein the righteousness of God by faith is revealed.”

For if what was fading away came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which endures!

“Not only did the glory of Moses's face go away, but the glory of Moses's law is done away also; yea, the law of Moses itself is now abolished.”

And even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts.

“Thus it was formerly, and so it was especially as to those who remained in Judaism after the coming of the Messiah and the publication of his gospel.”

persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.

“Good men may be sometimes forsaken of their friends, as well as persecuted by their enemies; but God will never leave them nor forsake them.”

knowing that the One who raised the Lord Jesus will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in His presence.

“They knew that Christ was raised, and that his resurrection was an earnest and assurance of theirs. This he had treated of largely in his former epistle to these Corinthians, ch. xv .”

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, yet our inner self is being renewed day by day.

“(2.) If the outward man perish, there is no remedy, it must and will be so, it was made to perish. (3.)”

For our light and momentary affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory that is far beyond comparison.

“On the other hand, the worth and weight of the crown of glory, as they are exceedingly great in themselves, so they are esteemed to be by the believing soul--far exceeding all his expressions and thoughts; and it will be a special support in our…”

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

“It is by faith that we see God, who is invisible ( Heb. xi. 27 ), and by this we look to an unseen heaven and hell, and faith is the evidence of things not seen.”

Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is dismantled, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.

“He looks upon it as a house, or habitation, a dwelling-place, a resting-place, a hiding-place, our Father's house, where there are many mansions, and our everlasting home.”