Second Epistle to the Corinthians
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we despaired even of life.” In his first epistle he speaks of fighting with
beasts at Ephesus. He thus refers to the fanatical mob that clamored
for his life. They were indeed more like furious wild beasts than men.
With gratitude to God, Paul reviews his danger and his deliverance.
He had thought when at Ephesus, that his life of usefulness was about
to close, that the promise made to him that he should at last die for his
faith, was about to be fulfilled. But God had preserved him, and his
remarkable to deliverance made him hope that his labors were not at
an end.
The apostle mentions his distress because of the burden of the
churches. The pressure was sometimes so great that he could scarcely
endure it. Outward dangers and inward fears had harassed him beyond
his own power to bear. False teachers had prejudiced his brethren
against him; they had made false charges against him to destroy his
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influence among the churches which he had raised up. But, amid all his
persecutions and discouragements, he could rejoice in the consolation
which he found in Christ.
His conscience did not accuse him of dishonesty or unfaithfulness
to his trust. It was a cause of joy to him that he had been enabled,
through the grace of God, to labor in the ministry, not using his nat-
ural eloquence, to receive the praise of men, but with simplicity and
pureness, in the Spirit of God, his only aim being the good of souls.
The fear of God had been ever before him; the love of Christ had
ever sustained him. He had not dissembled, he had not labored to
obtain honor, or a reputation for wisdom. The wisdom given him of
God he had exercised to rescue souls from the darkness of error and
superstition, and to strengthen and build up the churches in the most
holy faith.
He had been watchful for souls as one who must give account
to God. He had not been turned from his purpose by opposition,
falsehoods, the prejudice of his brethren, or the persecution of his
enemies. He had given his disinterested love and labors alike to all
parts of the world that he had visited. He had preached Christ with
sincerity and simplicity, and the church at Corinth could sustain no
charges against him.
He refers to the promise which he made them, to the effect that
he would visit them before going to Macedonia. He tells them that
God had not permitted him to visit them according to his intention; for