COMMENTARY on THE SECOND EPISTLE OF PAUL TO THE CORINTHIANS by CORNELIUS R. STAM Founder, BEREAN BIBLE SOCIETY Associate Editor, BEREAN SEARCHLIGHT Radio Teacher, BIBLE TIME Author, THINGS THAT DIFFER And Other Bible Studies BEREAN BIBLE SOCIETY N112 W17761 Mequon Road Germantown, WI 53022 Copyright, 1992 By BEREAN LITERATURE FOUNDATION 7609 W. Belmont Avenue Chicago, Illinois 60635 Printed in U.S.A. WORZALLA PUBLISHING CO. STEVENS POINT, WISCONSIN 2 In Thankful and Loving Acknowledgement Our first thanks for the help received in producing this book must go to our beloved colleague, the President of Berean Bible Society: Pastor Paul M. Sadler. He and the author were in almost constant discussion about the contents of II Corinthians and we appreciate his suggestions more than words can express. Mike Madawick’s beautiful and meaningful artwork for the jacket is also deeply appreciated. To RoseAnn Kees our hearty thanks for her nearly perfect typing of the copy, and to Richard Hunt for his excellent work of typesetting. Ruth Stam (the author’s kind nurse) is also a tops proofreader. Indeed Pastor Stam has not read one sentence of his writings (with his magnifiers!) without his “Ruthie.” Russell Miller should also be noted as an excellent proofreader and one who has made many a valuable suggestion. Dan Dobler (now retired with his family in Arizona) naturally had much to do with managing the financing of the book, for which our sincere thanks. Dan was also an excellent proofreader. We miss him greatly. All our critics and defenders should also receive our thanks; the former for sending us back to the divine Lab and the latter for the encouragement they afford us. Most of all we owe heartfelt thanks to God who upheld us and aided us again in times of sickness and pain. Actually, we have been amazed as we finish a chapter or a passage in this book. Surely, for this, all glory must go to God for His grace and faithfulness. 3 FIRST THINGS FIRST Before studying II Corinthians, one striking contrast between I Corinthians and II Corinthians should be clearly noted. Above are all but one of Paul’s epistles. In NONE of Romans them does he even mention the gift of tongues. In NONE II Corinthians of them does he discuss the alleged value of tongues. In NONE of them does he urge his readers to seek the gift Galatians of tongues. Repeat: In NONE of them does he even Ephesians mention the gift of tongues. Philippians Question No. 1: If it is so urgent that we today Colossians possess the gift of tongues, why does Paul not say so in writing to these believers? I Thessalonians II Thessalonians Question No. 2: The ONLY epistle in which Paul discusses tongues is I Corinthians, in which he writes to I Timothy those who made so much of tongues. However, in this II Timothy letter he calls the Corinthian believers, “babes,” “carnal” Titus and “not spiritual.” Philemon Should not our Pentecostal friends think these Hebrews things through soberly, not in the light of emotional experience, but in the light of THE WORD OF GOD? (From C. R. Stam’s Commentary on I Corinthians, page 200) 4 CONTENTS PAGE Author’s Preface 9 Introduction: Profound Doctrines – Peter, Paul, and the New Covenant – Reconciliation 11 An Over-All View: A Hard-Pressed Apostle – After the Uproar – Paul in Macedonia Without Titus – Paul in Macedonia With Titus – Precious Fruit 13 CHAPTER 1 – II Corinthians 1:1-24 Salutation: An Apostle by the Will of God – And Timothy Our Brother – Paul’s Inclusion of Timothy – Why So Large a Company? - A Special Consideration Now – The Churches and the Saints – Sad Omission, Loving Benediction, Glad Doxology – A Grateful Song of Praise – Why God Permits His Children to Suffer – Paul’s Trouble In Asia – Paul and His Conscience – Judged By the Sunlight – He Meant What He Said – Did I Use Lightness? - To Spare You 20 CHAPTER II – II Corinthians 2:1-17 The Proposed Visit Discussed: Obedience In Everything – Paul’s Departure from Troas – Titus and the Corinthian Believers – The Sweet Savor of Christ – Who Is Sufficient? - Not corrupting the Word of God 37 CHAPTER III – II Corinthians 3:1-18 Ye Are Our Epistle: Paul and the New Covenant – The New Covenant and Us – The Ministrations of Death and Life – Moses and His Veil – Unfading Glory Ours 46 CHAPTER IV – II Corinthians 4:1-18 Therefore We Faint Not: If Our Gospel Be Hid – Hid To Them That Are Lost – The Willing Dupes of Satan – Light Shining Out of Darkness – This Treasure – Earthen Vessels – The Dying of the Lord Jesus – The Spirit of Faith – That Blessed Hope – “The Outward Man” and “The Inward Man” – A Valuable Investment In Glory to Come – Affliction vs. Glory – Lightness vs. Weight – Momentariness vs. Eternity – Insignificance vs. That Which Exceeds Far More – The Visible vs. the Invisible – Not Looking vs. Looking – Meanwhile 56 CHAPTER V – II Corinthians 5:1-21 Mortality Swallowed Up Of Life: An Intermediate Body? – The Problem Solved – The Grand Climax – Blessed Assurance – Always Confident – Soul Sleep – The Judgment Seat of Christ – 5 No Believer Exempt – Our Conduct to be Judged – Our Service to be Judged – The Terror of the Lord – The Constraining Love of Christ – “Beside Ourselves” or “Sober”? - Constraining Love – “The Love of Christ” – The Love of Christ Constraining – Prayer for the Unsaved – Intelligent Christianity – Our Greatest Drawback – A Dispensational Imperative – Knowing Men as They Are and Christ as He Is – A New Creation – All Things Are of God – The Ministry of Reconciliation – Ambassadors for Christ 73 CHAPTER VI – II Corinthians 6:1-18 Receive Not the Grace of God in Vain: “Poor, Yet Making Many Rich” – About Prepositions – The Circumstances In Which the Apostle Served the Lord – Change of Subject: Change of Preposition – How Paul Coped With His Circumstances – Another Change of Subject, and of Preposition – The Temple of the Living God – Up Tight – For a Recompense – The Temple of the Living God – A Neglected Truth 101 CHAPTER VII – II Corinthians 7:1-16 Complete Sanctification: Let Us Cleanse Ourselves – The Heart of Paul – Paul’s Plea for Mutual Love – Paul and Titus – The “Sorry” Letter Necessary – Godly Sorrow Worketh Repentance – The Sorrow of the World – What Paul’s Letter Had Wrought – Two Happy People 122 CHAPTER VIII – II Corinthians 8:1-24 Paul as a Fund-Raiser: Much Room for Improvement – The Character of the Macedonian Churches – To Prove the Sincerity of Your Love – The Proof of Love – My Advice – A Willing Mind – Thoughtful Giving – The Delegates – “Avoiding This” – Dispensational Change 129 CHAPTER IX – II Corinthians 9:1-15 Lest Our Boasting Should Be In Vain: Enriched in Everything – Why God Enriches Us – The Fruit of Christian Generosity – Conclusion 140 CHAPTER X – II Corinthians 10:1-18 Paul’s Defense of His Ministry: The Divine Rule for Missionary 145 Finances CHAPTER XI – II Corinthians 11:1- 33 The Simplicity That Is In Christ: The Name “Christians” – Godly Jealousy – “Bear With Me” – Another Jesus: Another Spirit: Another Gospel – Paul’s Self-Reliance – False Apostles – Two Missing Ingredients – As a Fool Receive Me – Paul’s Suffering for Christ – Glorying in Infirmities 152 CHAPTER XII – II Corinthians 12:1-21 Visions and Revelations of the Lord: Two Errors Refuted – The 6 So-Called “Acts 28 Theory” – Soul Sleep – Paul’s Thorn In the Flesh – “I Ought To Have Been Commended” – A Verbal Spanking 167 CHAPTER XIII – II Corinthians 13:1-14 “Since Ye Seek a Proof”: Strong in Christ – “Do That Which Is 175 Honest” – “Be Perfect” – The “Holy Kiss” 7 OPEN MY EYES Open my eyes, that I may see Glimpses of truth Thou hast for me. Place in my hands the wonderful key, That shall unclasp and set me free. Open my ears, that I may hear Voices of truth Thou sendest clear; And while the wave-notes fall on my ear, Everything false will disappear. Open my mouth, and let me bear Gladly the warm truth everywhere. Open my heart, and let me prepare Love with Thy children thus to share. REFRAIN: Silently now I wait for Thee Ready, my God, Thy will to see: Open my eyes, illumine me, Spirit divine. By Clara Haywood Scott, mother of Betty Scott Stam, who, with her husband, John Stam, was slain by the sword as a missionary in China. 8 THE AUTHOR'S PREFACE There is special cause for thanksgiving over the completion of this Commentary on the Second Epistle of Paul to the Corinthians. From beginning to end it was written in sickness, weariness and pain. Not once did we work on its contents for more than two hours at a time. Mostly an hour and a half of study left us utterly exhausted so that it was necessary to lie down for an hour or so before continuing the work. Indeed, sometimes life itself seemed precarious so that we often wondered whether God would permit us to complete the book. But now, after about three years, the commentary is finished and the author's heart rejoices. We cannot thank God enough for the sensitive support of our beloved brother, Paul Sadler, all this time. With all his responsibilities as President of Berean Bible Society, he still seemed always to have time to discuss the concerns of the present volume. The substance of the author's ministry now is also precarious because life itself is so uncertain for us but we have often said that when we go Home we will feel comfortable leaving the work wholly with our beloved Brother Paul. Many a time did we enjoy pleasant discussions about II Corinthians, and many a valuable suggestion did we receive from Brother Paul.