Verse 2
To faithful men; as ministers of the gospel.

Verse 3
Hardness; hardship.

Verse 5
For masteries; in the athletic games common in those days as public amusements.--Lawfully; according to the rules and conditions established for the regulation of the game.

Verse 6
The meaning is, that the husbandman must labor before he can partake of the fruits; and so the toils and sufferings of Christ's service here must precede the rest and rewards of heaven.

Verse 8
My gospel; the gospel which has been intrusted to me.

Verse 9
Wherein; in preaching which.

Verse 11
Dead with him; dead to sin with him.

Verse 17
Their word; their influence.--Will eat as doth a canker; corrupting and destroying the spirit of piety.

Verse 19
The foundation of God; the foundation which God has laid,--meaning that portion of the professing church which he had established, as is indicated by what follows.--Let every one, &c.; that is, there was a test to determine the genuineness of discipleship, in the personal holiness which was manifested as the fruits of a religious profession.

Verse 20
A great house; here representing the house of God, namely, the church.

Verse 21
Purge himself from these; from the errors and follies above named.

Verse 24
Must not strive; must not dispute and contend.