1.
Wherefore when we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left at Athens alone;
2.
And sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellowlabourer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith:
3.
That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto.
4.
For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know.
5.
For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain.
5. Here we see Paul feared they would apostatize, and be lost. In that case his labor was in vain.
6,7. Much were they cheered by the favorable report which Timothy and Silas brought to Corinth relative to their faith and love, the essential graces of the Christian, the former the human side, and the latter the Divine.
6.
But now when Timotheus came from you unto us, and brought us good tidings of your faith and charity, and that ye have good remembrance of us always, desiring greatly to see us, as we also to see you:
7.
Therefore, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your faith:
8.
For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord.
8. “ Now we live if you stand in the Lord; ” et vice versa, we die if you fall; a very delicate hyperbolic expression of the apostle’s exceeding tender love for them.
9.
For what thanks can we render to God again for you, for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God;
9. Paul’s gratitude to God on the reception of Timothy’s cheering report knows no bounds.
10.
Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?
ARGUMENT 4
REGENERATION NOT FULL SALVATION
10. “ Night and day exceedingly desiring to see your face, and to perfect the deficiencies of your faith. ” This letter sweeps the last possible vestige of the Zinzendorfian heresy forever from the field. Here we have a case of conversion beggaring all possible cavil, clear, demonstrative, giving the joy of the Holy Ghost and the fruits of the Spirit, even making them efficient missionaries and “examples to all the saints in Macedonia and Achaia.” Yet this epistle is written to “perfect the deficiencies of their faith.” Their faith for justification was certainly all right; but they did not have faith for sanctification. This was the deficiency no candid reader can deny that they were truly born from above. They were not sinners. Yet they did not enjoy full salvation. Their faith was not perfect. If so, their salvation
would have been perfect, for Jesus says it is according to your faith. I have heard preachers stoutly contend that regeneration is full salvation. You see they differ from Paul. This, of itself, is an irrefutable argument for the sanctification of the ministry. Wholly sanctified people are gloriously saved from creedism, and even their own opinions. They want nothing but the truth. they are dead to all isms and schisms, sects, creeds, theologies, denominations, and organizations. We have to get there, in order to be taught by the Holy Ghost. God help you and me to be utterly dead to every authority but the Bible! Your creed will not be mentioned in the judgment-day. You must face the great white Throne, and be judged by the Bible alone.
11.
Now God himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way unto you.
12.
And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you:
13.
To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.