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Expanded Comments |
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| 1 But I determined this for myself, that I would not come again to you with sorrow. |
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| 2 For if I make you sorry, who then is he that maketh me glad but he that is made sorry by me? |
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| 3 And I wrote this very thing, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy is the joy of you all. |
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| 4 For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be made sorry, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you. |
With many tears – His was the grief of an unselfish heart yearning over the salvation of others. R1886:5*
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| 5 But if any hath caused sorrow, he hath caused sorrow, not to me, but in part (that I press not too heavily) to you all. |
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| 6 Sufficient to such a one is this punishment which was inflicted by the majority; |
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| 7 so that contrariwise ye should rather forgive him and comfort him, lest by any means such a one should be swallowed up with his overmuch sorrow. |
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| 8 Wherefore I beseech you to confirm your love toward him. |
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| 9 For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye are obedient in all things. |
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| 10 But to whom ye forgive anything, I forgive also: for what I also have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, for your sakes have I forgiven it in the person of Christ; |
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| 11 that no advantage may be gained over us by Satan: for we are not ignorant of his devices. |
Lest – "Watch and pray." (Matt. 26:41; Eph. 6:18) Important prer R2527:6
Satan – The Apostle was a firm believer in a personal devil. R3165:6
The term Satan signifies adversary, opponent. R5183:3
"Deliver us from the evil one" (Luke 11:4) is a recognition that Sata R5379:5
Whose very existence is now being denied by many. See 2 Cor. 4:4; 2 Cor. 11:14. F609
Get an advantage of us – The spirit adversaries are especially on the alert to entrap and ensnare the consecrated followers of the Lord. R5248:3, 2770:1
Through Satan's attacks many are being tested and their love of unrighteousness is being shown. R5148:1
Through one or another of the numerous snares Satan has set for our feet. R1687:5
The enemy by first one agent and then another in heavenly garb seeks still to overthrow the truth, using all subtilty. R899:6
We are not ignorant – We are aware that we are surrounded by the powers of evil. R5379:5
As we near the consummation of the harvest, it should not surprise us that in every way the Adversary becomes more persistent in his attacks. R5147:3, 3884:6
The saints' strength will lie in great part in that they are taking heed to the warnings of the Apostle respecting the present time. R2770:5
Even spirit mediums are well aware of the danger they encounter; if they become obsessed, the evil spirit obtaining full control, the human will is powerless to expel it. R3310:5
If the Lord's people will only go to the armory they will find that the Captain of our salvation has made abundant provision that we should not be helpless in the hands of our Adversary. R2527:6
The ability to discern spiritual things must depend on the extent to which our minds are controlled by the Spirit of God. (1 Cor. 2:14) R21:3*
Some who are Satan's active servants are totally unaware of the fact, and are themselves deceived by his devices. R1217:3
His devices – His intrigues, his deceptions. NS124:2; OV294:3
His snares. OV130:T
The Adversary, with his associates, is doubly active today, realizing that he has but a short time and that the fight is a desperate one. NS563:3
Satan misrepresents God's character as unloving, unjust, and unkind. R5148:2
The blinding of the minds of men as respects the light of truth. SM102:T; R1217:6; CR463:2, 6; HG256:1
That first great lie, "Ye shall not surely die," (Gen. 3:4) has been the foundation ofrror in the wheat field, to have us think of God as the greatest of all demons. HG256:1
Many leading theologians teach that our Lord performed no miracles against demons or evil spirits, and that the people merely had nervous diseases or fits. R3310:5
Christian Science is one of Satan's latest fads. R3310:5, 3165:6
One of his old "devices" is his denial of his own existence. R3120:1, 3310:5, 3165:6
One snare, which at first seems to be harmless and benevolent, is the erroneous view of everlasting salvation of all. R1218:1
Our ancestors were among those whom Satan deceived and who ignorantly became his servants and tools in the establishment of the thought that the civilized kingdoms are the kingdoms of Christ--"Christendom." OV50:3
Opposition to the divine plan of the ages is on the increase. Slanderous misrepresentations are so unblushingly made as to carry a measure of conviction with them, to the injury of the cause we serve. R5147:3
What Satan cannot do against the truth along the lines of logic, the Bible and common sense, he seeks to do through slanderous misrepresentations of all who take their stand on the side of truth. R5147:3
Satan attempts to discourage us by exaggerating our weaknesses and failures, thus to cause us to cease striving. He would have us give up in despair. R5148:2
He got up dissensions among the Lord's chosen twelve; his spirit actuated Peter to interfere with the Lord's sacrifice; now, too, Satan is desirous to sift out some. R3884:6, 1217:3
Satan's devices and snares are operated by men. R1217:3
God's people have their contention with wicked spirits in influential positions. NS124:2, 563:3
There is a probability that Satan will prosecute his work in the near future through various materializations. R4743:3
Satan, wily, adroit and cunning, is the chief leader of the demons. The heathen world, while thinking they are worshiping God, are really deceived by demonology. NS124:2; OV295:T
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| 12 Now when I came to Troas for the gospel of Christ, and when a door was opened unto me in the Lord, |
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| 13 I had no relief for my spirit, because I found not Titus my brother: but taking my leave of them, I went forth into Macedonia. |
Rest in my spirit – Greek: pneuma, mind. E318
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| 14 But thanks be unto God, who always leadeth us in triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest through us the savor of his knowledge in every place. |
Causeth us to triumph – Leads us forth to triumph. (Diaglott) R877:1
Paul's message was not always appreciated, but he triumphed in the fact that his labor was a sweet savor to God in any case. He rejoiced in his Master's approval, with an eye single to his glory. R877:2
If we accept the results of any matter as being good, realizing that we were guided to those results by divine providence, we should find no room for bitterness or railing against the instruments used. (Jude 9) R2896:1
We have full assurance that our labor shall not be in vain. In the harvest field, not even the humblest is excluded. The one, two, or many talents may all be employed. R877:1
In Christ – With the Anointed One. (Diaglott) R877:1
Maketh manifest – Diffuses. (Diaglott) R877:1
The savour of his knowledge – The fragrance of the knowledge of him. (Diaglott) R877:1
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| 15 For we are a sweet savor of Christ unto God, in them that are saved, and in them that perish; |
A sweet savour of Christ – As the spirit of loving zeal was demonstrated in the Lord's case, so in our case; otherwise we should not be members of that Body. R4922:2
Since nothing was said about offering the incense the second time, and we do not go into the Holy as individuals but as members of his Body, we are safe in saying that we are "in Christ, a sweet savor to God." Q343:6; R4922:2
In them that perish – Among those who are perishing. (Diaglott) R877:1
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| 16 to the one a savor from death unto death; to the other a savor from life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things? |
To the one – Those who are in a wrong condition of heart. R3537:1, 5678:1
To many, the words of Peter's Pentecost discourse were foolishness and had the death odor, and they passed on. R2930:5
In John 9, when the blind man received his sight miraculously, we see the spirit of disobedience and rebellion on the part of Pharisees, despising truth, rejecting light, because their deeds were evil. R2058:2*
As the persecutions of Stephen's day scattered the Church, some are thus sifted out, alienated, and develop a hard spirit. They go back into the outer darkness of the world. R4335:2
There is a danger that those whose hearts are selfish and lacking in gratitude will lapse into even greater worldliness, feeling that it will be well with them in the future in any event. R5678:1
We are – Our good deeds, kind words and efforts. R3537:1
The word of truth. R2930:5, 877:2
The savour of death – A bad, offensive odor. R3537:1, 877:2
A reproof, a warning, unpleasant in that it condemned them, declared their lives to be out of harmony with the will of God, showed that they are worthy of death. It held out no hopes of life to this class. R877:2
The preaching of the cross attracts the loyal-hearted and repels all others. NS625:1
Unto death – The demands of consecration to some appear onerous, burdensome. They have an odor of death that repels them and leads on to second death. R4346:1
Tending to death. R3673:6
These whom our message does not now reach will be brought under favorable conditions shortly, when the glorious Millennial reign is fully inaugurated. Then the message will be rightly seen. R877:4
The conditions of the message as it relates to sin. God will not grant life to willful sinners--will not change, but the sinner's blindness will be removed, and then he must choose obedience and life or sin and death. R877:5
And to the other – Those who are in the right attitude of heart. R3537:1
Inside and outside of all denominations we find the Lord's "Little Flock" considering it a privilege to have fellowship with Christ in sufferings, in prospect of the fellowship in his glory. NS625:1
As in Stephen's day, the Lord at times permits trials and persecutions which seem to wreck the interests of the Church, but they cause some to grow from grace to grace and from strength to strength. R4335:2
The young man who received his sight also received and appreciated the authority of truth and from its blessed testimony were drawn the lessons of faith, obedience, gratitude, humility and loving reverence. R2058:4*
As God's goodness and mercy hardened Pharaoh's heart and the love and humility of Jesus hardened Judas' heart, these principles are still at work, and may be witnessed in the harvest siftings today. R2450:1
Some feel an earnest desire to render thanks to the Lord for his great mercy and love as manifested in his glorious plan of the ages; they seek to know what is the Lord's will so that they may do it. R5678:1
The deeply interested hearers of Peter's Pentecost discourse were pricked to the heart, conscience-smitten, with his apt words. R2930:6
Regarding holding a meeting in the home of a brother with a weakness for alcohol, it would be most helpful to him to remove the meeting from that location so it would not bring dishonor on the truth. R4378:5
The savour of life – With our endeavors to serve, some have been comforted and refreshed--to them the effort was a sweet odor. R3537:1
The message is "glad tidings," a sweet odor, a message of life giving hope of life. R877:2
Unto life – Tending to life; there is no neutral ground. R3673:6
To some the ways of the Lord have a sweet odor, a life odor, bringing refreshment. R4346:1, 5678:1
It is only those who receive the truth into good and honest hearts that are rewarded with its blessed fruitage. R2058:4*
Who is sufficient – There is a tremendous strain of responsibility upon all who minister the Lord's truth. R4346:2, 3674:4
None of us in our own strength. R3674:4
None but the faithful shall be able to stand, because the Lord will purposely make the test so severe as to sift and shake out all others. R1280:1
Who is qualified? (Diaglott) R877:1
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| 17 For we are not as the many, making merchandise of the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God, speak we in Christ. |
Corrupt the word – The authority of the Scriptures is assailed in high places; the rapids of skepticism are fast hurrying on toward the final plunge into open infidelity. R1584:2
Trafficking the Word. (Diaglott) R877:1
In the sight of God – In the presence of God. (Diaglott) R877:1
In Christ – Concerning Christ. (Diaglott) R877:1
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