(Deuteronomy 4:2 [KJV]) Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I
command you.
(Proverbs 30:5, 6 [KJV]) Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.
(Isaiah 28:10 [KJV])
For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:
(Isaiah 28:13 [KJV])
But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.
(2 Peter 1:20 [KJV])
Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
All of the studies, book or topical, found here, are done with research with mainly two things: The KING JAMES BIBLE and a plain old, 1828 Webster's Dictionary. Why? Outside of actually studying secular and Jewish history, archaeology, one needs nothing more. You do not need foreign, dead languages that no one speaks, lexicons, concordances or commentaries, because they differ not only with one another and with the KING JAMES BIBLE, but they create division, confusion, debate, and unbelief. We do not need them. That Word of God written and preserved for us in our own language is supposed to be enough, like the Old Testament was for the Jews, and the New Testament for the early Christians in Greek, Latin, Italian, Spanish, German, etc. There are studies within as tangents on words, subjects found within the two testaments, as to broaden the scope of the study, to learn more, deeper truths. This is not an intellectual site with PhDs, theologians, and no worldly wisdom.. Check everything out, everything. Not just here, but with everything you read and see and hear. Be Bereans:
(Acts 17:11 [KJV])
These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
Always research for yourself, use all of the context, and never privately interpret!
CORINTH: RICH GREEK CITY/STATE
(Acts 18:1 [KJV])
After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth;
(Acts 18:8 [KJV])
And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized.
(Acts 19:1,2 [KJV])
And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, He
said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.
(2 Corinthians 1:1,2 [KJV])
Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy [our] brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are
in all Achaia: Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called [to be] saints, with all that in every place call
upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:
(2 Corinthians 1:23 [KJV])
Moreover I call God for a record upon my soul, that to spare you I came not as yet unto Corinth.
(2 Corinthians 6:11 [KJV])
O [ye] Corinthians, our mouth is open unto you, our heart is enlarged.
(2 Timothy 4:20 [KJV])
Erastus abode at Corinth: but Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick.
Lots of good, fresh water
Lots of good, arable soil
Lots of good clay for ceramics, pottery, etc., hence "Corinthian Pottery"
Shops, fountains, carved stone temples to the Greek gods, porticos, metal workshops abounded
As a part of a major shipping lane, Corinth has four ports, on the Gulf of Corinth, between two seas
A temple to Apollo was there
Another temple was one to Aphrodite, an acropolis known as Acrocorinth, that supplied prostitutes for the seafaring men, which made it a rich city
Perusing the two letters Paul wrote to them, it is obvious that they were apostate and backslidden.
2 CORINTHIANS 13:
(2 Corinthians 13:1 [KJV])
This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.
Two or three witnesses, two or three times now, or a different witness, each of the three times=three different witnesses
Same testimony of these false accusers, each time
The fact that, after three times, Paul STILL has to deal with them means unrepentant hearts, extreme arrogance and pride, willing ignorance
(Numbers 35:30 [KJV])
Whoso killeth any person, the murderer shall be put to death by the mouth of witnesses: but one witness shall not testify against any person to cause him to die.
(Deuteronomy 17:6 [KJV])
At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall he that is worthy of death be put to death; but at the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death.
(Deuteronomy 19:15 [KJV])
One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established.
(John 8:17 [KJV])
It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true.
(Matthew 18:16 [KJV])
But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
(John 8:18-19 [KJV])
I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me. Then said they unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also.
(Hebrews 10:28 [KJV])
He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:
(2 Corinthians 13:2 [KJV])
I told you before, and foretell you, as if I were present, the second time; and being absent now I write to them which heretofore have sinned, and to all other, that, if I come again, I will not spare:
A direct, open warning to those who are unrepentant, prepare for exposure, prepare for reproach, reprimand, reproof, correction, instruction
A man who is in this state of apostasy is so hard of heart that they are not goingto be open to this sort of correction and will run like rats when the lights come on
They are thinking they are safe to say all of this about Paul's authority and spirituality because he is not there, behind his back
God is with Paul, so in the majority
(2 Corinthians 13:3 [KJV])
Since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, which to you-ward is not weak, but is mighty in you.
Imagine needing proof from Paul, a former Pharisee who was being persecuted on all sides, Jew and Gentile (Roman Empire), and questioning
Imagine questioning him who was speaking boldly to them, telling them Christ in them is strong
(2 Corinthians 13:4 [KJV])
For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you.
"CRUCIFIED through weakness means Jesus came in the flesh, was tempted as we are, felt pain like us
Raised from the dead by the power of God
Same thing for us, in the flesh weak, by the power of God strong
We are weak IN HIM, meaning in our flesh, but spiritually IN Christ
(Hebrews 4:15 [KJV])
For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
(Philippians 4:13 [KJV])
I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
(2 Corinthians 13:5 [KJV])
Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
How do we know we are saved? By the Word of God, which is hiw Paul wants them to examine themselves
They wanted to examine themselves by comparing themselves with themselves, amongst themselves, comparing themselves against Paul
REPROBATE, a. [L. reprobatus, reprobo, to disallow; re and probo, to prove.]
Not enduring proof or trial; not of standard purity or fineness; disallowed; rejected. Reprobate silver shall men call them, because the Lord hath rejected them. Jer 6.
Abandoned in sin; lost to virtue or grace. They profess that they know God, but in works deny him, being abominable and disobedient, and to every good work reprobate. Titus 1.
Abandoned to error, or in apostasy. 2 Tim 3.
Writing about them in the epistle top Titus, Paul said their mouths must be stopped; they are phony Christians, preaching a false gospel, house to house
REP'ROBATE, n. A person abandoned to sin; one lost to virtue and religion. I acknowledge myself a reprobate, a villain, a traitor to the king.
(Titus 1:10-16 [KJV])
For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake. One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies. This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;
Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth. Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.
(2 Corinthians 13:6 [KJV])
But I trust that ye shall know that we are not reprobates.
When Paul was done explaining the Gospel, their work, correct doctrine, showign them the Scriptures, showing them their behavior, they will know that he is not a reprobate
At that same moment, they will know that they ARE in fact reprobates, by this same exposure, doctrinal revelation
(2 Corinthians 13:7 [KJV])
Now I pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we should appear approved, but that ye should do that which is honest, though we be as reprobates.
Do no evil, for your own good, not for us
Do the right thing for you, not for us in any way
This is because you treat us like reprobates, so show yourselves not to be such
A godly prayer is to keep someone from sin, even for ourselves to be kept
(2 Corinthians 13:8 [KJV])
For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.
No one on earth ever did, ever can, ever will do a single thing to change the truth, win while even fighting against it, in the end
We can discover it in the person of Jesus Christ and in His Word and words
We can read it, memorize it, preach it, teach it, live by it, everything good-EXCEPT fight against it and win
There is no better testimony we can give outwardly than our behavior among the brethren, among unbelievers, if it is honestly reflecting that inner, changed person, born again, born from above
(2 Corinthians 13:9 [KJV])
For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong: and this also we wish, even your perfection.
It is not about us lording anything over others in this life; it is about spiritual maturity and growth to glorify Jesus Christ
When we make our walk about others and not ourselves, we can help them be perfected in Christ
Glad that they are left to their own will to strive for obedience, a perfect walk with Christ
The onus on Paul and responsibility, the burden of all of the churches he planted was already a lot; more never needed to be added, to keep his grieving (and the Holy Ghost!) to a minimum
(Philippians 4:13 [KJV])
I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
(2 Corinthians 13:10 [KJV])
Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the power which the Lord hath given me to edification, and not to destruction.
Paul here prepares for his visit, to be peaceful, as a spiritual father, not a taskmaster
He wanted them to be fellow laborers, not employees, not to have to LORD it over them
This was to avoid having to argue, dispute (use sharpness) when he arrived
(2 Corinthians 13:11 [KJV])
Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.
Unity is the goal, always, and there is only one way to do that-same Word, all of it, left to tell us how to live, not us telling it to say what we want it to say
Reading the Word in context, not privately interpreted, to be lived by, by all, making proper disciples, taking care of each other, no unnecessary hierarchies
(2 Corinthians 13:12-13 [KJV])
Greet one another with an holy kiss. All the saints salute you.
A kiss on the cheek, an embrace, to show love and affection
Today this has been replaced by a handshake, not as close, not as personal nor as personable
The saints are the believers with Paul, who witnessed the writing of this epistle sent to them
KISS, v.t.
To salute with the lips.
To treat with fondness; to caress. The hearts of princes kiss obedience.
To touch gently. When the sweet wind did gently kiss the trees.
KISS, n. A salute given with the lips; a common token of affection.
SALU'TE, v.t. [L. saluto; salus or salvus.]
To greet; to hail; to address with expressions of kind wishes. If ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? Mat 5.
To please; to gratify. [Unusual.]
To kiss.
In military and naval affairs, to honor some person or nation by a discharge of cannon or small arms, by striking colors, by shouts, etc.
(2 Corinthians 13:14 [KJV])
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.
And here, once again, is the Trinity - The LORD Jesus Christ, God (the Father), and the Holy Ghost
if they are with us, there is grace. If not, as with the world, there will be no grace one day, though, for now, God has been gracious all throughout man's time on earth, Garden of Eden, through to today, and until the end
