A paraphrase and annotations upon all the books of the New Testament briefly explaining all the difficult places thereof / by H. Hammond.

CHAP. XII.

1. * 1.1 IT is not expedient for me doubtlesse, to glory;† 1.2 I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.]

[Paraphrase] 1. But I shall give over these things, for if I should goe on in it, I should then come to mention the visions and revelations which I have had from God.

2. * 1.3 I knew [note a] a man in Christ above fourteen years agoe, (whether in the body I cannot tell, or whether out of the body, I cannot tell; God knoweth: such a one) † 1.4 caught up to the third heaven.]

[Paraphrase] 2. I know one that was transported in a vision by the Spirit of Christ; that is, I my self about fourteen years past was in an extasie, Act. 22. 18. such an one that I am not able to say whether I were bodily removed, and carried to the third heaven, the place of Gods glorious residence, or whether only in a vision such representations were made to me remaining upon the earth.

3. And I knew such a man (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell, God knoweth)]

[Paraphrase] 3. I say, I know not which of these it was, God only knows.

4. How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which is not lawfull for a man to utter.]

[Paraphrase] 4. But whether bodily, or in vision, me thought I was in the highest heaven ver. 2. here called paradise in respect of the joyes that dwell there, and had such revelations made to me by an Angel from God, as were wonderfull to consider, but which I was forbidden to declare to others.

5. Of such a one will I glory, yet of my self I will not glory, but in mine in∣firmities.]

[Paraphrase] 5. And though I have this abundant matter of glorying, yet shall I not make use of it any farther, or more plainly, but boast only of my sufferings for Christ.

6. For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above* 1.5 that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me.]

[Paraphrase] 6. For if I would speak of this, I justly might, for it is most certainly true: but I will say no more of this subject, for I desire not to put men into any other opinion of me, then what they have from those more visible evidences, my ordinary constant actions, or words.

7. And lest I should be exalted above measure through the† 1.6 abundance of re∣velations, there was given to me [note b] a thorn* 1.7 in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.]

[Paraphrase] 7. And indeed after I had these high transcendent reve∣lations, that I might not be elevated with them, a sharp affliction was sent me in mercy by God, but inflicted on me by Satan and some instruments of his, who dealt very roughly with me, beat me, imprisoned me, scourged me (see Chrysost. Epist. 15. to 7. p. 101. lin. 40.) and this was by God designed to keep me humble.

8. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.]

[Paraphrase] 8. And I earnestly prayed to God to be delivered from it.

9. And he said unto me, My† 1.8 grace is sufficient for thee; for my strength is made perfect in weaknesse. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infir∣mities▪ that the power of Christ may* 1.9 rest upon me.]

[Paraphrase] 9. And the onely answer I received was this, It is enough for thee that what I doe is for thy good; afflictions are the means to doe the Christian most good, the greater the pressures are, the more visible is the perfection of the divine assistance, or, the more thy persecutions are, the more is the Gospel propagated by thee (Theophy∣lact:) nay afflictions therefore are the things I rejoice in (see Heb. 3. a.) more then any thing, even then revelations themselves, as the means by which the power of Christ and his presence may appear more visibly upon me (see note on Rom. 9. b.) then by any other means it could, even in as glorious a manner as that wherein God exhibited himself in the Ark.

10. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christs sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.]

[Paraphrase] 10. This therefore of dis∣eases, and afflictions, and re∣proaches, and persecutions for Christ, is a thing with which I am perfectly pleased, I have nothing of exception against them; for in time of afflictions the strength of Christ is more eminently visible in me, the heavier the pressures are, the greater supports I have from him; or, the more I suffer for, the more Proselytes I gain to, it (Theophylact.)

11. I am become a fool in glorying, ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest Apostles, though I be nothing.]

[Paraphrase] 11. You see how vain I am in boasting; yet your ca∣lumnies have made it neces∣sary for me to doe so: For sure I have done and suffered as much as any the most valued Apostle, though indeed I have no rea∣son to have any opinion of my self for all this.

12. Truly the signes of an Apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signes, and wonders, and mighty deeds.]

[Paraphrase] 12. If patience of what∣soever sufferings for the Go∣spels sake, if working of miracles of all kinds be able to testifie a man to be sent and authorized by Christ, (as beyond all other things that is most proper to doe it) then sure it doth appear that I am an Apostle, in despite of my calumniators.

13. For what is it* 1.10 wherein ye were inferior to other Churches, ex••ept it be that I my self† 1.11 〈◊〉〈◊〉 not burdensome to you? forgive me this wrong.]

[Paraphrase] 13. For there is no Church that hath had more pains taken among them, more gifts bestowed for the building them up, more of any thing that is needfull, then ye have had from me: the onely thing wherein ye differ from others is, that all hath been done without any charge of yours, without my asking or receiving any thing from you: and if this be a wrong, you will easily, I suppose, forgive it me.

14. Behold the third time I am ready to come to you, and I will not be burden∣some to you, for I seek not yours, but you; for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.]

[Paraphrase] 14. I have now made a third resolution (see c. 1. 16.) to come shortly among you, and I will doe it without putting you to any charge, for I covet not your possessions, but your salvation, and as a parent I desire to doe all manner of good to you, and to receive none from you.

15. And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you, though the more abun∣dantly I love you the lesse I be loved.]

[Paraphrase] 15. And I will offer up my self most chearfully for the good of your souls, exhaust all the small goods I have, and venture even my life for you, and never be discouraged, though as my love and the effects thereof encrease toward you, so yours lessen toward me.

16. But be it so, I did not burden you: neverthelesse being crafty, I caught you with guile.]

[Paraphrase] 16. But it is by some a∣mong you suggested against me, that although I never received any pay from you for the preaching the Gospell, yet I have cunningly and under-hand got∣ten a great deal from you.

17. Did I make a gain of you by any of them whom I sent unto you?]

[Paraphrase] 17. If this have any truth in it, let it appear, have I done this by any of those whom I have sent to you?

18. † 1.12 I desired Titus, and with him I sent* 1.13 a brother; did Titus make† 1.14 again of you? walked we not in the same spirit? walked we not in the same steps?]

[Paraphrase] 18. I perswaded Titus to come to you (see c. 9. 5.) and sent Luke along with him; did Titus or the other make any kind of gain of you? did he defraud you of ought? did not he behave himself just after the same manner as I had done before?

19. * 1.15 Again, think you that we† 1.16 excuse our selves unto you? we speak before God in Christ: but we doe all things, dearly deloved, for your edifying.]

[Paraphrase] 19. Do not think, as former∣ly ye have done, that what I thus say is spoken largely, as to take off the objections which you have against me, by some fair specious colours and excuses. No, in the sight of God I speak the very perfect truth, and would not say it for my own sake, were it not, in probability, to tend to your good, to take you off (by my giving this account of my self) from the factious courses, which through admiration of others mens persons ye are engaged in.

20. For I fear, lest when [come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not; lest there be debates,* 1.17 envyings, wraths, strifes, back-bitings, whisperings, swellings tumults;]

[Paraphrase] 20. For I would fain pre∣vent what I see too probable, that when I come to you, we shall neither of us be much pleased at the meeting; not I with you, seeing you seduced and corrupted, nor you with me, when I shall be forced to inflict censures upon you; I mean, lest these sparks of faction and division, that are among you, break out into flames;

21. And lest when I come again my God will humble me among you, and that I shall bewaile many that have sinned already, and have not repented of the unclean∣nesse, and fornication, and [aschviousnesse which they have committed.]

[Paraphrase] 21. And I be forced to ex∣excise severity among you, to inflict censures on many of those who had formerly offended, and been warn'd, (if not punish'd) by my former Epistle, and have not yet reformed and forsaken those base unnaturall sins to which the heathen idol-feasts had betray'd them. See note on 1 Cor. 5. c. and 2 Cor. 2. b. and c. 13. 2.

Annotations on Chap. XII.

[ a] * 1.18 V. 2. A man in Christ] What 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, a man in Christ, here signifies may possibly be guess'd by other phrases of the same making; such is that of Saint Luke, Act. 12. 11. where 'tis said of Peter, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉,* 1.19 being in himself, that is, having been former∣ly in a trance, and now return'd out of it; and that is call'd being in himself: such that Revel. 1. 10. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉,* 1.20 I was in the spirit that is, I was in a trance or ecstasie, and there received a vision, or revela∣tion from God: such Mar. 1. 23. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and the same again c. 5. 2. A man in an un∣clean spirit, that is, one ag••tated with a diabolical spirit, rapt and carried to doe things which of himself he would never doe. And accordingly here a man in Christ, may be one that by the spirit of Christ was thus transported, received Revelations from Christ, and therefore v. 1. there is mention of visions and revelati∣ons, of which this is here an instance, and so v. 7. And all the circumstances of the Context incline to this in∣terpretation. And this is the importance of the 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 ecstasie (see note on Mark 3. c.) being out of him∣self, transported either by a good or evill spirit; when by a good, it signifies a pr••phetick vision▪ when by a bad, a kind of madnesse, as in the Daemoniacks, (though the word is no where in the New Testament used of them) and both contrary to the being 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 in himself, moved onely by that humane principle of reason, &c. which he hath within him, neither 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, nor 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, carried by God, nor the devill.

[ b] * 1.21 V. 7. A thorn in the flesh] What this 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 thorn to the flesh here signifies will be best guess'd from Ezech. 28. 24. where the pricking brier and grie∣ving thorn is set to signifie a sore affliction, to wound and torment; from the despisers, as it there follows, or persecuters of Israel. And so i•• will here signifie no more but a sad and sharp affliction, inflicted on Saint Paul (saith Irenaeus l. 4. the last ch. and Theodoret and Theophylact on the place) by some followers of Simon Magus, that is, the Gnosticks.

Notes

• * 1.1

  But it 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• † 1.2

  for I shall come 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• * 1.3

  I know 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• † 1.4

  snatcht as farr as 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• * 1.5

  what he sees me, or hears any thing from me, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• † 1.6

  height 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• * 1.7

  to-〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• † 1.8

  favour 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• * 1.9

  inhabit 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• * 1.10

  wherein you have received diminution more then the rest of the Churches 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• † 1.11

  did not importune you, see c. 11. 9.
• † 1.12

  I perswa∣ded or be∣sought 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• * 1.13

  the bro∣ther 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• † 1.14

  any 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• * 1.15

  Doe you again think 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• † 1.16

  make apologies 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• * 1.17

  emplati∣o••s 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• * 1.18

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• * 1.19

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• * 1.20

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• * 1.21

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉