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

CHAP. I.

1. PAUL an Apostle of Jesus Christ, by the will of God, and [Ti∣mothy * 1.1 our brother, unto the Church of God which is at Co∣rinth, with all the saints that are in all Achaia,]

[Paraphrase] 1. Timotheus that was with you by my appointment 1 Cor. 16. 10. to see my di∣rections observed among you, to the Christian Church in the city of Corinth, and in all other cities and regions through all Achaia.

2. Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

3. Blessed be† 1.2 God, even the father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the father of mer∣cies, and the God of all comforts,]

[Paraphrase] 3. I have all reason to blesse and magnifie the name of God, which purposely sent our Lord Jesus Christ into the world, and by that, and his many other gracious acts of his par∣ticular providence, hath shewed himself to be a most mercifull and gracious Father unto us;

4. Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we our selves are com∣forted of God.]

[Paraphrase] 4. Who in all the preasures that have befallen me, hath eminently relieved and suc∣coured me, and by those experiences hath enabled me to refresh and cheer up all those that are in any affliction.

5. * 1.3 For as the sufferings of Christ† 1.4 abound in us, so our consolation also a∣boundeth by Christ.]

[Paraphrase] 5. By this one considera∣tion, of which I have had so frequent evidences, that according to the proportion of our suffering for Christ, Christ doth constantly afford us comforts and reliefs, the greater our afflictions are, the greater also our refreshments from Christ.

6. And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is* 1.5 effectuall in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whe∣ther we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.]

[Paraphrase] 6. And so what afflictions soever befall us, there is no reason you should be startled or discouraged in your Christian course by that means: for sure 'tis for your advantage that we are so. Our afflictions are matter of comfort to you, viz. that you can fall under no persecutions your selves, but what ye see us endure before you, and those meerly for our doing you good, preaching the Gospel to you, endeavouring to bring you to repentance and to blisse, which is not ordinarily to be come to, but by suffering after my example. And then the refreshments and extraordinary reliefs that Christ afforded me in all my sufferings, those sure will be matter of comfort to you also, as a pledge of assurance that Christ will afford you the like refreshments here, and reward hereafter.

7. And our hope† 1.6 of you is stedfast, knowing that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so* 1.7 shall ye be also of the consolation.]

[Paraphrase] 7. And of this I make no doubt, but that as you have your parts in the afflictions, so ye shall also of the reliefs and advantages by suffering.

8. For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life.]

[Paraphrase] 8. All this I say by way of preface to this advertise∣ment which I desire to give you of the sharp persecutions that I lately met with at Ephesus, the chief metropolis of Asia, Act. 19. see note on 1 Cor. 15. d. where I had like to have been brought out to the theatre to be devoured by the wild beasts, and indeed had no humane means to avert, nor consequently to escape it.

9. But† 1.8 we had the sentence of death in our selves, that we should not trust in our selves, but in God which raiseth the dead;]

[Paraphrase] 9. And this advantage I had of it, that the more I be∣lieved I should be put to death, the more I might be engaged by my deliverance, never to depend on any worldly trust, but only on God, who can rescue from the greatest extremity, even from the grace and death it self.

10. Who deliver'd us from so great a death, and doth deliver; in whom we trust that he will* 1.9 yet deliver us:]

[Paraphrase] 10. Even that God who hath actually delivered me out of that imminent danger, and so still continues to deliver me, and I verily believe will yet longer continue preservations to me.

11. You also helping together by prayer for us, that† 1.10 for the gift bestowed upon us [note a] by the means of many persons, thanks may be given by many on our behalf.]

[Paraphrase] 11. To which purpose I suppose 'twill much conduce, that you will earnestly pray for me: for as the prayers of many are an effectual motive to God to doe what they pray for, when by that means the favour being granted to many at once, those many shall be all engaged to thank God, and magnifie his name; so the benefit afforded me in favour to many others, viz. to the believers who pray for me, and may receive profit by my life, may by those many be received with thanksgiving to God in my behalf.

12. For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplici∣ty and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdome, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-wards.]

[Paraphrase] 12. For of this I can say with joy and comfort, that my conscience gives me a cheer∣full testimony in all my actions, that I have had no ends or designes of my own, but in a pious simplicity and sincerity of heart, not as worldly wisdome would direct, but according to the Gospel-rules (see note on Heb. 13. d.) we have behaved our selves toward all men, but toward you beyond all others.

13. For we write none other things unto you, then what you read,* 1.11 or acknow∣ledge, and I† 1.12 trust you shall acknowledge even to the end.]

[Paraphrase] 13. For my writings to you are perfectly agreeable to the doctrine preach'd by me, and by you received, when I was among you: what in my Epistles you read, you cannot but ac∣knoweldge to be that which ye have been taught, and I hope you will never be drawn away from that acknowledgment.

14. As also you have acknowledged us in part, that we are your rejoicing, even as ye also are ours, in the day of* 1.13 the Lord Jesus.]

[Paraphrase] 14. This I say, because though since these divisions came in among you, I have been rejected and vilified by some, yet some others of you have acknowledged your selves to take joy and comfort in me, as I professe to doe in you, and am confident I shall doe, when Christ comes to reward his faithfull servants.

15. And in this confidence I was minded to come unto you before, that you might have a second† 1.14 benefit,]

[Paraphrase] 15. And with this affecti∣on of kindnesse to you, and perswasion of your kindnesse to me, I did designe to come to you, that thereby you might be confirmed in that faith, and grow in that knowledge which was first preach'd to you.

16. And to passe by you into Macedonia, and* 1.15 to come again out of Macedo∣nia unto you, and of you to be brought on my way toward Judea.]

[Paraphrase] 16. This I first meant to doe in my way to Macedonia, and being hindred from doing it then (and going another way, viz. by Troas, c. 2. 12.) I have had a second resolution of visiting you, at my going from Macedonia into Greece, Act. 20. 16. 2. that so I might have been conducted by some of you to∣ward Judaea, whither I am a going with contributions to the poor Christians there.

17. When I therefore was† 1.16 thus minded, did I use lightenesse? or the things that I purpose, doe I purpose according to the flesh, that with me there should be [note b] yea, yea and nay, nay?]

[Paraphrase] 17. And though I did not come, yet have my calumnia∣tors nothing to lay to my charge for this, as if I did make resolutions lightly, rashly and inconstantly, as men use ordinarily to doe.

18 But as God is true, our word toward you was not yea and nay.]

[Paraphrase] 18. No, I assure you, as God is faithfull, there was no levity or inconstancy in my resolution.

19. For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, even by me, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, was not yea and nay, but* 1.17 in him was yea.]

[Paraphrase] 19. As little as there was in our preaching of Christ Jesus the Son of God among you, which is also calumniated by some, as if it were light, uncertain, liable to inconstancy, but that most unjustly, for what was preached by us there among you, was confirmed by Christ himself, that is, by miracles wrought by his power among you.

20. For all the promises of God† 1.18 in him are yea, and* 1.19 in him Amen,† 1.20 unto the glory of God by us.]

[Paraphrase] 20. For as all the pro∣mises of God proposed by him are undoubtedly true, so accordingly in this particular, he gave us power to confirm by miracles what we taught from him; and this I hope hath and will tend to the glory of God, by our ministery.

21. Now he which stablisheth us with you* 1.21 in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God:]

[Paraphrase] 21. Now he that confirms both you and us in the truth acknowledged by us, and which hath given us such testimony for the proof and confirmation of the Gospel (see note on Act. 10. e.) is God:

22. Who hath also sealed us, and† 1.22 given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.]

[Paraphrase] 22. Who hath as it were set his seal or signature upon us, marked and secured us, sealed us up for his own, and already given an assurance of his future dealing with us, by giving us his Spirit, the gifts and graces thereof, a pledge of the full promise which shall after be performed (see note on Ephes. 4. i.)

23. * 1.23 Moreover I call God for a record upon my soul, that to spare you I came not as yet unto Corinth.]

[Paraphrase] 23. As for that of my not performing my first resoluti∣on of coming to you in my way to Macedonia v. 17. and according to my promise 1 Cor. 16. 5. I shall tell you the clear rea∣son of it, (besides or over and above that of the spirits disposing me otherwise, contrary to my resolution intimated v. 17. see Theophylact) I had heard of such enormities among you, that if I had then come, I must have been forced to use a great deal of severity ••mong you, in case my former Epistle were not obeyed, of which I had not particular knowledge till I met with Titus, c. 2. 13. which was at my coming to Macedonia. And that was then the only reason of my forbearing, that I might not be forced to exercise that Apostolical sharpnesse against you. (As for the other, the reason of the change of his resolution is plain, Act. 20. 3.)

24 Not† 1.24 for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy; for by faith ye* 1.25 stand.]

[Paraphrase] 24. That severity of dis∣cipline I mean, that must not be look'd on as an act of dominion, of designing any advantage to our selves by you (see Mat. 20. 25. and note on 1 Pet. 5. a.) but that which Christ hath commanded and prescribed us, by that means to reform and amend, to work faith, and hope, and rejoicing, and all good things in you. For by faith, that is, the doctrine of Christ, it is that you were first brought in to the service of the true God, and wherein you continue ever since, and we desire you should doe so still, not relying on any do∣ctrine of ours as it differs from that.

Annotations on Chap. I.

[ a] * 1.26 V 11 By the meanes of many persons] The Greek 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 is ordinarily parallel and proportionable to the Hebrew 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 facies, which coming from 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 respexit, signifies oftentimes respectus, and so 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 de facie, signifies for, or in respect of; and agreeable thereto, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, of, or from, many faces, here signifies in respect of many, in relation to many, for the sa••es of many, or in any of those formes of speech by which 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 would be rendred.

[ b] * 1.27 V. 17. Yea yea, and nay nay] The meaning of yea, and nay, or of yea yea, and nay nay, is distinctly this, when we doe not agree, or are inconstant to ourselves, now yea, and an••n nay, in our words or actions. Whence is that old word naucus for a light or frivo∣lous person,* 1.28 from 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, as 'tis deduced by Festus. The difference of this from the 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Jam. 5. 12. is cleared by the construction, Let your yea be yea, and your nay be nay, that is, let your words and actions accord; so that the second yea and the se∣cond nay is not joyned with the first, as here, but as the praedicate affirmed of it, whereas here the two yeas being all one (and so indeed express'd by a single yea v. 18.) are the Subject of the speech, and the two nayes, being all one again, the praedicate. To this agrees that proverb of the Jews, The just mans yea is yea, and his nay, nay. A third expression there is, that of Mat. 5. which is in sound very near this, and yet distant from it, Let your communication be yea yea, and nay nay, that is let there be no other language but this or the like, used by you, in opposition to the more licentious forms of oaths there mentioned.

Notes

• * 1.1

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

  the God and Father 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• * 1.3

  Because 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• † 1.4

  upon us a∣bound 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• * 1.5

  wrought by 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• † 1.6

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

  you are
• † 1.8

  we our selves 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• * 1.9

  also yet 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• † 1.10

  the favour conferr'd on us for the sakes of ma∣ny, may by many be thankfully acknow∣ledged, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• * 1.11

  or, those things also ye acknow∣ledge; for the Syriack leaves out 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• † 1.12

  hope that ye will
• * 1.13

  our 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• † 1.14

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

  again from Macedonia to come to you 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• † 1.16

  had this resolution 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, or, was thus w••lling; ••o•• the King's MS reads 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• * 1.17

  by 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• † 1.18

  are in him yea, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• * 1.19

  or, therfore through him are A∣men; for the King's MS. reads 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• † 1.20

  to God for his glory 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• * 1.21

  into 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• † 1.22

  gives 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• * 1.23

  But 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• † 1.24

  that we exercise do∣minion. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• * 1.25

  have stood 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• * 1.26

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• * 1.27

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• * 1.28

  l. 12. p. 1173.