2 Corinthians 1:1-2 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, to the church of God which is at Corinth… Corinth is notable for its learning, wealth, and lasciviousness. I. THAT EVEN AMONGST THE MOST PROFANE AND UNLIKELIEST PEOPLE GOD MAY SOMETIMES GATHER A CHURCH TO HIMSELF. The reason why God may build His house of such crooked timber, and make His temple of such rough stones, may be to show the freeness of His grace and the efficacy of it. II. THAT A CHURCH MAY BE A TRUE CHURCH ALTHOUGH IT BE DEFILED WITH MANY CORRUPTIONS. As a godly man may be truly godly and yet subject to many failings, so a Church yet not perfect. This truth is worthy of note, because many, out of a tenderness and misguided zeal, may separate from a Church because of this; but a particular Christian is not to excommunicate a Church till God hath given a bill of divorce to it. 1. The soundness and purity of Churches admits of degrees. As one star doth excel another in glory, yet both are stars, so one Church may greatly transcend another in orthodoxy and purity, and yet both be Churches. 2. When we speak of a Church being God's true Church, though greatly corrupted, we must take heed of two extremes — (1) That of those who would have no reformation, though there be never so many disorders, but say, "It is prudence to let all things be." The apostle doth far otherwise to this Church; though he calls it the Church of God, yet his Epistle is full of sharp reproof. He is very zealous that they become a new lump — that they be made, as it were, a new Church. God takes notice, and is very angry with all these disorders and great neglect. (2) That of those who, because of the corruptions that are in a Church, are so far transported with misguided zeal as to take no notice of the truth of a Church. Some are apt so to attend to a true Church that they never matter the corruptions of it. Others, again, so eye the corruptions that they never regard the truth of it; but it is good to avoid both these extremes. 3. Though that Church be a true Church where we live, yet, if many corruptions do abound therein, we must take heed that we do not pollute ourselves thereby, or become partakers of any sin indulged amongst them. (Anthony Burgess.) Parallel Verses 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: |
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