CRITICAL NOTES
2 Corinthians 1:1. Timothy.—“Not later (see 1 Corinthians 4:17) and perhaps rather earlier than he wrote the First Epistle, Paul sent (Acts 19:22) Timothy to Macedonia, with instructions to go on to Corinth if he could, of which, however (1 Corinthians 16:10), Paul was uncertain. We now find Timothy with Paul in Macedonia. But Paul’s anxiety (2 Corinthians 2:13; 2 Corinthians 7:5) makes us quite certain that, before his own arrival in Macedonia and his meeting with Titus, Timothy had not brought him tidings about the reception of the First Epistle by the Church at Corinth. Now the warmth of the Second Epistle suggests that it was written very soon after the arrival of Titus; and its silence about the coming of Timothy makes it unlikely that he arrived from Corinth with Titus or between the arrival of Titus and the writing of this letter. Consequently, either, contrary to Paul’s expectation, Timothy arrived at and left Corinth before the First Epistle, or he was, for reasons unknown to us but easily conceivable, unable to go there. In either case, we have no certain indication whether Timothy remained in Macedonia till Paul’s arrival, or returned to Paul before he left Ephesus, was with him there during the tumult, and went with him to Troas and to Macedonia. But this latter supposition would more easily account for the absence (except 2 Corinthians 1:19) of any further reference to Timothy in this Epistle. Doubtless he was with Paul when Titus arrived. And his close connection with the founding of the Church at Corinth (2 Corinthians 1:19; Acts 18:5) accounts sufficiently for the presence of his name here, supporting the Apostle’s earnest pleading.” (Beet.) Notice margin, “the brother.” Achaia.—Not the whole Roman province, but the smaller, classical Achaia. Of the former, not Stephanas (1 Corinthians 16:15), but Dionysius and Damaris and others (Acts 17:34) were the “firstfruits.” Notice the evidence of a widespread work beyond Corinth (cf. 1 Thessalonians 1:7-8).
HOMILETIC ANALYSIS.— 2 Corinthians 1:1-2
[This Salutation traverses much the same ground as that of 1 Corinthians 1:1-3, which see. Dr. Lyth’s collection of Homiletic Suggestions gives:]
2 Corinthians 1:1-2. The Happiness of the Church.
I. Its ministers are messengers of Christ; are chosen by God; are diversely gifted as Paul and Timothy. [The twelve in the ship (Mark 6:45-50) were the Church in germ, and in miniature. “The ship carried” the Church “and its fortunes.” The diversity of the twelve men, all apostles, was anticipatory and typical. No type of character, no diversity, or capacity, or education, etc., comes amiss to the hand of the Great Builder. Every style of man may be an instrument with which He can build something, if only the man be willing simply to be used.]
II. Its constitution is Divine; holy; catholic [“with all the saints,” etc.].
III. Its wealth of privilege.—Rich in its variety [“grace and peace”?]. Divine in its communication. Inexbaustible in its supply. [Such a source cannot “run dry.” “All my fresh springs are in Thee” (Psalms 87:7).]
Also:—
2 Corinthians 1:1. The Christian Ministry is—
I. Ordained by the will of God [i.e. not only the “order of the ministry,” but the man, Paul or other].
II. United by bonds of brotherhood.—[Pares all, though there be a primus].
III. Devoted to the service of the Church—[I.e. the greeting “unto the Church” is typical of Paul’s whole relation to the Corinthians. The ministry is not the Church. It exists for the sake of the Church. It exists to bring “grace and peace” to the Church. If it do not, its raison d’être is gone. If a minister do not, his raison d’être is gone.]