THE Epistle out of which this Text is selected, was with the one proceeding it, written to the Church of Jesus at Corinth; many of the Lord’s elect people were in this place, and the Apostle Paul was sent here to proclaim the glad tidings of salvation; the Lord was graciously with him, and gave testimony to the word of his grace, those who received the truth, being knit together in spirit, formed themselves into a body. Among them the Apostle abode two years and then departed. Soon after his departure he heard of their dissentions; defections in doctrines and ordinances, luxury, intemperance, uncleanness, and abuses of their religious liberties, litigious law suits and irregularities in their public assemblies, he writes this Epistle to correct them, to warn, instruct, and direct in all important subjects. False teachers made sad work among them likewise; endeavouring to set their minds against the Apostle to bring him into contempt that his ministry might lose its efficacy, and also to misrepresent his doctrine, as tending to licentiousness, whereas there was nothing but the violation of law and conscience, the effect of their ministry and which is to be seen to this day amongst most teachers of the law such as direct their hearers to the law instead of Jesus, as the law fulfiller:—these in general are full of wrath, bitterness, pride, and carnal enmity, and though great advocates for holiness and good works never perform any without making it well known, that they may have to plead in the last day:—“Lord, Lord, have we not done many wonderful works?” However the Apostle in this second epistle triumphs, that his ministry is a sweet savour to God; to some it would terminate in their present salvation, to others add to their condemnation for rejecting it. Then he levels his artillery at those false apostles, who had formed themselves into a body and gave letters of recommendation to one another to the Churches where they went, they could go no where without these letters. But Paul and every true Apostle needed not such recommendation.