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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadJohn Bengel Commentary - 2 Corinthians 5:16 - 5:16
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2Co 5:16. Ἀπὸ τοῦ νῦν, henceforth) From the time that the love of Christ has engaged [has pre-occupied] our minds. Even this epistle differs in degree from the former.-οὐδένα, no man) neither ourselves, nor the other apostles, Gal 2:6; nor you, nor others. We do not fear the great, we do not consider the humble more humble than ourselves; we do and suffer all things, and our anxiety is in every way to bring all to life. In this enthusiasm [ἔκστασις, being beside ourselves], 2Co 5:13, nay in this death, 2Co 5:15, we know none of them that survive,[30] even in connection with our ministry,-ΚΑΤᾺ ΣΆΡΚΑ, according to the flesh) according to the old state, arising from nobility, riches, resources, wisdom, [so as that from more natural considerations, we should either do or omit to do this or that.-V. g.]-εἰ δὲ καὶ ἐγνώκαμεν) ΟἾΔΑ and ἜΓΝΩΚΑ,[31] differ, 1Co 2:8; 1Co 2:11 - 1Co 8:1. Such knowledge was more tolerable, before the death of Christ: for that was the period of the days of the flesh.-κατὰ σάρκα, according to the flesh) construed with ἐγνώκαμεν, we have known.-Χριστὸν, Christ) He does not say here Jesus. The name Jesus is in some measure more spiritual than the name Christ; and they know Christ according to the flesh, who acknowledge Him as the Saviour, not of the world, 2Co 5:19, but only of Israel, ch. 2Co 11:18, note: and who congratulate themselves on this account, that they belong to that nation from which Christ was descended, and who seek in His glory political splendour, and in their seeing Him when He formerly appeared, and in their hearing of His instructions of whatever kind, before His sufferings, some superiority over others, and in the knowledge of Him, the enjoyment of the mere natural senses: and who do not strive to attain that enjoyment which is here described, and which is derived from His death and resurrection, 2Co 5:15; 2Co 5:17-18 : comp. Joh 16:7; Rom 8:34; Php 3:10; Luk 8:21.
[30] i.e. Those not yet dead with and in Christ, but living in the flesh: note on οἱ ζῶντες, 2Co 5:15.-ED.
[31] οἶδα seems to be used as scio (of an abstract truth well known), or novi (of a person, with whom we are well acquainted). ἔγνωκα as agnosco, or cognosco, come to the knowledge of, I perceive, or recognize.-ED.