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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadCambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges - 2 Corinthians 1:21 - 1:21
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21. ὁ δὲ βεβαιῶν ἡμᾶς σὺν ὑμῖν εἰς Χριστὸν καὶ χρίσας ἡμᾶς θεός. The ἡμᾶς may be the same throughout 2Co 1:21-22,—‘us teachers, us Apostles.’ The σὺν ὑμῖν need not be carried to the clauses which follow. Teachers and taught alike are continually being ‘confirmed unto Christ’ by God, and in this blessed fact he eagerly couples the Corinthians with himself; but the anointing and sealing may here refer to those who are set apart for a special office. No doubt there is a sense in which all Christians are anointed and sealed; but that is perhaps not what is meant here. The change of tense, and the omission of σὺν ὑμῖν although ἡμᾶς is repeated, point to a distinction; and the aorists may refer to the definite occasion when the ministers were consecrated to their work, and should not, as in the A.V., be rendered as perfects. See Waite in the Speaker’s Commentary. In Luk 4:18 and Act 10:38 ἔχρισεν and ἔχρισας are used of God’s sending Jesus as the Preacher of the good tidings; and here χρίσας may be meant to refer to Χριστόν: ‘who confirmeth us unto Christ and made us christs (anointed ones).’ The anointing is with the Holy Spirit. Elisha is anointed (1Ki 19:16), and receives the spirit of Elijah (2Ki 2:9; 2Ki 2:15). If σὺν ὑμῖν be carried on, and χρίσας and σφρ. be understood of the whole body of believers, the change of tense may be explained as meaning that those whom God once for all consecrated and made His own, these He ever stablisheth. The closely parallel passages, Eph 1:13; Eph 4:30, favour the application of σφρ. to all Christians. With the pregnant construction βεβαιῶν εἰς Χρ. comp. Eph 4:15 and Ellicott’s note; and with χρίσας comp. 1Jn 2:20; 1Jn 2:27.