Rut 2:4, Mat 1:23, 28:20, Rom 16:24, 2Cor 13:14, 2Ti 4:22 | TSK | STEP

6:13; 1Ki 1:36; 1Ch 16:36; Ps 72:19; Re 1:18; 22:20 CONCLUDING REMARKS ON MATTHEW'S GOSPEL. Matthew being one of the twelve apostles, and early called to the apostleship, and from the time of his call a constant attendant on our Saviour, was perfectly well qualified to write fully the history of his life. He relates what he saw and heard. "He is eminently distinguished for the distinctness and particularity with which he has related many of our Lord's discourses and moral instructions. Of these his sermon on the mount, his charge to the apostles, his illustrations of the nature of his kingdom, and his prophecy on mount Olivet, are examples. He has also wonderfully united simplicity and energy in relating the replies of his Master to the cavils of his adversaries." "There is not," as Dr. A. Clarke justly remarks, "one truth or doctrine, in the whole oracles of God, which is not taught in this Evangelist. The outlines of the whole spiritual system are here correctly laid down: even Paul himself has added nothing: he has amplified and illustrated the truths contained in this Gospel;--under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, neither he, nor any of the other apostles, have brought to light one truth, the prototype of which has not been found in the words and acts of our blessed Lord as related by Matthew."

Romans 16:24

20; 1Th 5:28

2 Corinthians 13:14

The grace.

Nu 6:23-27; Mt 28:19; Joh 1:16,17; Ro 1:7; 16:20,24; 1Co 16:23

Re 1:4,5

the love.

Ro 5:5; 8:39; Eph 6:23; 1Jo 3:16; Jude 1:21

the communion.

Joh 4:10,14; 7:38; 14:15-17; Ro 8:9,14-17; 1Co 3:16; 6:19; 12:13

Ga 5:22; Eph 2:18,22; 5:9; Php 2:1; 1Jo 1:3; 3:24

Amen.

Mt 6:13; 28:20; Ro 16:20,27; 1Co 14:16 CONCLUDING REMARKS ON THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS. The most remarkable circumstance in this Epistle, observes Mr. Scott, is the confidence of the Apostle in the goodness of his cause, and in the power of God to bear him out in it. Opposed as he then was by a powerful and sagacious party, whose authority, reputation, and interest were deeply concerned, and who were ready to seize on every thing that could discredit him, it is wonderful to hear him so firmly insist upon his apostolical authority, and so unreservedly appeal to the miraculous power which he has exercised and conferred at Corinth. So far from shrinking from the contest, as afraid of some discovery being made, unfavourable to him and the common cause, he, with great modesty and meekness indeed, but with equal boldness and decision, expressly declares that his opposers and despisers were the ministers of Satan, and menaces them with miraculous judgments, when as many of their deluded hearers had been brought to repentance and re-established in the faith, as proper means could in a reasonable time effect. It is inconceivable that a stronger internal testimony, not only of integrity, but of divine inspiration, can exist. Had there been any thing of imposture among the Christians, it was next to impossible but such a conduct must have occasioned a disclosure of it. Of the effects produced by this latter epistle we have no circumstantial account; for the journey which St. Paul took to Corinth, after he had written it, is mentioned by St. Luke only in a few words, (Ac 20:2, 3.) We know, however, that St. Paul was there after he had written this Epistle; that the contributions for the poor brethren at Jerusalem were brought to him from different parts to that city (Ro 15:26;) and that, after remaining there several months, he sent salutations from some of the principal members of that church, by whom he must have been greatly respected, to the church of Rome (Ro 16:22, 23.) From this time we hear no more of the false teacher and his party; and when Clement of Rome wrote his epistle to the Corinthians, St. Paul was considered by them as a divine apostle, to whose authority he might appeal without fear of contradiction. The false teacher, therefore, must either have been silenced by St. Paul, by virtue of his apostolical powers, and by an act of severity which he had threatened, (2 Co 13:2, 3;) or this adversary of the apostle had, at that time, voluntarily quitted the place. Whichever was the cause, the effect produced must operate as a confirmation of our faith, and as a proof of St. Paul's divine mission.

2 Timothy 4:22

The Lord.

Mt 28:20; Ro 16:20; 2Co 13:14; Ga 6:18; Phm 1:25

Grace.

Ro 1:7; 1Co 16:23; Eph 6:24; Col 4:18; 1Ti 6:21; 1Pe 5:14; Re 22:21