Rom 13:13, 1Cor 1:11, 3:3, 2Cor 12:20, Gal 5:20 | Barnes | STEP | Verse 13. Let us walk . To walk is an expression denoting to live ; let us live , or conduct , etc. Honestly . The word here used means, rather, in a decent or becoming manner; in a manner appropriate to those who are the children of light. As in the day . As if all our actions were seen and known. Men by day, or in open light, live decently; their foul and wicked deeds are done in the night. The apostle exhorts Christians to live as if all their conduct were seen, and they had nothing which they wished to conceal. In rioting . Revelling; denoting the licentious conduct, the noisy and obstreperous mirth, the scenes of disorder and sensuality, which attend luxurious living. Drunkenness . Rioting and drunkenness constitute the first class of sins from which he would keep them. It is scarcely necessary to add, that these were common crimes among the heathen. In chambering . "Lewd, immodest behaviour." (Webster.) The Greek word includes illicit indulgences of all kinds, adultery, etc. The words chambering and wantonness constitute the second class of crimes from which the apostle exhorts Christians to abstain. That these were common crimes among the heathen it is not necessary to say. See Barnes on Romans chapter 1; also . It is not possible, nor would it be proper, to describe the scenes of licentious indulgence of which all pagans are guilty. As Christians were to be a peculiar people, therefore, the apostle enjoins on them purity and holiness of life. Not in strife . Strife and envying are the third class of sins from which the apostle exhorts them. The word strife means contention, disputes, litigations . The exhortation is, that they should live in peace. Envying . Greek, Zeal. It denotes any intense, vehement, fervid passion. It is not improperly rendered here by envying. These vices are properly introduced in connexion with the others. They usually accompany each other. Quarrels and contentions come out of scenes of drunkenness and debauchery. But for such scenes there would be little contention, and the world would be comparatively at peace. (e) "walk honestly" or, "decently" (f) "not in rioting" (g) "and drunkenness" (h) "chambering and wantonness"

Romans 13:13

Verse 13. Let us walk. To walk is an expression denoting to live; let us live, or conduct, etc.

Honestly. The word here used means, rather, in a decent or becoming manner; in a manner appropriate to those who are the children of light.

As in the day. As if all our actions were seen and known. Men by day, or in open light, live decently; their foul and wicked deeds are done in the night. The apostle exhorts Christians to live as if all their conduct were seen, and they had nothing which they wished to conceal.

In rioting. Revelling; denoting the licentious conduct, the noisy and obstreperous mirth, the scenes of disorder and sensuality, which attend luxurious living.

Drunkenness. Rioting and drunkenness constitute the first class of sins from which he would keep them. It is scarcely necessary to add, that these were common crimes among the heathen.

In chambering. "Lewd, immodest behaviour." (Webster.) The Greek word includes illicit indulgences of all kinds, adultery, etc. The words chambering and wantonness constitute the second class of crimes from which the apostle exhorts Christians to abstain. That these were common crimes among the heathen it is not necessary to say. See Barnes on Romans chapter 1; also Eph 5:12. It is not possible, nor would it be proper, to describe the scenes of licentious indulgence of which all pagans are guilty. As Christians were to be a peculiar people, therefore, the apostle enjoins on them purity and holiness of life.

Not in strife. Strife and envying are the third class of sins from which the apostle exhorts them. The word strife means contention, disputes, litigations. The exhortation is, that they should live in peace.

Envying. Greek, Zeal. It denotes any intense, vehement, fervid passion. It is not improperly rendered here by envying. These vices are properly introduced in connexion with the others. They usually accompany each other. Quarrels and contentions come out of scenes of drunkenness and debauchery. But for such scenes there would be little contention, and the world would be comparatively at peace.

(e) "walk honestly" or, "decently" (f) "not in rioting" Php 4:8, 1Pet 2:12 (g) "and drunkenness" 1Pet 4:3 (h) "chambering and wantonness" 1Cor 6:9,10

1 Corinthians 1:11

Verse 11. For it hath been declared unto me. Of the contentions existing in the church at Corinth, it is evident that they had not informed him in the letter which they had sent. 1Cor 7:1; comp. the Introduction. He had incidentally heard of their contentions.

My brethren. A token of affectionate regard, evincing his love for them, and his deep interest in their welfare, even when he adminis- tered a needed rebuke.

Of the house of Chloe. Of the family of Chloe. It is most probable that Chloe was a member of the church at Corinth, some of whose family had been at Ephesus when Paul was, and had given him information of the state of things there. Who those members of her family were, is unknown. Grotius conjectures that they were Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus, mentioned in 1Cor 16:17, who brought the letter of the church at Corinth to Paul. But of this there is no certain evidence; perhaps not much probability. If the information had been obtained from them, it is probable that it would have been put in the letter which they bore. The probability is, that Paul had received this information before they arrived.

(++) "House" "household"

1 Corinthians 3:3

Verse 3. For ye are yet carnal. Though you are Christians, and are the friends of God in the main, yet your divisions and strifes show that you are yet, in some degree, under the influence of the principles which govern the men of this world. Men who are governed solely by the principles of this world evince a spirit of strife, emulation, and contention; and just so far as you are engaged in strife, just so far do you show that you are governed by their principles and feelings.

For whereas. In proof that you are carnal, I appeal to your contentions and strifes.

Envying. ζηλος. Zeal; used here in the sense of envy, as it is in Jas 3:14,16. It denotes, properly, any fervour of mind, (from ζεω) and may be applied to any exciting and agitating passion. The envy here referred to, was that which arose from the superior advantages and endowments which some claimed or possessed over others. Envy everywhere is a fruitful cause of strife. Most contentions in the church are somehow usually connected with envy.

And strife. Contention and dispute.

And divisions. Dissensions and quarrels. The margin correctly renders it factions. The idea is, that they were split up into parties, and that those parties were embittered with mutual recriminations and reproaches, as they always are in a church.

And walk as men. Marg., according to man. The word walk is used often in the Scriptures in the sense of conduct or act. You conduct [yourselves] as men, i.e., as men commonly do; you evince the same spirit that the great mass of men do. Instead of being filled with love, of being united and harmonious as the members of the same family ought to be, you are split up into factions as the men of the world are.

(b) "whereas" Jas 3:16 (1) "divisions" "factions" (2) "walk" "According to man"

2 Corinthians 12:20

Verse 20. For I fear, lest, when I come. 2Cor 12:14.

I shall not find you such as I would. That is, walking in the truth and order of the gospel, he had feared that the disorders would not be removed, and that they would not have corrected the errors which prevailed, and for which he had rebuked them. It was on this account that he had said so much to them. His desire was that all these disorders might be removed, and that he might be saved from the necessity of exercising severe discipline when he should come among them.

And that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not. That is, that I shall be compelled to administer discipline, and that my visit may not be as pleasant to you as you would desire. For this reason he wished all disorder corrected, and all offences removed; that everything might be pleasant when he should come. See 1Cor 4:21. 2Cor 10:2.

Lest there be debates. I fear that there may be existing there debates, etc., which will require the interposition of the authority of an apostle. On the meaning of the word debate, see Rom 1:29.

Envyings. 1Cor 3:3.

Wraths. Anger or animosities between contending factions, the usual effect of forming parties.

Strifes. Between contending factions. 1Cor 3:3.

Backbitings. Rom 1:30.

Whisperings. Rom 1:29.

Swellings. Undue elation; being puffed up, 2Cor 8:1, 1Cor 4:6,18,19, 5:2; such as would be produced by vain self-confidence.

Tumults. Disorder and confusion arising from this existence of parties. Paul, deeply sensible of the evil of all this, had endeavoured in this correspondence to suppress it, that all things might be pleasant when he should come among them.

(d) "when I come" 1Cor 4:21, 2Cor 13:2,10 (+) "debates" "contentions"

Galatians 5:20

Verse 20. Witchcraft. Pretending to witchcraft. The apostle does not vouch for the actual existence of witchcraft; but he says that what was known as such was a proof of the corrupt nature of man, and was one of the fruits of it. No one can doubt it. It was a system of imposture and falsehood throughout; and nothing is a better demonstration of the depravity of the human heart than an extended and systematized attempt to impose on mankind. The word which is here used, (φαρμακεια, whence our word pharmacy, from φαρμακον a medicine, poison, magic potion,) means, properly, the preparing and giving of medicine. Then it means also poisoning, and also magic art, or enchantment; because in savage nations, pharmacy or medicine consisted much in magical incantations. Thence it means sorcery or enchantment, and it is so used uniformly in the New Testament. It is used only in Gal 5:20, Rev 9:21; Rev 18:23, 21:8. Some have supposed that it means here poisoning, a crime often practised; but the more correct interpretation is, to refer it to the black art, or to pretensions to witchcraft, and the numerous delusions which have grown out of it, as a striking illustration of the corrupt and depraved nature of man.

Hatred. Gr., hatreds--in the plural. Antipathies, and want of love, producing contentions and strifes.

Variance. Contentions. Rom 1:29.

Emulations, ζηλοι In a bad sense, meaning heart-burning, or jealousy, or perhaps inordinate ambition. The sense is, ardour or zeal in a bad cause, leading to strife, etc.

Wrath. This also is plural in the Greek, θυμοι, meaning passions, bursts of anger. 2Cor 12:20.

Strife. Also plural in the Greek. 2Cor 12:20.

Seditions. Rom 16:17.

Heresies. Acts 5:17; 1Cor 11:19

(*) "witchcraft" "sorcery" (+) "emulations" "rivalries" (++) "strife" "disputes" (**) "seditions" "factions" (|) "heresies" "sects"