CHAPTER IX.

PAUL’S EPISTLES; HIS COLLECTION FOR THE POOR SAINTS AT JERUSALEM; HIS IMPRISONMENT THERE, AND AT CAESAREA AND ROME.

A.D. 57 TO A.D. 63.

Paul had already determined to leave Ephesus at Pentecost, [128:1] and as the secular games, at which the Asiarchs presided, took place during the month of May, the disorderly proceedings of Demetrius and the craftsmen, which occurred at the same period, do not seem to have greatly accelerated his removal.  Soon afterwards, however, he “called unto him the disciples, and embraced them, and departed to go into Macedonia.” [128:2] When he reached that district, he was induced to enter on new scenes of missionary enterprise; and now, “round about unto Illyricum,” he “fully preached the gospel of Christ.” [128:3] Shortly before, Timothy had returned from Greece to Ephesus, [128:4] and when the apostle took leave of his friends in that metropolis, he left the evangelist behind him to protect the infant Church against the seductions of false teachers. [128:5] He now addressed the first epistle to his “own son in the faith,” [128:6] and thus also supplied to the ministers of all succeeding generations the most precious instructions on the subject of pastoral theology. [129:1] Soon afterwards he wrote the Second Epistle to the Corinthians.  This letter throws much light on the private character of Paul, and enables us to understand how he contrived to maintain such a firm hold on the affections of those among whom he ministered.  Though he uniformly acted with great decision, he was singularly amiable and gentle, as well as generous and warm-hearted.  No one could doubt his sincerity; no one could question his disinterestedness; no one could fairly complain that he was harsh or unkind.  In his First Epistle to the Corinthians he had been obliged to employ strong language when rebuking them for their irregularities; but now they exhibited evidences of repentance, and he is obviously most willing to forget and forgive.  In his Second Epistle to them he enters into many details of his personal history unnoticed elsewhere in the New Testament, [130:1] and throughout displays a most loving and conciliatory spirit.  He states that, when he dictated his former letter, it was far from his intention to wound their feelings, and that it was with the utmost pain he had sent them such a communication.  “Out of much affliction, and anguish of heart,” said he, “I wrote unto you with many tears, not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you.” [130:2] The Corinthians could not have well resented an advice from such a correspondent.