For therefore we both labour
Not in the word and doctrine, though they did; nor in the
exercise of internal godliness, though there is a work in faith,
and a labour in love; nor with their own hands, at their trades
and business, to support themselves, and others; but by enduring
hardships and afflictions, as stripes, imprisonment, weariness,
pain, watchings, fastings, hunger, thirst, cold, and nakedness;
see (
2 Corinthians 11:23-27 ) . And suffer
reproach;
with patience and cheerfulness. The Alexandrian copy, and another
manuscript, read, "we strive"; or contend even to an agony,
combating with sin, Satan, and the world, with profane men, and
with false teachers; and to all this they were animated by the
promises made to godliness; and therefore they showed it by their
practices, or rather by their sufferings, that they believed it
to be a true and faithful saying; and which is further conferred
by what follows: because we trust in the living
God;
for the accomplishment of the said promises, who has power, and
therefore can, and is faithful, and therefore will, make good
what he has promised; and since it is life he has promised, faith
is the more encouraged to trust in him, since he is the living
God, in opposition to, and distinction from, lifeless idols; he
has life in himself, essentially, originally, and independently,
and is the author and giver of life, natural, spiritual, and
eternal, unto others. Wherefore there is good reason to trust in
him for the fulfilling of the promises of the present and future
life, made unto godliness. Who is the Saviour of all
men;
in a providential way, giving them being and breath, upholding
them in their beings, preserving their lives, and indulging them
with the blessings and mercies of life; for that he is the
Saviour of all men, with a spiritual and everlasting salvation,
is not true in fact. Specially of those that
believe;
whom though he saves with an eternal salvation; yet not of this,
but of a temporal salvation, are the words to be understood: or
as there is a general providence, which attends all mankind,
there is a special one which relates to the elect of God; these
are regarded in Providence, and are particularly saved and
preserved before conversion, in order to be called; and after
conversion, after they are brought to believe in Christ, they are
preserved from many enemies, and are delivered out of many
afflictions and temptations; and are the peculiar care and
darlings of providence, being to God as the apple of his eye: and
there is a great deal of reason to believe this, for if he is the
Saviour of all men, then much more of them who are of more worth,
value, and esteem with him, than all the world beside; and if
they are saved by him with the greater salvation, then much more
with the less; and if he the common Saviour of all men, and
especially of saints, whom he saves both ways, then there is
great reason to trust in him for the fulfilment of the promises
of life, temporal and eternal, made to godliness, and godly
persons. This epithet of God seems to be taken out of ( Psalms 17:7 ) where he
is called (Myowx eyvwm) ,
"the Saviour of them that trust", or believe.