Now l pray to God
A strong mark of the apostle's affection for them. For though
they used him so ill, he took every way and method to do them
good; he not only wrote to them, sent the brethren to them, but
put up his supplications at the throne of grace for them: The
Alexandrian copy, the Vulgate Latin, and Ethiopic versions, read,
"we pray" And one of his petitions for them was,
that ye do no evil;
which, though impracticable and impossible, considering the
situation of the people of God in this world, yet is desirable by
every good man, both for himself and others; and was desired by
the apostle, partly that their consciences might not be wounded,
their souls grieved, their peace broke in upon, and their
comforts lost; and partly that the name of God, and his cause and
truths, might not be blasphemed; and chiefly that he might have
no opportunity of exercising his apostolical rod for their
correction:
not that we should appear approved.
This was a clear case that he sought their good, and not his own
credit, and the exercise of power; if they committed evil, his
faithfulness would be seen in reproving, rebuking, and exhorting
them; and if they continued impenitent, his apostolical authority
would be manifest in their punishment, so that he would appear
approved, or with a proof of the power of Christ in him; but this
he did not desire, but most earnestly wished there might be no
occasion for any such evidence:
but that they should do that which is honest;
or "good", both in the sight of God and men, that which is
according to the will of God, springs from love, is done in
faith, and with a view to the glory of God; and the apostle's
praying, both that they might be kept from evil, and do that
which is good, shows the impotence of man's free will, the
necessity of the grace of God to abstain from sin, and perform
good works; and this the apostle earnestly desired,
though,
says be,
we be as reprobates;
weak and infirm persons, incapable of giving any proof of the
power of Christ, and appear as such, who have no marks of
apostolical authority. The apostle chose rather to be looked upon
as a poor, mean, and insignificant person, than that they should
sin, and require the exercise of his chastising rod, whereby he
would be seen to be what they called in question.