 |  |
"Now when I came to Troas for the gospel of Christ, and when a door was opened
unto me in the Lord, I had no relief for my spirit, because I found not Titus my brother;
but taking my leave of them, I went forth into Macedonia" (2: 12, 13 R.V.).
Though this promising opening of the Lord had occurred, for which doubtless the
Apostle was grateful, he had no peace of mind as he pondered over the state of the
Corinthian believers. He knew only too well how Satan and the flesh could work to
overthrow and spoil the Christian witness he had founded, and like any true leader, he
had a very close link with his converts and what affected them affected him. Because of
this uncertainty of mind he felt he could endure it no longer and proceeded into
Macedonia hoping to meet Titus on his return journey along the main highway which
spanned the province. This is what evidently happened--not only did he meet his
fellow-worker, but Titus was able to reassure him concerning the Corinthian church that
all was well in spite of his fears, the danger there was passed and they longed to see the
Apostle again.
No wonder we have the outburst of praise for this answered prayer in 2: 14 although
Paul does not describe his meeting with Titus until chapter 7: This context in the
second chapter and the seventh shows us how human the Apostle was. He was no
super-man who was indifferent to adverse circumstances. He knew what fear and anxiety
were for others whom he loved and who were in danger, and all his interests being bound
up with such, he suffered with them and for them. Here is real love and unselfishness.
When he said `for me to live is Christ' (Phil. 1: 21) this is what he really meant, spending
himself without limit and with practical concern for the Lord and for His people.
No.3.
2: 14 - 3: 18.
pp. 94 - 99
We have seen in the context we are considering (II Cor. 2: 12-16), Paul's anxiety and
unrest as he pondered over the dangerous condition of things in the Corinthian church,
and how he finally broke off his own work at Troas to meet Titus on his return journey
from Corinth. His heart filled with a paean of praise when he learned that the danger was
past and the Corinthian believers had responded to his warnings and not taken offence.
"But thanks be unto God, which always leadeth us in triumph in Christ, and maketh
manifest through us the savour of His knowledge in every place. For we are a sweet
savor of Christ unto God, in them that are saved, and in them that perish" (2: 14, 15
R.V.).
It is difficult to be sure of the exact meaning of thriambeuo. The R.V. and the R.S.V.
give it its classical meaning `leads in triumph' whereas the A.V. follows Augustine and
the Latin tradition `causeth us to triumph', for which there is no parallel. The figure is of
a victorious general returning from victory in a triumphal procession in which the
Apostle is sharing. The triumph of Christ was spreading all over the world as a sweet