Cor to Phil - Enter His Rest

Timothy was a young man, younger probably than those who were usually employed in the Christianmission; and that St. Paul, apprehending lest he should on that account be exposed to contempt,urges upon him the caution which is there inserted: "Let no man despise thy youth."SECTION X.§ #1Co 16:1: "Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the Churchesof Galatia, even so do ye."The Churches of Galatia and Phrygia were the last Churches which St. Paul had visited before thewriting of this epistle. He was now at Ephesus, and he came thither immediately from visiting theseChurches: "He went over all the country of Galatia and Phrygia in order, strengthening all thedisciples. And it came to pass that Paul, having passed through the upper coasts, (viz. theabove-named countries, called the upper coasts, as being the northern part of Asia Minor,) came toEphesus;" #Ac 18:23; 19:1. These, therefore, probably, were the last Churches at which he leftdirections for their public conduct during his absence. Although two years intervened between hisjourney to Ephesus and his writing this epistle, yet it does not appear that during that time he visitedany other Church. That he had not been silent when he was in Galatia upon this subject ofcontribution for the poor, is farther made out from a hint which he lets fall in his epistle to thatChurch: "Only they (viz. the other apostles) would that we should remember the poor; the samewhich I also was forward to do."SECTION XI.§ #1Co 4:18: "Now some are puffed up, as though I would not come to you."Why should they suppose that he would not come? Turn to the first chapter of the second epistleto the Corinthians, and you will find that he had already disappointed them: "I was minded to comeunto you before, that you might have a second benefit; and to pass by you into Macedonia, and tocome again out of Macedonia unto you, and of you to be brought on my way toward Judea. WhenI therefore was thus minded, did I use lightness? Or the things that I purpose, do I purpose accordingto the flesh, that with me there should be yea, yea, and nay, nay? But, as God is true, our wordtoward you was not yea and nay." It appears from this quotation that he had not only intended, butthat he had promised them a visit before; for otherwise, why should he apologize for the change ofhis purpose, or express so much anxiety lest this change should be imputed to any culpablefickleness in his temper; and lest he should thereby seem to them as one whose word was not in anysort to be depended upon? Besides which, the terms made use of plainly refer to a promise: "Ourword toward you was not yea and nay." St. Paul, therefore, had signified an intention which he hadnot been able to execute; and this seeming breach of his word, and the delay of his visit, had, withsome who were evil affected towards him, given birth to a suggestion that he would come no moreto Corinth.