LECTURES
on
PAUL’S EPISTLES
to
THE CORINTHIANS
by
WILLIAM LOTHIAN,
minister of the congregational church, st andrews.
“Ἁι επιστολαι, φησι, Βαρεῖαι και ισχυραι.”
EDINBURGH:
WAUGH & INNES,
2. hunter square, and 41. hanover street;
m. ogle, and g. gallie, glasgow; joseph cook, st andrews; r. m. tims, and james m. leckie, dublin; and james duncan, and james nisbet, london.
MDCCCXXVIII
THOMAS CHALMERS, D. D.
professor of moral philosophy in the university of
st andrews,
THIS VOLUME IS INSCRIBED,
in testimony of
the respect and esteem of
THE AUTHOR.
The following Lectures were originally delivered (though in a more simple form,) in the ordinary course of pastoral instruction; and they are now offered to the public, in the hope that they may be useful in promoting the interests of practical Christianity. It has been my aim to unfold the mind of the sacred writer, in an impartial manner, without allowing any particular system to bias my judgment. I have stated, without reserve, what I conceive to be implied in the text; and I am not conscious of having wrested, in any instance, the words of inspiration, to support a favourite theory.
The Epistles to the Corinthians form an important part of the New Testament writings. Not only do they illustrate most of the leading doctrines of the Gospel, but they throw great light on the order and discipline of the primitive church. To those who profess to follow the apostolic model, in their mode of worship, it is hoped the remarks in this volume will supply some useful hints; but while their improvement is more especially kept in view, I have endeavoured to render the work acceptable to the christian community in general. I have aimed at as much brevity as might be consistent with perspicuity; otherwise, it would have been impossible to comprise the whole work within the limits of one volume. There is an unavoidable prolixity, and even awkwardness, in the paraphrastic mode of exposition, where the sacred writer is made to express, in his own person, the various senses which have been put on his words by commentators. Where mere criticism is the object of the writer, (as in some modern productions,) there is nothing to satisfy the pious reader, who aims at his own spiritual improvement; and, on the other hand, where only practical reflections are offered, there are still many difficulties left unsolved, which the critical student of the sacred text would wish to see removed. I have endeavoured to combine the advantages of these different methods—how far I have been successful, the public must determine. The principal authors to whom I have had recourse, are, M‘Knight, Doddridge, Guise, and Scott. While I admire the critical acumen of the first of these respectable writers, I have often been obliged to express my dissent from his theological sentiments.
When I commenced the work, I was not aware that any separate publication on this part of Scripture was in existence. After it had gone ...
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About Expository Lectures on Paul’s Epistles to the CorinthiansThis volume is based on a series of lectures William Lothian gave on Corinthians, fulfilling his wish that the wisdom imparted in his lectures on pastoral instruction would be accessible to the public. The text is intended to provide a balanced mix of critical analysis, commentary, and practical reflections. |
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