2 Corinthians 4:15Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

"For you," he says, "are His resurrection and all the rest. He did not accomplish so much for one man only, but for all."

Alluding to the false apostles, who said that blessings from God were given to their disciples through them, he says: "All things are for you," even the resurrection, and not for this or that person. God accomplishes this and grants grace to many, so that as grace abounds, the thanksgiving offered by many may abound to the glory of God. Therefore the false apostles, by attributing God's grace to themselves, also darken its glory.

For everything preached and sacramentally performed in church and in homes by pastors in the name of God is all for us. It is for our good and for our salvation.

It is so that the abundance of grace, imparted from God through sacred ministers, may produce still greater thanksgiving in many of us, to the glory of God.

But are we grateful to God for His mercies? Do we often remember our dependence on Him? Do we live with the fear of God?

Gratitude is rare. Who will guarantee that even now barely one out of ten has a feeling of gratitude to God, as it was in the time of Christ (Lk 17:17-18)?

It is true that we often say, "Glory to God," but these are only words, and they remain words. Is the real glorification of God's name shown in our life by kindness to the poor, humility, and piety?

How often many attribute success and well-being to themselves, to their cleverness, skill, or craft, and do not even think of God. But this ought not to be so, my brethren (Jas 3:10), said the Apostle.

For all things, that is, what has been accomplished, have been accomplished for you, that is, for the Gentiles. Instead of the grace that existed in one people and was glorified by one people, grace has multiplied. Through the thanksgiving of many, it has increased unto the glory of God.

God did not wish to exclude anyone from His gift. Since not all receive the word of faith, the apostle, knowing the will of God, was not afraid to endure persecutions and dangers. He faithfully preaches to all, so that an even greater multitude of men might believe.

"For all things are for your sake," that is, for the sake of believers. He did not speak about the Corinthians alone, but about all who accepted the preaching. "That grace, having multiplied, may abound through the thanksgiving of many to the glory of God." God, providing for the common salvation of all, accomplished the divine economy of the Master Christ. Therefore we must unceasingly render hymns to Him.

"For all things": what are all things? The Incarnation of the Only-begotten Son of God, His suffering, death, resurrection from the dead, and everything God has ordered for human salvation. It also includes persecutions, calamities, daily death, and everything the Apostles endured in order to turn men from their error to the path of salvation. All these things, he says, happened for you, that is, for the salvation of you believers. They happened so that grace might be given to you abundantly, and so that more and more people might offer greater thanksgiving to the glory and praise of God, who ordered all these things for human salvation.

"Through the thanksgiving of many it may abound to the glory of God." Our whole life, full of struggle and sufferings, and accompanied by victories and gracious gifts for us, must give birth in us to gratitude and the glorification of God.

If one then turns to the future, He who raised the Lord Jesus will surely raise and set before Himself in great glory the heralds of Jesus. Now they are so weak, unimpressive, and seemingly helplessly dying for their preaching.

But the Lord will not glorify us without you, the Apostle adds to his devoted disciples, but with you. "For all things are for your sake, that grace, having abounded through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God" (2 Cor 4:15).

Thus, according to the Apostle's thought, this persecution of the heralds of the Gospel calls not for contempt and humiliation, but for great respect.

The Gospel preaching is a life-giving power for those who receive it. At the same time, it is proof and a living expression of the certainty that the holy heralds will be glorified together with the Lord.

They preach because they believe what they preach. They do this in likeness to Jesus Christ, for the sake of the greatest glory of God.

Therefore they can be fully convinced that God, Who raised Jesus, will raise them also. He will not raise them alone, but together with those to whom they successfully preached.

From this it is clear how insignificant all earthly tempests should be counted. It is also clear how fearlessly the firmest representatives of the faith, the Apostles, could regard them.

He shows that he in no way exaggerated when he said, "He will raise us and present us with you." In saying this, I am not extending a flattering word to you. I speak so because this is how it must be.

For all things are for your sake. For your sake means not for the Corinthians only, but for all believers. All things include the whole divine economy in Christ Jesus here, and all the indescribable blessings there.

Theodoret writes: "For your sake means for the sake of believers. He did not speak of the Corinthians alone, but of all who received the preaching.

God, providing for the common salvation of all, accomplished the divine economy of Christ the Master."