we are of good courage, I say, and are willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be at home with the Lord.
Wherefore we labour, that whether present or absent,.... This may be understood either of the ministers of the Gospel in particular, who labour in the word and doctrine, are ambitious, as the word here used signifies, and strive to preach the Gospel, not to please men, but their Lord and master; or of saints in general, who are intent upon this, and whose highest ambition...
Verse 8. We are confident. . We are cheerful, and courageous, and ready to bear our trial. Tindal renders it, "We are of good comfort." And willing rather to be absent from the body. We would prefer to die. The same idea occurs in : "Having a desire to depart and to be with Christ; which is far better." The sense is, that Paul would...
8. We are confident, I say He again repeats, what he had said respecting the confidence of the pious — that they are so far from breaking down under the severity of the cross, and from being disheartened by afflictions, that they are made thereby more courageous. For the worst of evils is death, yet believers long to attain it, as being the commencement of perfect blessedness.