John Calvin Commentary 2 Corinthians 2:12

"Now when I came to Troas for the gospel of Christ, and when a door was opened unto me in the Lord," — 2 Corinthians 2:12 (ASV)

When I had come to Troas. By now mentioning what he had been doing in the meantime, in what places he had been, and what route he had pursued in his journeys, he more and more confirms what he had said previously regarding his coming to the Corinthians.

He says that he had come to Troas from Ephesus for the sake of the gospel, for he would not have proceeded in that direction when going into Achaia if he had not been desiring to pass through Macedonia. However, since he did not find Titus there, whom he had sent to Corinth and by whom he should have been informed about the state of that Church, he says that, setting everything aside, he came to Macedonia, desiring to see Titus, even though he might have done much good there and an opportunity had been presented to him.

Here is evidence of a singular degree of attachment to the Corinthians: he was so anxious about them that he had no rest anywhere, even when a large prospect of usefulness presented itself, until he had learned the state of their affairs. This shows why he delayed his coming.

He did not wish to come to them until he had learned the state of their affairs. This shows why he delayed his coming. He did not wish to come to them until he had first spoken with Titus. He afterwards learned from the report Titus brought him that matters were not yet ripe for his coming to them at that time.

Thus, it is evident that Paul loved the Corinthians so much that he adapted all his journeys and long detours for their welfare. Consequently, he had come to them later than he had promised—not because, in forgetting his promise, he had rashly changed his plan, or because he had been carried away by some degree of fickleness (2 Corinthians 1:17), but because delay was more profitable for them.

A door also having been opened to me. We have spoken of this metaphor when commenting on the last chapter of the First Epistle (1 Corinthians 16:9). Its meaning is that an opportunity for promoting the gospel had presented itself.

For just as an opportunity for entering is furnished when the door is opened, so the servants of the Lord make advances when an opportunity is presented. The door is shut when no prospect of usefulness is offered.

Now, when the door is shut, it is fitting for us to embark on a new course, rather than to weary ourselves fruitlessly with useless labor through further efforts. Similarly, where an opportunity for edification presents itself, let us consider that by the hand of God a door is opened for us to introduce Christ there, and let us not fail to comply with such a kind indication from God.

It may seem, however, as if Paul had erred in this: that by disregarding, or at least leaving unimproved, an opportunity that was placed within his reach, he went to Macedonia.

Should he not rather have applied himself to the work at hand, than, after making little more than a commencement, suddenly break away in another direction?

We have also observed already that the opening of a door is evidence of a divine call, and this is undoubtedly true.

I answer that, since Paul was not at all restricted to one Church but was bound to many at the same time, it was not his duty, because of the current situation of one of them, to cease being concerned about the others.

Furthermore, the more connection he had with the Corinthian Church, the more it was his duty to be inclined to aid it. For we must consider it reasonable that a Church he had founded by his ministry should be regarded by him with special affection.

This is just as today it is indeed our duty to promote the welfare of the whole Church and to be concerned for its entire body; yet, everyone nevertheless has a closer and holier connection with his own Church, to whose interests he is more particularly devoted.

Matters were in a troubled state at Corinth, so Paul was extraordinarily anxious about the outcome. Therefore, it is not surprising if, under the influence of this motive, he left unimproved an opportunity that in other circumstances was not to be neglected, as it was not in his power to occupy every post of duty at the same time.

It is not, however, at all likely that he left Troas until he had first arranged for someone to take his place to develop the opportunity that had arisen.