Tag Archives: 2 Corinthians

2 Corinthians 10-11

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In 2 Corinthians 10-11, Paul continues to defend his apostleship. Paul’s humility is a great example for us all, reminding the Corinthians how much he has suffered on their behalf. Paul says “I consider that I am not in the least inferior to these super-apostles. Even if I am unskilled in speaking, I am not so in knowledge; indeed, in every way we have made this plain to you in all things.” He wants the Corinthians to be sure they are not “led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ”, and does everything possible to share his vast knowledge to highlight the true gospel message.

It’s a great attitude that we can use when resolving conflicts or considering other members in the body of Christ. Rather than being proud of his many Pharisaical accomplishments, Paul says “If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness”

2 Kings 10, 2 Corinthians 5-7

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God had anointed Jehu to be king, and Jehu proceeds with destroying Ahab’s descendants and the prophets of Baal in 2 Kings 10. Yet Jehu failed to improve Israel’s spiritual health, “he did not turn from the sins of Jeroboam, which he made Israel to sin.” Jehu had zealously done God’s work in one aspect of his life, but ignored another aspect. As a result, his dynasty would last only 4 generations.

We can examine our life and motives in light of Jehu’s actions. Do we zealously destroy and fail to build up? Or do we instead take the advice of Paul to the Corinthians, living as the temple of the living God, working together, guided by the love of Christ, persuading others of the hope of the gospel.

2 Corinthians 1-2

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Paul writes 2 Corinthians to address some of the concerns and criticism raised as a result of his first letter, “not to cause you pain but to let you know the abundant love that I have for you.” Paul had wanted to visit the ecclesia in person but had decided not to, wanting his visit to be one of gladness and joy rather than pain and anguish.

Despite the criticism Paul had faced, he still felt blessed and comforted by the hope he had in Christ. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction … For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too”.

Paul’s attitude is so incredible, finding comfort even in the sufferings he endured for the gospel. He reminds us that, no matter our circumstances, God will comfort us so that we in turn may comfort others. Paul’s trust in God remained certain. God had delivered Paul “from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again.” Let us be comforted by Paul’s trust in God, and the certainty that we will be delivered from this present time of suffering just like Paul.

Deuteronomy 20

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Deuteronomy 20 describes laws concerning warfare. Israel were about to face many battles while entering the promised land, fighting against nations known for their military prowess. Moses tells Israel, “when you go out to war against your enemies, and see horses and chariots and an army larger than your own, you shall not be afraid of them, for the Lord your God is with you, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt… Do not fear or panic or be in dread of them, for the Lord your God is he who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies, to give you the victory”.

Israel had good reason to be afraid; from a natural standpoint they had no chance of defeating the Canaanites. With God fighting on their behalf though, their victory was assured. This language is very similar to language used to describe our battle against sin. Ephesians 6, “Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might”. 2 Corinthians 10, “For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds”. 1 Corinthians 15, “Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

The war is already won, we just need to fight our daily battles against sin, confident that God is on our side.

2 Corinthians 5-7

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Paul explains to the Corinthians that they are a new creation. “The old has passed away; behold, the new has come“.  Like the Corinthians, we have been reconciled to God through Christ, the trespasses of our old way of life no longer counted against us.  We are now ambassadors for Christ, so that in Christ “we might become the righteousness of God”.

We are God’s living temple, His holy people, His sons and daughters. As a result, Paul writes “since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.” This is our aim in life, to be “the temple of the living God”.

2 Corinthians 1-2

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Paul commences his 2nd letter to the Corinthians describing the comfort during affliction that God provides. God comforts us so that “we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.“

We’re comforted in order that we might comfort others. Even while suffering to the point that he “despaired of life itself”, Paul’s focus was on the needs of those around him.  Paul recognised that his experience “was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead”.

Although Paul refers to his own affliction, these same ideas apply to affliction experienced today. It serves to mould our character and unite us in shared experiences, “for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort“. Let us work together, sharing in each other’s sufferings and comfort, and in Paul’s confidence that God “will deliver us.”

 

2 Corinthians 3-4

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Paul says that God “has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ“.  We are being transformed by this light, the reflection of God’s glory, into the same image, that of Jesus. But it is clear that this transformation is not a result of our own power, rather this treasure is in jars of clay. We are constantly afflicted but never destroyed, so that the life of Jesus might be manifest in our lives.  Paul encourages us not to lose heart, for “he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also“.  We are being prepared for “an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison“, so we should look beyond the things we can see today to the unseen glorious future, when we will live for eternity united with our God.