2 Corinthians 11

Greetings! 

Paul and the False Apostles

11     I hope you will put up with a little of my foolishness; but you are already doing that. ² I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him.

Skeptics try to criticize God for being “jealous” but they don’t realize that their is a good kind of jealousy.  God is our creator and has a right to be worshiped!

 ³ But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. ⁴ For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough. ⁵ But I do not think I am in the least inferior to those “super-apostles.” ⁶ I may not be a trained speaker, but I do have knowledge. We have made this perfectly clear to you in every way.

We need to use discernment and wisdom to determine if teachers are false or not.  Many false teachers have crept into churches and the leaders don’t kick them out or discipline them because the want to avoid conflict.

⁷ Was it a sin for me to lower myself in order to elevate you by preaching the gospel of God to you free of charge? ⁸ I robbed other churches by receiving support from them so as to serve you. ⁹ And when I was with you and needed something, I was not a burden to anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied what I needed. I have kept myself from being a burden to you in any way, and will continue to do so. ¹⁰ As surely as the truth of Christ is in me, nobody in the regions of Achaia will stop this boasting of mine. ¹¹ Why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do! ¹² And I will keep on doing what I am doing in order to cut the ground from under those who want an opportunity to be considered equal with us in the things they boast about.

¹³ For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ. ¹⁴ And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. ¹⁵ It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.

It is sometimes hard to judge when the false teachers are so slick.  We have one in our church.  People let their guard down because he is a retired pastor, but he denies most essentials of the faith.  He won’t say Jesus is God.  He dismisses parts of the Bible he doesn’t like and even tought a class that parts were wrong (I went ballistic!).  He talks a lot about love and peace but his teaching is one-sided. 

Always test what these teachers say in light of scripture.

Paul Boasts About His Sufferings

¹⁶ I repeat: Let no one take me for a fool. But if you do, then receive me just as you would a fool, so that I may do a little boasting. ¹⁷ In this self-confident boasting I am not talking as the Lord would, but as a fool. ¹⁸ Since many are boasting in the way the world does, I too will boast. ¹⁹ You gladly put up with fools since you are so wise! ²⁰ In fact, you even put up with anyone who enslaves you or exploits you or takes advantage of you or pushes himself forward or slaps you in the face. ²¹ To my shame I admit that we were too weak for that!

What anyone else dares to boast about—I am speaking as a fool—I also dare to boast about. ²² Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they Abraham’s descendants? So am I. ²³ Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. ²⁴ Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. ²⁵ Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, ²⁶ I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. ²⁷ I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. ²⁸ Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. ²⁹ Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn?

³⁰ If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. ³¹ The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is to be praised forever, knows that I am not lying. ³² In Damascus the governor under King Aretas had the city of the Damascenes guarded in order to arrest me. ³³ But I was lowered in a basket from a window in the wall and slipped through his hands.

^[1][1] The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984. Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

Paul recites an amazing list of what he endured for the Gospel – and this wasn’t even the end of his story!  It got worse for him.  It is humbling to consider how little I have had to give up, and it motivates me to give more while I can.  May we all be motivated to live, love, give and serve in ways that glorify God.

2 Corinthians 10

Greetings!  Paul’s ministry was under attack so he had to defend his credentials.  That is an awkward position to be in.  We don’t want to be proud, because all we have, including our faith, comes from God.  But there is a time to set the record straight on things.

Paul’s Defense of His Ministry

10     By the meekness and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you—I, Paul, who am “timid” when face to face with you, but “bold” when away! ² I beg you that when I come I may not have to be as bold as I expect to be toward some people who think that we live by the standards of this world. ³ For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. ⁴ The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. ⁵ We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. ⁶ And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete.

Strong words!  Christianity has gotten too wimpy in many places.  People are afraid to boldly declare that Jesus is the way.  They have no concept of church discipline, so all sorts of bad theology has crept into the church – so much so that the false teachings are considered to be the true teachings! 

⁷ You are looking only on the surface of things. If anyone is confident that he belongs to Christ, he should consider again that we belong to Christ just as much as he. ⁸ For even if I boast somewhat freely about the authority the Lord gave us for building you up rather than pulling you down, I will not be ashamed of it. ⁹ I do not want to seem to be trying to frighten you with my letters. ¹⁰ For some say, “His letters are weighty and forceful, but in person he is unimpressive and his speaking amounts to nothing.” ¹¹ Such people should realize that what we are in our letters when we are absent, we will be in our actions when we are present.

It appears that Paul was not a particularly gifted speaker.  That may have been for the best, as he had to rely on the words of God to make his points.  So many churches and teachers get in trouble by thinking it is by their cleverness and speaking skills that people are converted.  God may use those, but it is God’s word that does the ultimate work.  He promised that his word would accomplish what He desired and achieve the purpose for which He sent it (Isaiah 55), but He made no such promises about my words.

¹² We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise. ¹³ We, however, will not boast beyond proper limits, but will confine our boasting to the field God has assigned to us, a field that reaches even to you. ¹⁴ We are not going too far in our boasting, as would be the case if we had not come to you, for we did get as far as you with the gospel of Christ. ¹⁵ Neither do we go beyond our limits by boasting of work done by others. Our hope is that, as your faith continues to grow, our area of activity among you will greatly expand, ¹⁶ so that we can preach the gospel in the regions beyond you. For we do not want to boast about work already done in another man’s territory. ¹⁷ But, “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.” ¹⁸ For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.

The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984. Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

What do we concern ourselves with most – what we think of ourselves, what others think of us, or what Jesus thinks of us?

2 Corinthians 9

Greetings!  Paul continues his message on giving here. 

9     There is no need for me to write to you about this service to the saints. ² For I know your eagerness to help, and I have been boasting about it to the Macedonians, telling them that since last year you in Achaia were ready to give; and your enthusiasm has stirred most of them to action. ³ But I am sending the brothers in order that our boasting about you in this matter should not prove hollow, but that you may be ready, as I said you would be. ⁴ For if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we—not to say anything about you—would be ashamed of having been so confident. ⁵ So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to visit you in advance and finish the arrangements for the generous gift you had promised. Then it will be ready as a generous gift, not as one grudgingly given.

Paul is encouraging them to give generously.  It is a tricky balance to motivate people to give for the right reasons.  Too much pressure can turn the “giving” into an obligation. 

The next passage sums it up nicely and verses 6-7 are good to commit to memory.  Giving generously is joyful and rewarding.  We are truly laying up treasures in Heaven as Jesus noted in Matthew 6.  I don’t know precisely how it works, but I know that if Jesus said it then it wasn’t just marketing spin.  And I know the joy in giving that we can experience right now. 

As Randy Alcorn says, giving can be a blessing and a test.  God has given us so much in terms of financial resources and access to spiritual knowledge, whereas many people can live and die without the riches we have or even hearing the basic Gospel.  What are you doing with your financial and spiritual resources to advance the kingdom?

Sowing Generously

⁶ Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. ⁷ Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. ⁸ And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. ⁹ As it is written:

“He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.” 

¹⁰ Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. ¹¹ You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.

¹² This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. ¹³ Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. ¹⁴ And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. ¹⁵ Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!

The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984. Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

Our generosity is evidence of our faith and a witness to others.  And the people we help do pray for us.  We have three World Vision sponsor children, and I am always humbled when I hear that they are praying for us.

2 Corinthians 8

Greetings! 

Generosity Encouraged

8     And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. ² Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. ³ For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, ⁴ they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints. ⁵ And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God’s will. ⁶ So we urged Titus, since he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part. ⁷ But just as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.

I like how he refers to the grace of giving.  It truly is a gift.  It was only after I became a believer that I really wanted to give and enjoyed giving. 

But as much as I give, people like the Macedonians put me to shame.  We give from our abundance and they gave out of poverty, and they urgently pleaded for the privilege of sharing.  What a contrast and an inspiration. 

It is indeed a privilege.  You will have all of eternity to remember how you handled the material resources God provided you.  If you are reading this you are probably one of the 2% of the richest people who ever walked the planet.  Think about that as you consider how to manage what God has entrusted to you.

⁸ I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. ⁹ For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.

¹⁰ And here is my advice about what is best for you in this matter: Last year you were the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so. ¹¹ Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means. ¹² For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.

¹³ Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. ¹⁴ At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. Then there will be equality, ¹⁵ as it is written: “He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little.”

If you think that sounds a bit Communistic, keep in mind that this giving was voluntary.  Paul will explore that more in the next chapter. 

Titus Sent to Corinth

¹⁶ I thank God, who put into the heart of Titus the same concern I have for you. ¹⁷ For Titus not only welcomed our appeal, but he is coming to you with much enthusiasm and on his own initiative. ¹⁸ And we are sending along with him the brother who is praised by all the churches for his service to the gospel. ¹⁹ What is more, he was chosen by the churches to accompany us as we carry the offering, which we administer in order to honor the Lord himself and to show our eagerness to help. ²⁰ We want to avoid any criticism of the way we administer this liberal gift. ²¹ For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of men.

Accountability seems like a mundane issue, but a lack of it can undermine whole churches and ministries.  No one is above temptation, so we need solid controls over financial activities.  Transparency is always the best route to take.

²² In addition, we are sending with them our brother who has often proved to us in many ways that he is zealous, and now even more so because of his great confidence in you. ²³ As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker among you; as for our brothers, they are representatives of the churches and an honor to Christ. ²⁴ Therefore show these men the proof of your love and the reason for our pride in you, so that the churches can see it.

The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984. Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

2 Corinthians 7

Greetings! 

7     Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.

How do we purify ourselves?  By adding cleansing agents such as the Holy Spirit, and by removing bad things.  We can do practical things to avoid sin and temptation.  People who battle jealousy or resentment can pray for those whose things they covet or who have hurt them.  Those who battle lust can avoid viewing certain things.  Those who battle greed can give away more. 

Paul’s Joy

² Make room for us in your hearts. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have exploited no one. ³ I do not say this to condemn you; I have said before that you have such a place in our hearts that we would live or die with you. ⁴ I have great confidence in you; I take great pride in you. I am greatly encouraged; in all our troubles my joy knows no bounds.

As hard as Paul is on the Corinthians, he reminds them of his love.  That can be hard to do when one must criticize others.  It is easy to make them into enemies. 

⁵ For when we came into Macedonia, this body of ours had no rest, but we were harassed at every turn—conflicts on the outside, fears within. ⁶ But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, ⁷ and not only by his coming but also by the comfort you had given him. He told us about your longing for me, your deep sorrow, your ardent concern for me, so that my joy was greater than ever.

Even Paul was hindered by fears, but he was comforted by God’s providence. 

⁸ Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it. Though I did regret it—I see that my letter hurt you, but only for a little while— ⁹ yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. ¹⁰ Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.

Godly sorrow is authentic and brings about change and salvation.  Worldly sorrow is insincere and is really just sorrow over getting caught or having consequences.

 ¹¹ See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done. At every point you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter. ¹² So even though I wrote to you, it was not on account of the one who did the wrong or of the injured party, but rather that before God you could see for yourselves how devoted to us you are. ¹³ By all this we are encouraged.

Are we indignant and alarmed over our sins?  Do we long to see them stopped?

In addition to our own encouragement, we were especially delighted to see how happy Titus was, because his spirit has been refreshed by all of you. ¹⁴ I had boasted to him about you, and you have not embarrassed me. But just as everything we said to you was true, so our boasting about you to Titus has proved to be true as well. ¹⁵ And his affection for you is all the greater when he remembers that you were all obedient, receiving him with fear and trembling. ¹⁶ I am glad I can have complete confidence in you.

The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984. Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

2 Corinthians 6

Greetings!

6     As God’s fellow workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. ² For he says,

“In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.”

I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.

Today is also the day of salvation.  We never know if we’ll have 50 more minutes of life or 50 more years.  Eternity is a mighty long time, so we should gladly accept God’s grace today and let him begin transforming us.

Paul’s Hardships

³ We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path, so that our ministry will not be discredited. ⁴ Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; ⁵ in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; ⁶ in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; ⁷ in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; ⁸ through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; ⁹ known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; ¹⁰ sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.

¹¹ We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians, and opened wide our hearts to you. ¹² We are not withholding our affection from you, but you are withholding yours from us. ¹³ As a fair exchange—I speak as to my children—open wide your hearts also.

Paul and his companions suffered mightily for the Gospel, yet they still loved those who were trying to harm and discredit them.  It is humbling to think how long we can hold grudges against those who make slight offenses against us or even those who judge us fairly.

Do Not Be Yoked With Unbelievers

¹⁴ Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? ¹⁵ What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? ¹⁶ What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.”

¹⁷ “Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord.  Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.”

¹⁸ “I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”

^[1][1] The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984. Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

This passage is often referred to in the context of not marrying unbelievers.  It applies to that situation, to be sure, and that concept is addressed more specifically in 1 Corinthians 7.  But this passage also applies to any spiritual endeavors.  Of course we can interact with non-believers just as Jesus and the early church did.  How else can you spread the Gospel? 

But we should not have non-believers leading in the church and we should not give the microphone to false teachers.  We should not pretend that other religions are also valid paths to God.  This mocks the cross and the blood of the martyrs.

2 Corinthians 5

Greetings!

Our Heavenly Dwelling

5     Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. ² Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, ³ because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. ⁴ For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. ⁵ Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

⁶ Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. ⁷ We live by faith, not by sight. ⁸ We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. ⁹ So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. ¹⁰ For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.

Liberal Christianity focuses too much on the “social gospel” and trying to make a fallen world better by political means.  That isn’t all wrong, but it ignores the foundation: Jesus came to save lost sinners and to give us eternal life.  Eternity is a mighty long time, yet some think it is somehow crass to place a priority on our eternal lives. 

Paul clearly explains how we have much to look forward to.  But too many churches don’t talk about Heaven because that reminds people of Hell.  And they spend a lot of energy pretending Hell doesn’t exist.  But Jesus talked about it a lot, roughly twice as much as He talked about Heaven.

The Ministry of Reconciliation

¹¹ Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience. ¹² We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to take pride in us, so that you can answer those who take pride in what is seen rather than in what is in the heart. ¹³ If we are out of our mind, it is for the sake of God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. ¹⁴ For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. ¹⁵ And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.

¹⁶ So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. ¹⁷ Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

Do you live for Christ, who died for you and was raised again?  Are you a new creation?  If your trust is in Jesus, then you are.  Bask in the freedom and forgiveness that come with being a new creation.

 ¹⁸ All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: ¹⁹ that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. ²⁰ We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. ²¹ God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984. Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

Jesus reconciled us to God.  We couldn’t do it on our own. 

What a privilege it is to be Christ’s ambassadors!  True humility is a proper understanding of our position relative to God – that is, sinners in need of a Savior.  True humility isn’t wimpiness or fear or shyness.  Sometimes we are full of false humility and don’t want to accept what Jesus has given us – the opportunity to represent him in the world.

What does a good ambassador do?  He (or she) knows where he came from and who he represents.  He uses wisdom and tact and understands the culture where he is going, but never denies who sent him.

Do you implore people on Christ’s behalf to be reconciled to God?

2 Corinthians 4

Greetings! 

Treasures in Jars of Clay

4     Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. ² Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.

Many people and preachers use tricks and distortions to convey the Gospel – or to further their own self-interests.  That is unnecessary, counterproductive and just plain wrong. 

 ³ And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. ⁴ The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. ⁵ For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. ⁶ For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

Satan is “the god of this age” and He works to hide the Gospel from unbelievers.  He is real, and he is our enemy.

Some people elevate themselves as something to be worshiped, but we are to share the truth of Jesus in humility.  He is Lord.  Paul humbly served these people even though he was such a powerful person in the church and being used by God in such a dramatic way.

⁷ But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. ⁸ We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; ⁹ persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. ¹⁰ We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. ¹¹ For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body. ¹² So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.

More humility from Paul.  We are truly jars of clay – otherwise insignificant collections of chemicals, who have worth because we were made in God’s image.  There is a purpose to suffering. 

¹³ It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.” With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak, ¹⁴ because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in his presence. ¹⁵ All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.

¹⁶ Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. ¹⁷ For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. ¹⁸ So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

 The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984. Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

The closing passages beautifully depicts an eternal perspective.  Remember who is writing here: The Apostle Paul, who suffered mightily for the Gospel.  Consider this passage from later in this book: 2 Corinthians 11:23-29 Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn?

Paul endured all those things yet considered them “light and momentary!”  He was focused on the eternal glory that far outweighs them all.  May we also focus on what is eternal.  It puts our daily concerns in proper perspective and helps us focus on what really counts. 

2 Corinthians 3

Greetings!

3     Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, like some people, letters of recommendation to you or from you? ² You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everybody. ³ You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.

Some people were carrying false letters of recommendation with them. 

Even with their flaws Paul did not disown them or say they weren’t saved.  All Christians are still a little “saved and confused” in the sense that we have not been completely made holy yet.

⁴ Such confidence as this is ours through Christ before God. ⁵ Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. ⁶ He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

Trying to save yourself by following the letter of the law will kill you.  You can’t get to God that way.  The Old Testament proved that over and over again.  We must have faith in Jesus to be saved.  That gives us new life – spiritual life.   

The Glory of the New Covenant

⁷ Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, fading though it was, ⁸ will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious? ⁹ If the ministry that condemns men is glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness! ¹⁰ For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory. ¹¹ And if what was fading away came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts!

¹² Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold. ¹³ We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to keep the Israelites from gazing at it while the radiance was fading away. ¹⁴ But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. ¹⁵ Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. ¹⁶ But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. ¹⁷ Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. ¹⁸ And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

^[1][1] The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984. Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

Paul’s reference to Moses was from Exodus 34, where Moses’ face was radiant after he came down from Mount Sinai with the Ten Commandments. 

The Israelites still had a barrier between them and God, symbolized by the curtain in the holy-of-holies in the temple where the High Priest went once per year to make atonement for the people.  But that curtain was torn when Jesus died on the cross.  Now the Holy Spirit comes to live in us as believers. 

Sometimes we quench the Holy Spirit by ignoring him or grieve him with our sins, but He is there.  As Paul said in 1 Corinthians 3:19, “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s spirit lives in you?”  We have this glory accessible to us if only we use it.

2 Corinthians 2

Greetings!

¹ So I made up my mind that I would not make another painful visit to you. ² For if I grieve you, who is left to make me glad but you whom I have grieved? ³ I wrote as I did so that when I came I should not be distressed by those who ought to make me rejoice. I had confidence in all of you, that you would all share my joy. ⁴ For I wrote you out of great distress and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to grieve you but to let you know the depth of my love for you.

True love means having someone’s long-term best interests in mind.  Too many times we let false compassion get in the way of real love.  We can rationalize it as being “nice,” but what we are really doing is guarding our popularity.  I know, because I’ve done it too many times myself.

Forgiveness for the Sinner

2     If anyone has caused grief, he has not so much grieved me as he has grieved all of you, to some extent—not to put it too severely. ⁶ The punishment inflicted on him by the majority is sufficient for him. ⁷ Now instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. ⁸ I urge you, therefore, to reaffirm your love for him. ⁹ The reason I wrote you was to see if you would stand the test and be obedient in everything. ¹⁰ If you forgive anyone, I also forgive him. And what I have forgiven—if there was anything to forgive—I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, ¹¹ in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.

There is another matter-of-fact reference to Satan, our real enemy.  His schemes are for our destruction and/or to minimize our ministry efforts on behalf of God’s kingdom and spreading the Gospel.

Ministers of the New Covenant

¹² Now when I went to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ and found that the Lord had opened a door for me, ¹³ I still had no peace of mind, because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I said good-by to them and went on to Macedonia.

That is a simple passage that speaks volumes about decision making and the will of God.  Many people sit back as if God is some kind of cosmic Easter Bunny, leaving clues for us so we can discern his will.  But see how God opened a door that Paul elected not to go through!  His personal preference was to go elsewhere, and God gave him ministry opportunities there.   I am not saying that God may not give you clear guidance on some things, just that the Biblical motif is that God gives us moral guidance, wisdom and personal preferences with which to make decisions.  Of course, the moral guidance is always the most important, and we should then exercise wisdom that God grants us if we ask.  But we have a lot of freedom in Christ in how we serve.

¹⁴ But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. ¹⁵ For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. ¹⁶ To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life. And who is equal to such a task? ¹⁷ Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, like men sent from God.

^[1]The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984. Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

The Gospel will offend many.  We don’t want to add to the offense, but we should not be afraid to speak the truth of God.

Just turn on the TV to see those who peddle the word of God for profit.  They make me nauseous.

2 Corinthians 1

Greetings!

2 Corinthians

1     Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,

To the church of God in Corinth, together with all the saints throughout Achaia:

² Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

The God of All Comfort

³ Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, ⁴ who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. ⁵ For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. ⁶ If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. ⁷ And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.

 That is a very interesting passage to remember when people talk about suffering.  The Bible never hints that we won’t have suffering, and it explicitly says we will.  God doesn’t always take away suffering in this life, but He does provide comfort and the ability to persevere. 

He comforts us so that we can comfort others. 

⁸ We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. ⁹ Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. ¹⁰ He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, ¹¹ as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.

Paul and his companions suffered so much that they apparently wished for death.  But they were helped by the prayers of people.  Prayer works and makes a difference, even though there is some mystery as to exactly how it works.

Paul’s Change of Plans

¹² Now this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, in the holiness and sincerity that are from God. We have done so not according to worldly wisdom but according to God’s grace. ¹³ For we do not write you anything you cannot read or understand. And I hope that, ¹⁴ as you have understood us in part, you will come to understand fully that you can boast of us just as we will boast of you in the day of the Lord Jesus.

We may need study aids to understand Paul’s letters, but he specifically notes that they can understand what was written to them.  They would have understood the context perfectly. 

¹⁵ Because I was confident of this, I planned to visit you first so that you might benefit twice. ¹⁶ I planned to visit you on my way to Macedonia and to come back to you from Macedonia, and then to have you send me on my way to Judea. ¹⁷ When I planned this, did I do it lightly? Or do I make my plans in a worldly manner so that in the same breath I say, “Yes, yes” and “No, no”?

¹⁸ But as surely as God is faithful, our message to you is not “Yes” and “No.” ¹⁹ For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by me and Silas and Timothy, was not “Yes” and “No,” but in him it has always been “Yes.” ²⁰ For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God. ²¹ Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, ²² set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

²³ I call God as my witness that it was in order to spare you that I did not return to Corinth. ²⁴ Not that we lord it over your faith, but we work with you for your joy, because it is by faith you stand firm.

The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984. Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

2 Corinthians introduction

Greetings!

I addressed a bit of the Corinthian church in the introduction to 1 Corinthians. 

I truly enjoy the letters of Paul.  In this letter he responds to those who attacked his authority and person.  He explains how ministry is to work and gives examples of how he does it.

He gives guidance on church discipline, which I’m sad to say is severely lacking today and the cause of many serious problems. 

This contains some of the clearest and most important passages on giving. 

Paul takes on false teachers directly.  I wish we had more of that today.  Too many people think it isn’t nice and “Christian” to point out false teachings.  They may say foolish things like, “Unity over doctrine.”  But the Bible has dozens of passages dedicate to the importance of sound doctrine and how to address it. 

Despite the criticisms, Paul was passionate in his authentic love for the Corinthians and that comes through in the letter.

Proverbs 20

Greetings!  Back to the Proverbs today.  I always enjoy their timeless advice. 

20     Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler;

whoever is led astray by them is not wise.

Alcohol isn’t prohibited by scripture, but too much of them can indeed lead you astray.  Drunkedness is indeed a sin.  They distort our interpretation of the truth, which is an all-important success factor in life.  Once our view of the truth is distorted we may do all sorts of stupid and sinful things.

² A king’s wrath is like the roar of a lion;

he who angers him forfeits his life.

³ It is to a man’s honor to avoid strife,

but every fool is quick to quarrel.

Knowing how to choose your battles requires wisdom and discernment.  Too many quarrels or the wrong kind of quarrels are foolish, but too few may mean we’re being wimpy.  Some things are worth fighting over.

⁴ A sluggard does not plow in season;

so at harvest time he looks but finds nothing.

Deferred gratification is also a key success factor in life.  Whether it is working or studying we must think ahead.

⁵ The purposes of a man’s heart are deep waters,

but a man of understanding draws them out.

⁶ Many a man claims to have unfailing love,

but a faithful man who can find?

⁷ The righteous man leads a blameless life;

blessed are his children after him.

⁸ When a king sits on his throne to judge,

he winnows out all evil with his eyes.

⁹ Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure;

I am clean and without sin”?

No one can!  That is why we need Jesus, who took the punishment for our sins.  We can’t fix ourselves or forgive ourselves.  We need a Savior.

¹⁰ Differing weights and differing measures—

the Lord detests them both.

God cares about fairness in business. 

¹¹ Even a child is known by his actions,

by whether his conduct is pure and right.

¹² Ears that hear and eyes that see—

the Lord has made them both.

¹³ Do not love sleep or you will grow poor;

stay awake and you will have food to spare.

¹⁴ “It’s no good, it’s no good!” says the buyer;

then off he goes and boasts about his purchase.

¹⁵ Gold there is, and rubies in abundance,

but lips that speak knowledge are a rare jewel.

¹⁶ Take the garment of one who puts up security for a stranger;

hold it in pledge if he does it for a wayward woman.

¹⁷ Food gained by fraud tastes sweet to a man,

but he ends up with a mouth full of gravel.

People can’t truly enjoy things they came by dishonestly.

¹⁸ Make plans by seeking advice;

if you wage war, obtain guidance.

¹⁹ A gossip betrays a confidence;

so avoid a man who talks too much.

²⁰ If a man curses his father or mother,

his lamp will be snuffed out in pitch darkness.

²¹ An inheritance quickly gained at the beginning

will not be blessed at the end.

²² Do not say, “I’ll pay you back for this wrong!”

Wait for the Lord, and he will deliver you.

Revenge is such a powerful and consuming emotion.  Giving it over to God is the smartest thing to do. 

²³ The Lord detests differing weights,

and dishonest scales do not please him.

²⁴ A man’s steps are directed by the Lord.

How then can anyone understand his own way?

²⁵ It is a trap for a man to dedicate something rashly

and only later to consider his vows.

²⁶ A wise king winnows out the wicked;

he drives the threshing wheel over them.

²⁷ The lamp of the Lord searches the spirit of a man;

it searches out his inmost being.

We can’t hide anything from God: Actions, words and even thoughts.  That should be sobering to everyone.

²⁸ Love and faithfulness keep a king safe;

through love his throne is made secure.

²⁹ The glory of young men is their strength,

gray hair the splendor of the old.

³⁰ Blows and wounds cleanse away evil,

and beatings purge the inmost being.

^[1]

^[1] The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984. Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

Psalm 54

Greetings!  David was running for his life from King Saul, yet still trusted in God for his deliverance.  Might that we would have the same faith in God when we encounter problems and attacks!

We can trust that God wins in the end and that his will always triumphs.  Most of the enemies we face are far less dangerous than those David encountered. 

Psalm 54

For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A maskil of David. When the Ziphites had gone to Saul and said, “Is not David hiding among us?”

¹ Save me, O God, by your name;

vindicate me by your might.

² Hear my prayer, O God;

listen to the words of my mouth.

³ Strangers are attacking me;

ruthless men seek my life—

men without regard for God. Selah

⁴ Surely God is my help;

the Lord is the one who sustains me.

⁵ Let evil recoil on those who slander me;

in your faithfulness destroy them.

⁶ I will sacrifice a freewill offering to you;

I will praise your name, O Lord,

for it is good.

⁷ For he has delivered me from all my troubles,

and my eyes have looked in triumph on my foes.

^[1]

^[1] The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984. Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

Psalm 53

Greetings!  I deal with atheists a lot on my other blog.  Sometimes the conversations are charitable, but mostly they are not.  Verse 1 says it all here.  One must work hard to deny the obvious fact of a creator God.  We all know that something doesn’t come from nothing. 

Romans 1:18-20 is an important passage that expands on this theme: The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.

But should we be prideful about being believers?  Not at all.  God has opened our eyes to the truth of Jesus and drawn us to him.  We should be eternally grateful (literally and figuratively). 

There are no truly “good” people – other than Jesus, who was God in flesh.

 

Psalm 53

For the director of music. According to mahalath. A maskil of David.

¹ The fool says in his heart,

“There is no God.”

They are corrupt, and their ways are vile;

there is no one who does good.

² God looks down from heaven

on the sons of men

to see if there are any who understand,

any who seek God.

³ Everyone has turned away,

they have together become corrupt;

there is no one who does good,

not even one.

⁴ Will the evildoers never learn—

those who devour my people as men eat bread

and who do not call on God?

⁵ There they were, overwhelmed with dread,

where there was nothing to dread.

God scattered the bones of those who attacked you;

you put them to shame, for God despised them.

⁶ Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion!

When God restores the fortunes of his people,

let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad!

The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984. Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

Psalm 52

Greetings!  This Psalm relates to the treacher of Doeg in 1 Samuel 21-22.  This has the theme of, “Why do the wicked prosper?” God has perfect timing and will deliver perfect justice.  The wicked may prosper for a time from their evil deeds, but God wins in the end.  And those who trust in the Lord can have true peace and joy right now regardless of the circumstances, whereas the evil can’t truly enjoy their gains.

Psalm 52

For the director of music. A maskil of David. When Doeg the Edomite had gone to Saul and told him: “David has gone to the house of Ahimelech.”

¹ Why do you boast of evil, you mighty man?

Why do you boast all day long,

you who are a disgrace in the eyes of God?

² Your tongue plots destruction;

it is like a sharpened razor,

you who practice deceit.

³ You love evil rather than good,

falsehood rather than speaking the truth. Selah

⁴ You love every harmful word,

O you deceitful tongue!

⁵ Surely God will bring you down to everlasting ruin:

He will snatch you up and tear you from your tent;

he will uproot you from the land of the living. Selah

⁶ The righteous will see and fear;

they will laugh at him, saying,

⁷ “Here now is the man

who did not make God his stronghold

but trusted in his great wealth

and grew strong by destroying others!”

⁸ But I am like an olive tree

flourishing in the house of God;

I trust in God’s unfailing love

for ever and ever.

⁹ I will praise you forever for what you have done;

in your name I will hope, for your name is good.

I will praise you in the presence of your saints.

^[1][1] The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984. Grand Rapids: Zondervan.