Life Project Blog

2 Corinthians 3:1-6

In these verses Paul continues the defense of his apostolic ministry. You’ll recall that at the end of the last chapter he mentioned that he, unlike some, isn’t peddling the gospel for profit, but rather he is speaking sincerely as one who is sent by God. Now, he moves a step further:

Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, like some people, letters of recommendation to you or from you? (3:1)

As an apostle of Christ, Paul does not need credentials and letters of introduction as people of this world do; certainly, he has no need of a letter from the church in Corinth to introduce him to anyone. The reason should be obvious: That there was a church in Corinth at all was testimony enough of his dedication to the gospel because Paul was the one who took the gospel to Corinth in the first place. Was his teaching successful? The fact that it was a success should be self-evident to anyone: Where there had never been a church before, now there was a church.

I think we can infer from this that his opponents thought that he needed some kind of introduction or credential to prove he was genuine: How silly. In fact, that is so silly, it’s the kind of thing we would expect in our time.

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. (3:3)

Paul continues…

Such confidence we have through Christ before God. Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. 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. (3:4-6)

This is an interesting statement; it was as controversial then as it is now. Paul’s assertion is that he is a competent minister of the New Covenant, as evidenced by the fact that he established a church in Corinth where the gospel had never before been preached. His competence to do so came directly from God, not from his education. Actually, when we think about it, his education, which was considerable indeed, had led him to persecute the church. God alone made Paul competent to spread the gospel, not by academics, but by His Spirit, for it is the Spirit that gives life, not letters (academics, human learning).

I would imagine that that if Paul were alive today and was applying to become a pastor in a modern church and said these things in an interview, that he would be shown the door rather quickly.

His ministry as an apostle was not conducted according to the ways of Man, but according to the ways of the Spirit… Yes but… but… how do we…how can be sure…?

It’s a tough one isn’t it?

At any rate, Paul wasn’t going along with the ways of the world, and even though he was under attack in certain places, by certain elements, he was not apologizing for it.

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

2 Corinthians 2:12-13

After Paul advocated forgiveness for the person or persons who caused all of the trouble in Corinth, he went on in this letter to tell about what he was up to after he left that city. It would seem that he travelled to Troas, expecting Titus to meet him there. Apparently, Titus wasn’t there, even so God opened a door for the gospel in that location, and a number of people accepted His grace upon hearing the gospel from Paul. Yet Paul didn’t stay long in that city, he was very grieved by what had taken place back in Corinth, and at the absence of Titus, and continued on to Macedonia.

But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life. And who is equal to such a task? Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as those sent from God.

2 Corinthians 2:14-17

What an unusual way to describe it! Paul breaks into a thanksgiving to God in 2:14 which follows the same structure that he will use in chapter 15 to describe the activity of his ministry, for indeed, this is the introduction to a new section of the letter that continues through 7:14 which is a defense of his apostolic ministry that is seemingly given as a response to his attackers in Corinth.

For many of us, his use of the word “aroma” seems oddly placed in these verses in describing the spread of the knowledge of Christ. That is, until we remind ourselves that “aroma” is used multiple times in the Old Testament to describe sacrifices that are pleasing to God. To put it directly, Paul is describing his work in spreading the gospel as a sacrifice pleasing to God. The spread of the gospel brings life to many, for they respond to the gospel by accepting God’s grace, but it brings death to others who reject God’s offer of grace through faith in Christ. Please note carefully that each made their own choice either to accept or reject Christ, and the blessing or burden of the result of their decision is entirely of their own doing.

Finally, notice that Paul hits his opponents rather hard as he ends the chapter: Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as those sent from God (2:17). I’d say that is a bit of an indictment, but it’s only the first as he defends his ministry as an apostle, as we will see.

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. The punishment inflicted on him by the majority is sufficient. Now instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. I urge you, therefore, to reaffirm your love for him. Another reason I wrote you was to see if you would stand the test and be obedient in everything. Anyone you forgive, I also forgive. And what I have forgiven—if there was anything to forgive—I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.

2 Corinthians 2:5-11

Recently I received a call from a good friend who was having some problems with his pastor. He was seeking some advice on what he should do about certain things that the pastor had said, probably in jest, that my friend had found quite hurtful personally. While I am acquainted with both parties, I really had no more insight into the situation than what I was being told, which sounded pretty bad. Of course, you know how it is, this was only one side of the conversation that I was not a witness to, and often, when you hear the other side, you might have a different impression. My friend was asking what I thought he should do, and there was really only one bit of advice I could offer so I said something like, “Ask yourself how many times our Lord said we should forgive our brother, and I think you’ll know what to do.”

He laughed, and said “Well, I guess about as many times as it takes.”

Essentially, that’s what Paul is saying in these verses about the person who created all of the trouble in Corinth. As I am typing this, I recall what President Lincoln told General Grant a few days before General Lee surrendered his army, effectively ending the American Civil War: “Let ‘em up easy General.” It was an amazing thing to say in a time when the entire North was demanding vengeance and retribution for four terrible years of war, especially coming from the man who felt deeply responsible for hundreds of thousands of dead soldiers and their families.

“Let ‘em up easy, General.”

Paul could certainly have wanted to get even for the pain this guy had caused, and in a way, he’d be justified. Yet, what would have been the point of inflicting more pain?

Jesus taught that we should forgive one another and pray for our enemies. While this isn’t always easy to do, Paul gave us a great example of doing just that in these verses, an example we should take careful note of, don’t you think?

2 Corinthians 1:12-2:4

Now this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, with integrity and godly sincerity. We have done so, relying not on worldly wisdom but on God’s grace. For we do not write you anything you cannot read or understand. And I hope that, 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. (1:12-14)

Paul begins the main body of the letter with these words beginning a section about his integrity in dealing with the Corinthian church. Apparently, someone has convinced a number of the members that Paul has not been honest in his dealings with them. Of course, in our time we should be familiar with this kind of tactic since we see it not only in churches, but in public life as well. Thus, in these verses, Paul is beginning his defense, almost as though he were in court.

Paul is telling them that he had been confident that his relationship with them had been one of mutual trust and respect, and he looked forward to being able to teach in their midst so that he  could expand upon the things he had written to them previously so that their understanding of the points he had made would be complete, but as we see in the text that follows, something happened…

Because I was confident of this, I wanted to visit you first so that you might benefit twice. I wanted 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.Was I fickle when I intended to do this? Or do I make my plans in a worldly manner so that in the same breath I say both “Yes, yes” and “No, no”? (1:15-17)

Paul had made plans to leave Ephesus and stop off in Corinth on his way to Macedonia, and then to stop off in Corinth on his way back for another and final visit before returning to Jerusalem. Apparently, he cancelled his second stop, and is being criticized for doing so by those in Corinth who opposed him. His point here is that he did not deliberately promise 2 visits and then drop one of them.

In the next paragraph, 1:18-22, he tells them that he doesn’t do things the way this world does, but rather as Jesus did. Jesus didn’t just change His mind over nothing but was always firm in His resolve to serve the gospel. Then, Paul tells them…

I call God as my witness—and I stake my life on it—that it was in order to spare you that I did not return to Corinth. Not that we lord it over your faith, but we work with you for your joy, because it is by faith you stand firm. (1:23-24)

It seems that Paul cancelled the second visit to spare them, so as not to challenge their faith… but to spare them what?

So I made up my mind that I would not make another painful visit to you. For if I grieve you, who is left to make me glad but you whom I have grieved? I wrote as I did, so that when I came I would not be distressed by those who should have made me rejoice. I had confidence in all of you, that you would all share my joy. 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. (2:1-4)

This isn’t a great deal to go on, but here’s my best guess: Paul’s last visit to Corinth didn’t go well− it was a disaster brought about by those who opposed him. There was conflict, not joy. Paul moved on his way, and then in “anguish” wrote another letter that we do not have today. Things were said, things were written… Paul cancelled the trip so as not to bring it all up again. His opponents, on the other hand, jumped at the cancellation and used it once again to accuse him, and this is his explanation of his actions.

It is interesting that Paul writes about forgiveness in the next section.

2 Corinthians 1:1-11

Whatever contextual confusion there may be in this letter, it begins with the typical opening of a first century letter written in the Greek style. Paul identifies himself as the author, along with Timothy, and addresses the contents to the church at Corinth. He continues into the second part of the greeting with a thanksgiving for the recipients as he does in all of his New Testament letters, with the exception of the one he wrote to the Galatians.

This is where the similarities with the others begins to end.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. 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. 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. (1:3-7)

Do you see what is different here? Paul wins the prize for most uses of the word “comfort” in a single paragraph, six times as a noun and four times as a verb in this one paragraph. I might as well tell you now, he uses it five times more as a noun, and twelve times more as a verb in this letter: Clearly, “comfort” will be a big issue in 2 Corinthians.

I think it’s safe for us to assume right off the bat that Paul has gone through some troubles recently, and so have the Corinthians, and although things have been rough, God has provided them with the comfort they needed through trials. As Paul continues in the next paragraph, he makes reference to something more specific:

We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about the troubles we experienced in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself. (1:8)

Clearly something has happened, but what? Just as clearly, the Corinthians knew all about it, and since they were familiar with the subject, Paul did not need to spell it out, leaving us in the dark. Naturally there are theories about this, but in the end, we cannot know precisely what Paul is talking about, and maybe that’s for our benefit, for what is really important, the aspect of this that is enduring for all ages, is that even though Paul has gone through a time that caused to him to despair, God provided for his needs spiritually, and Paul came out the other side of his troubles stronger in faith than before, and since “comfort” seems to be the word of the day, we can surely take comfort reading this.

All of us endure trials in this life, trials that seem so big, sometimes they may seem bigger than can be endured; hopeless even. Yet our God, the God of all comfort, will see us through.

Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, 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. (1:9-11)

It seems to me that this is the greatest lesson Paul learned in his trials: But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. (9b) We want to rely on ourselves, it is normal, it is natural to want to rely upon ourselves. Yet, self-reliance, even though it is often a very good thing, can also be a danger. After the resurrection of Jesus, many came to accept the gospel, yet many more preferred to rely on their own strength to keep the Law which ultimately brought about their destruction. Our faith in God is our hope, our strength. Some might see this as weakness, but in our weakness God is strong, and it would certainly appear that Paul is giving testimony to this great fact so that we will take it to heart.