Preliminary Thoughts on II Corinthians 2006 July 6^th for August 22^nd

Apparently the first letter from Paul to the Corinthians did not have all the corrective effect that it was supposed to. Liner notes hint that Paul continued to work the problems remotely and, possibly, in person. Finally after a revival, reported by Titus, Paul wrote this letter.

This being part of the foundational literature of Christianity, IÕm sure IÕve heard considerable preaching from this letter, though, not being a proof-texter myself, I might not recognize II Corinthians as the source. As a result, I have little to say preliminary to launching into this next weighty teaching of Paul.

II Corinthians 1 – 2:4 2006 July 8^th for August 23^rd

By the will of God it is Paul and Timothy writing this letter to the church in Corinth, and Òall the saints throughout Achaia.Ó

God comforts us in our sufferings. Paul has suffered greatly, beyond his endurance apart from the Spirit, and has been comforted. The oppression was so intense that it felt like a death sentence. This is all to the comfort of the church, which also suffers.

Paul had wanted to visit Corinth on the way to Macedonia and then again on the way back from there to Judea. He had decide not to, however, since his visit could only be one of distress and, if that was the case, who would be left to cheer them up afterwards? So, he writes again, waiting for things to straighten out, so that his ultimate visit will be a good, uplifting, one. ÒFor 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.Ó

In making such plans and providing such spiritual leadership, the way of the world is to say ÒyesÓ and ÒnoÓ, but the way of God and his promises is to say just Òyes.Ó ÒNow it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.Ó

So, God and Paul say ÒYesÓ in this way.

II Corinthians 2:5 – 3:18 2006 July 9^th for August 24^th

Someone had caused grief in the congregation. Paul says it was not so much he (Paul) who was grieved but the rest of the people and, that the punishment that Òthe majorityÓ had inflicted on this person was Òsufficient.Ó Now they should forgive and comfort him. On this basis, Paul also forgives, Òin the sight of ChristÓ. This is done to reinstitute the people which fosters unity. Paul was aware that disunity is a scheme of the devil.

This can be seen as establishment of an hierarchical approval system for forgiveness, which is seen in some versions of the church. It can also be seen more simply as a way in which Paul can lead in avoidance of disintegration of the church in Corinth. I tend to favor the latter sort of localized interpretation.

Paul had found an opening instigated by God working ahead of him and had preached effectively in Troas but was disappointed that he hadnÕt found Titus there so he moved on to Macedonia.

ÒWe are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life.Ó

This makes a distinction between people who are headed towards life and those who are headed away from it. Those who see and accept Christ as the goal are headed toward life.

ÒUnlike 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.Ó

This can be seen as establishment of the principle that preaching should always be non-profit to be sincere. On the other hand, maybe Paul is just claiming not to be a charlatan as some of his competitors apparently were.

In saying these things he is not commending himself, like many do who need to bring letters of reference to introduce themselves as being respectable. The people of Corinth themselves and their spiritual condition are PaulÕs references. Paul is made competent by God through the Spirit. ÒHe 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.Ó

By Òthe letter,Ó he is referring to the law as delivered to Moses, words on stone. We have discussed this before. The law shows GodÕs truth. It also shows that all have failed to be perfect and acceptable. No one is even capable of keeping the law perfectly. Recall that Moses wore a veil over his face after having been in the presence of God so that people could look at him and not be blinded. And, this was with only the law. ÒHow much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness!Ó

Paul then extends the metaphor of the veil to say that men are dull to the law as if it were veiled truth. Even today when the law is read it is as if a veil were over GodÕs truth. With Christ, however, the veil has fallen away. Christ himself is truth. ÒThere is freedom.Ó

ÒAnd we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the LordÕs glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.Ó

II Corinthians 4 – 5:10 2006 July 11^th for August 25^th

It is by GodÕs mercy that Paul has this ministry. The ministry is one of plain truth in the sight of God, given to every manÕs conscience. This is the way Paul commends himself. Those who are perishing do not understand this truth, rather, it is ÒveiledÓ to them.

Our earthly bodies are like Òjars of clay.Ó These are a kind of deposit from God. The glory that is in them is the promise of what will come when we leave these bodies, which we long to do, as they fail. We are perplexed but not to despair, Òhard pressed on every side but not crushed.Ó

Whether we are in this earthly body or not, we do what we can to please God, although we would prefer to be in the heavenly body and at home with God. ÒWe live by faith, not by sight.Ó

ÒFor 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.Ó

Paul clearly has the context for what he is talking about when he says, Òwhat is due himÓ at the judgment, but we do not.

II Corinthians 5:11 – 7:1 2006 July 11^th for August 28^th

Paul continues to try to reconcile himself with the Corinthians and they with each other. He is not promoting himself from self pride but so that they will have something to be proud of as a demonstration to those who only believe what they see, that is, unbelievers.

ÒSo 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. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

This is all possible because God reconciled himself to us by sending Christ. Now, we are ambassadors of this message to the other people so that they can be reconciled as well.

Paul has done this work through many hardships: beatings, imprisonments, riots, hard work, sleepless nights, and hunger, but also in purity, understanding, patience, kindness, sincere love, truthful speech, the power of God, and in the Holy Spirit. Some have taken him as genuine and honest and others with dishonor, as with a Òbad report.Ó He has survived all this, the good and the bad, and has Òopened wide his heartÓ to the Corinthians about it. He now implores them to reciprocate, ÒAs a fair exchange – I speak as to my children – open wide your hearts also.Ó

The next section says, ÒDo not be yoked together with unbelievers,Ó and discusses that righteousness and unrighteousness, spirituality and worldliness. Christ and Belial have nothing in common, so why should they be joined together? He quotes II Samuel, ÒTherefore come out from them and be separate. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.Ó

In the quoted text, God is talking to David on the day when God had denied David the privilege of building the Temple. These were the promises given to David and his heirs instead.

This teaching of Paul is very familiar in Christianity and is seen as an instruction on marriage, but this context is not explicit in either text, Paul or Samuel. It could be seen more broadly as an instruction covering any partnership, such as a business dealing, and there are Christians who follow it to that extreme (will Òonly drink milk from a Christian cowÓ, as it were), but at that breadth it seems to conflict with the teaching of Jesus, ÒBe in the world but not of the world.Ó

Clearly it is problematic to be closely allied with an unbeliever. People rub off on each other. It goes both ways, however, as Paul was just saying when he was saying that we should be witnesses to those who only believe on sight. How else can they be won over?

II Corinthians 7:2 – 8:15 2006 July 13^th for August 29^th

Paul has taken great joy and pride in the Corinthians. He had suffered tiredness and harassment in Macedonia but when Titus came with the report about Corinth, he was joyful. At first they had been hurt by his former letter (that is I Corinthians), and this made Paul sad, but the pain had led to repentance, which brought joy to everyone. Paul was ready to be identified with this church under any conditions, life or death. Titus also was in good spirits in part because his job was made easier by their submission. This too was good.

Now, to report on the work in Macedonia, it had gotten off to a good start. Further, in spite of their severe poverty there, they had begged to help out with the work by supporting Paul and the service to the saints. Through Titus, Paul holds out this remarkable example of giving to the church at Corinth where they are not in such poverty. In fact, this is Christ-like. Jesus owns everything in the universe, yet he became the poorest of the poor and died on our behalf. Now we are all rich as a result.

Now, practically speaking, here is what Paul suggests: ÒOur desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. 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, as it is written: ÔHe that gathered much did not have too much, and he that gathered little did not have too little.ÕÓ

This last quote is from Exodus where each Israelite had all the manna he needed, regardless of what he had gathered. There is no basis in the Bible for becoming a billionaire. Indeed, there are hardly any better description anywhere, here in the name of equality, of what we would today describe as theoretical communism although this practice of sharing within the extended church is voluntary and in subjection to Christ while communism has gotten a bad name in our era due to the involuntary, government dominated practices in eastern countries.

Nonetheless, our God-given form of economics, capitalism, struggles in the presence of a redistribution of resources like this, based on need rather than Òproductivity.Ó

II Corinthians 8:16 – 10:18 2006 July 15^th for August 30^th

Paul says he really doesnÕt have to write to the Corinthians about being generous and helping other churches, he knows they are already eager to do this. But, he is sending Titus and two unnamed but zealous, trustworthy, and highly recommended brothers to pick up the gift and travel back with it. He writes now so that they will be prepared with the generous gift and wonÕt be surprised when Titus and these men arrive expecting it, in which case they might have to get a collection together hastily and it might seem grudgingly.

Paul talks further about giving. The following passage is one that is used in some churches to teach that tithing (that is, giving ten percent) is superceded, a practice that is seen as old (goes back to Abraham) and legalistic (associated with the law, though not one of the Ten Commandments). A fairly liberal reading of these words might be called Òno fault giving.Ó My own reading is more restrained. I take it only as part of the whole, nothing more, nothing less.

ÒRemember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 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. As it is written: ÔHe has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.ÕÓ

After all, even though we are an agricultural society and work hard planting and harvesting and processing our food, it is God who provides the seeds, the other resources that we depend on, and the very means of life and growth. We merely do the work of moving these resources around to the right places at the right time.

These gifts and services from one church to another are more than just helping other believers; they are expressions of gratitude to God himself.

Paul then goes on to defend his ministry. Apparently some have been saying that he is bold in his letters but unimpressive and dismiss-able when speaking in person. Paul claims that his letters and his actions when present are the same. As for speaking, Paul and his colleagues do not behave as people of the world do, always looking for ascendancy and popularity. Rather, they do seemingly foolish things in the pursuit of upholding all the truth of Christ and demolishing anything that attempts to argue against it. Doing this, let the chips fall where they may.

(I would say, ÒGod can handle it,Ó but Paul doesnÕt go that far.)

There is no comparison between the ministers of God and those men who commend themselves. One commendation is from self, and is circular and worthless, the other is from God. Boast only in the things of God, and not even in the things God has done through other people, but only your own ministry of God.

ÒÕLet him who boasts boast in the Lord.Õ For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.Ó

II Corinthians 11 2006 July 15^th for August 31^st

After having spent the last session talking about not boasting except in Christ, Paul now turns to boasting, some in Christ and some not.

The problem is, there are many leaders and preachers. Paul has preached the true Christ but he knows that the minds of the Corinthians are open and might be deceived by other preaching, subtle though the distinctions might be. Paul wants to present the church as a pure virgin to Christ but knows that, just as Eve was deceived, everyone is deceived in many ways.

ÒBut I do not think I am in the least inferior to those Ôsuper-apostles.Õ I may not be a trained speaker, but I do have knowledge. We have made this perfectly clear to you in every way.Ó

Paul has gone even further, ÒI robbed other churches by receiving support from them so as to serve you.Ó But when he was there and needed things, he did not make himself a burden, but let the support of others furnish his needs.

This discussion is parlayed, today, into the theology of support for missions and outreach.

As for his Òsuper-apostleÓ competition (televangelists seem to pre-exist television!), ÒÉ such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.Ó

(It was my understanding that Satan was an angel of light before Òthe fall,Ó before becoming Satan)

Paul now turns to sarcasm in order to compete with his boastful competition. He calls himself a ÒfoolÓ and says, ÒYou gladly put up with fools since you are so wise! 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. To my shame [sarcasm] I admit that we were too weak for that!Ó

And in this description, we get a glimpse of some of the tactics of this competition, indeed, of leaders of men throughout all time and place.

Here is a list of the hardships Paul has suffered in ministry: worked harder, been in prison more, flogged more severely, exposed to death again and again, five times received the thirty-nine lashes from the Jews, three times beaten with rods, once stoned, three times shipwrecked including an instance of a day and night in the open sea, constantly on the move, in danger from rivers, bandits, his own countrymen, Gentiles, dangers of the country, dangers of the city, and from false brethren, sleeplessness, hunger, thirst, cold, and nakedness. ÒBesides 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?Ó

In other words, Paul is, in the weakness of the flesh, no different from anyone else who has a complaint of weakness against the demands of the flesh and false faiths.

In one case the king of Damascus had him under guard to arrest him but he escaped by being let out a window from the wall in a basket.

ÒIf I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.Ó

É and of robbing some churches to support others.

This has the effect of turning attention to God and Jesus rather than inspiring people to be like Paul because of all the nice attention and money and cars and houses he receives for his work, since he does not in fact become wealthy through ministry but just the opposite.

II Corinthians 12 – 13 2006 July 17^th for September 1^st

Paul continues boasting, but only about his weakness, not his greatness. He tells of a person he knows who was, fourteen years ago, Òcaught up to Paradise. He heard inexpressible things, things that man is not permitted to tell.Ó Paul will boast about that man, but when boasting about himself, only about his own weaknesses.

Some think that the man was Paul himself, perhaps because of the way he continues.

ÒTo keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.Ó Paul had prayed three times for this to be taken away and GodÕs final answer was, ÒMy grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.Ó

(This was one of dadÕs favorite verses.)

This is why Paul boasts only in his weakness, in order to magnify GodÕs power.

He then talks about the Òsuper-apostlesÓ again, people who apparently do signs, wonders, and miracles. Paul claims that he is no less than any of these people except that, when he was with the Corinthians he was not a burden to them. For this he asks forgiveness. Now he plans a third visit, again without being a burden because Òchildren should not have to save up for their parents, but parents for their children.Ó Also, ÒTitus did not exploit you, did he?Ó Paul thinks not.

In this third visit he hopes not to be disappointed by how he finds them. He hopes not to find Òquarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, factions, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorder.Ó He hopes also not to find any more, Òimpurity, sexual sin, and debauchery in which they have indulgedÓ previously. He hopes also that they find him acceptable.

Apparently Paul will sit in judgment on some cases when he is there. He warns them that he will not be weak, Òsince you are demanding proof that Christ is speaking through me.Ó Although he was crucified in weakness, Christ is not weak now; he has the power of God. Paul hopes not to Òhave to be harsh in [his] use of authority – the authority the Lord gave [him] for building you up, not for tearing you down.Ó

After these warnings, he closes. We are strong in weakness, Òour prayer is for your perfection.Ó ÒBe of one mind, live in peace.Ó

All the saints send their greetings.

ÒMay the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.Ó

Closing Thoughts on II Corinthians 2006 July 18^th for September 4^th

In this letter we get some interesting insight into the relatively wealthy church in Corinth, the ministry of Paul there and elsewhere, and some of the issues of both at that time.

As with any successful movement, false leaders (Òsuper apostlesÓ) have arisen and provided competition for the real leaders, namely Paul and those working with him. These super apostles operate through showmanship and pushiness, sometimes abusively, but are little concerned with correct doctrine, which is the only thing with which Paul himself is concerned.

Some of the interpersonal sins to which people are subject are enumerated. They really reflect the natural outworking of our animal nature, if we can use a concept like that around the Bible. Things like factions, outbursts of anger, quarreling, jealousy, and so forth are nothing but quests for status among those who have less than they want, that is, most everyone in a competitive culture, such as the affluent Corinthians might well have been. These people are not competing fiercely for sustenance as those in great poverty might; they are competing for ascendancy. The Òsuper apostlesÓ are doing this too but it might be argued that they are just trying to make a living.

Paul spends a great deal of effort making a different presentation of himself than the average putative leader would. It is easy to see that this is where a lot of expected Protestant self-deprecation comes from. Paul boasts in his weaknesses, in the facets of his personality and presentation that are not typically considered signs of leadership. When he does boast on a positive note, it is in the third person, as if he were talking of someone else.

He also does some teaching about giving, appropriate for the Corinthians, as they were one of the few churches with much to give. The message, as we have noted, is distinctly un-capitalistic and amounts to just distributing wealth from wherever it is to wherever it is needed, within the body of Christ, of course. There is no concept of affluence being a goal of the kingdom of God in this letter, only that affluence produces a responsibility and opportunity for generosity and that those brothers in great poverty are deserving of gifts just because they are brothers and not because of any other feature of their station.

PaulÕs relationship with these Corinthians is mixed. He is trying to lead them to Christian righteousness and makes it clear that he expects them to be perfect and blameless in this respect, yet he finds them sometimes being factious and following other, less true, leaders. Their view of him is also mixed. Some are very loyal. Others wonder why the church follows this unimpressive man.

Much doctrine is built on phrases from this letter. As an example, the verse, ÒMy grace is sufficient for youÉÓ is well known in Christianity and is taught to mean that in everything, God is enough for us. While this may be true, the fuller context is this:

To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, ÒMy grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.Ó Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that ChristÕs power may rest on me. That is why, for ChristÕs sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, them I am strong.

From the narrower quote, one might conclude that God takes it upon himself to take care of us no matter what happens. One might go further and think that God sees to our comfort as well. From the larger one, we might decide that God was the actual source of some hardships in order to keep us in line and prove himself to be great through defects inflicted on us. Or, we might just find that Paul is boasting in yet another particular weakness and think that such things donÕt happen to those of us who are less than full apostles.

I have found my reading of the biblical text to be problematic in this way. Often I come across passages that I know and have made assumptions about. Perhaps my training is deficient or things are lost in translation between the Greek and the way in which I am reading in English, but I find some of these passages to mean subtly or vastly different things now than I had thought or had been led to think before.

© Courtney B. Duncan, 2006