Saturday, 20 June 2015
Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ’s gospel, and a door was opened to me by the Lord,
2 Corinthians 2:12
Paul now returns to the sequence of events that he left off with in verse 4. Verses 5-11 were an insert thought which have now been completed. He had determined to not go directly to Corinth for the reasons previously stated. On his journey to Macedonia, he came to Troas, which was on the route between Ephesus and Macedonia.
On the way, he says, “when I came to Troas.” There is an article in front of “Troas” which leads scholars to think he is referring to the general area and not specifically the city. There, in that area, he notes that concerning Christ’s gospel, “a door was opened to me by the Lord.”
This terminology is quite similar to the words he used concerning Ephesus in 1 Corinthians 16:8, 9 –
“But I will tarry in Ephesus until Pentecost. 9 For a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.”
As this journey was from Ephesus to Macedonia via Troas, it becomes apparent through his use of this same term in such close intervals that the Lord was carefully directing his steps for the furtherance of His gospel. In this, we can see that even the anguish of the situation at Corinth was used to further the gospel elsewhere. Nothing happens by chance and all things are being directed by the infinitely wise Lord.
Despite this, there will be a conflict in Paul that will cause a change of plans in his work in Troas. This will be seen in the coming verse.
Life application: At those times when it seems that the Lord isn’t there with you, He is. He may be working on something entirely unexpected by you, so trust that He truly will never leave you nor forsake you.
Lord, how many times have I thought You weren’t there with me as I faced some difficulty or trial. And yet, when I got through it, I saw that You were there working it out and accomplishing other marvelous things at the same time. How faithless I was to think I had been abandoned! Help me to remember this when the next trial or difficulty comes along. Don’t let me forget that You are with me. Instead, help me to wisely look for Your hand in the events as they unfold. Amen!