2 Corinthians

Friday, 8 January 2016

But be that as it may, I did not burden you. Nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you by cunning! 2 Corinthians 12:16

Paul’s words, “But be that as it may” are based on his previous words which said, “…though the more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved.” Despite the attitude towards his loving demonstrations, it was his continued stance to not be a burden on them. This is contrary to nature as most people would simply give up after a while, but Paul knew that changing his tact and accepting assistance from them could only make things worse. And so he determined to continue to be no burden on them at all. The “I” in this clause is emphatic – “I did not burden you.” This leads us to understand the words of the next clause.

As he emphatically asserts that he didn’t burden the Corinthians, then there is another option which he must refute. He does so with the words, “Nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you by cunning!” These words would be as if he were quoting them. “Yes, you were no burden on us, but you deceived us in another way. You have announced that you want to take a collection to the saints in Jerusalem and you have sent others to collect it. However, we are sure that you will profit, at least in part, from the collection.”

This is a possible charge of the false apostles which then infected the minds of the Corinthians. Paul, showing them the silliness of such a charge will defend against it in the verses to come. He has been careful to handle everything in the most professional and open manner possible in order to avoid the very conflict that he is now addressing.

As a way of shining light on the words of this verse, the ISV and God’s Word translations both change it into a question rather than stating it as a fact. Instead of “I caught you by cunning,” they translate it this way –

“Granting that I have not been a burden to you, was I a clever schemer who trapped you by some trick?” ISV

This clears up any misunderstandings by the reader who may assume that Paul actually acted in a deceitful manner. The reason why this is important is that if Paul acted in deceit, then it would imply that this was an acceptable means of acting to achieve one’s goals. In essence, “The ends justify the means.” Such is not the case with Paul’s words.

Life application: One needs to understand when irony is stated or when someone is writing words as if they are spoken by another. This isn’t always easy to do and even learned scholars who understand the original languages will often disagree on what the actual intent of a verse is. This is a good reason for us to refer to many translations and to diligently study the writings of many scholars. In so doing, we can get a better sense of what is probably the correct interpretation of some very difficult verses.

Marvelous Lord God! You have brought each of us to the point where we are at in our lives. Some of us today are filled with abundance. Some of us are facing lack. We may be healthy and filled with pep, or we may be on our death bed. But no matter what our station is at this time, for those of us who have called on Jesus, the best times lie ahead. Thank You for the surety that whatever we are facing is something that can only get better when He comes for us. How great that day will be! Even so, come Lord Jesus! Amen.

Thursday, 7 January 2016

And I will very gladly spend and be spent for your souls; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved. 2 Corinthians 12:15

Paul just noted that the parents should save up for their children. As he considered the church at Corinth as his children in the faith, he explains what this then means. To him, it wasn’t just saving up a bit and considering the job done. Instead, he says that he “…will very gladly spend and be spent.” The Greek word for “spend,” dapanaó, is used to indicate the incurring of an expense or even to waste one’s money entirely. It is used that way in Luke 15 in the parable of the lost son. He wasted all of his money in a foreign land and became needy.

Adding onto that thought, he next uses the Greek word ekdapanaó. It is the same word with the prefix ek, or “out” attached to it. Thus it is to be completely exhausted or to spend out completely. It is used just this one time in Scripture, and is given to show the great length Paul was willing to go to in order to minister to the Corinthians. In this expenditure, he notes that it is “for your souls.”

He wasn’t worried about their physical needs, their desires, or any such thing. Instead, he was concerned about their spiritual relationship with the Lord. To him, this is where his efforts were to be focused. And it is evident from his letters that this is exactly where his heart and attention were directed.

He finishes this thought with, “… though the more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved.” This is certainly a rebuke towards them. The more attention he doted on them, and the harder he worked in order to not be any burden to them, it appeared that they came to love him less. There seemed to be an increasing ingratitude in them that welled up with his continued attention towards them.

Life application: Paul’s words in this verse show us that there should not be a set of scales in front of us as we minister to others. If there were, when the balances tipped to one side or another, we would change our level of attention and devotion each time we encountered them. If you, for example, do mission work in the downtown slums or projects, you can never expect any sort of reciprocity in your care of the downtrodden you are ministering to. As a Bible teacher, you may be teaching the spiritually downtrodden. In the same manner, why would you expect them to respond with a great return on the spiritual lessons you impart? Be willing to expend everything for those you minister to. The Lord does see and He will reward.

Lord Jesus, grant to us hearts like Yours. Help us to be willing to spend ourselves, even to the point of being expended if necessary, in order to minister to those who are in need. There are so many who either could never repay, or who simply will never repay, the kindness shown to them. But give us the desire to keep on giving in order to lead them to You. In the end, this life is temporary, but the one You offer is eternal. Help us to keep things in that perspective. Amen.

Wednesday, 6 January 2016

Now for the third time I am ready to come to you. And I will not be burdensome to you; for I do not seek yours, but you. For the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.
2 Corinthians 12:14

Scholars generally agree that this isn’t speaking of the third actual visit, but that he had intended to come a second time and was thwarted. This is now the third time he is “ready” to come to them. Or, others disagree and feel that he simply had an unrecorded visit to Corinth. Either way, it is Paul’s express intent to visit them when he arrives. And when he does, he plans to conduct himself in the same manner as he always had by stating that “I will not be burdensome to you.”

This is one of the things they had found fault in him for. But he has carefully and methodically explained to them why he has been no burden on them and why that would continue. It is because, as he says, “I do not seek yours, but you.” He cared nothing about their property or their wealth, but them. He wanted the people at Corinth to be saved and then to grow in proper doctrine; not to be led astray by false teachers.

His justification for this is that “the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.” He treated his congregations as his own children. This is implied in his words to Timothy in 1 Timothy 1:2 and to Titus in Titus 1:4. Those he had led to the Lord became his sons in the faith. It can then be inferred that the congregations he had established also were his children in the faith. This verse confirms that.

And because they were, he gave them words which are obvious to all people in all societies. The parents, if they are wise with their resources and labors, will store up their wealth in order to pass it on to their children. Paul felt this was his spiritual obligation for them. He studied Scripture, he pondered the mysteries of Christ, and he worked with his own hands to not burden the congregation at Corinth. In all of this, he laid up for them so that they would be the benefactors of his resources and labors.

Life application: Paul has set a good example for pastors, preachers, priests, and ministers. It is right that the congregations remember those in such positions and take care of them (Galatians 6:6), but it is also true that they should not be burdensome on their congregations. They should be willing to work to supplement their pay if necessary. They should also not burden those under them with things that they can do for themselves. Above all, they should be a blessing in all spiritual matters to those they minister to.

Heavenly Father, how good it is to receive spiritual insights and teachings from our pastors and Bible teachers. Thank you for their diligence in searching out your word and illuminating difficult passages for us to grasp and then apply to our doctrine. And thank You also for the many generations of such men who lived in years gone by. We are the recipients of their accumulated knowledge. Each lover of Your word adds on a bit more knowledge so that we have a clearer picture than ever of the mysteries it contains! How blessed we are! Thank You, O God. Amen.

Tuesday, 5 January 2016

For what is it in which you were inferior to other churches, except that I myself was not burdensome to you? Forgive me this wrong! 2 Corinthians 12:13

Paul asks the Corinthians a pointed question – “For what is it in which you were inferior to the other churches?” He had spent an immense amount of time with them. He had demonstrated the power of his apostolic ministry among them through demonstrations of the Spirit. He had treated them as his own children. In every way imaginable, he had elevated the church and its congregants above himself as he ministered to them. All of this was certain, but with one difference. He says, “…except that I myself was not burdensome to you.”

They seemed offended at the thing which was the most endearing from his standpoint. He had not been any burden at all to them in order that they would be able to grow spiritually without being weighed down in caring for him. Here he uses the same word for “burdensome” that he used in verse 11:9.

It is a rare word which gives the idea of numbness or deadness. It is connected to the torpedo fish which makes anything it touches numb. The intent is that even though he was present with the Corinthians, he asked for nothing which would numb them to his ministry. And so, in what is the highest of irony, he states, “Forgive me this wrong!” He had lavished upon them the greatest of honors, one of which was to not burden them, and yet they took this as an offense rather than as it should have been received.

Life application: Paul’s intent for the church was certainly pure and without any strings attached, and yet the people there misread his actions. It is always good to take a moment to ponder the reasons behind things before assuming ill intent. Let each of us be slow to anger or offense and quick to show gratitude towards others.

Lord God, help us to be slow in showing offense and to take time to ponder carefully the actions of others before flying off the handle and ruining a perfectly good relationship over minutiae. Instead help us to build them upon gratitude for the help and benefit we do receive. Grant that we won’t look at petty things which may actually be our misunderstanding of whatever issue has arisen. Bestow this on us so that harmony will exist between those of us who endeavor to be faithful followers of You. Amen.

Monday, 4 January 2016

Truly the signs of an apostle were accomplished among you with all perseverance, in signs and wonders and mighty deeds. 2 Corinthians 12:12

Paul just said, “…in nothing was I behind the most eminent apostles, though I am nothing.” Following up with that, he immediately says that, “Truly the signs of an apostle were accomplished among you.” First, he is indicating that in contrast to the false apostles, he carried with him the signs of a true apostle. A “sign” (Greek sémeion) is something which points to something else.

Jesus gave signs which pointed to the truth that He is the Messiah. The apostles were granted to give signs to prove that they were, in fact, commissioned by the Lord. These are the outward witnesses of this fact. But more importantly than being just signs, they are the “signs of an apostle.” Being an apostle carried certain conditions; the most important one was being personally commissioned by the Lord.

What is implied in the term “signs of an apostle” is that these signs belong to a select group of people and they are no longer given because there are no apostles today. Therefore, the things which supposedly confirm apostleship today are false. God has validated the work of the church and His word speaks of it. We are to have faith in His word and not in supposed eternals which are falsely given by those who have no apostolic authority.

In the signs that were given, Paul says they were “accomplished among you with all perseverance.” There is a decisive tone in the word “accomplished.” These signs were fully wrought, thus attesting to the surety of the commission. Despite all of the difficulties the apostles faced, despite their privations, despite those who came against them and attacked them continuously, they still worked the signs of their apostleship, validating the words that followed.

Today, those who claim to do signs don’t do it under hardship. Instead, they do them with a money basket being passed in front of them. They then get into a limo or a Lear jet and take off to milk another congregation full of suckers.

But the true signs of an apostle were “in signs and wonders and mighty deeds.” Again, the signs pointed to something else. They were validations of their commission. The “wonders” or teras, were those things we might call “miracles.” They were so obviously of heavenly origin that no man could claim that the power to accomplish the miracles was from derived from the apostles, but it was rather from the Lord.

The “mighty deeds” or dunamis, are those things which testified to the power of the Source from which they were derived. It is a miracle, or teras, that a man is healed, but the healing is also a “mighty deed” or dunamis because of the Source of the miracle. It is the effective working of God’s power through the apostle.

Life application: If we have faith in Jesus to save us from our sins, then we should ask, “Where did I hear of Jesus in order to have faith?” The answer is, “From the Bible.” If we believed the message about Jesus, then why should we not accept the rest of the Bible which gives us the full word of God? If we don’t believe that the apostles had the power to work miracles, then why should we believe that Jesus can save? Either the Bible is true in its entirety, or it is a false book. And if we believe the testimony of the Apostle’s signs, then why would we need other signs today? The Bible itself is to be our sign. Read your Bible and have faith that it is God’s word.

Lord God, what sense does it make to believe that Jesus is able to save us, but then to not believe the rest of the Bible? It is the Bible which tells us about Jesus. If other parts of it aren’t true, then how can we know that the part about Jesus saving isn’t also false? No! It is all or nothing. And the fact is that Jesus does save! And so help us to trust that Your word is true in its entirety and then to hold fast to it for our life and doctrine. Amen.