2 Corinthians

Monday, 18 May 2015

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 2 Corinthians 1:3

Verse 3 begins the formal epistle, following after the greetings of verses 1 & 2. In his words, Paul gives a general note of praise which is similar in each of his letters. Here he praises God in a spontaneous outbreak which could almost be considered a doxology in itself. In the greeting, he notes the deity of Christ through the words “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” The praise is to Christ’s Father, but it is an implicit reference to Jesus’ own deity because of the pattern given in Genesis 1 which shows that all things reproduce after their own kind. Jesus wasn’t adopted as a son. Rather He came forth from God.

And this God is “the Father of mercies…” These words are an expression a Hebrew mode of speaking where an adjective is substituted for a noun. It would then be synonymous with the term “merciful Father.” However, there is more force than the mere phrase “merciful Father” because of the way it is constructed. Mercy and compassion describe Him and are a part of His unchanging attributes.

Further, Paul calls Him “God of all comfort.” He is not only merciful, but His mercy transfers into compassion for those to whom He has bestowed His mercy. It is a wonderful thought that not only are we granted release from the punishment we deserve, but the One who so releases us then comes to us with consolation and a hand of loving care.

In this verse, Ellicott notes that, “In the balanced structure of the sentence—the order of ‘God’ and “Father” in the first clause being inverted in the second—we may trace something like an unconscious adoption of the familiar parallelism of Hebrew poetry.” Paul, despite being the Apostle to the Gentiles, never strayed far from His Hebrew upbringing and he transfers it to us in His New Testament writings.

Life application: Because of Jesus, we can see the evident mercy of God upon us. What we deserve, we are not given. Instead of wrath and punishment, we have been granted mercy. And further, God then provides us with abundant comfort as He tends to us. No matter how bad we may have it at any given time, it is far better than the best we could expect if we got what we truly deserved. Thus, let us always remember to thank God for the many blessings He has lavished upon us!

O God, when I reflect in the cross, I consider that what I deserved has been withheld because You took my justly warranted punishment upon Yourself. And then after granting such wondrous mercy, You then continue to pour out Your love and grace upon me in an endless stream of comfort and care. How can such love exist? And yet it does, for I see it every day as I walk in Your presence! Thank You for Your care of me. Amen.

Sunday, 17 May 2015

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Corinthians 1:2

This is Paul’s common greeting, even if it contains slight variations. It is an exact repeat of 1 Corinthians 1:3. He has identified himself, his calling, who was accompanying him, and who the letter is directed to. After those formalities, he gives these words – “Grace to you and peace to you.”

Grace is unmerited favor; it cannot be earned. This is a common greeting among the Greek people. Peace however is the more common greeting among the Hebrew people. In their language, the word is shalom. Shalom however is more than a greeting for calm or quiet, but a petition for wholeness and completion in all ways. Paul unites the two terms just as the church is being united between Jew and Gentile during his time. This grace precedes the peace because only after receiving God’s grace can His peace truly be experienced.

This wonderful blessing to them is extended “from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” It is a greeting from the eternal God – both the unseen Father and His Son who reveals the Father to us. Rather than being an argument against the deity of Jesus Christ, it is an argument for it. He is tying the two in as one – Jesus being a member of the Godhead. He is not inferring some type of God/non-god distinction, but a harmonious blending of the two; both fully God.

Throughout his letters, as with the entire Bible, the deity of Jesus Christ is a concept and a precept which simply can’t be missed. It is the very heart of what God has done for the reconciliation of the people of the world.

Life application: There may be someone around you today who is lacking peace. Take time today to tell them of God’s grace. In doing so, they may come to the peace which is truly peace – reconciliation with God through a personal relationship with His Son.

Heavenly Father, the fragrance of flowers is such a wonderful delight. Different ones come out at different times and some of them literally envelope me in their all-permeating scent. They bring back memories of my youth and they tell me of the seasonal changes which show me everything is working according to an infinitely wise plan. I thank You and I praise You for the wondrous smells which You have given us in the flowers of the earth. Praises to You! Amen.

Saturday, 16 May 2015

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,
To the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints who are in all Achaia: 2 Corinthians 1:1

The book of 2 Corinthians is comprised of 13 chapters and totals 257 verses. If you are ready for a 257-day analysis of this book, come along as we peer into its words. Feel free to invite a friend if you think they will be blessed as well!

Although the verse divisions at the beginning of 1 Corinthians 1 are different than the beginning of 2 Corinthians 1, the greeting is very similar in both. Referring to 1 Corinthians, it says –

“Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother,
² To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:” 1 Corinthians 1:1, 2

In 2 Corinthians, he has substituted “Sothenes” with “Timothy.” Elsewhere, Timothy is noted as Paul’s “son” which demonstrated a spiritual connection directly to Paul’s heart based on their relationship. Here he is called “brother” because of the connection which should exist between him and all the faithful believers who are being addressed.

The inclusion of Timothy here is not without deeper purpose. Timothy was young and Paul wanted him to be confident in his ministry. And so he is showing that there was equality between them that should be respected by the other believers as well. Further, there will be some points of perceived contention between the Corinthians and Paul which need to be addressed.

Paul had told the Corinthians that he would come to visit them when he left Ephesus, but his plans had changed. The introduction of Timothy, who had been with Paul, would allow him to be a witness who could substantiate that Paul’s motives were not in any way impure towards the believers in Corinth.

As with 1 Corinthians, Paul establishes his apostolic authority by saying “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ.” Noting that it is “by the will of God” shows that the selection came not by personal choice, but by the sovereign will and grand design of God. His coming words are intended for “the church of God which is at Corinth,” but there is also the greater intent of them being read to all believers in the area, of which Corinth was the capital. Thus it is an encyclical letter. Any smaller churches, and any scattered believers, were to be included in the reception of his words.

Life application: Paul’s inclusion of Timothy at the beginning of this letter bestows upon him a special dignity which would bolster the young man’s confidence. It is good to evaluate others around us and see where we can act in a like manner. We are all deficient in one area or another. And so with care and attention, we can be a participant in the growth of their weakness by using tactful and carefully targeted means. They may not even be aware of our efforts, but in the end, they will be better off if we devote such time towards those around us.

Heavenly Father, I would ask for the ability to see needs that arise in others and to be responsive to those needs as they arise. I know that empathy is a particular gift which is sorely needed in this world. I also know that I need more of it. Help me in this Lord, so that I can be a strong and faithful friend, mentor, and person of trust to those who are in need. May they see more of You in my attitude towards them. Thank You for hearing my heart today. Amen.