Epistles (written)

Wednesday, 4 November 2015

But I beg you that when I am present I may not be bold with that confidence by which I intend to be bold against some, who think of us as if we walked according to the flesh. 2 Corinthians 10:2

Paul just noted that his attitude and demeanor is considered “lowly” when he is present, but “bold” when he is not. In this, the assumption was made that when he came again, he wouldn’t be bold when it was necessary. Now, to correct that deficient assumption, he shows that he can be bold when necessary. The implication is that he has restrained from being so in the past, but the future may be different. This is evidenced by the word “but.”

Contrary to their perceptions, Paul begs for them to consider his authority and his ability to exercise that authority. He does this by saying, “…that when I am present I may not be bold with that confidence by which I intend to be bold against some.” There is an obvious tension between Paul and some in the congregation. He has restrained from calling them out, but should they continue with their negative attitude towards him, he fully intends to highlight it and bring his authority against it.

And the cause for the tension is that those he is referring to “think of us as if we walked according to the flesh.” Albert Barnes notes that –

“They suppose this; or, they accuse me of it. By the word “us” here Paul means himself, though it is possible also that he speaks in the name of his fellow apostles and laborers who were associated with him, and the objections may have referred to all who acted with him.”

Whether this is only Paul who is being accused of this, or whether it is he and his associates, some were saying that he or they “walk” according to the flesh. The word “walk” is an idiom for one’s way of life and conduct. Therefore, they are saying that Paul (and others possibly) were not walking appropriately, but were living their lives in one way while speaking and teaching in another.

Paul will show them in the coming verses that “walking in the flesh,” which we all do while living in this fallen human body, is not the same as “warring in the flesh.” There is a distinction to be made and it will correct these troublemaker’s faulted accusations against him.

Life application: Unfortunately, even the most humble elder or pastor must at times take off the gloves and speak firmly and forcefully in order to silence those who would disturb the fellowship. Paul’s example here, along with many others in Scripture, shows that when a heavier hand is necessary, it is to be brought out and used.

Lord God, help us to walk in harmony with one another to the greatest extent possible, overlooking the faults of others. But also give us the discernment, courage, and ability to see when a stronger hand of correction is needed. When such a time arises, help us to enforce Your standards rather than caving into the wiles of those who look only to divide and cause dissension. Help us Lord to be wise in this way, holding fast to the truths of Your word above all else. Amen.

Tuesday, 3 November 2015

Now I, Paul, myself am pleading with you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—who in presence am lowly among you, but being absent am bold toward you. 2 Corinthians 10:1

In beginning a new subject, we read an emphatic expression, “Now I Paul.” It is an expression he uses several times elsewhere in his epistles to indicate particularly strong emotions. After this emphatic introduction, he says to the Corinthians that he is “pleading with you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ.”

The intent is that in his plea he desires not to be thought of as an authoritarian ruler, but to rather be an emulation of the Lord. Those in Corinth, like all people who are saved, were granted gentle mercy. Instead of a rod of iron, they received meekness and tenderness. Paul’s plea to them is in hopes of emulating that example rather than requiring him to be harsh towards them.

To show that he can be either, he says while still speaking about himself, “…who in presence am lowly among you, but being absent am bold toward you.” This will be further explained in verse 10, but the intent is that the impression of those in Corinth is that Paul’s attitude when present with them was not one of a strong leader. Rather, they looked at him as timid and not capable of enforcing discipline.

However, when he was absent from them he was bold toward them. Though not stated yet, this implies that his letters represented him in his absence as to who he would be when present. And so the thought this verse is conveying is as follows –

1) He is pleading with the Corinthians in the spirit of Christ, which is one of “meekness and gentleness.” This is in hopes of the Corinthians responding to his appeal without him requiring him to be bold and harsh.
2) He has demonstrated a lowly, humble attitude among them in the past and so they would expect him to be the same when he returns.
3) Even if his letters are bold, it is just a letter and his actions won’t match his words.
4) Therefore, they have nothing to fear concerning him being bold and harsh.

Life application: We should remember Paul’s careful explanation of himself here and realize that just because an individual displays an easygoing character, it may be that there is a point where that will change. Moses was noted as the most humble man ever, but he also demonstrated boldness when needed. The lesson is that we should never “push the buttons” of another and assume that their gentle demeanor is all we will see of them.

Lord God, the stresses of life can well up in us and change us from who we normally are into a different person. Sometimes the change may be a good one and allow us to do great things that we normally wouldn’t do. But sometimes the change may not be good and we may do something we would otherwise regret later. Moses lost his patience, acted contrarily, and lost his right to enter the Land of Promise. Help us to learn from such examples and give us the ability to withhold our dark side from taking over and causing irreparable harm to our relationships with others. Help us in this, O Lord. Amen.

Monday, 2 November 2015

 Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! 2 Corinthians 9:15

To end the chapter, and also the topic of the collection of the gift, Paul breaks into a sudden and emotional proclamation of thanksgiving. This is not at all unique to his writings as he elsewhere suddenly breaks forth in praise and thanks to God. It is as if Paul contemplated the words which he had penned and couldn’t restrain himself at certain points. And not only was it an internal expression, but one which he simply had to share with others as well.

The word for “thanks” is the same as the word elsewhere translated as “grace.” Even in the previous verse it is used this way. There it said, “…and by their prayer for you, who long for you because of the exceeding grace of God in you.” Scholars debate what this “grace” is intended to be. Is it the Holy Spirit? Is it Christ Jesus? The answer seems likely to be the same “grace” which he just mentioned. He turned the thought around from “the exceeding grace of God in you” into “thanks.”

If this is so, then it refers to the entire process of salvation which was initiated through their “confession to the gospel of Christ” which was mentioned in verse 13. Because of their salvation which came from this confession, and because of their obedience to it, all things were working out for a good and common goal among the saints. In other words, it all comes back to the work of Jesus Christ in them. He is the gift of God through which all other things find their right and proper place.

And this seems certain by the use of the word “indescribable.” The Greek word from which this is translated is used only here in the New Testament. It comes from two separate words. The first it a negative prefix and the second is a word which means “to declare.” In other words, there are simply no words which could fully express this gift. This is certainly the case concerning the Person and work of Christ. He is the indescribable Gift which is the basis of every other good thing which comes down from the Father of heavenly lights.

Life application: If you are in the mood to break out in praise or thanks to God, don’t hold it in. You might explode. Let it out!

Glorious God! I want to praise You and thank You for Your indescribable Gift, my Lord Jesus. Without Him, I would be forever separated from You. I would have no hope and no reason to exist. Life would be a vain pursuit which would terminate in an oblong box. But though I may end up there, it will only be a temporary place of rest until I am brought back for an eternal walk in Your presence. And all of it is because of the Gift of Jesus. Thanks be to You for this indescribable Gift! Amen.

Sunday, 1 November 2015

…and by their prayer for you, who long for you because of the exceeding grace of God in you.
2 Corinthians 9:14

The actual intent of Paul’s words here is debated over, but what is certain is that the Greek is confusing. Albert Barnes gives the following analysis –

“On the grammatical construction of this difficult verse, Doddridge and Bloomfield may be consulted. It is probably to be taken in connection with 2 Corinthians 9:12, and 2 Corinthians 9:13 is a parenthesis. Thus interpreted, the sense will be, ‘The administration of this service [2 Corinthians 9:12] will produce abundant thanks to God. It will also [2 Corinthians 9:14] produce another effect. It will tend to excite the prayers of the saints for you, and thus produce important benefits to yourselves. They will earnestly desire your welfare, they will anxiously pray to be united in Christian friendship with those who have been so signally endowed with the grace of God.'”

Because of the difficult nature of the Greek, this seems to be in line with what Paul was trying to say. He was taking these other verses and tying them together with the words of this verse. One way or another, an effect would be produced in the hearts of the people in Jerusalem towards the Gentile churches who had given the gift. They would come to understand that the Gentiles, like them, had received God’s exceeding grace. With this knowledge, they would then glorify God. This is actually what occurred as well, as is documented in Acts at the time that the gift was presented to them –

“And when we had come to Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly. ¹⁸ On the following day Paul went in with us to James, and all the elders were present. ¹⁹ When he had greeted them, he told in detail those things which God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. ²⁰ And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord.” Acts 21:17-20

Life application: There are portions of Scripture which are complicated, but understanding or misunderstanding them is because of our limitations, not God’s. We need to take the Bible as a whole and allow Scripture to interpret Scripture. In doing so, there will always be a satisfactory explanation for that which is at first difficult to understand.

Lord God, help us to be pure in our intentions towards Your word. When we come to it, keep our hearts open to what You want us to see and not just what we want to see. You have given us instructions that are easily manipulated by teachers with personal agendas and which can then lead others down wrong paths. Keep us from this Lord. Instead, help us to revere Your word and to accept it in context and with the understanding that it is our guide to right living and a right relationship with You. Amen.

Saturday, 31 October 2015

…while, through the proof of this ministry, they glorify God for the obedience of your confession to the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal sharing with them and all men, 2 Corinthians 9:13

This verse is widely translated and debated over. Charles Ellicott notes that its construction is that “of a participle which has no direct grammatical connection with what precedes.” It is a stand-alone thought. The words “through the proof of this ministry” are not clear concerning what is being referred to. Is it the service that is being provided or is it referring to the people who render the service?

Either way, the result is that the Jewish believers who will receive the gift will “glorify God for the obedience of your confession to the gospel of Christ.” They will see that the message of Christ has led to the Gentiles faith in Christ. In turn, they will understand that the message didn’t just go into the ears and out again, but it sank down into their hearts, resulting in obedience to the teachings of the Lord.

This obedience is evidenced, as noted above, either in the gift which is made or in the willing hearts of those who gave the gift. In the end, they together form into a whole ministry which results in their “liberal sharing with them and all men.”

Paul is making it clear that what is being evidenced is a willingness to be obedient to the precepts that come along with receiving the gospel. Further, their status as Gentiles does not affect their ability to truly commune with the Jewish believers they are ministering to. Instead, “…there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him” (Romans 10:12).

Life application: Though there are many cultures on the earth with many different traditions and ways of worshipping the Lord, if they are Christians, they are a part of the body and on an equal footing with all others. It is unrealistic to think that our personal form of worship is the only way to honor the Lord. Instead, He has called people out from all places in order to worship Him in spirit and in truth. The externals are far less important than what is going on inside the heart.

Lord Jesus, from time to time I see different people worshipping You in ways or in settings that are completely unfamiliar to me. Instead of thinking that they are doing it wrongly, I rejoice that You have accepted them as they are. Their heritage, culture, and upbringing have made them who they are and You have accepted them in just that way. How marvelous it is to see the nations rejoice in You in a multitude of wonderful ways. I can’t wait for the day when we are all gathered together in Your presence to praise You as one, and yet just as we are! Amen.