Posts
Insights into the Life, Ministry, and Challenges of the Apostle Paul
by Samuel E. Ward
April 10, 2011
Review
I. Paul's Defense of His Conduct and Ministry, 2 Cor 1-7. (Paul's answers to critics challenging his character and motivation for ministry.)
II. The Gift, 2 Cor 8-9 (Paul's instruction concerning the Corinthians pledge to help in easing the plight of saints in Jerusalem.)
III. Paul Asserts His Apostolic Authority, 2 Cor 10-13. (Paul stands against those who were seeking to draw the Corinthians away from following Paul's leadership.)
A. Paul Asserts His Authority to Chastise and Punish, 2 Cor 10:1-6
B. Paul Answers Critics of His Authority, 2 Cor 10:7-11
C. Paul Claims Only the Fruit of His Own Labors, 2 Cor 10:12-18.
D. Paul Warns About Accepting False Teaching, 2 Cor 11:1-6
E. Paul Questions His Loss of Standing with the Corinthians, 2 Cor 11:7-15.
F. Paul "Boasts" as a "Fool", 2 Cor 11:1-12:13.
G. Paul Expresses His Loving Concern for the Corinthians, 2 Cor 12:14-21
Toward the end of 2 Corinthians, Paul begins to sound like a father who is profoundly disappointed in his children. Paul was disappointed that the Corinthians hadn't defended him when others had maligned his reputation (12:11-12). He was disappointed that they were questioning his motives (12:16-18). He was disappointed that they hadn't shown him the same kind of love he had showered on them (12:15). Paul was planning to visit Corinth, but he was clearly apprehensive about it. Would he find all kinds of disorders, just as if the Corinthians were his children running wild? Would he find them arguing and fighting (12:20)? Paul hoped that everything would be in order; then he could congratulate the Corinthians instead of disciplining them.
--Life Application Bible Commentary: 2 Corinthians
Paul's loving concern for the Corinthians is . . .
1. Evident by his announcement of a third visit: He was not giving up on them, 12:14a.
(2 Cor 12:14a NIV) Now I am ready to visit you for the third time.
2. Evident by his desire to give himself to them, 12:14b-16a.
(2 Cor 12:14b-16 NIV) I will not be a burden to you, because what I want is not your possessions but you. After all, children should not have to save up for their parents, but parents for their children. {15} So I will very gladly spend for you everything I have and expend myself as well. If I love you more, will you love me less?
3. Evident by his defense against charges of exploitation, 12:16b-19.
a. Some scholars have suggested that Paul's critics were accusing him of using the collection for personal gain, 1 Cor 12:16.
(2 Cor 12:16 NIV) Be that as it may, I have not been a burden to you. Yet, crafty fellow that I am, I caught you by trickery!
b. Paul asks for proof of exploitation by himself or others, 1 Cor 12:17-18.
(2 Cor 12:17-18 NIV) Did I exploit you through any of the men I sent you? {18} I urged Titus to go to you and I sent our brother with him. Titus did not exploit you, did he? Did we not act in the same spirit and follow the same course?
c. Paul asserts that he makes his defense in the sight of God Who knows that everything he does is for the strengthening of the Corinthians, 1 Cor 12:19.
(2 Cor 12:19 NIV) Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves to you? We have been speaking in the sight of God as those in Christ; and everything we do, dear friends, is for your strengthening.
4. Evident by his dread of a confrontational meeting, 2 Cor 12:20-21.
a. He feared that there would be an uncooperative spirit, 1 Cor 12:20.
(2 Cor 12:20 NIV) For I am afraid that when I come I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be. I fear that there may be quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, factions, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder.
b. He feared that there would lack of repentance over immorality, 1 Cor 12:21.
(2 Cor 12:21 NIV) I am afraid that when I come again my God will humble me before you, and I will be grieved over many who have sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual sin and debauchery in which they have indulged.
Failure to address immorality in the church was a concern about which Paul wrote in 1 Cor 5:8-10.
(1 Cor 5:8-10 NIV) Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and wickedness, but with bread without yeast, the bread of sincerity and truth. {9} I have written you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people-- {10} not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world.
H. Paul Warns That He Plans to Exercise His Authority, 1 Cor 13:1-10.
1. The judicial rule to be applied, 1 Cor 13:1.
(2 Cor 13:1 NIV) This will be my third visit to you. "Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses."
a. This was a rule that Paul applied evidently as a general principle when charges were brought against any in the church, especially the leadership.
(1 Tim 5:19 NIV) Do not entertain an accusation against an elder unless it is brought by two or three witnesses.
b. It was a principle borrowed from judicial principles in the Old Testament law.
(Deu 19:15-19 NIV) One witness is not enough to convict a man accused of any crime or offense he may have committed. A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses. {16} If a malicious witness takes the stand to accuse a man of a crime, {17} the two men involved in the dispute must stand in the presence of the LORD before the priests and the judges who are in office at the time. {18} The judges must make a thorough investigation, and if the witness proves to be a liar, giving false testimony against his brother, {19} then do to him as he intended to do to his brother. You must purge the evil from among you.
2. The proper discipline to be administered, 1 Cor 12:2-4.
(2 Cor 13:2-4 NIV) I already gave you a warning when I was with you the second time. I now repeat it while absent: On my return I will not spare those who sinned earlier or any of the others, {3} since you are demanding proof that Christ is speaking through me. He is not weak in dealing with you, but is powerful among you. {4} For to be sure, he was crucified in weakness, yet he lives by God's power. Likewise, we are weak in him, yet by God's power we will live with him to serve you.
3. The prudent action to be taken: Examine yourselves, 1 Cor 12:5-8 .
a. Apply the test of faith to yourselves.
(2 Cor 13:5 NIV) Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you--unless, of course, you fail the test?
b. Apply the same test to Paul.
(2 Cor 13:6 NIV) And I trust that you will discover that we have not failed the test.
c. Accept that both testify to each other's faith.
d. Do what is right regardless of what they think of Paul, 1 Cor 13:7-8.
(2 Cor 13:7 NIV) Now we pray to God that you will not do anything wrong. Not that people will see that we have stood the test but that you will do what is right even though we may seem to have failed. {8} For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth.
I. Paul Conveys His Hopes for the Corinthians, 2 Cor 12:9-10
(2 Cor 13:9-10 NIV) We are glad whenever we are weak but you are strong; and our prayer is for your perfection. {10} This is why I write these things when I am absent, that when I come I may not have to be harsh in my use of authority--the authority the Lord gave me for building you up, not for tearing you down.
1. He prays for their perfection, 2 Cor 12:9.
2. He hopes he will not have to be harsh with them, 2 Cor 12:10a.
3. He only wants to build them up, not tear them down, 2 Cor 12:10b.
J. Paul Offers Four Final Exhortations to Insure the God's Favor, 2 Cor 12:11.
(2 Cor 13:11 NIV) Finally, brothers, good-by. Aim for perfection, listen to my appeal, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.
Benediction, 2 Cor 12:12-14
(2 Cor 13:12-14 NIV) Greet one another with a holy kiss. {13} All the saints send their greetings. {14} May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
Evidently the Corinthians responded well to Paul's warnings. Paul eventually comes to Corinth where he writes his letter to the Romans. In that letter he gives evidence that he was able to accomplish what he wanted with the Corinthians and was ready to move into other areas to spread the gospel.
(Rom 15:23-24 NIV) But now that there is no more place for me to work in these regions, and since I have been longing for many years to see you, {24} I plan to do so when I go to Spain. I hope to visit you while passing through and to have you assist me on my journey there, after I have enjoyed your company for a while.
The letter is chiefly of value in showing us the concern of the apostle for his converts. In the circumstances of the epistle we find the intensity of his emotions and his great love for them. Second Corinthians is also extremely valuable in setting forth the lofty character and the challenge of the Christian ministry. Paul sets forth his high calling as the most glorious work in which a man can engage. The apostle himself received the ministry as divine, and he accepted it with supreme devotion. Through all the sufferings, testings, and buffetings that he suffered, we yet discern his triumphing in Christ.
--The New Unger's Bible Dictionary
Applications
1. Sometimes love demands confrontation.
(Mat 18:15-17 NIV) "If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. {16} But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that 'every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.' {17} If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.
2. There must be accountability in church finances to protect against charges of impropriety and misappropriation of funds.
3. Self-examination is necessary before judging anyone else.
