DAY #265: 2 Corinthians 1:1-24

Today, we start another new book of the New Testament - 2 Corinthians. The first chapter begins with Paul talking about his apostleship. Paul's authority is a major theme of this letter.

A group of false apostles had infiltrated the Corinthian church. This distressed Paul greatly because he had founded the church himself on his second missionary journey. To gain a foothold in Corinth, these false apostles had systematically discredited Paul’s authority and missionary work. Paul wrote 2 Corinthians to defend his apostolic authority and to refute the false teachers and their accusations.

An apostle was “one sent forth” by Christ Jesus with the mission to make disciples in his name (Matthew 28:18-20). The disciples—the Twelve who followed Jesus during his earthly ministry, learning from him and witnessing his miracles—became the apostles. Yet Paul was also included among the apostles because he had been appointed by God to preach the Good News to the Gentiles (Acts 9:15).

Paul would typically begin a letter by thanking God for the believers to whom he was writing. In 1 Corinthians, Paul praised God for giving the Corinthians spiritual gifts of eloquence and knowledge. But in 2 Corinthians, Paul had no praise for the Corinthians. In its place, however, he did not blame them; rather, he tried to encourage them.

Paul had an extremely difficult letter to write to the Corinthians. Although they had not necessarily been hard-pressed by external persecution, the Corinthian church had gone through a lot of internal dissension. God would comfort the Corinthians through these difficult times. When the troubles passed and the Corinthians emerged faithful, then they would be able to comfort others who needed the same comfort. Trials are never easy. But it is through trials that God can shape and mold our character. Often, it is only through trials that we can learn about God’s loving care for us.

Paul knew the Corinthian church was struggling and suffering, but his confident hope was that their struggles were for the cause of the gospel, just as he was struggling for the advancement of the gospel in Asia Minor. Their steadfastness to the gospel of truth and their perseverance through difficulties would enable them to share God’s comfort—a reward that was worth the agonizing struggle.

Paul showed an untiring belief in the effectiveness of intercessory prayer. Often he would ask churches to pray for him. Here Paul thanked the Corinthians for praying for them. Reports of the suffering of Paul and his companions had driven the Corinthians to prayer. In response to their prayers, God had delivered them and, no doubt, would rescue them yet.

Although most people look either for eloquent speeches or awe-inspiring signs to authenticate the truth of a message, God chooses to use foolish and weak messengers to shame the wise with his powerful message of truth. Paul wasn’t relying on his own wisdom and knowledge when he visited Corinth with the truth of the gospel. Instead, he was relying on God’s enabling power—something that should have been clear to all the Corinthians.

The allegation that Paul was no different than the people of the world meant that he was no more reliable than anyone else. A worldly person governed by pure self-interest and selfish desires would say yes when it was convenient, but then renege on that promise when some other better opportunity afforded itself.

Paul’s opponents at Corinth had used Paul’s own sharp distinction between the world and the Spirit against him. They had labeled his actions as being motivated by the world’s standards. This accusation was in direct contradiction to Paul’s own claim in 1 Corinthians that his preaching was not from himself or any other human authority but from the Spirit of God. Labeling his actions as coming from worldly reasoning was a direct assault on Paul’s spiritual authority. These serious accusations circulating in Corinth were the reason why Paul had to write 2 Corinthians. In essence, this letter is a passionate defense of Paul’s apostolic authority and the truth of his message.

SO WHAT? (what will I do with what i have read today?)

Thank you God for the life of Paul. Thank you for his boldness and passion and relentless pressing forward to get the Gospel out to those who had not heard about the Good News of Jesus Christ. Lord, make me like Paul. Give me that same boldness and courage and passion. Give me that same heart for people. Give me a spirit of perseverance and endurance.

An Lord, pour out this same spirit on the people of COV. thank you for the work you are doing in our church. Lord, I ask you to keep it up. There are folks in our church who are hurting physically. Lord, walk with them and heal them.

Lord, there are those in our church who are hurting emotionally and relationally. Lord, walk with them and remind them from moment to moment that they are not alone. You are always with them. You will never leave them.

"... God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." Hebrews 13:5 (NIV)

Lord, some days I feel so far away from the man of God you would have me be. Some days, I feel unworthy to pastor COV. Lord, make me into the leader and pastor You desire. Make me more and more like Christ everyday.