2 Corinthians – Part I
Chapters 1 – 6
Study Notes by Doug Schofield (June-July 2010)

The apostle Paul arrived in the Greek city of Corinth in approximately AD 50 or 53. At that time the region was called Achaia. Corinth was built on the narrow isthmus that separates the Greek mainland from the Peloponnese, a large peninsula that is the southernmost part of Greece projecting between the Ionian Sea and the Aegean. Corinth was a major crossroads between Italy and the eastern extremes of the Mediterranean Sea, (Palestine). The city saw traffic and trade from all over the world, along with the cultural influences of every nation. It was a city filled with all manner of sinful attractions, pagan temples and a cosmopolitan society that had little interest in spiritual matters; a most unlikely place for a congregation of the Lord’s church. The low moral state of the city was such that Shakespeare used a character in some of his plays called ‘the Corinthian’; an individual who was always depicted as a drunken derelict. Yet Paul preached the gospel there and people became Christians. When at first Paul’s preaching was rejected by unbelieving Jews he was understandably discouraged, but the Lord appeared to him in a vision encouraging him and saying “I have much people in this city,” (Acts 18:9,10).

Upon arriving in Corinth Paul met Pricilla and Aquila, Jews who had recently arrived there because the Emperor Claudius had expelled all Jews from Rome, (Acts 18:2). He worked with them at tent making for a time to support himself, (Acts 18:3), and taught them the gospel. We know this because we find other accounts of them traveling with Paul, and hosting the assembly of the Lord’s church in their home both in Corinth and later in Rome, (1 Corinthians 16:19; Romans 16:5). Paul spent a year and a half preaching in Corinth and was evidently very effective; although we are not given any numbers, clearly the church there must have been quite large. It was certainly influential, and of such significance that roughly 10% of the New Testament is devoted to it.

Some time after leaving Corinth Paul wrote a letter to them – a letter in which he set out instructions for carrying out church discipline against sinful members, (1 Corinthians 5:9-13). (There is speculation that this could have been a letter that is not preserved for us, while it is possible that his reference is to the earlier part of the present letter; but it really doesn’t matter). The letter we call 1 Corinthians was probably written around AD 59; Paul had received news that there was trouble in the church there, (1 Corinthians 1:10-12). In that letter he uses almost 10,000 words to teach them about divisions, disorder, conflict, the Lord’s Supper, spiritual gifts, and the resurrection, (among other things).

Moving on with his work, not more than a year later Paul received word that there were still difficulties in the church at Corinth, which occasioned another letter to them, we call it 2nd Corinthians. It is this letter that we want to study for a while, and see what lessons we might learn from it that will be helpful to us. A brief overview shows that in this letter Paul gives his customary greeting, and discloses some information concerning his location and those in his company.

As always, he glorifies God – indeed he has devoted his life to that purpose. When we look at all that Paul gave up in terms of his personal career, and all that he was willing to endure in order to preach the gospel it should cause us to examine our faith and ask the question, ‘is my faith that strong?’ Paul never fails to point out the assurance of the blessings that Christians receive. After the customary salutation Paul explains the delay in his planned visit and talks about the power of God, living by faith, and encourages them to complete their contribution of benevolence for the poor Christians in Jerusalem. He talks about his authority as an apostle, warns about false leaders, speaks a little about his own suffering, warns of sin and concludes with words of encouragement.

2 Corinthians 1:1-
Paul frequently shows his credentials in the salutation of his letters, (9 out of 13/14 times). In doing so he both establishes his authority as an apostle of Christ, and as a messenger inspired by the Holy Spirit. Paul includes a greeting form Timothy who had worked with Paul in Corinth and was no doubt known by many of the members of the church there. However, note that no rank of authority is indicated for Timothy – he was simply a faithful worker.

Paul identifies the ownership of the church; even though they had their problems they still belonged to the Lord. Just as individuals may not be perfect in every way all of the time, we still belong to the Lord and He is always anxious to help us remain faithful to Him. Notice that members of the Lord’s church are called saints; not because of some beatification ceremony conducted by men, but all Christians are saints – set apart, (Romans 1:7). Likewise we see from this salutation that the messages that follow are intended not just for the congregation in the city of Corinth, but for the church at large.

In verse 2 the greeting “grace and peace” is particularly notable. Peter used a similar greeting in 2 Peter 1:2. The implication is that by the grace of God, we are able to obtain the peace that passes all understanding, (Philippians 4:7).

The salutation of praise to God in the next verses is especially beautiful. Numerous times we find similar words of praise for God in the scriptures; for example, Psalms 18:46, “ The Lord liveth; and blessed be my rock; and let the God of my salvation be exalted.” Note the emphasis on the attribute of God that a He is a God of comfort; the word comfort/consolation appears in some form no less than 9 times in verses 3-7. Jesus spoke words of comfort, (Matthew 9:22; Mark 10:49; and Luke 8:48). Why do you suppose that Jesus referred to the Holy Spirit as ‘the Comforter’? (John 14:16, 26; 15:26; 16:7). Palms 119:50; Romans 15:4; Isa 40:31.
Paul certainly had the benefit of experience in receiving the comfort of God in many ways. The Greek word thilipsis is translated ‘tribulation’ in verse 4 of the KJV, other versions use the English word ‘afflictions’; other words are distress, oppression, difficulty, trouble and danger. As we shall see in specific detail in chapter 11 Paul knew something of these things. He and others working with him had experienced numerous difficulties, deprivations and persecutions, yet had survived and were sustained. No matter what we may encounter in life we must not fail to realize that God is always at hand, we need to learn to trust in Him.

Inherent in verse 4, I believe, is the lesson that we should do what we can to give comfort and consolation to others who are experiencing difficulty or suffering. Certainly Jesus commanded such, (Matthew 25:40, 45). And there is even greater comfort that we can give, and we will see in this letter some examples in which Paul gives comfort through the assurance of salvation in Christ, the forgiveness of sins, and the hope of heaven. Surely it must have been this that sustained Paul and the others who worked so tirelessly in the work of the gospel of Christ. Jesus said that there would be persecutions, (Matthew 5:11, 12; 10:16-22).

Verses 6 & 7 demonstrate how the great apostle Paul always looked for the blessing in any situation. No wonder he wrote in Philippians 4:11, “…for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.” Paul was able to see in each difficulty a stepping stone to the ultimate glory of Heaven; he points out to the Christians in Corinth that there was positive benefit to be derived from his experiences. Note his use of the Greek word ‘hoop-o-mo-nay’, (translated ‘endurance’), which means steadfastness, consistency, loyalty and perseverance. Jesus said, “…he that endureth to the end shall be saved,” (Matthew 10:22); and, “be thou faithful unto death and I will give thee a crown of life,” (Revelation 2:10).
This message of patient enduring on the part of Christians is repeated many times in the scriptures, consider Romans 8:16-18.

Next, (8), Paul explains to the Corinthians that he had not come in person because of a great difficulty he had encountered in Asia. We don’t know the details of the event, but there are a few shreds of evidence upon which we may construct a reasonable assumption. Notice however, that the Holy Spirit doesn’t spend a lot of time giving us needless details simply to satisfy our curiosity; but in the divine economy of words he gives us all the information we need to obey God, live righteously and get to Heaven, (2 Peter 1:3-4). However, some have speculated that it could have been the riot at Ephesus, (Acts 19:23-41), or some other similar event in another location; {Acts 9:23-29; 21:29-30; 23:14-15; 25:2-3 show just 4 of the occasions}. We know that there were many times that Paul’s life was threatened, and in Romans 16:4 he states that Aquila and Pricilla had saved his life by putting their own lives in jeopardy.

Paul illustrates for us the blessing of assurance that he derived from his nearly fatal experience, (9, 10); he had apparently been at the point of being put to death, but in that moment received comfort from the certain knowledge that God will raise the dead and that the promise of everlasting life is far greater than anything we might leave behind here on earth. Likewise, Abraham didn’t hesitate to obey God’s command to offer Isaac because that God is able to raise the dead, (Hebrews 11:19). Evidently the threat of death that Paul had faced was very real, and terrible; considering all the things Paul had endured for him to use the term ‘so great a death’ shows that it must have been a most unusual and eminent danger.

In verse 11 we see illustrated the value and benefit of prayer. Often we pray for others who may not know that we are praying for them, but God knows and hears. Who knows but that missionaries laboring in difficult situations have been spared, or encouraged by the providence of God as a result of the prayers of faithful brethren? We also observe that we should give thanks when we learn that others have benefited from our prayers.

In the next few verses Paul addresses the veracity of his words and deeds, making it evident that some had slanderously accused him of insincerity. He emphasizes his sincerity, and places things in the perspective of our ultimate purpose on earth, the end of this life and the Day of the Lord.

Apparently one of the accusations some had made against Paul was that he was indecisive, fickle or duplicitous. In 15 and 16 he tells of his original plans to come to Corinth on his way to Macedonia, then to make another stop there on his return on his way to Judea. He had told them earlier of his plans (1 Corinthians 16:5-9), telling them of both opportunity and opposition that he faced. The phrase ‘of you to be brought on my way’ in verse 16 likely has reference to the custom of accompanying a visitor on the first leg of his journey upon his departure. It may also indicate that he was relying on them for financial support to help fund his travel. Note that Paul was not typically one to impose on others for his needs, (working as a tent maker on occasion to support himself).

In 17 – 20 Paul asserts that sometimes it is necessary to change plans, and that the exercise of prudence and good judgment do not equate to deception. He invokes the veracity of the gospel, using the Hebrew idiom yea yea nay nay. Just as Christ was ‘yea’, often using the idiom verily verily to indicate absolute truth, Paul’s dealing with the Corinthians, and his expressed plans to come to them had been true to the best of his ability at the time. Certainly God is the ultimate truth, the Amen; to fail to believe one sent by Christ and inspired by the Holy Spirit is to fail to believe God, (verse 21).

“Who hath sealed us and given us the earnest of His spirit in our hearts” (22); these words hearken back to Acts 2:38; and is also repeated in Ephesians 1:13. This seal of assurance is received when the act of obedience to the gospel is culminated. It was illustrated for our understanding at the baptism of Jesus, (Matthew 3:17); the spirit descended upon Jesus after He was baptized, we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit after we complete our obedience by baptism. This seal is the assurance of God’s promise, Romans 8:16; we read what the Spirit has revealed in the word and we know that when we have complied with that God’s promise is sure. However, just because we have the seal, (the assurance that God will keep His end of the bargain), that is no guarantee that we cannot fall from grace. Seals can be broken, men break them all the time. When you open a bottle of aspirin there is a seal under the cap, the manufacturer will not break that seal, but it is broken by the consumer. When God took away our sins He did not take away our freedom of choice. Jesus said that none is able to pluck His sheep out of His hand, (John 10:28, 29). He did not say that the sheep are unable to leave on their own. 2 Peter 2:20-22; 2 Peter 3:17-18; Galatians 1:6, 7; Hebrews 6:4-6; Revelation 2:5 – these passages warn against falling away.

(23, 23) Even though circumstances had now improved and Paul had survived the threats that had prevented him from coming earlier, he writes this letter instead of coming to Corinth at this time. It reminds me of the time I came home from school after receiving a paddling from the principal; it’s a good thing that daddy was not home at the time. A few hours of time was a good thing in two ways, some time for his anger to dissipate, and some time for me to develop come contrition. Not that Paul exercised any form of authority over the church, but as a minister of the gospel his rebuke against those who were impenitent could be sharp and harsh. Time for them to repent and mend their ways was a good thing, and apparently had the desired effect, because he states, “…for by faith ye stand”. The thought continues through verse 4 of the following chapter.

2 Corinthians 2:1-4-
It is evident that Paul had previously made a second visit to Corinth for the purpose of addressing some problem in the church. He assures them of his great love for them; he didn’t want to impose grief upon those whose faithfulness had given him reason to rejoice. Certainly from 1 Corinthians we observe many things that were grievous and Paul’s words here must surely be a reference to those things. The love that Paul had for the church, for each individual member, reflects the love of Christ.

In verses 5-8 Paul speaks of a certain individual in an extremely diplomatic manner without naming him, who had been the subject of a scandal earlier. The consensus among scholars seems to be that this is the person mentioned in 1 Corinthians 5:1-8 who had been in an incestuous relationship, although this is only a guess. The conduct of this person had been a public disgrace to the entire church, and surely a source of emotional pain to Paul. From this passage however, we learn that the person apparently had repented, and the congregation is urged to forgive him and receive him back into fellowship.

(9-11) Paul’s statement in verse 9 reflects the same concept as expressed by James (James 2:18), and that is that the proof of faithfulness is in the performance of Christian duty. In the next two verses it is as if we are able to see an overview of the hearts of the entire congregation; there being some among them who are ready and willing to forgive a fallen brother and welcome him back into fellowship, and a few others who contemptuously refuse to forgive or demonstrate fellowship and love toward him. Self-righteousness is a device of Satan that is still employed to day when people fail to reflect the character of Jesus in forgiving others their faults.

(12-13). Here Paul transitions the expression of his thoughts, and will continue in this vein until chapter 7. He is pouring out his heart, telling them of his great concern for them, having wanted to catch up with Titus who was traveling to meet Paul with news from Corinth. Following the uproar caused by Demetrius the silversmith Paul left Ephesus and headed for Troas. He had hoped to meet Titus in Troas and receive news about conditions in the church at Corinth. Titus was not in Troas however, so Paul continued on to Macedonia, but finding opportunity, stopped to preach.

(14-16) Paul describes his joy at receiving good news about their faithfulness as a triumph. The Roman triumphus was a spectacular event, no doubt something to which the Corinthians could relate. The taking of Corinth by the Roman armies was still in recent memory, such that they would surely remember the triumphal processions as troops entered the city. More recently, around AD 51 Claudius had celebrated his victory over the Britons with a triumphal procession. In these processions were both the soldiers who were the conquering heroes as well as their captives. Some of the captives would be allowed to live, while others faced execution. It was customary that incense would be burned all along the parade route, filling the air with its fragrant aroma. As the smell of the incense reached the nostrils of the crowds for some it was the sweet savor of victory, and for others it was the smell of their own death. Paul uses that as a metaphor to describe the message of the gospel. We have a song that reflects this thought, ‘Jesus Rose of Sharon, bloom within my heart; beauties of thy truth and holiness impart, that where’ere I go my life may shed abroad fragrance of the knowledge of the love of God’.

(17) The 2nd chapter concludes with an affirmation of the purity of the message Paul is preaching. The comparison is like that of a merchant who dilutes quality olive oil with that of lesser quality in order to increase his profits; a person who preaches for personal profit has already polluted the message. Notwithstanding those who for the purpose of attracting followers ‘waters down’ the gospel message, adulterating it with false doctrine.

2nd Corinthians, chapter 3
(1-3) Paul needed no letter of recommendation to establish his credibility as an apostle of Christ; the very existence of the church in Corinth was evidence enough. Besides, he had confirmed his preaching with signs and wonders and spiritual gifts at the beginning of his work in Corinth, (1 Corinthians chapters 12 & 13; 2 Corinthians 12:12). Certainly this is not a denouncement of such letters, quite the contrary. Apollos carried a letter of recommendation when he left Ephesus, (Acts 18:27). Paul had sent a letter on behalf of Onesimus to Philemon; he also endorsed Timothy by letter, (1 Corinthians 16:10-11; and Phoebe, (Romans 16:1-2). Paul suggested that those who were selected to accompany the gift to Jerusalem be given letters of approval. He had obtained a letter of authority from the High Priest when he set out to Damsacus to persecute the church. When Christians move from one congregation to another sometimes they will ask the leaders of the congregation they are leaving for a letter of introduction to their new congregation. This is entirely scriptural, and really a good idea. It shows their commitment to working in the Lord’s vineyard, and lets the new congregation know that they may be depended upon to serve. It is also a good idea because it gives the leadership of the new congregation some assurance of their faithfulness. Paul points out the fact that he needs no such letters as an apostle of Christ and that sets him apart from false teachers. All of this said, the point is that Paul’s letter of approval is written in the hearts of men, just exactly as Jeremiah prophesied, (Jeremiah 31:31-33).

On the other hand, Paul says that there are “some” who use letters to lend credence to their false teaching. This is not the only occasion where he makes a passing reference to false teachers; 2 Corinthians 10:2; Galatians; 1:7; and 1 Timothy; 1:3. Paul warns against false teachers: 2 Corinthians 11:13; as does Peter, 2 Peter 2:1; and John, 1 John 4:1. They were echoing the warnings of Jesus, Matthew 7:15; Matthew 24:11, 24; Mark 13:22; Luke 6:26. The 9th commandment prohibits bearing false witness, (Exodus 20:16). “Teaching for doctrine the commandments of men…”, (Matthew 15:9; Mark 7:7), is certainly bearing false witness against God, Christ and the Holy Spirit. Paul’s instruction to Titus concerning elders is equally applicable to all, (Titus 1:5-14).

(4-8) The changed lives of Christians, not just those at Corinth, but everywhere and in all ages, is testimony to the divine authority of the gospel message which was delivered first by the apostles. Ultimately of course the results are achieved through the power of God, (Romans 1:16). Paul’s trust in God is demonstrated throughout his entire life, as he expresses in Philippians 1:6. This same trust and confidence is evident in many places, like Hebrews 4:12-16. In verse 5 He says “…our sufficiency is of God;” As we look at the life and work of Paul we find many examples of his trust – his complete and absolute trust in the Heavenly Father. The effect of that sufficiency is evident in the results of Paul’s work. If we do no more than simply take note of the hundreds of congregations all over the world that were established as a result of the preaching of Paul and others, and of the thousands upon thousands of people whose lives were changed as a result of their obedience to the gospel, it becomes inescapable that we must have confidence in the power of God.

In verse 6 Paul contrasts Judaism with Christianity as the spirit versus the letter. Paul does not speak of the Holy Spirit here, but of the spirit or intent of the law. He made that clear in Romans 8:2. The Law of Moses was written on tablets of stone, but the law of Christ is written on the hearts of men. The Jewish leaders focused on following the letter of the law, but ignored the real purpose, as Jesus pointed out to them in Matthew 23:23. In John 6:63 Jesus said, “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” The old law was physical in its nature; under it worship involved a specific place, (the tabernacle and later the temple); it involved sacrifice, lighting of candles and burning of incense and great ceremony carried out by a designated priesthood. Jesus showed the contrast first in speaking with the woman at the well in Samaria, (John 4:23-24). Paul wrote to the church at Rome, “For he is not a Jew which is one outwardly… But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God,” (Romans 2:28-29). One of the central themes of the New Testament is eternal life – the only reference to eternal life in the Old Testament appears in the prophecy of Daniel, (12:2).

(7-8) The Law of Moses is contrasted with the Law of Christ, the old law being the law of sin and death, the New Covenant being the Law of Life in Christ; (see Romans 7:6 & 8:1-4). The word glorious used here is in connection with the glory of God. The glory of God is the beauty of His Spirit that comes from His character. The physical manifestation of God’s glory is described in Exodus 24:15-17; also ; Numbers 14:12; 16:42. When the tabernacle was inaugurated in the wilderness, the glory of the Lord appeared to the people (Exodus 40:34; Leviticus 9:23). When Solomon brought the Ark of the Covenant into the newly constructed temple, the glory of the Lord filled the Holy of Holies, (1 Kings 8:10-11).

(3:7-11):
I feel extremely incapable of comprehending the magnificence and glory of God. The hyperbole employed by John in describing the glory of Heaven calls upon the human mind to stretch to its most extreme limits in imagining just how wondrous it is, (Revelation 21:10-23). In truth, the glory of Heaven, and the glory or God is beyond our ability to comprehend.

Someone told a story about a man who realized that his death was near so he went and sold everything he had and used the money to buy a large brick of gold; this he insisted be placed in a back pack which he was to wear in his coffin. When he arrived in Heaven an angel met him and offered to help him carry his load. After walking a short distance the angel said, “man, this is heavy, what do you have in here?” The man said, “Take a look and see for yourself.” When he looked in the pack the angel said, “Now please tell me why you brought a paving stone?” The idea of a street paved with pure gold is merely the Holy Spirit’s way of helping us to understand just how precious and wonderful Heaven is.

Moses had been in the presence of God when the Ten Commandments were written on tablets of stone by the finger of God. He had seen the hindmost part of God as he passed by, and his face glowed with such radiance that he had to cover it with a veil when he came down from the mountain, until the glow faded away; (Exodus 33:20-23; 34:29-35). The Psalmist wrote, “The heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament showeth His handiwork,” (Psalms 19:1). The reference to the glorious nature of God’s law should be seen in view of His magnificence, awe and power. The fading reflection of God’s glory reflected in the face of Moses symbolized the passing away of the Old Law, and the ultimate manifestation of the Glory of God in His Son. Jesus described His glory in similar fashion, Matthew 25:31, and many other passages. Paul asked a rhetorical question of the Galatians, (3:5), were the miracles done by the apostles done by the Law of Moses or by faith? Paul wrote to the Romans contrasting the difference between the law and the spirit, (Romans 7:6). In chapter 8 of Romans (1-17) Paul explains this more thoroughly.

The book of Hebrews deals in great detail with the contrast between the old and new covenants; in this passage the two are juxtaposed to illustrate the superiority of the new over the old. This is yet another of the numerous occasions in which the Holy Spirit through the inspired writers teaches the truth of the fulfillment of God’s promise in Jeremiah 31:31-33 {echoed in Hebrews 8:8-9} that He would make a new covenant. It appears that false teachers had been boasting their knowledge of the old law, and Paul is showing the vast superiority of the new over the old. We should also point out that God’s covenants with Abraham and with Israel were specifically that through their lineage He would provide a redeemer for the whole world; and this He did in the person of Jesus Christ.

(12-15) The revelation of the gospel of Christ is a statement of God’s great eternal plan for the redemption of mankind. Prophets, kings and even angels had sought to know the things which Paul and the other apostles now boldly proclaimed to all the world, (Luke 10:21-24; 1 Peter 1:10-12). Paul uses the veil that Moses used to conceal the brightness of his countenance as a metaphor, showing that as the bright glow faded away, so the old law was to pass away when it was fulfilled. What did Jesus say about the law? “Think not that I am come to destroy the law or the prophets; I am not come to destroy but to fulfill,” (Matthew 5:17); and when he had done so he uttered his last spoken words on earth, “It is finished,” (John 19:30).

Paul continues, showing that there is a veil over the eyes of those who will not see the truth that is being revealed before them. There is an old saying, ‘there are none so blind as those who will not see’. This saying has its basis in passages like Jeremiah 5:21 and Matthew 13:13. It was as if the Jews of Paul’s day had not read Jeremiah 31:31 and their minds were blinded (verses 14&15). But Paul says that the veil is done away in Christ. It was at the moment of His death that the veil of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom, (Matthew 27:51). This miracle is recorded by Matthew, Mark and Luke – and was never disputed. Jesus died at 3 o’clock in the afternoon on Friday; at that hour the priests in the temple would have been busy with the evening sacrifices and there would have been several of them inside the Holy Place with the curtain which concealed the Holy of Holies. Is it any wonder that Luke reports that a great company of the priests believed, (Acts 6:7)? Certainly if this report were not true the enemies of Christ would have refuted the reports of the gospel writers. But none do, not even the most vehement opponents like Celsus, Porphyry, and Julian, early 2nd century writers and philosophers who attacked Christianity on every front, never denied any of the eyewitness accounts of events surrounding the crucifixion or resurrection. If these things were not true the letter that Saul carried from the High Priest would have certainly stated that the claims of Jesus’ disciples were false and that none of the miraculous things they claimed concerning his death and resurrection had happened. But there was never a denial of the truth of those facts, only a vehement rage intent upon trying to destroy the gospel story by eliminating its believers. The tearing of the veil was of great significance – when Jesus said “It is finished” just before the veil was torn He showed that the old law was completely fulfilled and done away.

(16-18) The accurate translation of verse 16 is ‘But when {they, one, anyone, a person, a man} shall turn to the Lord, the veil shall be taken away’. The death of Christ brought liberty – freedom; freedom from the impositions of the Law of Moses, (x); freedom from the law of sin and death, (Romans 8:2); freedom from sin, (Galatians 5:1). Jesus said, “Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free”, (John 8:32). The message “…whosoever will…” proclaims that all who desire to know the truth can do so. The Lord was very specific about taking the gospel message to every person in the world in all ages, yet he leaves the decision up to the individual, (Matthew 16:24-25 and others).

{It is evident from the Lord’s use of the term ‘take up your cross’ that the people of His day were very familiar with the Roman custom of compelling a condemned prisoner to carry his cross to the place of execution. At the time He used the expression in speaking to His disciples they had no idea that He would be carrying His own literal cross on which He would be killed. The symbolism teaches that there are choices each person must make in life; first of all there is the choice of obedience, then there are the choices of service. There are always lost souls to be taught, the poor to be fed, those in distress to be comforted, choices that we make that may result in criticism, rejection or even persecution. Jesus coupled cross bearing with self-denial, and in anther place admonished, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness…” (Matthew 6:33).} ds

(18) Ancient mirrors were made of highly polished brass, (alloy of copper and zinc), sometimes they were made of silver and even gold. In some pagan cultures they were used as objects of worship to the sun god. Mirrors were highly prized and carried by fashionable women everywhere. The Hebrew women may have adopted the fashion accessory from Egyptian women who either carried mirrors, or wore them around their neck. When Moses was making the furnishings for the tabernacle, he used the brass mirrors that the Hebrew women had taken from the women of Egypt to make the laver and its base, (Exodus 38:8). Job mentions a molten looking glass, (Job 37:18). Earlier, when writing 1 Corinthians, Paul had made reference to a mirror, (1 Corinthians 13:12). John mentions the glory of Christ in John 1:14; and James uses the mirror as a metaphor for the revealed testimony of the scriptures, (James 1:22-25).

2 Corinthians chapter 4
(1-2) Wayne Jackson said that anytime you see the word ‘therefore’ in the scriptures you need to stop and discover what it’s there for. Webster defines the word as ‘consequently’, ‘as a result’, ‘because of’, ‘on the grounds that’. It is an adverb, and in this case it modifies the verb “changed” in the preceding verse. So, what Paul is saying is this, “Because we are changed into the image of Christ by the Spirit, we have this ministry…”. Paul was changed by his conversion, and he gave himself to the service of Christ. It becomes the responsibility of all who become Christians to assume the role of ministers, (Ephesians 3:7; 1 Timothy 4:6; 2 Timothy 1:11; James 1:27). To the church at Galatia Paul admonished that role, (Galatians 6:9-10). The scope of Christian ministry includes helping those in need, but it begins with teaching the wonderful news of the gospel of Christ to others. Paul was certainly a minister of Christ, (Romans 15:16; Ephesians 3:7; Colossians 1:23-25).

‘…this ministry…’ refers of course to the gospel of Christ, the New Testament. The word ‘ministry’ has been misapplied and misused by numerous people, including many false teachers. Sometimes we may need to stop and ask the question, ‘just exactly what qualifies as a “ministry” in Biblical terms’. Well, the short answer is, only that which is either commanded or authorized by Christ. So, what does that include? I’ve heard people refer to their businesses as a ministry, and others who treat ministry as a business. Yet, I think it is not inaccurate to use the word to describe the things we do in our daily lives; if we are living righteously before others, setting good examples, listening for opportunities to encourage others and to teach them something about Christ, then our lives are a ministry.

Earlier in his life Paul had been a minister of Judaism against Christ; but he had seen the light, as it were, in a very real sense; and at that time he renounced these things he enumerates here. Repentance of certain behavior or actions is the same as renouncing, repudiating, leaving behind. Paul makes reference to his having obtained mercy – who is in need of mercy? In Romans 3:23 Paul wrote that all have sinned – therefore all of humanity is in need of God’s mercy. One notable characteristic of Paul as a Christian and a minister of Christ is that his behavior mirrored his teaching.

Paul alludes to false teachers and the methods they employ to deceive; declaring that his ministry is a manifestation of truth. Those who deceive others in their handling of the word of God make themselves accursed; consider what Paul wrote to the church at Colossae: “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ,” (Colossians 2:8). He used even stronger language in 1 Timothy 4:1&2.

By his use of the term ‘to every man’s conscious’ it is as if Paul is saying, ‘you know in your heart of hearts that I’m telling you the truth.

(3-4) The more accurate translation of verse 3 (appearing in 6 out of the10 I checked, including the NKJV) states that the ‘if the gospel is veiled it is veiled to those ‘who are perishing’. That nuance of language is important because since it is in the present perfect tense it carries with it the implication that as long as a person lives there is still hope, an opportunity to repent of one’s hardness of heart, to see the light of the gospel and obey it and be saved.

There are people who say that the Bible is difficult to understand; indeed, the leaders of some religious groups say that ordinary people cannot understand the Bible, that they are in need of some enlightened person (such as themselves) to explain the scriptures. {Their arrogance and condescending is exceeded only by their lack of respect for God’s word.} Others insist that we cannot all understand the Bible alike – but the fact is inescapable that we either understand the Bible or we misunderstand it. When it is properly understood, there is no disagreement; “God is not the author of confusion,” (1 Corinthians 14:33). When Jesus said ‘repent or perish’ (Luke 13:3, 5) no one can misunderstand that; when He said ‘if you confess me before men I will confess you before my Father…if you deny me before men I will deny you before my Father’, it is not impossible to understand that; when He said ‘he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved’ that language is equally clear, yet many refuse to accept that statement of our Lord. They are willing enough to accept the statement of Jesus that God ‘so’ loved the world, but unwilling to accept him at his word when he said ‘ye must be born again’, ‘born of water and the spirit’, ‘he that believes and is baptized shall be saved’.

The religious world today has made it their business to help people misunderstand the Bible through their practice of false teaching. From time to time I’ll pick up a tract published by various denominations and read it just to see how they pervert the scriptures. It is absolutely amazing to see the lengths to which they will go to avoid presenting the simple truth of God’s word. Paul made it clear that his writing can be understood, (Ephesians 3:3-4). To make the claim that we cannot understand the scriptures is to accuse the Holy Spirit of God. If God SO love the world that he gave his Only Begotten Son…wouldn’t that same God want those for whom Christ suffered to understand what he says about how to accept his grace and appropriate the blood of Christ in order to obtain forgiveness of sin? It is the condition of a person’s heart that determines whether they will understand, (John 3:19); a veil of prejudice blinds their eyes and hearts. In his letter to the church at Rome Paul described this circumstance, (Romans 6:16).

When an individual makes the choice to serve Satan he has made Satan the god of his life…note, Satan is NOT God, nor even A god, but in choosing to do his bidding instead of choosing to do the will of God a person places Satan in the position of being his/her god (as in idolatry). Paul wrote to the Romans that we are the servants of whom we obey, (Romans 6:16). Paul calls Satan the god of this world here in 2 Corinthians; and he calls him the ‘prince of the powers of the air’ in Ephesians 2:2. Jesus called Satan the ‘prince of this world’, (John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11). The darkness of sin hides the light of righteousness and blinds mankind to the way of the Lord. 1 Corinthians 1:18; 2 Corinthians 2:15-16; 3:14 all describe this condition. 2 Thessalonians 2:9-11 shows the danger that one brings upon oneself by refusing to believe the truth. Jesus said that “men love darkness rather than light because their deeds are evil”, (John 3:19).

Light is a wonderful and marvelous thing; God created the light we know on the first day of creation; the Psalmist wrote, “The Lord is my light and my salvation…” (Psalms 27:1). Isaiah prophesied of the light to come, (Isaiah 9:2). John 1:1-9 tells of that great and wonderful light coming to earth. Jesus said, “I am the light of the world…” (John 8:12). When he described his encounter with the Lord, Paul said that at midday he saw a light that was brighter than the sun, (Acts 26:13); the Lord told him that his purpose was to open the eyes of people, and turn them from darkness to light, (verse 18).

Paul declares that Christ is the image of God, (4); Jesus also made that claim, (John 12:45; 14:9). Paul said that Christ was the image of the invisible God, (Colossians 1:15;); and the Hebrew writer said that Christ was the express image of God, (Hebrews 1:3).

Satan will go to any length to keep the light of the gospel from shining in the hearts of men. I just read an article in the Christian Chronicle about a group that has started holding a special candlelight communion service on Sunday nights; now there is nothing wrong with eating the Lord’s Supper on Sunday evening, and nothing inherently wrong with doing so by candlelight when that is the commonly means used to provide light in the room; but to employ the candles simply as a special effect to enhance the mood, as it were, is beyond the scope of scriptural authority. Once the line has been crossed the veil has begun to fall over the eyes, and other departures will soon follow.

(5-7) Paul makes it clear that the gospel he preaches and the things he teaches are not of his own devising, but they are the message of God. Paul, as well as the other inspired writers, was always careful to make it clear that his teaching was by the authority of God. The language Paul uses in this passage is meant to convey the idea that he is a messenger of God’s word, and that he accepts that role as a humble and obedient servant. How often have you heard people claim that the message they are preaching was ‘laid on their heart’, as if they wish to imply that they have received some special revelation directly from God? God did speak directly to the fathers by the prophets in olden times, but now speaks through his son by means of the inspired word, (Hebrews 1:1-2). The Bible condemns any who would preach anything other than what was preached by the inspired men of God, (Galatians 1:8 & 9). To the Romans Paul wrote, “For there is no respect of persons with God,” (Romans 2:11). For a person to claim some special revelation is to call God a liar and accuse him of sin, (James 2:9).

Paul refers to the wonderful story of God’s love manifested in Christ as a ‘treasure’, and indeed it truly is! Jesus likened it to a man who found a treasure hidden in a field, or a pearl of great price, (Matthew 13:44, 46). The story of God’s saving grace is valuable above all material goods the earth can hold; Jesus said, “For what is a man profited if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul,”(Matthew 16:26); and “What shall a man give in exchange for his soul,” (Mark 8:37).

We are accustomed to seeing valuable treasure stored in elaborate containers; but Paul says that we have this treasure in jars of clay, earthen vessels. We usually think of clay jars as not particularly pretty and at best temporary storage containers for various things. Paul was very aware of his own mortality and of the temporary nature of our earthly bodies, but more to the point here was the fact that the container should not detract from the contents. We’ve seen expensive gifts wrapped in beautiful and ornate packages; but the most valuable treasure ever to be found on earth was entrusted to plain and ordinary men who would deliver it in its pure form.

The apostles were fishermen and government employees (tax collectors); contrasted with the mighty and powerful who might have been employed to deliver God’s message of love and salvation to mankind. He could have given the message to emperors, kings and princes, or to the high priest and rulers of the temple – but in that the messenger would have been more likely to draw attention to himself rather than to the message. The plain and common men Jesus chose had nothing to commend themselves except their message. Paul and the other apostles understood the principle that the messenger should not get in the way of the message. {For this reason I do not believe that Paul or any of the apostles ever wore ostentatious garb, gold chains and goofy looking pointy hats. Men who do so today are adorning themselves, seeking their own glory instead of the glory of God}.
An interesting metaphor might be seen in the small clay lamps that were so commonly used in that day. They were small, very cheap, and not especially pretty, but when filled with oil they would give light to a dark room. No doubt at least some Jews knew the history of Darius, king of Persia who melted down the gold he had taken in battle and poured it into clay jars for storage. When he wanted to use the gold he would simply break the jar, but until that time it could sit in the corner of a room virtually unnoticed; a hidden treasure in an earthen vessel.

The power of God is evident in the gospel and its influence on the lives of men. Think how difficult it must have been to persuade pagan worshipers away from centuries of idol worship and superstition; to introduce a new religion against the opposition of those who had financial interests in the old practices. The apostles were not men of social or political standing which they might use to leverage the message they taught; we may plainly see that just as Paul said to the Romans, the gospel is God’s power unto salvation of the souls of men.

(8-12) In this section Paul opens his heart to his beloved brothers and sisters in the Lord, describing briefly the things he experiences almost daily. Paul is not complaining, not here nor in any of the other places where he makes mention of the things he endures for the cause of Christ. In chapter 7, verse 5 he says, “For, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears.” (This condition is reflected in a line of the hymn ‘Just As I Am’). In his first letter to the church at Corinth Paul had described how he is able to bear up under such trials, (1 Corinthians 10:13).

Even though pressed hard by troubles, closed in on every side it seemed, Paul didn’t despair – his trust was in the Lord who had promised that He would deliver him from the people, (Acts 26:17); and even more specifically, when trouble arose on his first visit to Corinth the Lord reassured him of his providence, (Acts 18:9-10). However, on many occasions Paul was troubled, perplexed, persecuted, and cast down, but not distressed or in despair, not forsaken or destroyed. We might say, concerned but not worried, injured but not disabled, etc. Everywhere Paul went there were enemies of the gospel who persecuted him. Recall that on at least one occasion Paul had been stoned and left for dead, (Acts 14:19); and there were 40 men who had sworn a vow not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul, (Acts 23:12-13); besides the angry unbelieving priests in the synagogues in almost every city where he went.

The word translated ‘perplexed’ means to be without resources to respond to present circumstances. In our society today we see people who are in financial trouble who are perplexed, have no resources to respond to the pressing need; in a moment of desperation instead of putting their trust in the Lord they may rob a bank or gas station. Paul trusted in God and so he had no despair. As a student of the scriptures, surely he remembered the beautiful words of comfort and assurance from the Psalms; especially 27 and 118. These passages are reflected in the letter to the Hebrews, (Hebrews 13:5-6).

Paul understood and had the proper perspective on these things, consider what he wrote to the Ephesians, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places,” (Ephesians 6:12). Then he continues through verse 20 to explain how he (and we) may be able to withstand such trials.

Verse 10 reminds me, when Cayla was at our house recently she found her daddy’s high school football helmet that had been in the attic for many years. It is all scared up, scratched and battered – showing the marks of many conflicts, but it also serves as a trophy of whole hearted commitment to the purpose of winning game after game. A poor analogy at best perhaps, but maybe it helps to visualize what Paul is talking about here. The marks and scars of the beatings and stonings and abuses Paul had suffered were evident on his body; he said so in Galatians 6:17. Jesus had warned the apostles that these things would happen, (John 15:20-21). In 1 Corinthians 15:31 Paul makes the statement, “…I die daily,” meaning of course that every day he faced the threat of death at the hands of his enemies.

Then Paul said, “…that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body,” shouldn’t that be the desire of every Christian, to live as Christ lived – without sin, kind, loving, compassionate, etc.; AND to gain the eternal life in Christ for which He died.

Paul was willing to sacrifice his physical body for the good of the body of Christ – the church, (Colossians 1:24); and he understood the beneficial outcome of the things he experienced. The evidence is that as a result of all these things Paul had endured there were untold numbers of men and women who had heard the gospel he preached, believed it, and obeyed their Lord in baptism. We see a beautiful illustration of this in his letter to the church at Philippi: (Philippians 1:20-23).

(13-14) Paul quotes from Psalms 116:10, when he says, “I believed and therefore have I spoken…”. This beautiful psalm of David expresses thanksgiving and confidence in God for His blessings and providence at a time that he was in great distress, (Psalms 116:3, 6-8). Paul quotes from it here to express his confidence in the truth of the gospel, and the certainty of the resurrection. Paul had confidence in God because he knew first hand of the resurrected Christ; likewise, we should have that same confidence in the promises of God.

Paul’s faith is on display here and this should strengthen our faith. Paul had always (so far as we know) had faith in God; he was well studied in the Old Testament scriptures, and his early work against the church was founded on his faith, misguided though it was. Here is an example of a well-meaning, sincere individual who was putting his all into his religion, (Acts 26:9-11); but he was wrong. When Paul saw the Lord on the road to Damascus the change that took place in his life was a confirmation of his previous faith in God, but now he understood more perfectly that Jesus was the promised messiah. When Paul realized that he was wrong he was immediately ready to change his religion.

I know that the cave at De Soto Caverns is there because I have seen it. I had heard about it since I was a child, and I believed that it was there; but now that I have seen it – my faith in the fact of its existence has become sight. Although you may not have seen it, you have the eye-witness account of many of us who have seen it and thus you may be absolutely certain that it is there. And so it is with our Lord Jesus Christ – we have the eye-witness account of the apostle Paul to the fact of the resurrection and ascension of Jesus. Paul says in these passages, that his assurance of the fact of the coming resurrection of believers is just as certain. Jesus will present us to His Father, for He said, “…I will confess you before my father which is in Heaven,” (Matthew 10:32; Jude 24; Colossians 1:28). In this statement we may see the fact that Paul expected that he would eventually die in his service to the Master; and that on the Day of Judgment he along with all who are dead in Christ would be raised from the grave.

(15) When we consider all that Paul suffered we cannot help but be convinced of his sincerity and absolute devotion to our Lord. No pretender or charlatan would have suffered as he did; only a man with a firm belief in the truth of the gospel would dare such. The ugly persecutions that Paul endured, the beatings, the danger and threats of death, all were a part of his task of carrying the message of the gospel to the world…(it was in the job description: Luke 21:12-13; John 15:18-21; 16:1-3). Those things worked a divine beauty through the salvation of the souls of men and women, all of which enhances the ultimate glory of God. (Ephesians 3:20-21). The Greek word perisseuo’, translated ‘redound’ in verse 15 of the KJV means to overflow in abundance; it is inadequately translated in most other versions, but is meant to express the vast and extreme glory of God.

(16) Because Paul understands that the fruits of his labors, the result of his efforts, will ultimately be the salvation of souls and the glory of God, he is strengthened and refreshed. The physical limitations of the flesh were noted by Jesus in the garden, (Matthew 26:42; Mark 14:38). It is the inward man, our eternal souls, that will transcend this life, therefore our great concern should be to care for our spiritual nature, (Romans 7:22; 12:2; Ephesians 3:16). The Psalmist prayed for renewal of the spirit, (Psalms 51:10-13); God instructed Isaiah to comfort His people with the promise of renewal, (Isaiah 40:31).

(17-18) This to me is one of the most remarkable passages in the scriptures; that Paul would speak of everything he has experienced and endured by using the term, “light affliction”. We’ve already noted some of his comments on this subject, but look ahead to 2 Corinthians 11:23-28 for a more extensive catalog of his sufferings. Consider his comment in his letter to the Romans in 8:18, “For I recon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us”. Moses had all the glory and treasure of Egypt at his disposal, but knowingly made the choice to give it all up to serve God. He lived in Pharaoh’s palace, experienced wealth and power on a daily basis, but the scripture says that he made his choice “…as seeing him who is invisible,” (Hebrews 11:27). Paul summarized this perspective in Philippians 3:8. Ecclesiastes 12:13.

Another application that we might make of verse 18 is to compare the remission of sins in baptism, to the animal sacrifices of the Old Law, (which could not take away sin). The spiritual transcends the physical; that which is seen gives way to that which is invisible.

2 Corinthians chapter 5,
(1-4) The words “we know” carry a great emphasis in this context. Paul’s certain assurance of Christ’s promise to all who obey Him is not a matter of ‘hope-so’, but is factual knowledge. Paul had the proper perspective of things; his priorities were in order, and he knew that this life is only transitory. What really matters is the eternal life that is to be had in Jesus. Paul understood that there is absolutely nothing in this life that can befall us that does not fade into a meaningless moment when compared to the glorious eternity that awaits us. The statement of knowledge that Paul uses leaves no room for doubt about the certainty of his statements.

He refers to the human body using words that describe temporary housing; earthly house, tabernacle (tent), not made with hands. Paul knew all about tents, he had made them with his own hands and, even though he no doubt made tents of the highest quality with excellent workmanship, he knew that a tent is only a temporary dwelling. Even with proper care a tent will not last indefinitely but will eventually rot, dissolve and become useless as a shelter. I had an old army tent that I used for camping in my younger days; but it remained unused in storage for a long time. One day when I took it out and began to unfold it, it began to disintegrate; the fabric had literally dissolved from dry rot.

Paul believed the words of Jesus when He promised saying, “…I go to prepare a place for you”, (John 14:2). John introduced Jesus in his gospel saying “All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made,” (John 1:3). Certainly the heavenly home that awaits us is built to last for eternity, John tells us that it has 12 foundations, (Revelation 21:14), representing perfection. Abraham “…looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God,” (Hebrews 11:10).

The groaning of our physical bodies will ultimately be replaced with the glory of our spiritual bodies, (1 Corinthians 15:51-54).

The Lord counseled the church at Laodicea to buy of Him white raiment that they may be clothed, (Revelation 3:18); and to the church at Sardis He said, “He that overcometh shall be clothed in white raiment, (3:5). Paul instructed the church at Rome to “put on Christ”, (Romans 13:14); and to the church at Galatia he wrote, “For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ,” (Galatians 3:27). The Lord taught a lesson on this subject in Matthew 22:11-14. The idea being that all had been invited, many even came, but some came unprepared – not properly dressed. The man no doubt wore some garment, he thought he was dressed, but because he was not wearing a wedding garment he was considered naked and was cast out. So it is with those who, however sincere they may be, failing to fully obey the commands of the Lord they will find themselves excluded from the feast. Jesus said that many will think that they should be saved, but He will turn them away, (Matthew 7:21-23).

In verse 4 Paul again addresses the frailties of the human body, causing us to consider what he wrote to the church at Philippi, (Philippians 3:20-21). Not that we want to die, but in order to receive our Heavenly reward, we must be changed, (1 Corinthians 15:53-54).

(5) As children of God, (having been adopted through obedience to the gospel), we are the result of the work of God’s hands, (Isaiah 29:23; 60:21). The earnest of the Spirit is a token of God’s promise to those who are faithful; it means exactly the same thing as it does in the context of a real estate transaction, the earnest money paid with the offer seals the agreement and assures that the terms will be exactly as specified in the contract – the price, the terms, nor the property will be changed or altered in any way until the final closing papers are signed and the deed delivered. I sold a house once that had a beautiful antique mantle in it which I had intended to take when we moved, but I didn’t take it out before signing the contract and so had to leave it. The buyer’s earnest money prevented any changes from being made to the property.

Someone may ask, ‘so how do we know that we have this earnest of the Spirit?’ Paul gave the answer in Romans 8:16, (the Holy Spirit bears witness with our spirit); John reaffirmed that the Sprit bears witness because the Spirit is truth, (1 John 5:6). But there is more evidence, to the Ephesians Paul wrote, “…the fruit of the spirit is in all goodness, righteousness and truth,” (Ephesians 5:9); and he described this evidence of the Holy Spirit in our lives in even greater detail in Galatians 5:22-26.

(6-9) In the previous chapter Paul said that at times he was troubled, perplexed and persecuted, but he never said that he was discouraged; his confidence came from his faith in the Lord. The Christian who has faith in his Master can have this sort of confidence.

The French writer Victor Hugo, who wrote Les Miserable and the Hunchback of Notre Dame, in 1881 wrote a beautiful little poem that describes this confidence:
Like the bird be thou
That for a moment rests
Upon the topmost bough.
He feels the branch to bend
And yet as sweetly sings,
Knowing that he hath wings!

In the parenthetical expression in verse 7 the word ‘walk’ is synonymous with ‘live’, referring to the habits and practices of our daily lives. Our behavior, our conduct, the things we think, say and do each day of our lives is embodied in this word “walk”. The conduct of our lives is to be ordered according to God’s will, as Paul wrote to the Romans; we should walk not after the flesh but after the spirit, (Romans 8:4). That which is capable of being seen is flesh, temporal, temporary; the spiritual things of God are not seen with human eyes, but with the eye of faith.

The confidence expressed in verse 8 shows us that Paul was always ready to go to be with the Lord; in fact, he repeated this theme several times: (Acts 21:13; Philippians 1:20-24; 2 Timothy 4:7-8; and consider Psalms 73:23-26).
We may become fearful from time to time of events which may befall us, yet if we are always ready to meet God we need not worry. He said as much in verse 9, indicating that living or dying he was ready for either alternative; (Romans 14:8-10; Hebrews 12:28).

(10) The initial words of this verse, “We must all”, are too clear to be misunderstood, every individual who has ever lived, is now living, or who will be born in the future is encompassed in this statement. Paul made a similar statement in Romans 14:10. This is the same shade of meaning as in the words of Christ when He said, “…preach the gospel to EVERY creature…” (Mark 15:15); and when He said, “…teach ALL nations, baptize them…teach them to observe all things I have commanded…” (Matthew 28:19-20).

The Judgment Seat of Christ refers to the Last Day, the End of Time, Christ’s 2nd and final coming. He is not a circuit riding judge who will come once for the saved and then come again for the lost, or come and stay for a thousand years then go back to Heaven, etc. In all of scripture, there is mentioned only ONE judgment. Jesus said in Matthew 12:36, “…they shall give account…in the day of judgment.” In fact, in no less than 6 passages Jesus is quoted as speaking of “THE judgment”, there will be just one!

(11) The KJV is the only translation in which I find the Greek word phobos translated terror in this passage; every other version I checked translates it fear – as in awe, respect, honor. Amplified has it, ‘being conscious of fearing the Lord with respect and reverence’…but is God to be feared as a potential terror? Most certainly if we are disobedient to Him, (“It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God,” (Hebrews 10:31); but our obedience to him should be motivated by love, honor and respect. The idea expressed here is Paul’s continuing effort to persuade people to believe and obey the Lord. It is a matter of urging people to choose to serve God, there is no effort to force people into submission, it is a matter of personal will; Jesus said, “…whosoever WILL, let him come…” (Revelation 22:17), implying that there will be those who will not.

Paul acknowledged that God knows the hearts of men, and he trusts that by observing his example the Christians at Corinth will know his heart.

(12-13) Remember, Paul was the target of every kind of vicious attack from the enemies of Christ. His enemies impugned his integrity and his apostleship was questioned in attempts to discredit his work. They were not content just to seek his life, they wanted to destroy his influence as well, and so Paul is preparing the Corinthian Christians for a strong defense which he will deliver shortly. When Paul was defending himself against the false charges of the Jews in the court of Agrippa, Fesuts accused Paul of being beside himself (insane), (Acts 26:24-28), and yet, Agrippa said, “…almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.” So to the Corinthians Paul is essentially saying, ‘if I appear insane it is because of my service to God, and in all soberness and sincerity, my labor is on your behalf’. Paul expressed his purpose to Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:10.

(14-15) The love of Christ constrains us, Paul said. The Greek word sunecho translated constrain here actually means to hold together, as with the hands or arms. In this statement we get the picture of the Savior wrapping his arms of love around Paul to keep him from despair. Some have asked whether he speaks of Christ’s love for us or of our love for Him; you might say it works both ways, but John said, “We love him because he first loved us,” (1 John 4:19). We obey Him in response to His love for us; we love him because of His love for us. Jesus said, “If ye love me keep my commandments,” (John 14:15); thus Paul’s statement in this verse is very clear.

Paul’s reasoning reiterates the scope of Jesus’ sacrifice, (ALL from verse 10). “One died for ALL…”, John said that Christ is the propitiation (payment) for the sins of the whole world, (1 John 2:2). Sin brings about spiritual death, (Colossians 2:13; Ephesians 2:1), Paul wrote to the Romans that all have sinned (Romans 5:12). Therefore since all are dead in sin, Jesus died that we might have life through Him, (John 10:10); all who will obey Him are made alive, (Romans 6:4). Jesus’ death was only a part of the redemption plan, it was not complete until his resurrection; and does not come to fruition for us until we have died to sin, been buried in baptism and risen to a new life in Christ.

(16-17) Paul is saying that he does not judge people based on his observation of their outward appearance. Before his conversion Paul’s judgment of Christ was based entirely on the prejudiced worldly view of Him as promoted by the unbelieving Pharisees. The Jewish hierarchy had judged Jesus based on his humble birth; that is evident in Nathaniel’s comment recorded in John 1:46, “Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth?”

Here’s that word ‘therefore’ again – this time it is pointing to the two previous verses in which Paul speaks of the love of Christ, the fact that he died for all and that he rose again. Then comes that all important phrase “in Christ”, and Paul’s description of what it means. Isaiah said that Israel shall be saved “in the Lord”, (Isaiah 45:18). {Israel here speaks of spiritual Israel – the church}. Romans 3:24; 8:1; 1 Corinthians 15:22; Ephesians 1:3; and 1 Timothy 4:16 are some of the passages that speak to the subject of why it is important that we be “in Christ”. The burning question that should be on the lips of every man and woman who is not a Christian is “How then do I get into Christ?” Since salvation is in Christ that’s the place that we should all want to be. Galatians 3:27 is the key to how we are able to reach that state of being.

The little phrase in 2 Corinthians 5:17 “IN CHRIST” is probably the biggest little phrase in the entire text of the Bible. The concept is so important that we should spend a bit more time on it here so that we may be able to explain it more fully to our friends who are not Christians. It is the pivotal point that determines the eternal destiny of every person who has or ever will live on the earth. The precise phrase occurs in the New Testament 77 times!, and it appears in that or some similar form that means the same thing a total of 169 times! Yet, those two simple words are completely absent from virtually every denominational doctrine being taught in the world today. Burton Coffman said that the phrase is not addressed at all in 57 commentaries that he checked. The reason that they do not teach the importance of being in Christ may be because the only means of gaining that entrance revealed in all of the Bible is through the waters of baptism.

Paul wrote that we have redemption through the blood of Christ, “in Him”, (Ephesians 1:3-14). Likewise, he wrote to the Romans that there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ; and in Romans 3:24 he states that we have redemption in Him; we receive the love of God in Jesus, (Romans 8:39); we have the promise of life in Christ, (2 Timothy 1:1); and blessings in Him, (Revelation (14:13). Jesus said, “I am the way the truth and the life; no man cometh to the father except by me”, (John 14:6); – he is able to save those who come to the father by him, (Hebrews 7:25). Paul told Timothy that there is grace in Christ, (2 Timothy 2:1), and salvation (2:10); Galatians 3:27 shows how we are able to achieve that relationship. There is no other means of entering upon that saved state outlined or even suggested anywhere in all of the Bible. The blessings of faith, hope and salvation accrue only to those who are in Christ.

Could Noah have been saved from the flood without being “in the ark”? Of course not; Genesis 7:13; 23. Peter made this point in 1 Peter 3:20. Luke 13:24-25 Jesus taught that those on the outside will be lost. He illustrated this in John 15:4-7.

The newness of life in Christ is reflected here in verse 17, as described in Romans 6:3 & 4. Romans 12:1-2; Ephesians 4:17-24; 5:8; Colossians 3:10; 2 Peter 1:4-9 and 1 John 2:6. David prayed for this newness, (Psalms 51:10).

(18-19) All things are of God, there is nothing that was not made by him (John 1:1-3); the scriptures are very clear that the Father and the Son are one. The fact of the deity of Christ is critical to the effectiveness of his crucifixion. Hebrews 5:9 reveals the source of salvation, its author; Paul reflects that relationship here as described by Jesus in John 10:30 when He said, “I and my Father are one.” Paul spoke of reconciliation again in Ephesians 2:16 and Colossians 1:20.
God’s plan of redemption, His divine purpose to provide a means to reconcile fallen mankind to Himself, is the message of the gospel, the treasure that Paul mentioned in 2 Corinthians 4:7.

The word of reconciliation is synonymous with the gospel – it is one and the same. God has never given conflicting messages; the word of reconciliation is the same gospel Paul had in mind when he wrote to the Galatians condemning any who would preach any other gospel, (Galatians 1:8 & 9). This is applicable to the Koran, the book of Mormon, the edicts of the Pope and all the false teaching of every denomination.

(20-21) In the final verses of this chapter Paul makes an appeal on the basis of God’s provision for our salvation. First he states that ‘we are ambassadors’, speaking of himself and the other apostles. An ambassador holds a unique and significant position as an authorized representative of the sovereign who appoints him. He is empowered to represent his ruler and speak for him in all matters as directed by him. The apostles were placed in this exclusive rank and empowered by the Holy Spirit to perform miracles in order to confirm their words; given the ability to speak in languages they had not studied; inspired and guided by the Holy Spirit in what they should say and write, (Matthew 10:19; John 16:13). The apostles were given the keys of the kingdom, that is the terms and conditions of admission to the church, and directives on worship and conduct, (Matthew 16:19; 18:18); no other man has ever been given such authority, (though some have presumed to take it upon themselves).

Paul urged people to be reconciled to God, and he along with the other inspired writers of the New Testament, acting in the role of ambassadors of Christ, set out the specific means of obtaining that reconciliation. They didn’t offer a smorgasbord of options, not 23,000 different choices, not even 2 or 3; in fact, Paul said there is just one, (Ephesians 4:5). Reconciliation can only be accomplished by the blood of Christ, (Colossians 1:20). The means of reconciliation was preached by every apostle in precisely the same way, and it has not changed in 2,000 years.

Verse 21 reflects Isaiah chapter 53, showing how that God provided reconciliation for mankind by laying upon Christ the iniquity of us all. It is only through Christ that we can hope to attain to the righteousness of God. Jesus commanded that we put the kingdom first in our lives, seeking the righteousness of God, (Matthew 6:33). He did not leave us without a guide in seeking the righteousness of God; (Romans 1:16-17; 10:1-3; Psalms 119:172). That many today want to substitute their own innovations for the commandments of God is nothing new; and in that they are seeking their own righteousness instead of the righteousness of God. The thought in Psalms 25:4-5 should characterize our attitudes.

Chapter 6
(1-2) The text here is a continuation of the thought from the previous chapter, and there are three principle sections in chapter 6: 1. For the fist 10 verses Paul briefly describes his life as a servant of Christ; 2. He approached the Christians at Corinth with deep emotion; and 3. He urges them not to be entangled in relationships with pagans.

Look back at verse 20 of chapter 5 where he says, “…as though God were pleading through us, we implore you…”. Remember, the Christians at Corinth, (as everywhere and in all time since the cross), had received the grace of God through obedience to Christ; but Paul warns that grace can be lost as a result of an individual’s choice to turn away from God.

In verse 2 Paul quotes from Isaiah 49:8. {A similar prophecy appears in Isaiah 442:6}. In chapter 49 of Isaiah we see a turning point, as the Jews return to Jerusalem from captivity in Babylon; the prophecies are forward looking, there is no more mention of Babylon. Certainly the true light of the world indicated by the prophet is Christ, (John 8:12); but we might even a lesser light reflected in the apostle Paul in verse 6; Paul bears this out in Acts 13:47. The future is in view, as shown in Isaiah 49:13. The acceptable time is of course the Christian age, the age of the church; and so Paul says that now is the accepted time of salvation.

Time is a purely earthly concept; God created time on the fourth day. Time does not exist in the spiritual realm, (Revelation 21:25; 22:5). However, from the moment that time began on earth, God’s eternal timetable has been in operation. Jesus spoke of the Day of Judgment as “that day and hour”, (Mark 13:32). Since creation, approximately ten thousand years have passed, we don’t know how much more time there will be, but we would be wise to seize the moment. A similar admonition appears in Hebrews 3:7-13.

Reminder: Paul had spent a year and a half in Corinth preaching and establishing the church there. He had later apparently made a quick trip there to set some things in order, and had written to them at least twice previously – one of those evidently a very harsh rebuke. Following that he was anxious to hear how they responded, and had sent Titus to check on things, hoping later to meet him in Troas and receive his report. Having missed Titus in Troas Paul was worried and anxious about the situation, and was later greatly relieved when he finally met Titus in Macedonia and received a good report of their spiritual condition. In this letter we are presently studying Paul is following up on his previous letter and giving his response to the report he received from Titus.

(6:3-10) Paul was very concerned that he, as the messenger, not get in the way of the message. He was aware that all too often people will look for any flaw they can find in one who professes Christianity and point to that as a supposed reason for their refusal to obey. Some have said, ‘There are hypocrites in that church, I wouldn’t want to go there and be associated with them’. What they fail to realize is that if they go to Hell they will be in the company of every hypocrite who has ever lived, for all eternity.

This gives some light to why Paul went to such great lengths to establish his authenticity as an apostle of Jesus, and to highlight his faithful endurance and conduct as an example. He desired that people not focus upon him as a man, but on the word he was preaching. My daddy used to use an expression saying that he would hide behind the cross to proclaim the gospel of Christ. Paul described himself both as an ambassador and a minister of God, and as a servant of Christ.

Next, Paul proceeds to outline a summary of the things he has patiently endured. Truly, he must have had great patience to continue in the face of such great opposition as he did. Based on the accounts we have, Paul was thrown into prison for his preaching no fewer than 7 times, perhaps more. Enemies stirred up riots during his preaching at Iconium, Lystra, Philippi, Thessalonica, Corinth, Ephesus and Jerusalem – the New Testament record is only a brief account of the lives of Jesus and His apostles, (John 21:25); much more was done that was written.

In verse 6 Paul begins to enumerate a catalog of personal characteristics which enabled him to endure and persevere in his work for the Lord. Pureness, knowledge, long suffering, kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by genuine love, by the word of truth, the power of God, the armor of righteousness: Paul had all of the tools necessary to sustain him, both physically and spiritually.
• Purity: 1 Thessalonians 2:10; Titus 2:7. Paul practiced purity of life and conduct, always careful to guard his integrity; and his teaching was pure.
• Knowledge: 2 Corinthians 4:6; Colossians 2:2-3. Paul certainly had a thorough knowledge of the Old Testament scriptures which he had studied under the famous scholar Gamaliel, (Acts 22:3); but he also had divine knowledge given him by the Holy Spirit, (John 16:13).
• Longsuffering: 1 Corinthians 13:4; Galatians 5:22; Ephesians 4:2; 32; Colossians 3:12. Paul patiently endured the provocations and persecutions constantly hurled at him; as well as the false teachers and brethren of weak faith who caused him distress from time to time.
• The Holy Ghost: Romans 15:19; 1 Corinthians 2:4; 1 Peter 1:12. In addition to the supernatural endowment of the Holy Ghost which Paul had received, he also had the fruit of the Spirit that is common to all Christians, (Galatians 5:22-23). Paul did not abuse his divine spiritual gifts, nor did his use them at any time for his own personal gain or benefit, but always for the purpose of verifying the gospel message.
• Love: 1 Corinthians chapter 13 is a treatise on how true Christian love influences our behavior. Paul’s love for the souls of mankind is beyond my ability to comprehend. Certainly his love the Christ motivated him in his work, but Paul would willingly have given his own life, indeed even his own salvation if it would benefit others, (Romans 9:1-3).
• The Word of Truth – the gospel of Christ – (Colossians 1:5); described as a sword in Hebrews 4:12; and in Ephesians 6:13-17 Paul draws an illustration of the gospel as a suit of battle armor, like that worn by Roman soldiers. Being armed on the right hand and on the left signifies complete readiness, we might view it as being surrounded with the gospel of truth, (Philippians 4:7); but also consider the metaphor of the Roman soldier’s armor – bearing the shield in the left hand and the sword in the right…ready to defend against the fiery darts of the devil, and to fight the good fight of faith.
• In the Power of God – Mark 16:20. God demonstrated his power in delivering the Hebrew nation from Egyptian slavery, (Exodus 9:16; 32:11; 2 Kings 17:36); He made the world by his power, (Jeremiah 10:12).
• Honor and dishonor/as unknown and yet well known – Paul had been dishonored by the disbelieving Jews in Jerusalem, and although at one time very closely associated with them, to his former friends he was now dead – in fact, some of them had even stoned him and left him for dead.

In his letter to the church at Philippi, written while imprisoned in Rome, Paul uses the word ‘rejoice’ more than half a dozen times, saying in 4:4 “Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say rejoice”. In verse 10 he writes, “As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.” In Romans 11:33, and in Ephesians 3:8 Paul speaks of the unsearchable riches of Christ. Jesus said, “What shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Mark 8:37). There are no material riches that can equal the value of the soul; is it any wonder then that Paul would draw such a parallel as he does in this verse?

(11-13) Paraphrased, here is what Paul is saying: ‘I have spoken frankly to you with great affection, and my love for you is not diminished; but you have not loved me as you should’, (they had failed to defend him against those who had criticized him in Corinth). He urges them to return his love. Paul is establishing the fact of his love for them before excoriating them in the next passage for their sinful practices. Understand that while many of them had repented, (as reported to Paul by Titus), there were still some who had not.

(14-18) Paul saw the influence of paganism and the destructive effect it was having on the church in Corinth, and attacks the issue head on. His instruction in this passage is based on ridding the church at Corinth of the influence of the pagan world. By extension, we often use these verses to encourage Christians to choose Christian associates, applying it equally to marriage and to business. Likewise, I believe that the admonition is equally applicable today as it was when Paul penned these words by inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Christian associates are a valuable asset to one who is trying to live righteously, and worldly influences, (non-believers), are potentially detrimental; look at the influence pagan women had on Solomon. To the church at Rome Paul urged a similar thought: “Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. In love of the brethren be tenderly affectioned one to another; in honor preferring one another;” (Romans 12:9-10).

He had warned in his previous letter to Corinth against evil companionships, (1 Corinthians 15:33); the Greek word homilia means companionships, company, communication – as in interpersonal exchange). Friends and associates who are not Christians are easily used by Satan to influence sinful behavior. A non-Christian business partner is just not going to honor the same values as a faithful Christian, whether it is a matter of business hours or of conduct there will be conflicts. Parents should diligently instruct their children that the only suitable marriage partner is a Christian, and Mama always said, ‘choose a date fit for a mate.’ Any questions?

“Belial” is a synonym for Satan. In verse 16 Paul invokes a number of Old Testament principles against having close associations with non-believers. Exodus 20:3; 23:13; 29:45. Jesus said that no man can serve two masters, (Matthew 6:24), suggesting that there is a contest for spiritual allegiance.

Then Paul delivers the command of God, “come ye out from among them and be ye separate”. Jeremiah 31:1; John 1:12; and Revelation 21:7.