2 Corinthians Lesson 8 2 Corinthians 11:26 13:14 Written about 65 AD

Transcription

1 2 Corinthians Lesson 8 2 Corinthians 11:26 13:14 Written about 65 AD In lesson 7, which covered 2 Corinthians 10:1 through 11:25, we saw Paul addresses the problem of the Judaizers who Paul knew were among the church at Corinth. They had attacked Paul and his teaching. These false teachers had come into the church that Paul had founded and tried to take it over. They tore down, rather than building up. Paul promised that when he came, he would expose their false teaching. He also defended his own ministry to the Corinthians, enumerating the sacrifices he had made to keep his own ministry totally free of charge. He also pointed out that even on the foolish grounds that the false teachers held themselves up as qualified to teach, he was superior. He was a Hebrew, an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham. Furthermore, he had demonstrated his devotion to the faith by his sufferings. We closed the last lesson with 2 Corinthians 11:24-25 Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea. Paul continued from there, which is where we can begin this lesson: 2 Corinthians 11:26 I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. This described his life for most of the thirty years since Paul s conversion in Damascus. When he had stopped for any length of time in one place, both Jews and Gentiles would target him as a troublemaker, and often tried to have him arrested or assassinated. He had also spent much of his time travelling, which in that day was a far more perilous business than we can even imagine in 21 st century America. 2 Corinthians 11:27 I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. 1 / 13

2 Besides that, were the personal privations of food, comfort, and rest. 2 Corinthians 11:28 Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. On top of that, was what most of us cannot even enter into, the concern for the spiritual welfare of all of the churches Paul had founded. 2 Corinthians 11:29a Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? When Paul heard of some weakness among them like illness, poverty, or imprisonment, Paul could not help feeling it. 2 Corinthians 11:29b Who is led into sin caused to stumble, and I do not inwardly burn? The more correct translation of the NIV s translation led into sin is caused to stumble. It is the Greek word σκανδαλίζω {skän-dä-lē'-zō} which is derived from the Greek word which means stumbling block or a snare for one s feet. Here, Paul was describing the reaction he felt when he heard of false teaching being perpetrated on the churches. 2 Corinthians 11:30 If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. Paul reverts to the previous thought about weakness, and remembers, that weakness is not a bad thing. 2 Corinthians 11:31 The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is to be praised forever, knows that I am not lying. 2 / 13

3 Paul knows that this thought is contrary to our fleshly nature. We usually want to avoid weaknesses like illness, poverty, or imprisonment. He will develop this thought later. 2 Corinthians 11:32-33 In Damascus the governor under King Aretas had the city of the Damascenes guarded in order to arrest me. But I was lowered in a basket from a window in the wall and slipped through his hands. Paul reminisces about the earliest days of his ministry, when he was preaching to the Jews in Damascus. I will add here a note of self-justification. The chronology for the Church that I have developed comparing the histories of Josephus and Acts puts Paul s conversion in Damascus at 37 AD, which is much later than most suggested chronologies I have seen. The question has been raised, How did Aretas, the Nabatean king (200 miles to the south) gain control of Damascus? The only plausible answer is that this took place under the authority of Emperor Caligula in AD 37 at about the time of his accession when he was redistributing Roman territories to those who had supported him (there are no coins from Damascus of this period that would confirm or refute this theory). The problem with other chronologies is that they have Paul fleeing the authority of Aretas in Damascus three or four years before he could have had that authority. However, my chronology, even though based on other facts, has Paul in Damascus after 37 AD. 2 Corinthians 12:1 I must go on boasting. Although there is nothing to be gained, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord. Paul had started this recitation of his history and accomplishments as a defense against the claims of superiority by the Judaizers. He had acknowledged at that time, that the only defense his teaching needed was that it was in accord with the word of God, and that any defense of his person was foolishness. Here, as he continued with his personal history, he reasserted that point. 2 Corinthians 12:2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know God knows. 3 / 13

4 Paul referred to a time fourteen years previous, which according to my timeline, would have been in 51 AD during what is called Paul s second missionary journey with Silas and Timothy, and which ended with Paul s first visit to Corinth. 2 Corinthians 12:3-4 And I know that this man whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows-- was caught up to paradise. He heard inexpressible things, things that man is not permitted to tell. [a] Some have speculated that this refers to Paul s stoning at Lystra (Acts 14:19-20), which would be about the right time if this was written in 58 AD. However, I have previously demonstrated that it was not written then. If you look at this carefully you will see this could not be referring to that event. Then, [b] Paul s friends were standing around his dead body, and there would have been no doubt that his revelation was apart from the body. Furthermore, his stoning had already been mentioned in 2 Corinthians 11:25. If 2 Corinthians was written about 65 AD as I believe, this episode would have occurred during Paul s first visit to Corinth, which may be why he mentions it here. This was, in fact, the time he mentioned having a vision from the Lord (Acts 18:9-10). 2 Corinthians 12:5 I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses. Paul had already stated the bedrock principal in 2 Corinthians 10:17a: Let him who boasts boast in the Lord. The experience Paul was relating was not a result of the actions of Paul, but strictly his experience of the unmerited grace of god. 2 Corinthians 12:6 Even if I should choose to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain For though I might desire to boast, I will not be a fool. For I will speak the truth and I will spare you, so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say. Although, in his flesh, Paul might want to boast about that experience, he was about to relate to them his other experience which would illustrate how dangerous pride was, and how susceptible he was to it. 4 / 13

5 2 Corinthians 12:7 To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Paul admitted that after those revelations, despite knowing better, he had started to get full of himself. To keep Paul from becoming conceited, God had to give him a thorn in the flesh. The question many scholars have debated is: What was this thorn in the flesh? Now as far as the application of the lesson to our lives is concerned, it doesn t make any difference. Sometimes, God has to give us the greater gift of humility with the aid of some thorn in the flesh. However, historically, for Paul, this was obviously a specific thing which impacted his ministry. I personally think the scripture gives us the means to identify exactly what it was. I believe that this thorn in the flesh was the loss of sight that began to afflict Paul during his 2 nd Missionary Journey through Galatia and on to Macedonia and Corinth. We know from our context, that it came on him about the time he had the vision where he heard inexpressible things. Two of Paul s three visions recorded in Acts occurred during that trip. We also know that during that trip, he had begun to have trouble with his eyes (Galatians 4:15). It was during that trip (in Corinth) that he began to have to have his letters written down by others (Galatians 6:11, 2 Thessalonians 3:17). All the rest of his letters before his imprisonment in Rome as well as his first letter from that visit (Ephesians), were written also down by others (Romans 16:22, 1 Corinthians 16:22, Colossians 4:18). The companion letter to Colossians (Philemon) was written in Paul s own hand (Philemon 1:19). 2 Corinthians 12:8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. This is one of the greatest principals of Christian living. It was also the hallmark of Christ s ministry to the world. He defeated all the forces of Satan hanging naked and alone on the cross. It is worth mentioning that after the letter to Colossians, none of Paul s letters mentioned 5 / 13

6 Paul s eye trouble, or anyone else writing them but himself (Ephesians, Philippians, 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus, or Hebrews). Although it is not stated, it is possible that God cured Paul of his blindness during his Roman imprisonment. Certainly, otherwise, it would have seemed strange for him to ask Timothy in 2 Timothy 4:13 (five years after his 1 st Roman imprisonment) to bring Paul his scrolls and parchments. 2 Corinthians 12:9b Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ s power may rest on me. Paul had learned his lesson. The less he was preoccupied with his status in the eyes of men, the more God could use him. 2 Corinthians 12:10 That is why, for Christ s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. He had learned to look at life quite differently from the world. 2 Corinthians 12:11a I have made a fool of myself, but you drove me to it. However, on this instance, he had felt compelled to point out that even by any worldly standard; he was more worthy of acceptance than the false teachers. 2 Corinthians 12:11b I ought to have been commended by you, for I am not in the least inferior to the super-apostles, greatest apostles even though I am nothing. Paul was pointing out that he shouldn t have had to defend himself against the charges of the Judaizers. As I pointed out in the last lesson when we discussed 2 Corinthians 11:5, what the NIV translated super-apostles (including quotation marks) is literally greatest apostles. 6 / 13

7 2 Corinthians 12:12 The things that mark an apostle signs, wonders and miracles were done among you with great perseverance. God had marked Paul s ministry with every special sign that proved he was sent to them from God with new information. That was a unique time that demanded such signs. Since the completion of the Word of God, such signs are rarely needed. 2 Corinthians 12:13 How were you inferior to the other churches, except that I was never a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong! He again refers to the fact that some seem to have had their feelings hurt because he had never accepted an offering from them for himself. 2 Corinthians 12:14 Now I am ready to visit you for the third time, [c] and 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. All Paul wanted from them is that they listen to his teaching, which he gave away freely. He drew an analogy to himself as their parent and them as his children. As the wealth of parents should flow to the children, so he was giving them the wealth of spiritual truth and not expecting a return of material wealth. 2 Corinthians 12:15a So I will very gladly spend for you everything I have and expend myself as well. He was happy and fulfilled in spending everything he had, including his life, for them. In this he was imitating Christ. 2 Corinthians 12:15b-16 If I love you more, will you love me less? Be that as it may, I have not been a burden to you. Yet, crafty fellow that I am, I caught you by trickery! 7 / 13

8 Paul referred to some of the charges that the Judaizers had brought against him, no doubt relayed to him by Titus. Remember, none of this is to say that anything but a minority of the Corinthian Christians had bought the false teachings or the accusations against Paul. It was distressing enough some of them had. 2 Corinthians 12:17-18 Did I exploit you through any of the men I sent you? 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? Neither Paul in person, nor any of his emissaries had ever exploited them. 2 Corinthians 12:19 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. Paul let them know that he was not worried about defending himself. He needed no defense. God was his defense. However, he was worried for the sake those believers who had been led astray, and were about to put themselves in line for loss and God s discipline. 2 Corinthians 12:20 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. He could foresee what those minority factions might bring about when he came. 2 Corinthians 12:21 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. [d] 8 / 13

9 Although Paul had boasted of the Corinthians, he knew from experience that Christians were capable of putting on a good front. He wanted to make sure that they were truly living their life as in the presence of God. Such a life demanded self-examination, confession and repentance sins. 2 Corinthians 13:1 This will be my third visit [e] to you. Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses. [f] Paul seemed to be setting up an argument that each of his visits was a witness to the true spiritual state of the Corinthian church. Paul had had two witnesses, and was about to have his third. 2 Corinthians 13:2a I already gave you a warning when I was with you the second time. Paul s second visit was in 58 AD (Acts 20:2-3) when he had stayed three months and written Romans. At that time he had warned them of the importance of what he was about to tell them again. 2 Corinthians 13:2b-3 I now repeat it while absent: On my return I will not spare those who sinned earlier or any of the others, since you are demanding proof that Christ is speaking through me. He is not weak in dealing with you, but is powerful among you. Paul was particularly concerned about those who were demanding proof. 2 Corinthians 13:4 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. Although both Christ and Paul demonstrated weakness in the terms the world understood, they had God s power behind them. 9 / 13

10 2 Corinthians 13:5 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? They needed to examine their lives and their beliefs by the standard of the word of God (the faith). If they did so, some of them might come to realize they weren t even Christ s. 2 Corinthians 13:6 And I trust that you will discover that we have not failed the test. They would also discover that Paul s teaching was according to the faith which was the word of God. 2 Corinthians 13:7 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. The we here probably refers to Paul and Titus. They would rather the Corinthians were actually living according to the faith, than that Paul and Titus be seen to be approved by men. 2 Corinthians 13:8 For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. The approval they cared about was God s approval. 2 Corinthians 13:9 We are glad whenever we are weak but you are strong; and our prayer is for your perfection. The disapproval of men (weakness) did not bother them, but it would encourage them to know 10 / 13

11 that the Corinthians were walking in the word (strong). 2 Corinthians 13:10 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. He was writing these things in advance so that he could devote his time with them to the building up of their faith rather than just repairing the breaches in the walls caused by unrepentant sin. 2 Corinthians 13:11a Finally, brothers, good-by. Aim for perfection, The goal of the Christian s life should not just to make it through the week. It was to aim for the perfection of Christ. 1 Peter 1:15-16 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: Be holy, because I am holy. Ephesians 5:1-2a Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us. 2 Corinthians 13:11b listen to my appeal, be of one mind, live in peace. If they listened to his appeal to see whether they were in the faith they would be of one mind and live in peace. 2 Corinthians 13:11c And the God of love and peace will be with you. 11 / 13

12 And God would always be working with them because they would always be working with Him. 2 Corinthians 13:12 Greet one another with a holy kiss. This was not a physical kiss, but a metaphor for having their relations with each other lived out as those separated to God. 2 Corinthians 13:13 All the saints send their greetings. These would have referred to the saints in Macedonia where he was writing from. 2 Corinthians 13:14 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. This reminded them and us what is available to anyone who will live his life in God s truth. It encompasses not only meaning and power in life, but great joy and peace as well. [a] It is worth noting that it was about this time that Paul started teaching the doctrine of the Rapture of the Church, which may have been one of those things which were revealed to him at that time. Perhaps, among the things he was not to tell was what was also revealed to John about the Tribulation. Revelation 10:2-4 He was holding a little scroll, which lay open in his hand. He planted his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land, and he gave a loud shout like the roar of a lion. When he shouted, the voices of the seven thunders spoke. And when the seven thunders spoke, I was about to write; but I heard a voice from heaven say, Se al up what the seven thunders have said and do not write it down. 12 / 13

13 [b] Acts 14:19-20 [c] This is a second important passage in proving that 2 Corinthians was written after Paul s first Roman imprisonment (i.e. after the narrative of Acts was complete). Acts only records two visits by Paul to Corinth. See also 2 Corinthians 13:1. [d] Although some may argue that this refers to the incident of 1 Corinthians 5:1-6, does not. That was the case of one man living with his father s wife. This case involves many. [e] See also 2 Corinthians 12:14. [f] Deuteronomy 19:15. In other words, Paul is saying that this third visit will confirm his verdict about them. 13 / 13