Recap

So far in 2 Corinthians we've started the section of the letter where Paul focuses on re-conciliating with the Corinthians. Paul wrote 2 Corinthians around 57 CE to address ongoing issues in the Corinthian church. After planting the church and writing several letters, including 1 Corinthians, his authority was challenged during what Paul called a "painful visit."

Paul then sent a severe letter through Titus, who later reported that most of the church had repented. Unfortunately, opposition from new "super-apostles" had risen up. This prompted Paul to write 2 Corinthians to defend his apostleship. The key issue was the Corinthians' value system. They questioned Paul's authority due to his poverty, lack of eloquence, and suffering, contrasting him with the more polished "super-apostles."

Paul began by thanking God for the comfort he has received during this difficult time and the Corinthians for their prayers. He explained why he changed his travel plans. He figured it was better to send a letter instead of visiting again after his authority was rejected during his last visit. He emphasised that he didn’t want to dominate them but to bring joy. Paul also addresses the person who caused the initial conflict, urging the Corinthians to forgive them, as they seem repentant.

Paul then gives thanks to God for their reconciliation and reminds them that they are a "beautiful aroma" of life through their unity and faith. He contrasts this with others who only teach the word. He and the Corinthians are called to live lives the demonstrate the life of Jesus to those who are still in death.

2 Corinthians 3-4

Next Paul addresses the issue of recommendation letters. These new leaders that had come in had come with many letters of recommendation showing how important they were. Paul didn’t come with any letters of recommendation. Why should the Corinthians listen to Paul over these other apostles if they have recommendation letters and he doesn’t?

Paul asks them, are we really back to talking how important we are again? Didn’t we deal with this in the last letter? The church in Corinth is Paul’s recommendation letter. Each believer, who has been transformed by the gospel, is evidence of Paul’s calling.

It’s not about letters written in ink by humans. It’s about lives transformed by the Spirit. About hearts being renewed. Paul’s confidence is transformation he’s seen because of Jesus. He’s not going to try to argue and prove how competent he is, because it’s not about being competent. God is the one that makes us competent.

The law was written, and that brought death. We read about this idea in Romans 7. While the law was initially produced as a guide to live in a way that didn’t indulge the power of sin in the Israelites’ lives, sin took that and used it against them. Sin used the law to make the people more sinful, as they now had set rules they could break or bend as they saw fit.

In contrast, the Spirit brings life because it helps us unravelled the power of sin in our lives. So if a written law lead to our death, why would we resort to written letters to prove if someone is really from God?

Paul draws on the example of the law in the Old Testament. When Moses went up the mountain to get the law and meet with God, he came down with a face that was literally glowing because of the glory of the Lord. The Corinthians seem to want the same now. They want the leaders that almost seem to be glowing from how close they are to God. They want the leaders who you can outwardly see immediately are important.

But Paul points out that the glory we have now because of the Spirit is so much better than the glory Moss had. Think about Moses. He put a veil over his face to hide the fact that the glory was fading. And the Israelites were still hard and wicked despite the glory. This is still true today of anyone who tries to find glory by reading and following the laws set out in the Old Testament.

But Jesus has done away with the veil. He’s made a way for people to see God clearly and with it has brought a permanent glory. A glory that transforms us from the inside out to be more like him through the Spirit. So what is more important, leaders who seem to glow with importance, or leaders who help see lives transformed by the Spirit? Which of those is a better recommendation letter? Clearly, lives transformed.

As Paul is engaged in this ministry of seeing lives transformed, he’s not disheartened by the fact he’s not eloquent, or that he’s poor, or doesn’t have lots of recommendation letters. He doesn’t feel the need to hide his flaws when he can point them out and seek to turn from. He doesn’t need to lie or make God’s words seem more wise and appealing. Instead, he can openly and confidently stand in all truth, honestly revealing who God is and who he is.

Paul acknowledges that there will always be some who misunderstand him and can’t see the God he’s revealing because the ‘god of this age’ (Satan) is keeping them blind. But that doesn’t mean he needs to try harder and show how important he is to get people to believe. Instead, he just keeps showing off Jesus, who is the light that has shone in Paul’s heart, and Paul now allows shine through him to others.

He describes himself and other as like clay jars. Cheap. Unimportant. But carrying something of extreme value. It’s not Paul that is important. It’s Jesus in Paul that is important. You can treat cheap jars poorly, because the jars aren’t the important part.

In the same way, Paul can go through suffering. He can be beaten and persecuted, and none of that diminishes the message that he brings. Paul will willingly participate in the suffering that Jesus participated in so that others can participate in the life Jesus has brought.

In all this, Paul is subverting the accusations that are being made against him. These over leaders are setting themselves up as apostles because of their own self importance. Paul is willingly admitting he is poor and not much to look at. It’s Jesus inside of him that’s important.

Psalm 148

This psalm isn’t attributed to anyone in particular and falls into the category of praise psalm. These final five psalms (Psalm 146-150) serves as a doxology for the whole book of psalms. They praise God as king and speak his authority over all things.

Psalm 148:1-6 - Praise the Lord from the heavens

Psalm 148:7-12 - Praise the Lord from the earth

Psalm 148:13-14 - Praise the Lord Israel

The psalmist starts with a call to praise the Lord from the heavens. They call to the angels, the host of heaven, the sun, moon, and stars to praise the Lord. This is a call to both the physical objects we see in the sky and the spiritual powers in heaven to praise the Lord. He is the one that created them and has established them.

Next, the psalmist turns to the earth and calls for it to praise the Lord. Whether it be sea monsters in the deep, or the elements and the weather. From mountains and hills, to trees, wild animals, cattle, insects and birds. All the earth should praise the Lord. And of course, that includes humans. From leaders to your average person, from male to female, and young to old. Let all people come and praise the Lord.

In particular amongst the humans, let Israel praise the Lord. They should worship him because he is powerful and mighty. But they should also worship him because he raised them up and chose them to be his people. The message of this psalm is simple. All creation should praise the Lord.