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.

Paul addressed the issue of recommendation letters. While the new leaders might have them, he did not need them. The Corinthians themselves, transformed by the gospel, were his true letter of recommendation. He contrasted the law, which brought death, with the Spirit, which brings life. While Moses’ glory faded, the Spirit brings lasting transformation. Lives changed by the Spirit are far more valuable than human praise.

Though he wasn’t eloquent or had formal endorsements, Paul was confident in his message. He didn’t hide his flaws or try to make the gospel more appealing, trusting that the light of Jesus would shine through him. He likened himself to a clay jar. Cheap and unimpressive but carrying a great treasure. He endured suffering and weakness to show that it was Jesus inside him, not his own importance, that truly mattered.

2 Corinthians 5-6

Paul mentioned that was is “seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:18). He then uses the metaphor of a tent. Currently, he lives in an earthly tent that will one day be destroyed, but then he will live in a building from God.

In his previous letter, Paul made clear that the current body is mortal. It perishes and fails. Eventually we will die and be transformed into a new immortal, but still physical body that will not perish (1 Corinthians 15). In the same way, Paul acknowledges that his current experience and is not great. He’s poor and beaten.

But that will eventually be done away with and he will receive the promise found in God. In fact, his desire is not to throw off the current life he is living, but instead to that life consumed by God’s life and promises. Right now, he acknowledges that this physical life keeps him ‘away from the Lord’. That is compared to when we die and get to be with him as we await the final resurrection.

So for now, Paul seeks only to please Jesus so that when that judgement day comes, he can honestly claim he lived well in this mortal life. The unspoken contrast here is with these other leaders who want to live important and well-respected lives now with no thought of how they will have to give an account when they stand before Jesus.

Focusing back on the Corinthians, Paul reassures them that as face as he’s concerned, he is right before his conscience and before God. The reason he is explaining himself to them is not to assert his authority or dominance, but to explain why he lives the way he does so that if others accuse him, the Corinthians can justify why they would rather listen to Paul than fake leaders. Jesus died so all might have life. Paul will now live for the one who died for him.

This has to then completely transform how we view others. Jesus, as a crucified messiah, makes no sense from a human point of view. Because the believers had to give up their human understanding in order to know Jesus properly, they must give up their human understanding so they can see others properly.

Every person who believes in Jesus is a brand new creation. All their past flaws and mistakes are done away with. They are completely new. This is done because God is seeking to reconcile all creation back to himself through Jesus. In the same way, we are called to participate in that goal of reconciling all creation back to God. Our number one reason for being is to be ambassadors of Christ.

Paul’s ministry to the Corinthians has been a model of that goal of reconciliation. He quotes Isaiah 49:8 when God speaks to the Israelites that there will be a time when he will rescue them. For Paul, that time is now for the Corinthians. Now is the time for them and all creation to be reconciled to God.

So Paul will do whatever he needs to to accomplish that mission. He will suffer and endure. He will go through all sorts of hardships, from beatings, imprisonments, sleepless nights, and hunger. He will do all this, coming in poverty and openness so that the Corinthians might know that reconciliation. These very things that others have pointed out to discredit him are the very things that have shaped his ministry to them.

Paul then makes a subtle call to draw away from anyone who would claim otherwise. These very people who are accusing him and discrediting him have fundamentally misunderstood the mission of God. So without naming them, Paul encourages the Corinthians to separate themselves from anything and anyone that doesn’t align with God.

There’s no partner between righteousness and lawlessness. The two are polar opposite, as are light and darkness. In the same way, the Corinthians should not try to partner with those who fundamentally don’t understand the gospel.

In 1 Corinthians 5, we read how Paul encouraged the Corinthians to not have anything to do with sinners. We recognised there that Paul was talking about those inside the church who continue unashamedly to sin. They were very much called to have relationships with sinners outside the church, so they might know Jesus.

Paul is saying the same thing here. Having nothing to do with those who claim to be part of the church but ignore or miss its primary mission. But continue to interact with those outside the church because they don’t know any better, and our goal is to seem the reconciled with God.

We then get a mash up of quotes from Leviticus 26:12, Isaiah 52:11, Ezekiel 20:41, and 2 Samuel 7:14. The point is that God is calling them out to a different way of living because he wants to live with them and have a relationship with them. They can’t do that if they hold on to this old way of chasing after pride and glory that these over leaders seem to be modelling.

Psalm 149

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. This psalm was likely sung after a military victory.

Psalm 149:1-4 - Praise the Lord, O Israel

Psalm 149:5-9 - Praise God in the midst of battle

The psalmist starts with a call to praise the Lord, specifically to Israel. The praise is to be communal as it’s done in the assembly. Israel should praise the Lord as their king. They dance and rejoice, taking pleasure in him as he takes pleasure in them, giving them victory.

But then the language turns militaristic. The praises of God’s people should be like a sword in their hand as they do warfare. As they war against other nations who have done wicked, and against kings and leaders, they should praise the Lord.

The message of bringing praise into warfare can be useful to us, if we recognise what appropriate warfare is. To draw on Paul’s writings “we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:12). If we’re going to do meaningful battle against darkness and wickedness, our trust and confidence needs to be in the Lord, and praise is a great way to reinforce this.