Recap

So far in 2 Corinthians, we've seen Paul working to reconcile with the Corinthians. He wrote this letter around 57 CE to address ongoing issues after his authority was challenged during a "painful visit."

After sending a severe letter through Titus, most of the church repented, but new opposition from "super-apostles" arose. These leaders questioned Paul’s authority because of his poverty, lack of eloquence, and suffering, contrasting him with their polished appearances. This prompted Paul to defend his apostleship and address the Corinthians' flawed value system.

Paul began with greetings and prayer and then launched into the accusations against him. 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. From there, he unpicks the Corinthians' faulty value system, or at least the one offered to them by their new leaders.

He used the example of Moses' face shining with glory. It seemed impressive, but quickly faded and didn't help the Israelites. In contrast, Jesus brings a new glory through the Spirit that transforms people from the inside out. Lives changed by the Spirit are far more valuable than outward appearance.

In the same way, 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.

The priority was to take part in God's mission of reconciliation, and so Paul would do whatever is needed to see more of creation reconciled to God. In the same way, the Corinthians are being called to that same mission. If they get caught up in the importance eloquence of these new leaders, they're going to miss the point of the gospel and what they are called to.

2 Corinthians 7-8

Paul now turns back to the Corinthians themselves and his restored relationship with them. He asks that they again fully accept him as they can clearly see he has not wronged anyone. He takes great pride in the Corinthians, often boasting about them to when talking to others.

Paul had been in Macedonia felling downcast. He was exhausted and suffering. The weight of their conflict weighed heavily on him, along with all the other struggles and persecutions he’d been facing. So when Titus came and told Paul the latest that the Corinthians had read his most recent letter and had repented and grieved what had happened to Paul, he was overjoyed.

When Paul first wrote that letter, it weighed heavily on his heart, and at first he regretted even sending it. But now he can see how it affected the Corinthians, he doesn’t regret it. It had grieved them but that grief led to their repentance and desire for reconciliation.

In this we can see that grief in and of itself isn’t bad. Sometimes godly grief can lead to transformation and salvation. In contrast, worldly grief just produces death. This godly grief has produced a fresh zeal in the Corinthians, which was Paul’s goal with his letter. He didn’t want to just make them feel bad about what had happened.

Paul was also encouraged at how glowingly Titus spoke of the Corinthians. He had previously boasted about the Corinthians to Titus, so it was now encouraging to know that Paul hadn’t been proven wrong in his boasting. Because of all this, Paul continues to have great confidence in the Corinthians.

As we end this section of the letter focused on Paul realigning his relationship with the Corinthians, I want to focus on the intimacy and depth of his relationship with them. The initial cause for this letter was because there were people challenging Paul’s authority.

But in response, Paul does not assert himself and demand his authority is recognised. His only care is that the Corinthians not get swept away by things that are completely opposite to the goals of the gospels. He is writing to them from a place of genuine love and affection. He is modelling the servant leadership, and care for one another that he is calling them into.

Next, Paul focuses on the topic of the Corinthians' generosity. He points them to the churches of Macedonia. As a people, they had their own sufferings and struggles with poverty, but when they heard about the opportunity to help those in Judea, they begged for the opportunity to give what little they had.

The Macedonians were so dedicated to Jesus that it naturally led them then to out-pour what little they had to Titus and Paul so they could pass it on.

Paul notes that the Corinthians already excel in many things, and it’s his hope that they might learn to excel in this area too. Not as an obligation. He is not commanding them to give. But this is an opportunity to demonstrate the love they have for others. Jesus himself was rich, but was willing to become poor so that the Corinthians might find real richness in him.

So Paul encourages them to finish what they began. The Corinthians had likely started collecting money to give, but then stopped when the relationship with Paul first broke down. Paul can see that they are eager to continue in this ministry of reconciliation, so may they demonstrate their eagerness, much like the Macedonians demonstrated theirs.

It’s not that Paul want’s to Corinthians to bear the responsibility of supporting others so the Macedonians don’t have to. But it would be fair to say the Corinthians are much wealthier than the Macedonians and so it only makes sense that’s then reflected in their generosity.

He then explains the process to maintain transparency. As today, money was a touchy subject, and so Paul wanted to make sure everyone knew that everything was above board so there was no room for disharmony there. Titus was the one who volunteered to collect the money, and Titus has shown the same eagerness for the Corinthians as Paul.

Not only Titus, but someone else who has been appointed by all the churches will be coming with Titus. This is a church wide effort, not something cooked up by Paul and his friends.

It is the team’s desire to not only prove themselves above board with God but also with the believers, so the Corinthians can trust Titus and the others who come are trusted and godly. May the Corinthians be eager and generous when they come.

Psalm 150

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.

Psalm 150:1 - The place of praise

Psalm 150:2 - The reason for praise

Psalm 150:3-5 - The instruments of praise

Psalm 150:6 - Let everything praise

The psalmist opens with a call to praise the Lord in the sanctuary and the mighty firmament. One way of interpretation this is that the sanctuary is the temple, God’s presence on earth. The firmament is the heavens. So the call is those on earth and those in heaven to praise the Lord.

Next up is the reason. We are to praise the Lord for his mighty deeds and for his surpassing greatness. In other words, praise him for what he does, and for who he is.

The comes a list of instruments we should praise the Lord with. The point the psalmist is making is that the whole orchestra should come together to praise the Lord. Each instrument bringing its unique sound to build together into a crescendo of praise.

Finally, the psalmist calls all things that have breath to praise the Lord. This could be a reference back to Genesis 2:7 where God breathed life into humans. This, then, would carry a responsibility. Just as the Lord gave us breath, we should then give that breath back to him in praise.