THE GOD WHO KEEPS HIS WORD

As we dive into 2 Corinthians, we come to the first of our "dilemmas". Remember that Paul's relationship with the Corinthians was complicated? Well, it was. There were likely 3 letters (2 lost) and at least 1 visit (likely more) that preceded this letter of 2 Corinthians. So, by the time Paul left Ephesus and headed up to Philippi, there was a lot to catch up on. So where did Paul and the Coriinthians need to start repairing their relationship?  Let's dive into 2 Cor 1:12-22 and find out. 

THE TEXTS: a 50 - 57 AD RECAP

• AD 50 - ACTS 18:1-10 After this Paul left Athens and went to Corinth... 9 And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, “Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, 10 for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people.” 11And he stayed a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.

• AD 52 - ACTS 19:1-41 Paul passed through the inland country and came to Ephesus ... 10 This continued for two years, so that all the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.

  • Paul wrote his first letter to Corinth ("1/2 Corinthians") - see 1 Cor 5:9-11

  • Paul wrote his second letter to Corinth ("1st Corinthians") - see 1 Cor 1:1

  • Paul made a "painful" visit to Corinth (not in Acts) - see 1 Cor 4:19, 2 Cor 2:1-2

  • Paul wrote his third letter to Corinth ("1.5 Corinthians") - see 2 Cor 2:3-9

• AD 56 - ACTS 20:1-2 Paul ... said farewell and departed for Macedonia.2 When he had gone through those regions and had given them much encouragement ... 

  • Paul wrote his fourth letter to Corinth ("2nd Corinthians"), having received good news from Titus up in Philippi... 

• AD 57 - ACTS 20:2-3 Paul ... came to Greece (as in "Corinth"). 3 There he spent three months.

• SO WHAT? - Given all the accusations Paul will have to address later in this letter, does this multi-year account seem like someone who doesn't care about the Corinthian church? If not, what can we learn about ministry in general from Paul's example there?

2 COR 1:12-14

12 For our boast is this, the testimony of our conscience, that we behaved in the world with simplicity and godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God, and supremely so toward you. 13 For we are not writing to you anything other than what you read and understand and I hope you will fully understand— 14 just as you did partially understand us—that on the day of our Lord Jesus you will boast of us as we will boast of you.

• "OUR BOAST" - Boasting has a negative connotation in our day, but Paul says it like he's proud of it - as though you can "boast" with pure motives when called to account for how well you've done something. Is this a new category for you (like it is for most of us)? If so, what do you make of it initially?

• "YOU WILL BOAST" - In the same manner, Paul says that "on the day of our Lord Jesus" the Corinthian church will want to celebrate their association with Paul. How does this "final day" language function to make us pause before declaring a verdict on what's happening around us today?

2 COR 1:15-17

15 Because I was sure of this, I wanted to come to you first, so that you might have a second experience of grace. 16 I wanted to visit you on my way to Macedonia, and to come back to you from Macedonia and have you send me on my way to Judea. 17 Was I vacillating when I wanted to do this? Do I make my plans according to the flesh, ready to say “Yes, yes” and “No, no” at the same time?

• "TO VISIT YOU" - In this section, Paul is describing aspects of the confusing history we reviewed above. According to verse 16, why did Paul want to make this visit to Corinth? 

• "YES & NO" - While the Corinthians probably didn't have any trouble understanding Paul in verse 17, this is a slightly strange choice of words to our ears. How would you summarize Paul's point in your own words?

2 COR 1:18-20

18 As surely as God is faithful, our word to you has not been Yes and No. 19 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, whom we proclaimed among you, Silvanus and Timothy and I, was not Yes and No, but in him it is always Yes. 20 For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.

• "GOD IS FAITHFUL" - Paul shifts from defending himself to highlighting God's faithfulness to them us ... and yet, he also connects these two concepts: God is faithful, therefore Paul tries to be faithful as well. How does the phrase "yes and no" accomplish this?

• "FIND THEIR YES" - Verse 20 repeats Paul's main point from verse 19: in Christ, "it" is always 'yes'. But what is "it"? Should verse 19 be misinterpreted to mean that God never answers a prayer with a "no"? (clearly not) So, how does verse 20's repetition of this "yes" language help to clarify what God is saying "yes" to? If it's not our prayers, what is it about?

• "UTTER AMEN" - And so "that is why" Paul said we should pray the way we do. If we remember that "Amen" means something like "truly" ... and if uttering "amen for his glory" is clearly connected to God saying "yes" to what He has promised, then what does this little phrase at the end of verse 20 mean about how we should be praying? 

2 COR 1:21-22

21 And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, 22and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.

• READ V 21-22 ... SLOWLY - Consider all that God has done for us - what activity of God does Paul list out in these 2 short verses? (Count out and meditate on the verbs ...)

• REMEMBER PAUL'S EXAMPLE - Remember that Paul started by defending himself, and ended with a treatise on the faithfulness of God in Christ. How does all that Paul just stated about God's work (in v 21-22) free us to also move from justifying ourselves to instead defending and relying on God's character? What implications could that have the next time your character is attacked?

Fighting for faith with you,

Pastor Darren