ARTICLE – 31 July 2016
The second letter by the Apostle Paul to the Corinthian Christians is written in a personal way and yet contains insightful theological truths for all Christians. Being alert to matters that will detract and distract us, will hold us ready to fight and be bold in a world that wage war against all things Christians hold to be true and right. We are equipped with weapons that have divine power to demolish strongholds and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God (2 Corinthians 10:4-5).
When we review this letter in the study of the person of Paul we notice his conduct and character in ministry – his apostolic authority and discipline. His conduct is always straightforward with simplicity and sincerity, not by his intellectual wisdom but by the grace of God. His character is impeccable. He carries the fragrance of Christ being the aroma to the perishing – “to the one we are an aroma that brings death and to the other, an aroma that brings life.” His sufficiency is from God and it is more than adequate as ministers of the New Covenant. He is so confident of this treasure in earthen vessels that the excellence of the power is of God and not of human strength and effort. Hence, it is all possible that “we are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.” Almost immovable and with such strong conviction, Paul’s strength in character is seen in his declaration – “I believed and therefore I spoke.”
In any form of service and ministry, authority must proceed from the rightful source. Paul’s apostolic authority overrides his inadequacy as one who is physically unimpressive and his insipid speech. He is more willing to boast in his infirmities, for it is in his weakness that he finds strength and power from Jesus. When he cried out to God in his desperation, he received the firm reply: “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” As Christians we are in constant struggles to do and to accomplish, all in futility if we do not frequently remember and return to our source of power. To the very end Paul reminds the Christians in Corinth that discipline is needed to examine and test themselves so as not to be disqualified. Temptations abound and it is too easy to fall prey to sin. In fact, Paul is truly afraid that he may not find them as he wants them to be. It is good to be reminded by the old and favourite song:
“I am weak, but Thou art strong; Jesus, keep me from all wrong;
I’ll be satisfied as long as I walk, let me walk close to Thee.”
