Family Chapel

Paul calls out the false teachers in Corinth for what they are. While outwardly, they might shine and sparkle, they are actually fool's gold. They preach a different gospel, they are motivated by self-interest, and they operate out of an illegitimate authority. We would do well to heed Paul's warning since we too live in a world filled with false teachers peddling fool's gold. Let's seek to be discerning disciples who hold on to Christ, our true treasure.

We pivot away from the topic of collection and generosity/giving and move back into Paul's defense of his apostolic ministry and authority. He begins by speaking on his own validation through the power of the gospel. While his critics and opponents try to demean Paul and self-promote themselves, Paul asserts his validation is from the Lord and from his ministry as a minister of the gospel. True validation is from God. Freedom from the validation of the world is through the gospel.

As Paul wraps up his appeal to the Corinthians about contributing to the relief fund, we now see the fruit of generosity. We can generously give with confidence knowing that in God's Kingdom those who sow bountifully will reap bountifully. Not only does God guarantee the seed to sow, but He also guarantees the fruit to reap. And the fruit of generosity that we can enjoy include greater glory to God and strengthened unity in the church.

After wrapping up his appeal to the Corinthians, Paul now addresses the relief fund he is collecting from various churches to send over to the suffering Christians in Jerusalem and Judea. The Corinthians had begun to collect the funds, but with all the relational tension and presence of false teachers, they had stalled out. In this passage, Paul encourages them to resume the collection and to give generously. As Christians, we are driven to be generous, not out of a burdensome obligation, but by an overflow of God's grace. As such, generosity is our act of worship to God, a pathway to spiritual maturity, the appropriate response to the Gospel, and the means to bless others.

Paul is wrapping up this section of his letter in which he's been making his appeal to his friends in Corinth to be reconciled to him. And Paul has much reason to be comforted and joyful. He has received news from Titus that the Corinthians have responded well to his "sorrowful letter", which called on the Corinthians to repent. In this passage we see what true repentance looks like. True repentance is encouraged through loving relationships, it is spurred on by godly grief, it results in real life change, and it multiplies shared joy.

As Paul is continuing to make his appeal to the Corinthians to be reconciled with him, he now gives them the call to pursue holiness. The Corinthians had been compromising their faith by partnering with these traveling preachers who were bringing a false gospel and promoting the ways of the world. But rather than conforming to the world, Christians are to refuse engaging with the world in such a way that compromises their own Christian identity, worship, and witness. We are to hold on to holiness!

After explaining the powerful courage that the resurrection provides, Paul expounds upon what this living for Christ looks like through the ministry of reconciliation. Paul uses his unique situation and context with the Corinthians to address both theological truths as well as his personal endeavors for peace and restoration with the Corinthians. Paul explains that the ministry of reconciliation is a ministry that has been initiated by God and commissioned to us. Therefore, we are new creations where the ministry of reconciliation completely transforms how we regard life and one another.

Paul explains that the hope of resurrection is enjoying eternally redeemed life with God. Far from being irrelevant, this future hope provides present courage to be faithful in our everyday lives. More specifically, the hope of resurrection brings courage to live for Christ, to face the disapproval of others, and to die to self. Could it be that so much of the fear we feel in living for Christ is because we have forgotten this future hope? May we courageously press on here and now as we look ahead to our future resurrection.

As Paul continues to defend his apostolic ministry, he now directly addresses the main criticism levied against him - his weakness. But far from having his weakness disqualify him from ministry, Paul shows how his weakness is actually crucial to his ministry. Weakness is the pathway to express God's power and to experience God's glory. Following Jesus means that we will experience weakness, suffering, and even death. But we can take heart knowing that weakness is actually God's pathway to power and glory.

Due to the influence of other travelling teachers, the Corinthians have been seeking to turn back to the old covenant in order to secure glory for themselves. In response to that, Paul argues that the new covenant has greater glory because it leads to life, is eternal, and brings freedom. While we ourselves may not be in much danger of turning back to the old covenant, many of us are often tempted to seek out different pathways to glory. May we instead seek the greater glory that is found in Christ through the Gospel.