哥林多后书

Meditative Reflection
Speaking Truth in Love is Not Easy

“Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it. Though I did regret it….” (2 Co. 7:8)

As much as Paul praises the Corinthian believers for their repentance and obedience, I do not think that Paul was 100% sure of their response when he first wrote the former letter. Otherwise, he would not say that he did regret at first in having written the letter (7:8), and that he is now glad that they “have not embarrassed” him (7:14). In other words, he must have struggled quite a bit as he penned his former letter, and so should he.

To see the “speck” in the eyes of our brothers and sisters is easy (Matt. 7:4-5). Even if we are sure that rebuke is in order because of their ignorance or willful disobedience of the Word of God, we should still struggle as Paul did before we lash out, especially with harsh words.

Paul was fully qualified to rebuke the Corinthian believers, not only because he was an apostle and because he led many of them to Christ, but because he proved to them that he loved them.

I have heard so many seemingly righteous words spoken especially in public by self-appointed guardians of the truth, but they have not demonstrated as Paul did, their love for the people they seek to rebuke. Without such love, those words are bound to be empty (1 Co. 13:1).

However, even if we have demonstrated our love as Paul did, we should still be mindful of the potential consequences of our rebuke as Paul did. The more severe our rebuke, the more sorrow we would bring with our rebuke. The more love that we have demonstrated, the deeper the hurt our rebuke will bring. Our rebuke is always not meant to simply “clean house”, but to restore (Gal. 6:1). Therefore, we should pray much before, during and after our rebuke, so that it will bring “godly sorrow” which leads to repentance.

Meditative Reflection
Giving Ourselves First to the Lord

“And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches.” (2 Co. 8:1)

I always am thankful that for whatever reason, many churches, including the ones that I am closely connected with, do not pass around the offering plate during the Sunday service. The reason I say that is because, as a pastor, I often see people scrambling at the last minute to reach into their wallet or purse for they have not come prepared to give of their tithe. It makes me feel that it has to be one of the most displeasing moments during the worship to the Lord.

The Apostle Paul obviously tries to shame the church in Corinth about their lack of desire to help the Jerusalem churches because of their plight (likely concerning the famine in Acts 11:27-30). He points out that such a giving is grace given by God. Indeed, it is.

I think we all agree that the ability to give from what we have is grace. We should always be thankful that we do not need to be at the receiving end of another’s aid and it is God’s grace.

However, the grace that the Macedonian churches demonstrate is not just their giving, but their giving in “extreme” poverty, or as one commentator would translate it, “rock-bottom” poverty. One wonders how the Macedonian churches could even give if they were at rock-bottom poverty? I guess, what they look at is not how little they have, but the “nothingness” that the Jerusalem churches have. Since they are not suffering from famine, they could work harder to get more, while the Jerusalemites have no ways to procure more, even if they want to work harder.

But Paul gives us a glimpse of the secret of this “grace” given by God to the churches in Macedonia, and that is, “They gave themselves first of all to the Lord…” (2 Co. 8:5). Indeed, when we give ourselves first to the Lord, we are making ourselves available to the immense possibilities and potentials to be used by His Spirit. This is the grace we need to pursue.

Meditative Reflection
Equality in the Family of God

“Our desire is not that others might be relieved, while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality.” (2 Co. 8:13)

I think you would agree with me if I say, “Today’s churches are too self-centered”. Some churches even have a competing mentality with other Bible-believing churches in the same geographical area. It is sad.

I have also come across a church that rented the facility of another ethnic church which had a dwindling attendance. They eventually took over their church premise, only to refuse leasing it back to that ethnic church which used to own the building. That’s how self-centered we can be as a church of God.

However, I also heard a pastor who shared how his church, though not a mega church, opened their hearts and their eyes to see the needs of other struggling, smaller churches in their community and decided to “tithe” their pastor and resources to help them out. This particular church truly understands that we are all one in the family of God.

Meditative Reflection
Minister and Money

“For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord, but also in the eyes of man.” (2 Co. 8:21)

It may not be a wrong assumption that the main reason Paul wrote 2 Corinthians was to ensure that the church of Corinth would honor their pledge to help the Jerusalem believers in their famine. Titus and the other two brothers mentioned in chapter 8 are likely the bearers of the letter.

I am impressed with how Paul was “taking pains” to handle this matter of collection so as to avoid any criticism. The fact that the money so collected will be handled not by one, but three brothers, will lessen any suspicion there might be. And the qualifications of the three should eliminate any potential criticism there might be. Paul knows very well the power of rumors and the destructiveness of any attack on the integrity of a ministry or its ministers. However, throughout church history, many Christian leaders seem to ignore this minefield, and Watchman Nee comes to mind as such an example to avoid.

In the height of his ministry, for whatever spiritual reason, Watchman Nee decided to operate a business in the field of pharmacy and the consequent harm done to his ministry and his own reputation are well documented. Business and ministry should never be mixed, and by the same principle, a pastor should never handle or touch the finances of the church or any part thereof.

Meditative Reflection
The Reasons to Give

“For if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we –not to say anything about you—would be ashamed of having been so confident.” (2 Co. 9:4)

In trying to appreciate Paul’s admonition to the Corinthian church with regard to the follow-through of their promise to give toward the collection from various churches to aid the suffering churches in Jerusalem, we have to understand the genuinely intimate relationship of Paul with this church, in spite of the many misunderstandings and hurts. This is a church he would give his life for, and indeed he did. So, to shame them is not necessarily a wrong thing to do—he knows them too well, and the shame or embarrassment is mutual, felt not just by the Corinthians.

However, Paul does not want to use the “shame” tactic only. He cares about whether or not the Corinthian believers understand the true meaning of giving, and so he reminds them in chapter 9 of the various proper motives or reasons for giving which include:

(1) God’s general principle of blessing His children: The more we sow, the more we reap (9:6).

(2) God loves a cheerful giver and not a reluctant one (9:7).

(3) God’s purpose of blessing us is for us to bless others (9:8).

(4) Our giving will reap a harvest of righteousness (9:9).

Of the above four admonitions, I find the last one quite convicting, because the harvest of righteousness is expressed through the thanksgiving and praises offered to God “for the obedience that accompanies (the) confession of the gospel of Christ” (9:13). It means that whether it is the recipients of our generosity or those who can see our good work in this respect, they recognize that our giving is out of our obedience to God and is an outflow of our confession of the gospel of Christ. In other words, our generous giving will bear testimony of the gospel that we preach and will bring glory to God, not to ourselves ultimately. The flip side of this is that our lack of generosity towards the need of our fellow believers reveals the phoniness of our claim to be Christians and brings dishonor to God whom we claim to worship.

Meditative Reflection
Boldness and Gentleness in Christ

“By the humility and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you.” (2 Co. 10:1)

Commentators, in general, agree that the tone of this part of the letter beginning with chapter 10 is markedly different from the first 9 chapters. While the early part of the letter also contains direct admonition, “the tone is basically that of relief, comfort, of confidence in God and in the Corinthians", while the tone of the latter part is “marked by satire and sarcasm, spirited personal defense, reproach…” (TNTC, 2 Corinthians, 169). As a result, some commentators opine that the latter part, perhaps, belongs to a different letter, which is, of course, pure speculation.

However, even in the latter part of this letter, it is obvious that Paul is addressing both the Corinthian believers (whom he considers the victims) and the intruders (those he considers the true offenders, the disobedient). To the former, he still addresses them in “humility and gentleness” (10:1), while to the latter, in boldness.

It is to these intruders that he directs his warning in 10:6: “And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete.”

What Paul means is that before he lashes out his punishment to these intruders, he will give a chance to the Corinthian believers to disassociate themselves from the intruders, by obeying the teachings of Paul.

Although, Paul has not spelled out how he would punish the disobedient and what his divine weapons are, we understand from the Book of Acts and in his other letters that his power is always the word of God—the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is the preaching of the unadulterated word of the gospel that will demolish every argument and pretension that is against the knowledge of God and take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ (10:5).

Meditative Reflection
Judging by Appearance

“You are judging by appearances…For some say, ‘His letters are weighty and forceful, but in person he is unimpressive and his speaking amounts to nothing.” (2 Co. 10:7, 10)

Allow me to quote the following to help our understanding of how Paul was probably judged by his appearance:

“It is clear from his defensive tones in 1 Corinthians that Paul has been made to feel inadequate in rhetorical speech (1 Co. 2:1-5; cf 1:18-31). Possibly the arrival of the verbally gifted Apollos between Paul’s first visit and the writing of the (extant) First Letter created some sense of dissatisfaction with Paul’s capacity as a public speaker…Although the Corinth of Paul’s day had a Roman foundation, the Greek cultural influence should not be underestimated. For centuries Greek art and sculpture had expressed evident appreciation of outward form, both of buildings and of people, in particular athletes and warriors who were customarily presented “heroically”. Consistent with this, the public orator was judged for their excellence of his rhetoric as well as for his physical appearance, both the power of his voice and imposing bearing…According to an oft-quoted second-century work The Acts of Paul and Thecla, Paul was unpromising in this regard, ‘A man of middling size (some translate of small stature), and his hair was scanty (some translate bald), and his legs were a little crooked, and his knees were projecting, and he had large eyes and his eyebrows met, and his nose was somewhat long (some translate hooked)…”
(TNICNT, 2 Corinthians, 476-7)

If this account is authentic, would it change your impression of the Apostle Paul? And would you appreciate more of his challenges as an Apostle, especially to these people in Corinth?