You'd be pushing to read through this letter in 30 min! I had to continually go back and re-read previous verses to understand many of the phrases and arguments Paul uses here. He doesn't shy away from tongue twisters in his arguments, that's for sure! Maybe it is an expression of his eagerness to write to these people, trying to get so much across at once? All up, just over 1 hour reading, but I am sure I probably read most verses at least twice as I went through!
Very good quote there by N.T. Wright. I am not sure I can add anything to his words there, he sums up the relevance of this epistle to today's world very well. Particularly in this post-modernist society, many don't respond to absolutes well, and so they don't like anyone telling them what to do - they are comfortable where they are. But issues such as those Paul is dealing with in Corinth (in both letters) are so important, we have to make them issues, despite opposition.
Written probably within a year of the last letter, after Paul left Ephesus, and is apparently now in Macedonia somewhere. As we see revealed as we go through the letter, he has since the writing of 1 Corinthians visited the city, but the visit was difficult and unprofitable, so he left and sent a 'severe letter' to them. This letter, like the previous correspondence before 1 Corinthians, has not been preserved for us, so it is apparently not for our eyes - God would have preserved us if He desired for us to see it. After the letter was sent, he is apparently so anxious about their response that he can't focus well on his other ministry, until he hears the news from Titus. This is his joyful response to the news.
The overarching theme in this book is a response to the situation in Corinth described above. Paul is joyful about their repentance, the other ways in which they have responded and changed their practices, and for the renewed testimony to their faith. He does not leave it there, because that would not be loving. When pulling a car out of a muddy paddock where they have been stuck, you don't leave them to it once out of the rut - you make sure they are safe to get well out of the paddock before you put the tow ropes away! As he relates his joy at their response, he intersperses it with reminders of what he has taught them - about the gospel, suffering, our confidence in Christ, the assurance of Heaven, reconciliation with others, our identity in Christ, and generosity. We can learn much from the way he frames his arguments to these people, who have repented. He intermingles these reminders with affirmations of what they have done, exhortations to go on doing the same, and warnings about going the wrong way. The focus in not on rules or what we must do, but rather an appeal that: because of all these wonderful things - how can we not respond in this way?
He cannot deal only with the repentant either. Some appear still to think that Paul is wrong, that he has no authority, or that he is a hypocrite. He deals with these in the latter part of the epistle. Though he hates doing so, he defends himself, giving evidence of his authority. Evidence that should not be needed - the church itself bears witness to his character and authority as a servant and apostle of God! He deals harshly with those people still teaching falsely - a final warning before he sees them again when he will deal with them most severely if he needs to.
Quickly summarising some of the thoughts and teachings:
Having heard of their repentance, Paul reminds them of the comfort we have in Christ. He assures them he has been sincere before them, and only changing his plans when necessity compelled him to - evidently answering some issue that was raised before. While on the topic, he reminds us of God's faithfulness. He chose not to visit them again so soon, because of the strained last visit, writing the 'severe letter' instead. He hated to write such things because of the pain caused, but true love required him to write. He recognises the pain some have been in, and encourages reconciliation and love towards those who did wrong and repented.
Seeking to confirm them in the things they know, he reminds them that they themselves are witnesses to his authority as a minister of the Word. He reminds them of this ministry, and how our confidence we have in Christ - the glory of the new covenant, so much better than the old covenant because it is now permanent, and ministers life, not death (by holding up the righteous standard, the law justly condemned us to death). Note that the law is not wrong, nor does it lack glory - but the new covenant is far better, and thus has more glory.
He reminds them of the importance of the truth - the simple plain truth, preached. To try and trick people into believing or manipulate them is not acceptable! Unbelievers do not understand - but those whom God calls do. We posses such richness of wisdom and understanding and knowledge! But do not boast - it is to the glory of God. We still dwell in bodies which suffer and are frail to show that it is of God, and not us. However, do not despair that we are suffering in frail bodies! We look forward to Heaven, in the presence of Christ, and He has given us His Spirit as a guarantee that we will get there! Whether here on earth or in Heaven, we rejoice, and seek to please Him Who has done so much for us!
Knowing these wonderful truths, how can we not share them? There are no longer any boundaries - Christ died for all, and we seek to share Christ with anyone - no matter how the world judges or categorises them! We live in God , and work together with Him. We seek to serve, and show forth love, not placing barriers in peoples way to Christ! It doesn't matter how we are treated, our riches are not in this world.
As we seek to share this truth though, we must be careful not to join with unbelievers to promote spiritual things. How can someone who doesn't know Christ work with us if we are heading in opposite directions? Using a number of metaphors to show the absurdity of this, Paul warns against any partnership with unbelievers where you need to work together spiritually.
This verse about not being unequally yoked is commonly associated with marriage, but as we read the context here, it encompasses so much more than just that. Marriage is included, as marriage partners grow together spiritually, but many other partnerships are in view also - including the spreading of the gospel, and some business partnerships. It doesn't mean we shouldn't work with unbelievers, but we shouldn't bind ourselves to them lest they lead us astray or we dilute or compromise God's truth.
Knowing these truths, we continue purifying our lives, to live holy in reverence of God. There is another expression of his joy over them, his sorrow at causing them pain, but his gladness that the pain turned them to repentance, and was therefore necessary. He mentions the difference between Godly grief, and unbelievers' grief - one leads to repentance, the other leads to death. Unfortunately we see this evident in the world with many suicides, but the idea in view here seems to be spiritual death, which encompasses all unbelievers who don't repent.
Concluding, he deals with the principle of generosity and his confidence and joy in their giving. He seems to be assuring them that the people taking the money to Judea are trustworthy, as is Paul himself, indicating there may have been questions in the church about this during the problems they had. The principles he outlines are basically that we should give generously because we have received generously from God. Not according to rules of how much, but accordingly as we can. We are not called to burden ourselves unnecessarily, but should give out of our abundance according to our means.
Moving on to deal with those who still oppose him, Paul starts to defend his own character, which has been under attack. He entreats them, pleading that they understand the humble walk of a Christian leader, and showing that he is the same whether with them or away from them. He reminds them that we should only boast in Christ, and teachers who continually boast about their credentials do not understand the true Christian walk (implying they are false teachers). He reminds them of his humble service with them, and the love he showed them. He deals stridently with the false teachers, sometimes declaring how wrong they are, often using sarcasm when describing them (the phrase 'super apostles' seems to be directed at them, as they kept boasting how good they were). Though loathe to talk about himself, he proves that he has far more reason to boast in earthly credentials than they do, but would rather boast in Christ. He will boast in his weakness, not his strength, that Christ's strength might be glorified. He then mentions the revelations he received from God (in a vision?) as another confirmation of his authority in chapter 12, as if it is another person initially, but from verse 7 it is clear he is speaking of his own experience - and we gain an otherwise unknown insight in the development of Paul before he went on his missionary journeys. He quickly reminds them that though these revelations were marvellous, he was also granted a permanent affliction to keep him humble, which he learnt to rejoice in. He concludes with a final argument against the false prophets, and shows again his purposes of seeking their good, and not his own. He exhorts those who have not yet repented to do so.
He finally calls for them to examine themselves - a call we all need to pay heed to. Not that we should doubt our salvation if we have it, but strengthen it. If we are not truly saved - then better to find out now while there is time to do something about it. He reiterates the importance of the truth, and how he cannot go against the truth, and he seeks their restoration that when he sees them they may both enjoy the visit without needing to deal with unrepentant sin.
Lord, as the Head of the Church, the One Who died for Your bride, and gave Your life as a ransom for us... Lord we plead with You that in every local church Your truth would be upheld. Help us to deal with sin, and not leave it festering within the church, to grow and spread. Give us wisdom to discern false teaching and recognise false teachers, that we may limit their poison. Lord, we glory in You, and the new covenant in which You have brought us by Your blood! We have received so much Lord, You have given to us bountifully! We seek to respond, to please You in all we do, to be wise stewards and generous with Your money and resources, and to love fellow believers in our church and elsewhere, but we cannot do it without Your help, and Your Spirit to guide. Lord, our God.. we rejoice in You.
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