“OTHER THINGS ALSO”
Paul, writing to the Corinthians, is having to speak up for himself…explaining his call from God and establishing his God-given authority, which is being questioned. Paul was the founder,”the father“, the Apostle to the early church and he has taken full oversight and has to take the responsibility and speak to certain issues that would have been hard for him to do and hard to be received. He must for their sake, so he can stand
with a clear conscience before God.
Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit Paul addresses issues like sin being condoned in the church, the apathy towards it. I Cor. 5: 1-3 He addresses the restoration of erring saints in 5:9-13, II Cor. 2:5-11, Gal.6:1 Paul must deal with the problems plaguing the church and instruct the churches in Godly discipline. The Word clearly shows they needed correction, they had been corrected before! He warns about their apathy and pride, their concessions etc. The Corinthians prided themselves on their wisdom, yet they couldn’t even settle their own differences or disputes.
Paul tries to arrest their attention and stop the deception. He tries to correct dangerous misconceptions. He had taught them the truth when they were saved, the truth of Christian liberty. Particularly the observances of certain days and the eating of certain foods etc. however now, he has to re-teach them and warn them lest they misapply this foundational truth of freedom to include among other things immorality.
He presses the point in I Cor. 5:6-7
He has an outright confrontation with the Corinthians about their carnality, attributing it to their shallowness concerning God’s Word. ( Not being able to receive solid food ) Hebrews 5:12-15, when they should have been teachers
they are having to be rebuked and taught again.
No amount of spiritual insight or experience reflects true spiritual growth if it is separated from the foundational truths of Jesus Christ , HE IS THE FOUNDATION AND CHIEF CORNER STONE and any thing other is a false foundation, then the Word tells us to be careful how we build upon it. People have to be rooted in basic truth, nothing can be separated from it. John 14:21,Ps 109: 105
Paul did not preach to show off oratory skills, he says he is unlearned, not an orator, he isn’t trying to draw attention to himself. Paul lived and preached and suffered because he was answering a call from God on his life to be a “Father to people and churches, an Apostle,” he loved the people and he loved God.
He was looking out for their souls and spiritual maturity.
God chose to make himself known through Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit was given to draw men unto God, to comfort, lead and guide, to be our teacher, to bear witness of Jesus, everything he does points back to Jesus.
The gospel was given into the hands of the early Apostles, they held this truth as a great responsibility and knew full well they had the care and oversight of God’s children in a time of unprecedented transition in the religious world. God was birthing a new and better way, a new Covenant to redeem man back unto himself…it was his plan ! It outraged the majority of the religious community of the day.
Paul and his counterparts suffered greatly for their call and obedience in “fulfilling their divine destiny.” God’s church and his children depended on the Paul’s of that day and their giving of themselves. God called him, enlightened him, even caught him up into the third heaven and gave him untold revelations. God prepared him and sent him, that men could hear the good news and come into the Kingdom of God freely, the price was paid, the way was made, they merely by faith and grace could just walk in through the door, that door being Jesus, the Christ.
Paul talks about how he suffered and some of it was even caused by the brethren he was risking his life for. We find Paul having to justify or defend himself to some that questioned his position and his authority. I Cor.1 Paul’s commission as an Apostle is a key issue here and he begins by declaring in his greeting that he is Paul, an Apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of god…..what a powerful way to begin a letter !
He talks about enduring severe illness and persecution, great dangers. He tells them in vs. 8 “ we do not want you to be ignorant of the Apostles troubles, that they were burdened beyond measure, above their own strength, so that they even despaired of even living. “That is pretty powerful !
He says their boasting is only in their testimony of their conscience, that they conducted themselves in simplicity, and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but only by God’s grace. He talks yet about not being ignorant about Satan’s devises, that he ( Satan ) not be allowed to take advantage of the discord within the church there. There had been a painful conflict and visit to the church and a sever letter of correction. Paul speaks of the seriousness of their responsibility ( I Cor.2:16,3:5 ) He says there were those that “ peddled the Word of God “ for money, they were using the gospel as a way of making a living and he had never burdened them with finances, but had made tents and had support from other churches when they should have done their part, but he hadn’t wanted them to for the very reasons they were now having to address. They were questioning his Apostolic position and his authority, his motives etc. He was not indebted to them in the natural.
Paul tells in 2:7-8 ABOUT THE OLD AND THE NEW Covenant: “ But if the ministry of death written and engraved on stone was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the face of Moses, because of the glory of his countenance, which glory was fading or passing away.”
“How will the ministry of the spirit not be more glorious ? “ EX 34:29-35 Moses, a minister of the old Covenant reflected the glory, which faded. Only in comparison to the new can it be said to have no glory.
3:12-13 Moses wore a veil to conceal the temporary glory upon his face.
3:14-15 When Moses left the people and went into the presence of God he removed the veil. Moses literal veil illustrates the spiritual veil which prevents some who read the OT from seeing the true glory of God’s Word whish is Christ. 4:6 We, after the death of Christ when the veil was rent now have free access to the presence of God and are invited to “ come boldly before the throne.” What greater privilege and glory could there be ?
The call of ministry is bitter/sweet, missionaries work is especially dangerous, Paul and those like him lived in constant peril and hardship with the possibility of martyrdom always present. Non the less, he continued to endure and preach, teach, travel, correct, what ever God required of him with courage, boldness, and determination. He spoke in his letters of never losing heart, calls all of this hardship “ a light affliction, but for a moment,” because it is temporal and we look for the things that are eternal.
Paul had critics and detractors, but he knew he was only trying to serve God and his people and he only wanted to please the one that called him, so he endures for the benefit of others. This is a true minister’s/leader’s heart This love motivates him and keeps him going. He tells them there is no one in the Corinthian church that has a just accusation against him. He then goes on to resume telling them of the acute anxiety of waiting to hear about them he describes his travels, how their bodies had no rest, they were troubled on every side, outside conflicts, inside fears. He also tells how God comforted them when they were downcast.
In 10:10-13 Paul’s tone dramatically changes as he returns to the subject of the challenges to his authority in Corinth. He answers criticisms made against him and rebukes the impure motives of those who seek to undermine his ministry in order to win personal followings. He felt joy and was encouraged when the church responded, but he had stern warnings for the minority, which may still be in rebellion and under the sway of false Apostles. 11: 10-13
Paul’s critics had accused him of being too timid or lowly to be a real Apostle, though they admit he does write bold letters!
Paul admits to being a mere human being, but in the realities of the present world he does not war with mere human weapons. II Cor.2:1-5
10:6-18 Paul’s speaking ability was ridiculed by those who pride themselves on eloquence. His bodily presence was perhaps weak, but his personal presence was imposing. He is ready to punish those still in rebellion. He reluctantly boasts to tell of his Apostolic authority, because it is being questioned by his detractors.
He says he is not ashamed of his calling, then tells them not to look upon the outward appearance. He speaks of those that commend themselves, they measure themselves among themselves and are not wise.
Paul talks about a sphere or limits to his Apostolic authority, those which God has appointed him, which included them! It was his labors, and he would not boast of another man’s sphere of accomplishment.
Paul knew because he was” a Father to the church at Corinth “ and has great concern for them he writes in II Cor.11:3 ” But, I fear lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so YOUR MINDS MAY BE CORRUPTED FROM THE SIMPLICITY THAT IS IN CHRIST.”
For he who comes preaching another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel, which you have not accepted – you may well put up with it!
There is a simplicity to the gospel of Jesus Christ, there is only one God, one Gospel, one Jesus, one Baptism, one Holy Spirit, any other is false and will corrupt your minds.
Paul, also says in scripture that you are perfectly capable of deceiving yourselves! There are three things that will open up a believer, especially a minister to deception and that is lust, greed and pride.
11:5 Paul talks about, even though he is untrained in speech, he was not in knowledge and considered himself in no way inferior to the most eminent of Apostles.
Paul talks about his own character being above reproach, that he had never been a burden to them. He ministered to them freely and made tents to support himself and received help from other churches in their place. Those that boasted of their superiority to him would never have wanted to change places with him or to have imitated his financial independence. Here Paul distinguishes himself in this manner from those with selfish motives.
Paul in 12: 13 says that there are fake or false Apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into Apostles of Christ. 12:14
And no wonder! Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. 15, therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works. 20, For you put up with it, if one brings you into bondage, if one deceives you, if one takes from you, if one exalts himself, if one strikes you in the face, 21, to shame…..
Paul speaking to the Hebrews in verses 22-33 says:
Are they Hebrews? So am I!
Are they Israelites? So am I!
Are they the seed of Abraham? So am I!
Are they ministers of Christ? I am more! In labors more abundant. In stripes above measure, in prisons, more frequently, in deaths,often ! From the Jews I received five times forty lashes minus one, Three times ship wrecked, once I was stoned, a day and night in the deep, in journeys often, in perils of waters in perils of robbers, in perils of MY OWN COUNTRYMEN, in perils of the Gentiles, in the city, in the wilderness, in the sea, in perils AMONG FALSE BRETHREN.
In weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and nakedness ( circumstances )
“ BESIDES THE OTHER THINGS, which come upon me daily, MY DEEP CONCERN FOR ALL THE CHURCHES.”
In chapter 12 Paul tells the church he will visit for the third time and hopes to find all the persistent troubles settled, he hopes he will not find there to be contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, backbiting, whisperings, tumults etc.
Could Jesus be thinking the same thing?
Both Paul and Jesus suffered for the church, everything they did was for the church, with her interest at heart, they had the same concerns….Don’t depart from the SIMPLICITY and the truth of Christ, the gospel that had been delivered to them. They have warned us, we must pay heed!
God also is concerned about “ THE OTHER THINGS .”
BCN
1/1/2003
