Paul Encourages the Corinthians

II Corinthians 4:5, 16-18; 5:1, 5-8,14-19

GOLDEN TEXT: “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich.”—II Corinthians 8:9

PAUL’S second epistle to the Corinthians was written a few months subsequent to the first, probably in the same year—about A.D. 57, according to historians. Information had reached the apostle showing that his first epistle to the church at Corinth had had a wholesome effect, having done much in the way of overcoming a factional spirit. Apparently most of the congregation had acknowledged the spiritual leadership of Paul, although some seemed still to question his apostleship.

On the whole his second letter is one of instruction and encouragement, rather than of condemnation and reproof. It reflects the satisfaction of the writer in feeling that his first letter had prevented the ecclesia from suffering a real tragedy, and that now, in following up the effort, his desire was to help in the healing of any wounds that might have been left, that full peace and harmony might rule on the occasion of his next visit.

Although in I Corinthians 4:16 Paul admonished the Corinthians to be followers of Him, he wanted them to know that this was because he preached, not himself, but Christ. The thought is that he wanted them to follow his example, and to the extent that they did this, they would be true followers of the Lord Jesus. Paul’s position in the church was merely that of a servant. But he was an inspired servant, and he knew, as all true Christians have known since, that disloyalty to the truth as he taught it was disloyalty to the Lord.

Paul never refrained from reminding the church that the Christian way is one of suffering and self-denial even unto death. This was one of his methods of encouraging the brethren. Even in the natural realm, one can endure suffering a great deal better if he knows that there is a good reason for it, and that something worth while is to be accomplished by it. Paul understood clearly the philosophy of Christian suffering that thereby we fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ. Out of the suffering and death of Jesus come the blessings of lasting life for both the church and the world, and those who die with Him and suffer with Him are, in the divine arrangement, contributing to the lasting welfare of others—to the church now as we lay down our lives for the brethren, and to the world by and by, because we are being baptized for the dead.

It is true of every faithful Christian that his outward man perishes. His covenant of sacrifice calls for the complete sacrifice of his humanity in the service of the Lord. Meanwhile, the inward man is renewed; that is, as new creatures we are developing toward a maturity that will be reached when we are born of the Spirit in the resurrection. This mortal will then have put on immortality. The glory of the new nature will far excel the glory of the old human nature, so the apostle reasons that any suffering or affliction incidental to such an outstanding exaltation is well worth while, even apart from other considerations. He says, “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, workeih for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.”—II Corinthians 4:17

To take this Christian view of matters, however, means that we must look at the things that are unseen by the natural eye. If we center our attention upon the things that are seen we are sure to be discouraged as we see them slipping away from us. But if we gaze steadfastly upon heavenly things we will “take joyfully” the spoiling of our earthly goods, of whatever sort they may be, and regardless of how valuable they have once seemed to us.

Verses five to nine of the fifth chapter, which speak of being absent from the body and present with the Lord, are among the most misunderstood texts of the Bible. Verse nine furnishes a key to their real meaning. It reads, “Wherefore we labor, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of Him.” This shows clearly that being present with the Lord and absent from Him are both conditions which are possible while the Christian is still in the flesh. This means that the apostle is not contrasting this life with the life beyond the grave, but illustrating the difference between living close to the Lord in our hearts at all times, even though, through force of circumstances, our minds may of necessity be preoccupied with temporal matters.

In the closing portion of our lesson the apostle urges full consecration to the Lord as the only proper attitude of those who recognize that they have been bought with the precious blood of Christ. “The love of Christ constraineth us,” he says, “because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead; and that He died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto Him who died for them, and rose again.”

God has a definite place in His plan for those who live “unto Him.” They become Spirit-begotten new creatures to whom is given the ministry of reconciliation. The shed blood of Christ is the basis of reconciliation, and it is our privilege to point men to this, only way of life. This is to be the great work of the future when Christ’s Kingdom is in full operation, and when the saints are reigning with Him; but we are to, do what the can now. Our sacrificial efforts now are training us for the larger opportunities later. Our worthiness of sharing in the, great work of tomorrow is dependent upon our loving interest in our fellowmen today.

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