In 2020, we spent twelve weeks going through 2 Cor 1-6. From these chapters, we see in this epistle more than anywhere else that Paul speaks in a very biographical way. He keeps going back to how weak he is and the Christian life cannot be lived without weakness. This is an incredibly important and apt lesson for 2020. 2020 has shown us how weak we are. That weakness is not malice or cruelty on God’s part, but it is grace.
Before we move on to study the rest of the letter, we are going to do a recap, so that we can understand the themes in the first half of the epistle that carries into the second half. We’re going to do this overview by answering the question of why we need to study 2 Corinthians, and the answers will be provided in 3 sections.
(A) Because it acknowledges the Christian’s struggle in serving God (2 Cor 1:1-2:17)
Throughout the book, Paul has many struggles — emotional, spiritual and ministry. The struggle isn’t just real, but it is plentiful. Paul speaks of his emotional struggles, his “affliction in Asia” in the opening verses in 2 Cor 1:8. He describes it as a burden that caused him to despair even of life itself. It was so serious that they felt like they were dying. This was written by the apostle Paul, who many considered to be the hero of the day who met the risen Christ. He founded and supported many churches. He was the apostle to the Gentiles — everyone who is not a Jew! He is going places and serving everywhere. Yet, he describes his experience in Asia Minor as a debilitating experience. We may not know all the details because there is a fair amount of vagueness, but we see the emotional extent of the struggle. He was not afraid to admit that he could not go on living at one point.
Some of us may not feel like we can express ourselves in this way but note that Paul wrote it in a letter to the church. He was not afraid to share his feelings. He felt like what he was facing was a pressure and weight he could not carry and drove him to despair. And Paul really wanted them to know this (c.f. 2 Cor 1:8). Was this how you felt last year? Hear Paul’s words, that he didn’t want the church to be unaware that he also felt the same way. In the Christian life, some struggles can be so great that we may despair of life itself. This could be our experience even though the death and resurrection of Christ provides hope.
What, then, enabled Paul to go through the experience? Paul only got through the misery of his ministry and struggle by the help of God. If he did not have a vibrant, real, healthy relationship with God, his life would be over. He calls God the Father of mercies and God of all comfort (2 Cor 1:3). God is sovereign and wise, but Paul chooses to focus on God as comforter here. Note the flow of comfort in 2 Cor 1:1-7 which flows from God to Paul, and then from Paul to the church. The word “comfort” even appears 10 times in the first 7 verses! If His scars are ours, so will His embrace.
Paul is able to go through this because he considered God — who He is and what He has done — and is able to see his circumstances differently. His circumstances did not improve, and even worsened. Yet Paul could understand and see the same circumstances differently, and could also speak words of comfort to others who are also afflicted.
But Paul is also able to boast despite his emotional distress (2 Cor 1:12-14). He is able to say that despite the circumstances, he is able to still serve God’s people faithfully. He is proud of the fact that by God’s grace, he is able to serve the church in Corinth. This is often the case with the best of God’s servants. Those who serve God faithfully might find themselves with more afflictions. In the mysterious ways of God, none of us who hold the message of the cross out to others will not first find ourselves crushed by the cross. As we speak of the crucified Saviour, we too, need to experience crushing, and uses our struggle for His good purposes and to testify to His saving grace.
Paul also faced spiritual struggles was Paul facing in the form of criticisms from the Corinthian church (2 Cor 1:15-24, 2:2-4). Paul planned to visit the church in Corinth, to teach and address some of their pastoral concerns. What he does instead is not to visit them. Instead of visiting, Paul chose to send a “severe letter” (as the scholars refer to it) (2 Cor 2:1). Paul was acting for their good, but yet, the people were questioning their credentials and rejected their teachings.
What Paul wanted to achieve through his visit, and in the end, through the letter, was to call them to repent (2 Cor 2:5-9) and also restoring sinners (2 Cor 2:10-11). Repentance and restoration have always featured in his ministry. He constantly seeks to call people to repent of their sin in order to restore them to God. It has been a real struggle to bring good news to people whose hearts are always impure and messy. This is the pastor’s heart — to bring this good news to people who really need it, but don’t always know they need it!
Finally, we also read of Paul’s ministry struggles. In 2 Cor 2:12-17, we read of how he was so eager to get hold of Titus to hear the response of the church to his letter (2 Cor 2:12-13). As Christ’s aroma is being spread through us as we share the good news, Paul states that some will find this message beautiful but others will think it is the smell of death.
The opening chapters of 2 Corinthians thus lay out the extent of his struggles. These chapters tell us that even if you see the risen Christ and is chosen for ministry as His apostle, do not expect this side of heaven for your life to be struggle-free. We will not be free of bearing up the cross of the Master. This might be a huge encouragement for those of us that thought that 2020 was just a year of struggle. But though we walk along this difficult road, we know that it was taken by Paul, and at the head of the road, we find our Saviour. We walk a path that He has first walked.
(B) Because it shows us the comfort and power of applying the New Covenant (2 Cor 3:1-5:21)
In this section, Paul spends much time contrasting his New Covenant ministry (2 Cor 3:1-6) with that of the Old Covenant (3:7-18). The old covenant is a ministry of death with Moses as the covenant mediator between Israel and God. In contrast, the new covenant is a ministry of righteousness that results in hope (2 Cor 3:12) and freedom (2 Cor 3:17). Christ is the mediator of this new covenant.
Why does this matter for the struggling Christian? It is an encouragement and a point of hope because today, we are not bound by the old covenant and not tied to the ministry of condemnation. We have a freedom that is secured not by Moses, but by Christ. It is our hope that through the gospel, we have entered into a new relationship with God. We are not Israel, but is a part of the new Israel. This is important for us because it is our identity. This is our present reality as we now have a relationship with God.
This new covenant gives us Christian a hope of future glory (2 Cor 5:1-10). It addresses the fallenness and brokenness of this world. It also focuses on reconciling man to God (2 Cor 5:11-15, 18-21) — Paul sees his role as an ambassador from God to sinners to urge them to be reconciled to God. He is not like a Moses who descends from the mountain to tell people how to live their lives. Instead, he is going out to share the gospel and also call people to respond to this good news! Lastly, the new covenant shows us the beginnings of new creation (2 Cor 5:16-17),
The struggling Christian can find hope in this good news! If you find yourself spiritually unexcited, 2 Cor 5 is such a rich chapter. He is helping us to reflect on the juiciness of the gospel. It is a comfort and a joy when we realise what we have in our hands.
(C) Because it shows us where strength can be found in weakness (2 Cor 6:1-13)
In 2 Cor 6:1-2, we read of Paul’s hope that the salvation of the Corinthians will not be in vain. He hopes that they will be fruit-bearing and grace-transformed Christians. Paul’s plea to the Corinth church is also a plea to us if we find ourselves going astray! Live in a response to the Saviour and do not be alienated from Him! Respond in faith today!
The Corinthian church was also not to judge the weakness of the messenger and judge that to be the strength of the message. In fact, it is the reverse! In Christ, when we are low, we are actually high. When we are weak, we are stronger than we imagine! The way up goes down first! In all of their misery, there is great joy. In all of his suffering, there is great reward. In all of his weakness, there is great strength.
Everything that we were looking for in 2020 is actually found in God’s word. What great hopes do you have in 2021? What is your walk with God like? But whatever it is, may we come back to His word and find words of comfort and truth. Today is the day of salvation! Respond to Him in faith. Find that your Saviour is calling you home.