What does it mean to be a shepherd of the sheep? Today’s passage is about the heart of Christ for His people.
(A) The pastor’s story: messy ministry of letters, visits and hoped-for breakthroughs (2 Cor 1:15-16)
To understand this passage, we need to get the story. Paul writes about their one prior experience of grace (2 Cor 1:15). This is Paul’s way of describing an experience of God’s blessing in a tangible, practical way. He is not talking about a grand, distant experience of God’s goodness, but an actual period of experiencing God that brings about change. He is speaking of real ministry fruitfulness.
He wanted to go to Corinth on the way to Macedonia, then return to them on the way to Judea (2 Cor 1: 15-16). Paul wanted them to have a second experience of grace (2 Cor 1:16) and decided not to visit them (2 Cor 1:23), because such a visit would be a painful one (2 Cor 2:1). He said that such a visit would be another painful one, implying that there was pain in the former visit. He wanted to give them an experience of grace and not pain, and thus, he chose to write them a severe letter (2 Cor 2:3-4).
It’s hard to read Corinthians because it seems like we need to piece together these various details to understand the context and intention of Paul. Paul was separated from them for a period and heard about their sin. This was the first experience. He left and he heard again of their issues, and this is the letter that he is writing now to address their problems. There’s so much expectation and desire by Paul for this church. He desired and hoped that they’d be godly and holy but he has been let down. He confronted them once, and had to address them again.
When we read Paul’s words, we see his desire for them (2 Cor 1:13-14, 24). They wanted the church to recognise them and have the same affection as they had for each other (2 Cor 1:13-14). He also wanted this church to know all of God’s blessing and pleasure through thier endurance and joy (2 Cor 1:24).
The NT describes a very different kind of Christian relationship. Christians seem to belong to one another! Paul uses this mutual claim language because he assumes that they will understand that their relationship is much, much more than providing a transactional service. Paul sees himself as a father, who through a series of interventions, is trying to express his heart and love for them. The Christian life is a symbiosis of brothers and sisters who have been joined to one another. Are you a solo Christian? Has anyone claimed you? Are you actually a spiritual orphan? To be a spiritual orphan is to be a solo Christian, with no real “parent”, trying out to figure out what works for you. Is this your experience? If not, perhaps, it could be a sub-Christian view?
Paul is laying out here the normal pattern of Christian relationships. We may think that spiritual gifts are for performance, up front on the stage. But friends, the spiritual gifts that God has given us is for the complex web of networks and relationships that don’t take place on the stage, but in the pews. God has equipped us so that we can be a part of each other’s life. This is the story of the church, and is the story of a loving pastor, Paul’s story.
(B) The pastor’s defence: a sure Gospel and a shared guarantee (2 Cor 1:17-22)
Paul speaks about some charges that have been levelled against him (2 Cor 1:17-18). Some might have accused Paul of being fickle-minded, insincere or even misleading the church about his intention to visit. Was Paul being flakey? So what?
Paul’s credibility, and in turn, the credibility of his message were linked. The messenger and the message cannot be separate, especially when he is an apostle. If an apostle can say “yes, yes” and “no, no” at the same time, the rest of his message cannot be trusted! He is making the argument here that if we cannot trust those who have given us God’s word, we cannot trust God’s word, and we cannot trust God.
Paul uses two lines to defend himself. Paul went straight for the faithfulness of God in 2 Cor 1:18-20. In the same way that God is faithful, Paul is going to stand by his words! Paul doesn’t seem to be talking about his plans anymore, but is discussing theology. In he same way that all of God’s promises are kept in Christ, that’s why we utter “Amen” to God for His glory. Christians can know for sure that through Jesus Christ, God keeps all His promises. Our response to God’s faithfulness is always “Amen”, which means “let it be so”. We can say “yes indeed” because God has said “yes” in Christ. Thus, in the same way that God was faithful to keep His promises in Christ, men of God also keep their word. We need to be men and women of our word.
Secondly, Paul also goes on to point to how “it is God who establishes us with you in Christ” (2 Cor 1:21). They have all been joined in Christ and have received the same one Spirit. They have the seal of the Spirit, a mark of God’s ownership.
These 2 points should cause us to reject any idea that we can be pit against one another. The pastor’s defence is that in Christ, we should be able to stand and be confident that we love one another. Can you see the kind of relationship being described here? He’s not even just talking about a vague sense of unity. He is speaking of a real, committed relationship in teh church. They are to love one another practically and are to reject thinking poorly of one another. If we really thought of one another in this way, we may disagree but can still show grace. What messiness in the church would be dispelled if we extended benefit of the doubt to another, instead of assuming the worst in the other?
(C) The pastor’s purpose: to win the flock over with opportunities for the truth and sincere love (1:12-14, 1:23-2:4)
Paul’s argument from doctrine is meant to explain his decisions. Paul is so realistic, as he thinks about the best possible way to get them to see what’s going on (2 Cor 1:23-2:4). He chose to do so in writing. He puts down an argument and took time to make it as clear as possible in order to get them to see their sin and repent. This is real life pastoral care and discipleship. These are real men who desiring to bring about a change of heart in these people.
Has anyone done this for you, where they wrote it down because that’s the best way to speak truth to you? In the short run, Paul hopes that these letters will bring about a change of heart. In the longer run, Paul wants them to know that he loves them. Paul’s ultimate hope is that it will lead to joy, both for Paul and the Corinthians as they are reconciled to God. Paul wishes to share in this reconciliatory joy too.
This is a love story between a spiritual father and those whom he loves. Do you understand what is being written of here? Does anyone love you in this way? If not, perhaps, you are a spiritual orphan? What does it look like to join a community or join relationships and you are not as autonomous and free as you currently are? Are you a joy to your leaders or are you so flakey, you are never there (c.f. Heb 13:13,17)? Commit to God’s word and God’s people today. Or, if you are in a messy situation like the Corinthians’, what would spiritual breakthrough look like for you?