2 Corinthians 2:12-13. Endless Tiresome Travels -today’s BDBD.

A year ago, for a work-related change, my wife and I moved from the East Coast to the center of the country. The trip involved stops at a relative’s house, Nashville, and Memphis until we finally arrived at the city where we now live. Normally, a three-night trip to such locations would be very enjoyable. However, since we had a tight schedule, over 1,100 miles to travel, cleaning the old apartment, furniture packing and moving arrangements, and working at a new location and company, we had little peace of mind and physical rest. The trip was not very enjoyable.

Paul’s travel from Ephesus was also lacking in peace of mind until he arrived at the troubled new congregation at Corinth (13). Paul’s first main stop was at the port city of Troas. The door to preach the gospel was opened to him there. He taught for only a very short time because he was eager to learn if the Corinthian congregation had received his first letter well, and if they were still a congregation. He had hoped he and Titus, who was coming from Corinth, would cross paths in Troas. They did not. So he left Troas and continued to Corinth.

Though we are believers in Jesus and working for the kingdom as we should, we may at times lack peace of mind. An unsettled mind is not because God does not give us peace. Rather, peace of mind is often due to our impatience. The mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace. (Romans 8:6b) Jesus promised, “But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:26-27)

2 Corinthians 2:5-11. Grief That Leads to Sorrow and Forgiveness -today’s BDBD.

Grief, distress, and anguish, especially grief, are repeated ten times in the first ten verses, all deriving from the Greek noun “lype” (a transliteration), referring to deep emotional pain. Contrasting “lype” are forgiveness, joy, comfort, and love; together they are stated twelve times.

One man’s sin in the Corinthian congregation led to grief, distress, and anguish, not just for the man when punished, but also for the congregation and Paul. The majority inflicted punishment, likely excommunication, at Paul’s direction. The man was grieved and repented. He received forgiveness and was invited back into the fellowship. Without grieving, usually the result of punishment, there is no forgiveness. As the psalmist wrote, “If you, O LORD, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness; therefore you are feared.” (Psalm 130:3-4)

Apostle John wrote, “This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.” (1 John 1:5-10)

2 Corinthians Chapter 2 Overview -today’s BDBD.

Paul gave instructions in his first letter to the Corinthian congregation in chapter 5 concerning a man engaging in a grievous sexual immorality. He said that they should cast him out of their congregation. Now, Paul reveals two motives behind that directive. (Some point out that he may be referring to another person’s sin and/or offense.) First, he did not want to be grieved by them when he arrived (3-4). Second, he was testing their obedience (9). They did as Paul instructed and cast the man out.

The man repented. So now, Paul is encouraging them to forgive and invite him to join them again. Paul had already forgiven him.

One interesting statement here is, “if there was anything to forgive.” (The reason some believe it is another offense.) Another is, “that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not aware of his schemes.”

Satan wants to destroy all of Christ’s congregations. He has various schemes to carry out the destruction. A particularly common one is to divide us. In this case, he used a man who persisted in incest, and the congregation’s leadership lacked discipline. Thus, Paul said the man needed to be cast out. They obeyed. He grieved and repented.

Satan’s scheme did not stop there. Now the congregation needed to forgive the man and unconditionally accept him back into the church. Forgiveness is an important act of love. Jesus taught me to pray, “Forgive us of our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.” Holding regret and judgment is self-destructive to congregations and to me. Discernment, separation from persistent sin, and unconditional forgiveness should all be done in love.

2 Corinthians 1:23-2:4. Do Not Lord Over as Nonbelievers Do -today’s BDBD.

Apostle Paul stopped short of explaining his reasons for the change in travel plans at the end of verse 16. He momentarily diverted to a side point. Now he continues his explanation. Paul said he wanted to give them more time to think about what he had written in the first letter, hoping and praying they would change (1:23, 2:3-4). He did not want to lord his authority over their faith (1:24). He trusted God to work through their faith.

Paul was an apostle and the founder of the congregation in Corinth. Some would say he had every right to exercise authority over the group he founded. However, he knew Jesus’ command to his apostles, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave– just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:25-28; Mark 10:42-45; Luke 22:24-27)

Authority can be used to gain unquestioned authority, often through threats, lies, and rumors. Unquestionable authority is then used to obtain absolute authority. I have witnessed this in business and congregations by people who are not originally the person in top authority, but eventually gain it because the one in top authority is afraid to lose what little authority they have left. Many are destroyed by this “lording over” authority.

Neither Jesus nor the apostles practiced “lording over” authority. Instead, he taught us through word and example to serve others. My advice to you is, if you are afraid of losing power and yet claim to be a disciple of Jesus, then consider if you truly follow Jesus or chase after power.

2 Corinthians 1:21-22. Seal of Ownership -today’s BDBD.

“Stand firm in Christ!” The first place in Israel’s history the command to “stand firm” is given is the Lord’s answer through Moses to Israel concerning the approaching Egyptian army led by Pharaoh, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again.” (Exodus 14:13) The next time the command is heard was when Moabites, Ammonites, and Meunites came to make war on Jehoshaphat and Israel. While standing before the LORD at his temple in prayer, the LORD replied, “You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the LORD will be with you.'” (2 Chronicles 20:17)

King David, learning from the past and looking to the future we now live in, prophesied, “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. They are brought to their knees and fall, but we rise up and stand firm. O LORD, save the king! Answer us when we call!” (Psalm 20:7-9) The Holy Spirit, through the apostle, reminds us, “Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ.” (21a)

Troubles and suffering will come and have come. God is with us, strengthening our knees. “How do I know this?” you may ask. God anointed us with a seal of ownership. The Holy Spirit in our hearts is a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. The Holy Spirit, whom we experience life from and with, tells us that God is with us, and God strengthens our knees so we will stand firm in the Lord Jesus, as he wins the battle that is already won.

2 Corinthians 1:15-20. The “Yes” to the Gospel -today’s BDBD.

Paul’s detractors intended to diminish the gospel Paul preached and replace it with their pseudo-gospel. (1 Corinthians 1:18-25, 31, 2:4, 3:18-23, 4:18-21, 9:1, 15) They claimed that Paul was lying about his intent to visit them, and so, his gospel was just as false. They said, “Do not listen to the liar Paul. Listen to us, for we know great secret things through the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Paul explained his intended travel plans when he wrote the first letter (15-16), and that plan was not easy to make, nor was its announcement under pretenses (17). His original travel plans were as he said. Also, the gospel message he preaches is true. He is not a liar (18). When he said, “Yes,” he meant it.

Apostle Paul preaches the Son of God, Jesus Christ, as did Silas and Timothy (19). Paul reminded them of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in 1 Corinthians 15. “…Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and he appeared to many.” (1 Corinthians 15:3-8) “By this gospel we are saved if we hold firmly to it.” (1 Corinthians 2a) This is God’s promise. This is not a false “Yes”. This is true. Do you say, “Amen” to this gospel to the glory of God? (19) Do not believe those who preach a pseudo-gospel by discrediting the New Testament.

2 Corinthians 1:14b. The Day of the Lord Jesus -today’s BDBD.

“The day of the Lord Jesus”, referring to Jesus’ coming to assess the saints’ actions while in the flesh, as Paul is using it here, is one day only. It can be understood as one twenty-four (24) hour day that starts at sunset, goes through dawn, the light period, and ends at sunset. It can only be Jesus coming and judging the saints.

“The day of the Lord Jesus” is not plural like “in the last days” used elsewhere. The single day here is Jesus’ second coming, and the plural “in the last days” is the time before his second coming. “The day of the Lord” contains the harvest that Jesus and the apostles taught, and Paul is using here. (Matthew 13:30, 39, 21:34, 41, 25:24, 26; Mark 4:29, 12:2; Luke 20:10; John 4:35-36; Romans 1:13; and 1 Corinthians 9:10-11; Galatians 6:9; Revelation 14:15-16) “The last days”, as Peter stated on Pentecost when he quoted Joel, started with Jesus’ death and resurrection, the day of Pentecost, and will end when Jesus comes on “the day of the Lord”. “The day of the Lord” starts the Lord’s one-thousand-year reign.

Apostle Paul says that he will boast of the Corinthian congregation on the day of the Lord Jesus. When I, like Paul, stand before Jesus to give an account of what I did with my life and the gifts given to me, what can I show to Jesus? What can I boast about? Jesus will say, “What did you do with the talents I gave you?” He will say this to all he calls. “He who is given much, much will be expected.”

2 Corinthians 1:12-14. Life of Holiness and Sincerity -today’s BDBD.

Some who falsely portrayed themselves as super apostles were attacking Paul’s character. They claimed that the collection was not for the poor in Jerusalem as Paul claimed, but that Paul secretly planned to keep it for himself. They also claimed that Paul’s writing was unintelligible (13-14). The super apostles said these are the reasons why Paul did not arrive in Corinth as he had said he would in the previous letter. (1 Corinthians 16:5-6)

Paul defended his trustworthiness by appealing to the witness of his own conscience and to the Corinthians’ firsthand knowledge of his character. He had conducted himself in the world and the eighteen months while he was with them, in the holiness and sincerity that are from God and by the grace of God, not according to worldly wisdom.

The “day of the Lord Jesus” is often how the apostles refer to Jesus’ second coming as king and judge. We will all stand before the Bema Seat of Christ and give an account of our actions while in the flesh, just as Jesus revealed in “The Parable of the Shrewd Manager”. (Luke 16:2; Romans 14:10-12; Hebrews 13:17)

Therefore, I need to keep my character pure and sincere. When tempted to stray from these, I am to remember that God looks at my character. People determine a person’s character. Even children see a person’s character. Keep a noble character as Ruth did, who, it was said of, “All my fellow townsmen know that you are a woman of noble character.” (Ruth 3:11)

2 Corinthians 1:8-11. God Delivered, Answering Prayers -Today’s BDBD.

Apostle Paul, God’s chosen instrument to carry Jesus’ name before the Gentiles and before the people of Israel (Acts 9:15), did not live a life that some Christians today would define as “the blessed life” and “the abundant life”. While in the Roman province of Asia, which included the cities of Ephesus, Philadelphia, Colosse, Troas, and others, the apostle suffered hardships and felt the sentence of death in his heart. The great pressure was far beyond his ability to endure. He despaired even of life. Apostle Paul drank the cup of suffering that Jesus handed to him.

Paul received his suffering with mature faith. “This happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raised the dead.” He felt dead. He experienced, therefore, a sort of resurrection. God delivered Paul from such a deadly peril. We will drink the cup of suffering and death with Jesus. God, whom we have set our hope, will deliver us too.

When suffering comes, we should ask others to pray for God to deliver (11). I know many who do not want others to know when they suffer. They do not want others to know they are weak. So they do not ask others to pray. If they do not know, they will not pray, and they will not give thanks for the gracious favor granted us in answer to their prayers. What a shame that pride robs others of this gift.

2 Corinthians 1:5-7. My Cup Overflows. Today’s BDBD.

“My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done,” so Jesus prayed on the eve of his suffering and death. (Matthew 26:42) Later that night, he took the cup and said during the Last Supper, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” (1 Corinthians 11:25) All take the cup that Jesus drank from, and drink from it.

Imagine a cup with wine continually pouring into it and overflowing. Underneath the cup are more cups. The wine from the top cup spills into the cups below it. When they fill, they overflow into cups under them. This continues until a multitude of stacked cups fill and overflow, all receiving wine from the first cup, a pyramid of cups.

The wine that the cups receive is the sufferings and comfort of Christ (5). We share in sufferings (7; Acts 9:4; Colossians 1:24). The suffering comes first, and when we approach him, we receive his comfort. The comfort we are given is learned (6). “Although Jesus was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered” (Hebrews 5:8)

The commandment we receive from the Son is love. Love and compassion are not part of the sinful, fallen nature. Apart from God, we did not know love. (1 John 3:10, 16) We need to learn love. And so we learn love through obedience. The wine of compassion we receive is learned and passed on. We drink from the cup of Christ as he taught us.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4. God of All Comfort. Today’s BDBD.

Today may contain a moment when the soul lies still, curled up in the smallest possible ball, seeking the serenity of the womb that the subconscious remembers. If not today, nature’s future holds a grave lament. Life in the world makes this promise to all. No one is spared the pang of these scorpions.

Those who believe that the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ has compassion for us are promised comfort when the soul slowly leaks onto the floor. The God and Father of the Lord, our Lord, Jesus Christ, is the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort. “Look, I see you. I know you. I am with you, providing comfort in all your troubles.”

“When you ascended on high, you led captives in your train; you received gifts from men, even from the rebellious– that you, O LORD God, might dwell there. Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens.” (Psalm 68:18-19)

When he comforts us in all our troubles, let us not forget others. I can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort I myself have received from God. “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2)

2 Corinthians 1:2. God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ. Today’s BDBD.

Greeks’ traditional pagan religion did not see its gods as their fathers. When a Greek became a Christian, they accepted that the One and Only Supreme God was their Father.

The pronoun “from” which is applied to “God our Father” is also implied to be with “our Lord Jesus Christ”, so that it would also read, “from our Lord Jesus Christ”. Grace and peace come from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ. The grace and peace I receive through the Holy Spirit are a gift of the Father and Son.

Paul, in verses 1 and 2, uses the title “Jesus Christ” from the Greek “Iesous Christos” (and vice versa). (More comments at FreeBibleStudyHelp.com) Here, Paul uses the phrase “Lord Jesus Christ” from “Kyrios Iesous Christos”.

Greek culture traditionally did not believe any of their pantheon of gods were lords, let alone a Supreme Lord. They believed their gods were subject to fate just as humans were. Greeks did not worship a god as Christians and Jews do. Rather, they believed their gods had powers and abilities that humans do not have, but none of them were the creator of the cosmos (universe). The Greeks attempted to win the favor of one of their gods to convince that god to grant them a gift and/or favor with their unique power, not much different from the comic book group of heroes today. Which god they sought favor from depended on the special power the god had.

Christianity teaches the truth through the Holy Spirit. A Supreme God exists for eternity and beyond, God the Father. He has an eternal Son who is Lord of all, creator of all, including all humans. Jesus is the name God the Father, through the Spirit, gave to him when he came to the earth in the form of a human to redeem His people from sin and death. Through grace, not merit, Lord Jesus Christ, and God the Father give peace of soul.

2 Corinthians Chapter 1 Overview. Today’s BDBD.

Paul wrote this letter to the young congregation at Corinth shortly after the previous one. He wrote it as he neared the end of his third missionary journey in the very late 55 AD while residing in the Roman province of Macedonia. Paul wanted to visit Corinth to the south again, but had not done so, and thus explained and apologized for his delays.

Verses 21 and 22 are moving. God makes me “stand firm in Christ. He anointed (me), set his seal of ownership on (me), and put his Spirit in (my) heart as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.” God’s grace is wonderful and precious.

I am not the one who does any of this. God does it all. I am weak in faith, and my actions prove it. Yet God in his grace makes me stand firm in Christ.

When I accepted Jesus as my personal Savior and asked him to take full control of my life, God anointed me with the Holy Spirit. The Spirit entered me. It was something entirely new to me. It was pleasant, loving, powerful, and warm. I was anointed.

Seals of ownership are used to this day. A rancher’s seal of ownership is called a brand. He or she puts the brand on a metal plate. The plate is heated and pressed against the steer hide. This burns the brand on the steer. The brand is a claim of ownership.

God burned his brand on my hide. This is what happened when I first believed. God branded me with the Holy Spirit. Now, when the Holy Spirit moves in my spirit just as he did the day I first believed, I know that I am his and he is mine. I feel his guarantee of what is to come. These movements are small in comparison to what is to come. With them, I am encouraged to continue in troubles and hardship just as Paul did.