13:1-3
Paul now speaks in very direct terms. He has already alluded to the third visit and now makes the terms of the visit clear. The first visit was the initial evangelistic visit, which was quite a long one. The second was the “painful” visit. Most of the letter has been dealing with the matter of not being impressed with human boasting, but boasting instead in God’s strength and glory, and even boasting of our weaknesses. There has also been a defence on Paul’s ministry tied in with this. Now at the end of the previous chapter, and here Paul is dealing with specific sins, involving sins of a sexual nature (12:21). So how does all the previous stuff about strength and weakness tie in with this? Maybe Paul first had to establish his credentials in order that the Corinthians knew that they had to pay attention to him. Indeed 12:3 would indicate that this was the case. So Paul established his “right” to discipline them not by proclaiming his greatness, but in proclaiming God’s greatness working though his weakness. It would not be Paul’s discipline they would be receiving, but God’s discipline. This is an important lesson for us to learn, whether as leaders, or as recipients of discipline (and as leaders there are times when we need to receive discipline as well). People will try and make it an issue about people, typically “what right have you got to tell me what to do”, “who are you to judge”. But if we are acting as leaders we need to make sure it is not about us. And if we are receiving discipline we need to put our eyes on Christ, what is He saying to us.
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