2 Corinthians 1:12-14 - Godly integrity

The background to all this is that Paul had planned to make two visits to Corinth (1:16). This was a genuine intention. However, because of problems that had arisen within Corinth the first visit had proved very painful for all concerned. Therefore, Paul had decided that it would not be in anyone's interests for him to make the second visit so had changed his plans. Now some were stirring up trouble calling Paul fickle and unreliable. When people are being difficult, even rebellious, they will always find excuses to cause trouble. It does not matter what strategies you adopt, what "problem resolution" method you use, someone will find fault. This is the situation that Paul found himself in and it is worthwhile to see how he dealt with it.

First he refers to his own conscience. Our consciences are not totally reliable, nevertheless it is important not to go against our conscience. Elsewhere (Romans 14, 1 Corinthians 8) Paul tells his readers to have proper regard for other people's consciences. For if we go against our conscience we feel guilty, we find it next to impossible to have peace and to act with confidence. So Paul had acted within integrity and in the best interests of others.

Then he made decisions relying on God's grace. We can make the best decisions we can, this does not guarantee success. Our security should never be in our getting everything right, for that is a useless foundation for we are bound to get something wrong at some point. No, our foundation is the grace of God who keeps us from stumbling.

Paul had spent a significant amount of time with the Corinthians (Acts 18), some eighteen months in all, so they knew who he was and what he was like. They had witnessed his life. Personal contacts are vital for overcoming all sorts of obstacles.

2 Corinthians 1:8-11 - Put your hand in God's hand

When things happen all sorts of rumours start, and no doubt the Corinthians had various reports on what had happened in Asia, so Paul now puts the record straight.

The situation was truly desperate. Paul and his companions were under such pressure that they thought death was imminent. The pressure was "far beyond" their ability to endure, and they thought they were about to die. Remember that this is Paul we are reading about, the greatest apostle ever. 

Now we read what God's purpose was, He allowed these things to happen so that they would rely on Him alone. We need to understand that God is perfectly happy with putting us in situations which are way beyond our ability to cope with them. If you feel you are in such a situation just now do not worry, God has not lost control, He is in control. You see God's plan for all of us is that we live life in dependence upon Him, living not just out of our own abilities and resources, but together with His resources. This is what we are designed for, and what we walked away from when we rebelled against God. God knows that when we put our hand into His everything changes, every enemy melts away, every obstacle is overcome, every mountain moves. 

Our God is the God who raised Christ from the dead. Amongst many other things, the cross proves that no situation is final, no situation proves that God is defeated. In Christ we can overcome all things.

Paul then goes on to say "God has rescued us and will continue to do so". Often when God has got us out of a situation our reaction is "thank goodness that's over", and we learn nothing. Paul has reacted differently. He has learnt that God is able to rescue him from all situations, even when he feels utterly defeated. We need to learn from the things that God does in our lives.

Paul closes the section by drawing attention to the importance of pray. Our prayers are more important than we ever imagine.

2 Corinthians 1:3-7 - God of all comfort

This opening section will focus the readers minds on what Christianity is really about, about how God really works in our lives. The church was being infected and affected by a false version of the the Christian life. Paul will argue on theological grounds, but primarily on the grounds of his own living experience of Christ. In fact the theology and the experience go together, each backing up the other.

First, God is the God of all comfort, of all consolation and encouragement. Whatever you are experiencing in life just now you can be sure that God is able and willing to provide all the sustenance that you need, whether that be practical, emotional, spiritual or whatever. And God does this so that we can then, in turn, comfort others. Freely you have received, freely give, said Jesus (Matt 10:8). The kingdom is about giving and receiving.

Just as we share in the sufferings of Christ. Part of the package is that we do share in the sufferings of Christ. But with the suffering comes God's help, and this in abundance. 

Patient endurance of suffering is a vital Christian virtue. Now look at the whole tenor of this passage: it is one of joy, thankfulness, praise and hope. It is not a case of poor little me who is suffering. It is suffering for a purpose, suffering in hope, knowing that eternal purposes are being achieved, knowing that God is working through us to bless others, knowing that we will know Christ all the more.

2 Corinthians 1:1,2 - Greeting

The letter comes from Paul and Timothy. Paul knew what his position in Christ was, and the role that Christ had given to him, which was to be an apostle to the Gentiles. Later in the letter Paul will talk about his weaknesses and what it was like being an apostle, as head done so 1st Corinthians. We have a habit of going to one of two extremes. Some boast about their position in the church, or about their ministry, in a self-aggrandising way. Others are too reticent about our position, effectively denying the authority that we have. If you want the truth, and a godly balanced perspective on anything, then the Bible is the best place to look. Paul knew the position and authority he had, and knew what it really meant to be an apostle of Christ. 

Achaia was the Roman province of which Corinth was the capital. Corinth was an important city in the Roman Empire.

"His holy" people. This means the people set apart for God, or the ones called out for God. If you are a Christian then you have been called by God to a different life. This does not mean you should become a monk, for we are called to live this different life in the midst of the world as a witness, testimony and demonstration to the world of the difference that Christ can make to a life.

As in most of his letters, Paul declares grace and peace over his readers.

2 Corinthians - Introduction

In our Bible this is the second letter to the Corinthians. However, it was probably the third letter that Paul had written to them, the second one being the "severe" letter (2 Cor 2:3,4) that "caused sorrow" (2 Cor 7:8), this had followed a painful visit.
The first letter made it clear that there were many problems in Corinth. In this letter we encounter many more. It is also the letter that reveals most of Paul's character. There are several things going on:

• Paul's concern and love for the Corinthians
• The wrong attitudes of many of the Corinthians
• Personal attacks on Paul
• Wrong sorts of apostleship (the super-apostles referred to in the letter)
• Paul's understanding of the gospel
• Paul's personal knowledge and experience of Jesus Christ

Often in life we start to understand something about the Lord, or we experience something of His love and power. Then we experience some difficult situation in life, often the way that one or more individuals towards us, or to some situation, and our joy seems to drain away. Well in this letter we see how all these aspects work together, how Paul relied on his knowledge and understanding of the Lord to deal with a most difficult situation. So we have much to learn from this letter, and we will discover something of the true nature of spiritual power.

Psalm 70 - Come quickly, O Lord

Yet another cry for help. So if many of your prayers seem to be cries for help to God, then you are in good company. 

Verses 2-4 draw distinction between those who want to take David's life, and those who seek the Lord. Those who mock and delight in the downfall of others will end up in a bad place. But those who delight in the Lord will be filled with joy.

David puts himself in a different category, he is "poor and needy", and so calls on God to come quickly to his aid. There is nothing wrong in asking God to come quickly to help us.

Psalm 69 - Rescue me

David is in trouble again! He feels like the flood waters are completely engulfing him. He has been in this situation for some time, having called out to God and looked to God many times. When difficulties start sometimes we feel OK at the outset, believing that God will rescue us, but then His answer seems to be a long time coming, and  the stress of the situation starts to catch up with us. Suddenly God seems far away and to be paying no attention, while our problems seem to be getting worse.

In difficult time we become more aware of our own weaknesses, sins and failings. So it was with David. God was aware of all this long before we were. We come to a God who is fully aware of our sin, yet still loves us.

When we are struggling, those around us may suffer as well, such as our family, people in church etc. David prays that his difficulties will not lead to problems for anyone else.

David was an object of scorn. There are also references here to Jesus' sufferings on the cross. Of course, Jesus did not have any "folly" of His own, but all our sin was placed upon Him.  Many mocked Him on the cross.

David was in trouble now, but believed that a time of favour would still come. The same applies to us. Even if God seems far away just now, there will come a time when we are fully aware of His favour again. David reminds God of how difficult he is finding things.

He prays for his enemies plans to be all turned back on them. Sometimes we tend to skip over these sorts of verses, but we need to remember that we are in a battle, and we should pray for the defeat of our enemies. Yet at the same time we need to remember that our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers, against spiritual forces. People are not the enemy, even if they are being used by Satan. On the cross Jesus prayed for the forgiveness of those who crucified Him, as did Stephen when he was being stoned.