Well, you’ve read the first Corinthian letter. What is this second letter written to the Corinthians all about? Looks like Paul has some very significant problems confronting him.
He has a strong contingent of Christians that support him vehemently. But on the other side of the coin there is a very strong group that opposes Paul and want to see his credibility and his person destroyed. Some of these anti Paul folks are a group from Jerusalem.
You will remember that Jerusalem has literally made a vow among their selves to do away with this man who is introducing new ideas to both Jew and Gentile. The profits of the business folk who provide the Jewish sacrifices are losing a great deal of money as more and more Jews turn to follow Christ and forsake the old ways.
Paul is being called a coward because he won’t come back again to Corinth to face their barbaric charges. Paul, instead decides to defend himself and refute these accusations by writing another powerful letter with the desired goal of illustrating again his call by God to the mission field. And of course via the letter Paul wants to take the opportunity to preach the Gospel again which he can never cease doing.
When Paul earlier visited Corinth he successfully built a new church, but there are always troubles cropping up and most of these have to do with people. Many in Corinth want him to return so that he could defend himself and that Paul originally planned to do. But the short of it is that Paul is being attacked severely all over Asia Minor and just cannot fit it into his schedule to return at the present time to Corinth.
2 Corinthians 1: 8 “We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life.”
Everyone seems to be pulling at Paul for his time. The man feels like a piece of taffy being pulled in every direction. But Paul makes it real clear that he just cannot come to Corinth at the moment so he elects to write them a compelling letter instead. And its good for us that he did because that is how we came to acquire the “letter” and book of the new testament we call 2nd Corinthians.
2 Corinthians 1: 23 “I call God as my witness that it was in order to spare you that I did not return to Corinth.”
Why didn’t Paul return to Corinth? Frankly, I believe he wanted the people to grow and mature on their own. Corinth was a rich cosmopolitan city filled with every vice. The kind of place where it’s difficult to be a Christian. Paul wanted these new Christians in Corinth to work out their own salvation and grow in the Lord. If Paul came to help them they would never grow.
2 Corinthians 1: 24 “Not that we lord it over your faith, but we work with you for your joy, because it is by faith you stand firm.”
Now here is an interesting verse. Perhaps the interpretation of this text will help explain better why Paul refused to travel back to Corinth. There would be many who would feel he was exercising authority that he did not have. These Corinthians were a proud bunch. Paul never exercised worldly leadership over any church. Even as Peter did Paul wanted the early and growing church to exercise its own authority over itself through the appointment of bishops, elders, deacons, etc.
The early church was on its own.
We are in a new last day’s investment era. Natural resources, such as gold and uranium, will only escalate in value as the world continues to experience unprecedented growth. Gold Letter’s 10 best performing stocks are up over 2,000% and GL’s top 55 performing stocks are up over 500%. Close to 90% of all Gold Letter’s recommendations since inception in January, 2003 are up over 250%. GL charts are computer generated and updated every hour while markets are open.
Click here to order Gold Letter
“The Worldwatch Institute, an organization that focuses on environmental, social and economic trends, says the current rate of global demand for resources is unsustainable.” Click
Send me an email.
David Vaughn
Gold Letter, Inc.
David4054@charter.net
7-4-2007
The news and editorial viewpoints, and other information discussed herein (the Bible) are obtained from sources deemed reliable, and their accuracy (the Bible) is guaranteed.
© Copyright 2007, Gold Letter Inc.