Tag: Devotion

2 Corinthians 10:14 For we stretch not ourselves beyond our measure, as though we reached not unto you: for we are come as far as to you also in preaching the gospel of Christ:

In the Apostle Paul’s second missionary journey in which the church of Corinth was established, was recorded by Luke the beginning of that journey in Acts 15:40 “And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God.” The poet Philip Doddridge (1702-1751) aptly described “grace” in the words of the hymn entitled “Grace! ‘Tis a Charming Sound” that is the throbbing heartbeat of the missionary in Ephesians 2:8:

Grace! ‘tis a charming sound

Harmonious to the ear

Heaven with the echo shall resound,

And all the earth shall hear.

Saved by grace alone!

This is all my plea:

Jesus died for all mankind

And Jesus died for me.

In the second missionary journey recorded in Acts 15:36-18:22, according to Scroggie, the occupied 2 ½ – 3 years and the distance travelled was 2800 miles (1230 miles by sea and 1570 miles by land) from A.D. 50-53. The first and second Epistles to the Thessalonians were written respectively in A.D. 52 and A.D. 53.

It was a true record of the grace of God.

2 Corinthians 10:13 But we will not boast of things without our measure, but according to the measure of the rule which God hath distributed to us, a measure to reach even unto you.

It was the Apostle Paul who had come to the city of Corinth to preach the gospel that saw to the establishment of the church in Corinth. This work was established as it were through the working of God in the Apostle Paul’s ministry. It was during his 2nd Missionary journey that the church was started.

Recall Luke’s record in Acts 18 where the Apostle Paul departed from Athens to Corinth (Acts 18:1). He abode with Aquila and Priscilla who were tentmakers. On the Sabbath, he would make his way to the Jewish synagogue to preach the gospel. He was opposed but God was with him to save Justus who lived next to the synagogue. And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue also believed with all his household and many other Corinthians hearing the gospel believed.

2 Corinthians 10:12 For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.

The Apostle Paul was truthful to his confession of faith. He has not another face to hide himself. He was not a different person in his writing from who he was in person. His mission was his Master’s. He testified in Galatians 2:20 “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” His life was to exalt his Master! He was an obedient to his Master call. What a blessed life!

It was a life lived by the grace of God. Washington Gladden (1879) was the writer of the hymn “O Master Let Me Walk with Thee”. He articulated how a weak vessel needs to be surrendered to be fit for the Master’s use.

2 Corinthians 10:11 Let such an one think this, that, such as we are in word by letters when we are absent, such will we be also in deed when we are present.

Coventry was a centre for the weaving trade in medieval times, most famously, Coventry was known for cloth dyed a particular shade of blue. The phrase “True blue” is supposed to derive from the blue cloth that was made at Coventry, England in the late middle ages. The town’s dyers had a reputation for producing material that didn’t fade with washing, that is, it remained ‘fast’ or ‘true’. The Coventry story also has the added credence of closely matching the ‘steadfast, unwavering’ meaning of the phrase.

The phrase ‘as true as Coventry blue’ originated then and is still used (in Coventry at least). The town’s standing was recorded in 1670 by John Ray in the first edition of A Compleat Collection of English Proverbs:

“Coventry had formerly the reputation for dying of blues; insomuch that true blue became a Proverb to signifie one that was always the same and like himself.”

2 Corinthians 10:10 For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.

What the Corinthians have read from his letters was exactly who the Apostle Paul was. He stood by what he wrote. What he wrote was true to who he was. It had been alleged that his ordinary physical appearance does not gel with the spiritual strength of the letters that he wrote. Therefore, the letters have been called to question. How could such a weak person write such powerful letters!

The power of those letters was Spirit-led writing. As the Apostle Peter would have rightly put it in 2 Peter 1:21 “For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” The Apostle Peter’s spiritual authority came from the Lord Jesus Himself as he testified in 2 Peter 1:17-19 “For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:” Just as it was with the Apostle Paul as recorded our Lord’s conversation with Ananais in Acts 9:15-16 “But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.” This was exactly the work the Apostle Paul was doing. It was the Lord’s work through this weak vessel!

2 Corinthians 10:8-9 For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord hath given us for edification, and not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed: That I may not seem as if I would terrify you by letters.

The Apostle Paul was careful to use his authority to build up the faith of the saints. It was not meant to frighten or scare them, or worse to harm them. He had to clear himself so that it will not be misconstrued. MacDonald observed insightfully, “He knew there were false teachers exercising authority among the Corinthians which they had never received from the Lord.”

The Apostle Paul was not there but was aware of the falsehoods planted concerning his ministry amongst the Corinthians. As such, he was duty-bound to clarify, albeit, by a letter.

The Apostle Paul could have let the matter rest, after all, he was far away, but his heart will have no rest until he saw to the spiritual well-being of the Corinthians. True to the trust that our Lord placed upon him, we saw him discharging his work with heart, soul, mind and strength for the glory of God.

2 Corinthians 10:8 For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord hath given us for edification, and not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed:

The goal of the Apostle Paul’s ministry was to edify the saints. His purpose was to build them up in the faith and not to tear them down. He declared unequivocally his inner motive so as to clarify beyond doubt. It was an honourable objective of ministry. He would preach the gospel and for the souls that were saved, he would take time to nurture them in the faith.

It was well recorded by Luke to confirming the Apostle Paul’s words here in Acts 14:21-23 And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch, Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God. And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.

2 Corinthians 10:7 Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? If any man trust to himself that he is Christ’s, let him of himself think this again, that, as he is Christ’s, even so are we Christ’s.

The Apostle Paul has to explain that no one has an exclusive claim on Christ. [MacDonald] He belongs to the Lord Jesus as truly as the others whom he was referring. Although his outward demeanour may appear weak and his speech far from eloquent, he too belongs to Christ and does the work of Christ. As such, he bade the Corinthian church to look at the facts, the fruit of the work that has begun in Corinth. His apostleship was from Christ. It was the Lord who called him to service. Even so, the team that was with him in the work.

He was engaging the church in Corinth to look at the fruit of his ministry before he and his team would be dismissed as less than authentic servants of God.

2 Corinthians 10:6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.

McClaren observed well, “There was in the Corinthian Church a party, probably Judaisers, which denied his authority and said bitter things about his character. They apparently had contrasted the force of his letters and the feebleness of his ‘bodily presence’ and speech. They insinuated that his ‘bark was worse than his bite.’ Their language put into plain English would be something like this, ‘Ah! He is very bold at a distance, let him come and face us and we shall see a difference. Vapouring in his letters, he will be meek enough when he is here.'”

God will enable the Apostle Paul to declare the truth and refute the falsehoods against the gospel in the church of Corinth. The Apostle Paul first ought the Corinthian church to be in obedience to the truth.

Recall the time when the Syrians opposed the ministry of Elisha because he warned the king of Israel of the ambush of the enemy. The Syrians came to besieged the city of Dothan which Elisha dwelled. They sought to bring him to God’s prophet.

2 Corinthians 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

When the disciples met Jesus for the third time at the Sea of Galilee after His resurrection, Jesus reminded them of their calling that they were to be fishers of men. Peter and John and others were on the boat when Jesus commanded them to cast their net to the right side. They caught a whole net full, 153 fishes, and the net did not break. Jesus then bade them to come to shore and dine with Him.

Then He asked Peter, John 21:15-17 So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.