COPYRIGHT BY W ILLIAM EVANS
SECOND CORINTHIANS (Continued)
N our study of 2 Corinthians we have considered Introductory matters and the Synopsis of the book; also the Introduction (i. 1-14), followed by section 1 of the first main division of the book: “Matters Con cerning the Apostle’s visit to the Church at Corinth” (i. 15-vii. 16). We now present sections 2 and 3 of the first main division of the book as follows: 2 . T h e D ignity a n d S u p erio rity of th e A postolic Office (iii. 1-vi. 1 0 ). This section is really parenthetical between ii. 14 and vii. 5. Ip ii. 14 the apos tle refers to the waiting for Titus at Troas; vii. S refers again to the same event. (a) Apostolic Credentials (iii. 1-3). The thought of triumphs wrought through the apostles brings him next to the question of commendatory letters. The practice of granting such letters to traveling preachers seems to have been in vogue in the church at that time (cf. 1 Corinthians iv. 14; xv. 12; Galatians i. 7). There is in this section clearly an attack on the false apostles who were creating trouble in the church. The apostles themselves, through their labors for and interest in the spiritual welfare of the Corinthian believers, fur nished such letters of commendation (cf. iv. 2; 1 Corinthians xiv. 25). It is as if the apostle said, Do we need to speak of our triumphs in other places to uphold our standing in Corinth? The character of our ministry in your midst is our recommenda tion. Paul needed no such letters to Cor
inth, or to any other church, as did false teachers and so-called apostles. He was well and better known than any or all of them to all the churches. Christ had writ ten His work upon the hearts of the Cor inthian believers surely. The apostle him self was but the amanuensis of Christ; the living^ Spirit of God, the ink; and the hearts of the believers, tablets (cf. Exodus xxi. 18; Proverbs iii. 3; vii. 3; Jeremiah xxxi. 31-34; Ezekiel xi. 19; xxxvi. 26). Nor did the apostle fear any. inspection by the world of the reality of the Corinthians' faith and life. The Corinthians were the commendatory letter of the apostle. First, they were writ ten on his own heart and conscience. They were the divine credentials of his apostolic ministry. The fruit of his labors were they. Secohdly, they were the apostle’s recommendation to themselves. Were they not proofs that his ministry was divine? Could they not point to their own experi ence in the Lord? Third, the Corinthians were a letter of commendation to the world. Their lives were open to inspection by all people. Not the crowds that follow but the permanent fruit that abides is the divine credential the minister needs. (b) Such Credentials Give No Ground for Apostolic Boasting, for They Are the Work of God (iii. 4-11). Had Paul seemed to give any ground for his enemies to say that he was puffing him self up or recommending himself (cf. 1
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