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THE KING’S BUSINESS
in connection with the riot stirred up by Demetrius, and the circumstances connected with it (Acts 19:23-41). But Paul had “the answer to death” within himself. He had no fear o f death because his trust was not in himself but in God, and the God in whom he trusted raised the dead, so death had lost all terrors for him (cf. 1 Cor. 15:55-58). Happy is the man who has in himself the answer to death because he trusts in God, a God whom he knows raises the dead. Tuesday, January 15 . 2 Cor. 1 : 10 , 11 . God had delivered Paul in this time of great peril from so great a death as then confronted him (a death by mob violence). Not only had God delivered Paul at this time “out o f so great a death,” but Paul was certain that God would continue to deliver in the near and in the more remote future (\V. 10, R. V .; cf. 2 Tim. 4:18). While all Paul’s confidence was in God, he felt that man could and must help “ by prayer.” God works when men pray (cf. James 4:2). The gift bestowed upon Paul in answer to the prayers o f many would be by means o f these many who prayed. So there would be many who united in thanks giving. Paul takes it for granted that if people had their prayers answered they would rejnember to return definite- thanks for it. Wednesday, January 16 . 2 Cor. . 1 : 12 - 14 . Paul now tells them wherein his “glory” (R. V .) lay. It was not in any great suc cesses which he had achieved, but “that in holiness and sincerity o f God, not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace o f God we behaved ourselves in the world.” Any Christian may have the same ground o f boasting. We cannot all achieve the great things that Paul wrought, but we can all live “ in holi ness and sincerity o f God.” W e can all renounce the wisdom o f the flesh and walk in the grace o f God. It was especially among the Corinthians that Paul had man ifested-this sincerity o f God (cf. ch. 2 :4 ), and yet though it was especially among the
Corinthians that Paul had manifested this sincerity o f God, there were perhaps few places where Paul was less appreciated. Paul goes on to refer to the fact that the Corinthian saints had acknowledged that he was their glorying, and he tells them that they also are his, or rather shall be his “in the day o f our Lord Jesus Christ.” By “the day o f our Lord Jesus Christ” he refers to that coming day o f Christ’s mani festation when all believers in Him will be manifested. , Thursday, January 17 . 2 Cor. 1 : 15 - 20 . Paul had intended to make the Corinth ians a visit before. It was his intention at that time to pass through Corinth and to go on to Macedonia, and then to return again from. Macedonia unto Corinth, and by the Corinthian saints to be helped for ward on his journey to Judea. But circum stances had arisen that made it unwise for Paul to carry out this intention. There were some in Corinth who accused Paul o f fickleness in thus changing his mind. Some even went so far as to boast that he would not come at all (1 Cor. 4:18). Paul here explains why he had not come. It was to spare them (v. 23). I f he had come then it would have been necessary for him to rebuke them severely (cf. 1 Cor. 4 :21; 2 Cor. 2 :3 ; 12:20; 13:2). He hoped by this letter before his arrival, to bring them to such a position that would render unneces sary the use o f “ sharpness” after he reached there (cf. ch. 13:10). Paul’s asser tion that this was the reason for his not carrying out his intention o f visiting them earlier is o f the most positive.and solemn character: he calls God for a witness to the truth o f it (v. 23). While he was not fickle on the one hand, on the other hand he was not purposing in the self-assertion o f the flesh that says, “Yea, yea,” and “ Nay, nay,” that is, that feels it must hold to its “yea” when it says “yea” no matter how ill advised it may afterward appear, and must always hold fast to “nay” when it has said “nay.” While Paul did change his plans, he did not change his doctrine (v.
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