2 CORINTHIANS 6: 3-10 [GAINING PERSPECTIVE Series]
THE TRIALS AND PARADOXES OF MINISTRY
[Romans 5:1-5 / 14: ]
With an outburst of passion, noble Christian service is described. For those who receive the grace of God, and allow it to carry out its intended working, there is a moving into ministry. God's grace makes us into co-workers with Him so that we live for His glory.
God's grace moves us into ministry, which most certainly will be difficult, but if we will faithfully perform it in integrity, there will be victory not only for ourselves but for many, many souls. For those who serve through the difficulties of life and ministry find that God's grace produces dignity in them and glory for God. They spent their life growing in the grace of the gospel by which they make many wise in this life and rich in the world to come.
[Here are twenty-seven categories divided into three groups of nine each in these verses. In verses 4--5 are Paul's trials; verses 6--7 focus on divine provision, and verses 8--10 focus on the victory over circumstances accomplished by endurance.]
I. HOLDING UP THE MINISTRY, 3-4a.
II. IN DIFFICULTY, 4b-5.
III. IN INTEGRITY, 6- 7.
IV. IN ENDURANCE AND VICTORY, 8-10.
Because of the importance and urgency of our calling, verse 3 reminds us not to allow anything into our lives or ministry that would give people a reason not to respond. "giving no cause for offense in anything, so that the ministry will not be discredited,"
One of the greatest obstacles to the progress of the Gospel is the bad example of people who profess to be Christians. Unsaved people like to use the inconsistencies of the saints, especially preachers, as an excuse for rejecting Jesus Christ. Paul was careful not to do anything that would put a stumbling-block in the way of either sinners or saints (see Rom 14).
The message of the cross is enough of an offense to the lost. The Christian must be careful not to offend by self serving conduct that would discredit [m¨maomai from m¨mos -blemish], bring disrepute to God or be a spiritual stumbling to a fellow Christian (1 Cor. 8:9). The message of the cross has been made empty and powerless to too many people because of the behavior of those who profess to believe it.
I was witnessing on a college campus [University of South Dakota] to a student who understood the Gospel but strongly rejected it. So I told him the bad news, that unless he received the grace of God through Jesus Christ he would not only would he go to Hell but he would also be separated from our Loving God forever. He thought about it for awhile. Then he replied, "If this story is true and you Christians love people and don't want them to go there-why haven't any Christian ever told me this before? If it's that important that my eternal existence depends on it why haven't you Christians told me before? If I believed that I would walk on broken glass through fire to tell everyone."
Not only would Paul not discredit the gospel the first part of verse 4 says, "but in everything commending ourselves as servants of God,"
The life lived is the biggest commendation the gospel can receive. Paul is not simply commending his disciples, he is stating that everything they do, all their actions - commend them us as servants [diakonia] of God. This type of commendation is what the Corinthians should have required for authenticating their ministers (3:1, 5:12). In everything a disciple does we should consistently consider what are actions communicated about Jesus Christ.
If you are a believer, you are a minister or servant of God. In the course of each day, non-Christians observe you. Don't let your careless or undisciplined actions be another person's excuse for rejecting Christ. Don't let your actions be a stumbling-block or hindrance for someone's proper reception of the grace of God.
II. IN DIFFICULTY (4b-5).
What kind of life then should we live to commend ourselves and not cause people to stumble? Paul gives a summary about the dignity and glory of ministry under three aspects. He first lists nine trials which fall into three sets of three (4b-5), followed by nine inner qualities (6-7). He then records nine pairs of contrasts (8-10). Each word carries a story that Paul could fill from his life of ministry and hopefully we could by ours also. [His fervor though does not interfere with the careful choice of words. The balanced antitheses, the rhymical cadences and as/so/nances (like sounding vowels in words) pour forth eloquently Paul's experience.]
These verses constitute the second of three hardship lists penned by Paul in this epistle (4:8--12; 11:23--29). Christians who would please the Lord must conduct themselves in the midst of trials with patience and endurance, confident of the Lord's sovereign purpose in their lives. Starting in the second part of verse 4 Paul itemizes some of his hardships. "In much endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distresses,"
Listed first are general difficulties starting with "in much endurance." Endurance [hupo-mon¨¥, lit. "to remain under"] speaks of oppressive emotional as well as physical and spiritual hardships. Paul had never quit when the going was tough instead he exhibited a cheerful endurance in all his trials.
"Afflictions" [th¨ªpheis] is literally pressed or squeezed indicating pressures from within or without. These unrelieved adversities includes every thing that presses on the heart and mind or tries the power of endurance or resistance. Jesus said in John16:23 "in the world ye shall have tribulations but be of good cheer for I have over come the world" (Acts 14:22; 20:23).
Next is in hardships [¨¤n¨¢gkai] which could be translated in necessities or emergencies. These could be sicknesses, losses of friends, perplexities that tax one to the utmost as one strives to know what to do or how to bear up. "In distresses" [stenoch¨r¨ªais] is literally "tight place or straits," [stenos is "narrow" & ch¨ros is "space"] indicating anguishes. The idea is one of constraint or of being under siege by an enemy, like Satan. It is where one has no room to move and thus escape seems hopeless. Their situation is so perplexed with difficulties that humanly speaking it appears to be insolvable.
In our difficulties there is greater opportunity for Christ's power to transform us. For the Christian, tribulation brings about proven character (Rom. 5:2-5) where as in the natural man they can give rise to despair or bitterness. Paul will give more precise information concerning some of these events he suffered later in the letter (11:23-25).
Imagine an 18-year-old searching the want ads for a SUMMER JOB. Because he likes the outdoors, his interest is drawn to an ad about a national wildlife and fish refuge. It lists several job openings, but instead of promising attractive benefits and lucrative pay, the ad warns that the work will include "exposure to heat, humidity, rain, mud, millions of bitting mosquitoes, poisonous plants, barbed wire, and hard work." The pay is minimum wage.
Now imagine that the 18-year-old is a Christian looking for meaningful spiritual service. His eyes rest on the 6th chapter of 2 Corinthians. There he finds the apostle Paul describing the highest calling of all, an opportunity to work for the Lord. But again the job description is very candid about some of the stresses that go with the work. Although Paul's experiences as an apostle were unique, his words remind all readers that serving the Lord is not a vacation. It requires great care and effort and takes the highest commitment.
Yes, the challenge of serving Christ is without parallel and will require sacrifice. But we are not in it alone, and that makes all the difference. No price is too great to pay for the privilege serving with the Lord! We can never sacrifice too much for the One who sacrifice His all for us.
The second and third groups of three in verse 5 are various physical hardships encountered in ministry. The second triplet in the first part of verse 5 were directly inflicted by men. "In beatings, in imprisonments, in tumults,"
Even unsaved people go through the difficult experiences in life. Paul though is describing bodily trials he endured for Christ. These he endured because he was faithful in serving Christ against great opposition. "In beatings" indicates blows, wounds or floggings. Even at this mid-course in Paul's ministry he had endured much suffering for Christ at men's hands. "In imprisonments" emphasizes being put under guard, be it in Philippi, Jerusalem, Cesarea, Rome or other places where his feet were in stocks or he was chained. "In tumults" or riots such as Pisdian Antioch (Acts 13:50); Lystra (14:15, 19); Philippi (Acts 16:22, Thessalonica (17:5); Corinth (18,12); Ephesus (19:29), & Jerusalem (Acts 21:30). These instabilities, be they political or religious, were weapons Satan often turned against the Apostle. Before such outbreaks of wrath the bravest often recoils. These three tribulations were forced upon him.
The last three travails in verse 5 may be group together also. "in labors, in sleeplessness, in hunger," These last three Paul voluntarily encountered for the sake of the ministry. "In labors" or arduous tasks resulting in weariness. Spiritual preaching and teaching of the gospel involve great effort due to the enemies' resistance, but the servant of God knows that his labors are not in vain
"In sleeplessness" or watchings [agrupniais derived from agre¨²¨, to hunt & ¨´pnos, sleep] literally "to hunt sleep." When these watching become voluntary they are called the night watches (Mk. 13:33) as an urgency of prayer is laid upon a believer (Acts 16:25, 20:3). There are also times when situations events and concerns rob the mind and body of rest. Also "in hunger" or fasting. Fasting [n¨¥steiai] is used most often of voluntary fasting but could be the abstinence of food that he turned into fasting before God.
III. IN INTEGRITY, 6-7.
Having drawn attention to various kinds of difficulties which came about in his faithful rendering of his ministry of reconciliation, Paul now sets down a list of spiritual qualities or graces which enables him to endure and triumph through all.
Verses 6 & 7 are the leadership tools Paul used in his of reconciling men with God ministry. Verse 6 contains inner qualities of the Spirit-filled life. "In purity, in knowledge, in patience, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in genuine love,"
The first enabling grace was "in purity" or pureness of both moral uprightness of the heart and singleness of purpose in the mind. Purity includes not only freedom from immoral thoughts, words and acts but of motive and devotion toward life in general. Next listed is "in knowledge" indicating divine knowledge. He found in Christ all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Col. 2 3). This knowledge of Christ and the things of Christ sustained him. "In patience" or long suffering with people under unjust and undeserved injuries. This forbearance is a good quality when dealing with fellow believers (Col. 3:12-13). "In kindness" [ch¨¥st¨t¨¥s from ch¨¥st¨s which means useful]. Kindness, a fruit of the Spirit, is more than a disposition to do good. Kindness is compassion in action.
The next four qualities are described in three words. "In the Holy Spirit" or by the manifestation of the Holy Spirit dwelling in him. The presence of the Holy Spirit was evidence by the gifts, graces, and powers that attended Paul's life and ministry. "In genuine love" is love that is unfeigned; untainted, or un-hypocritical. This is the only love which is worth-while (Rom 12:9). His love was genuine, not mixed with insincerity or self-seeking. Love is the primary fruit of the Spirit which governs all we do and our use of our spiritual gifts.
Verse 7 continues with the proclamation of the truth in power which is the most effective spiritual weapon a Christian has. "in the word of truth, in the power of God; by the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and the left,"
"The Word of truth" is the Holy Scriptures, the message of truth which Paul proclaimed. "In the power" [or the enabling grace of God] is the divine anointing given for ministry. This divine power was manifested in the results or the fruits of Paul's ministry. Only power experienced can become power communicated (1 Cor. 2:3-5).
Paul ministered by "the weapons of righteousness" or in the full armor of God (Eph 6:10-18). The instruments of righteousness are the only kind that will stand the strain of the warfare in which we battle (2 Cor. 10:3-6). The world forces of darkness are the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly that are arrayed against us.
These weapons of righteousness are "for the right and left hand" or for defensive and offensive weapons. In Ephesians 6:16-17 the shield of faith with which you extinguish all the flaming missiles of Satan is in the left hand and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God is wielded with right. No soldier of Christ is prepared for daily battle without both. The Christian with these weapons is prepared for attack from any quarter and is prepared to fight back.
IV. IN ENDURANCE AND VICTORY, 8-10.
In nine pairs of paradoxes Paul speaks of conflicting responses to his ministry. Verses 8-10 may be battles fought and victories gained. Verse 8 begins the two-sides of the Christian ministry. "By (through) glory and dishonor, by (through) evil report and good report; regarded as deceivers and yet true;"
The servants of God are not immune from the fickle judgments of this world. Some who believed welcomed Paul like Christ Himself (Gal. 4:14) but more often he faced insults and dishonor (1 Cor. 4: 1 0, 1 Thess. 2:2). Servants of God have bitter enemies and devoted friends. Some will hold you in esteem while others cast dispersions.
The next judgment by others is, "through evil report and good report" (or regard). Like Paul we are maligned by outsiders (1 Cor. 4:13). Even some within the church (Romans 3:8) gave him a bad report through misrepresentation and slander. Few things are more antagonizing than false and malicious gossip spread within the Christian community about a servant of God. Yet even in these circumstances God's servant should calmly show forth the Spirit of Christ "who was reviled and did not revile in return, when He suffered did not threaten but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously" (1 Pet. 2:3 ). Yet others, those deeper in Christ or touched through their answered need, will give good reports of our ministry and character.
Servants of God that are under satanic attack are "regarded as deceivers and yet true." This word deceivers [plavos from plava¨, to lead astray] could be translated vagabond, wanderer, or imposter. Paul's opponents said he sowed deceit or lead others astray. The Pharisees called Jesus a deceiver (Mt. 27:63) and Christ's servants are still profaned as was the Master. It has always been the work of Satan and his servants to cast falsehood upon the Word of God and the servants of God. But it is the anti-christ who is the deceiver (1 Jn. 7, 1 Tim. 4:1). Yet Paul and those so tested will be proved true or genuine (Mt. 22:16, Mk. 12:14). These paradoxes will occur because not everyone understands us or our ministry.
Verse nine continues, "as unknown yet well-known, as dying yet behold, we live; as punished yet not put to death,"
Paul says they were unknown, ignored, nonentities, obscured persons without proper credentials to society and Judaizers, and perhaps in the sense of people not acknowledging them or their ministry. Yet he was well known by God ( 2 Tim. 2:19), and by the demons for they fled when he spoke to them in Jesus name [the 7 sons of Seeva].
The next paradox is "as dying yet behold, we live." As was often reported when he was ill, or the victim of violence, stoned, beaten, nearly drowning (1:8-9) yet Paul always seemed to cheat death being delivered for Jesus sake that he might manifest Jesus in his mortal flesh. In Lystra he was stoned and dragged out of the city as dead and then suddenly was enable to rise full of life and vigor (Acts 14:19-20). Paul also died daily to the flesh that he might live of the Spirit. He carried in his body the dying of Christ that the life of Christ might also be manifested (4:10).
They were also "punished," chastened, or flogged as if for sins which was undoubtably inferred by his enemies. Paul received this disciplining or correction as allowed by the heavenly Father to train him in righteousness. Any child of God that desires to grow closer to Him knows he needs this discipline but these are not to death, because God sustains His own (4:7-9).
The gospel, when faithfully preached improves the earthly and eternal condition of those who fully received God's Word. Verse 10, "as sorrowful yet always [constantly] rejoicing, as poor yet making many rich, as having nothing yet possessing all things."
In the front lines of the spiritual warfare Paul can be seen weary but undaunted, beaten but not broken, bruised but unbowed. Such a life would seem to lead to sorrow yet because of trust in God they were constantly rejoicing. Christians grieve because of occurrences in their life or in the life of fellow believer, life, but even in sorrow we can find joy James said "rejoice when you encounter various trials knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance" (Jas. 1:2-3). Though you have constantly available to you the abiding joy of Christ we are not immune from sorrows, disappointments such as friends falling or converts faltering. But no sorrow or disappointments, however severe, can ever interrupt, much less extinguish the joy of our salvation, with its vision of unclouded glory to come.
Paul was poor yet he made many rich. The word poor is a strong word, pauper would be appropriate. I'm sure the taunt of poverty was thrown at him. The apostle's poverty in this world's goods was obvious to all and those that assess things according to the standards of this world would call him a failure. But Paul did not work for earthly treasure but stored up treasure in heaven. And because he did so he had all the spiritual resources he needed to make many spiritually rich, eternal rich, in Christ Jesus (Prov. 13:7; 1 Cor 1:5).
Though Paul materially had nothing yet by means of spiritual blessings he possessed all things (1 Cor. 3:21-23, Eph. 1:3, Rom. 8:22). He gave up everything yet in Christ possessed everything. This remarkable man lacked the very things which most consider necessary to make life tolerable, yet lived as though he was the possessor of all things, because he was God supplied all his needs according to His riches in glory.
Paul had learned to abound and be abased, he had learned to have much, and nothing (Phil. 4: ). He learn in life the lesson of our Lord in Luke 12:15, "... a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth."
IN CLOSING
To worldly onlookers the apostle Paul picture of his Christian service would not be attractive but probably repulsive. But then the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing but is the power of God unto salvation to those who are being saved (1 Cor. ). Yet the difficulties of Christian ministry were used by God to pour out His greater grace upon Paul. He had the proven character and attitude that could disregard suffering, discomfort and disapproval and still manifest compassion, love for others, and work in the joy and peace which so marked his life.
Can you see yourself and your ministry in these descriptions and qualities? Paul was totally devoted and totally surrendered without any artificiality He loved the Lord His God with all his heart, mind, soul and strength, and his neighbor as himself.
Have you received the grace of God? Are you saved? If so, what are you doing with it? Is this divine deposit drawing any interest? As we become ambassadors for Christ the artificial wears off and Christ-likeness grows in its place. As you look into the mirror of His Word do you see Christ-likeness? If not, I exhort you to let His word have its perfecting work in you. In all the ups and downs of life and ministry as Christians we need to act with integrity. If we do not, our own lives might become stumbling-blocks for those with whom we seek to share the gospel.
[In every way he sought to demonstrate himself as a servant of God, by enduring hardships (4b--5) and by acting with integrity (6--7), no matter whether his own experiences in the ministry were pleasant or painful (8--10). In all the ups and downs of life and ministry as Christians we need to act with integrity. If we do not, our own lives might become stumbling-blocks for those with whom we seek to share the gospel.]
