2 Corinthians 3
BibTchStudy Guide 135: 2 Corinthians 1-3 THE INADEQUATE MAN Overview Second Corinthians is an intensely personal letter. In it the Apostle Paul shares his inner feelings in an attempt to help his readers understand principles on which ministry must be based. For you and me and those we teach, this is an important letter. Seeing the heart of one of the most effective ministers of all time helps us establish a firm foundation for our personal ministries.
Outline I. Personal Items2 Cor. 1-2 II. New Covenant Ministry Principles2 Cor. 3-5
- Transparency2Co_3:1-18
- Confidence2Co_4:1-18
- Motivation2Co_5:1-21 III. New Covenant Ministry Exemplified2 Cor. 6-7 IV. Giving under the New Covenant2 Cor. 8-9 V. Authority and the New Covenant2 Cor. 10-13NEW COVENANT. The “ New Covenant” is a key New Testament term, with roots in the Old Testament. The “ Old” Covenant with which it is contrasted is the Mosaic, or Law Covenant. The Law defined righteous behavior, and God’ s people were promised blessing if they lived by its regulations. But the Old Testament promised a New Covenant would be given, “ not like” the older one (Jeremiah 31:33-34). Under the New Covenant, initiated by the death of Christ, God makes believers righteous by inner transformation. This letter helps us understand how to live under God’ s New Covenant, and to truly be righteous through and through.
Commentary Paul’ s earlier letter to the Corinthians had a mixed reception. For instance, the brother living immorally was turned around. Yet others bridled at Paul’ s teaching. It is clear from 2 Corinthians that some challenged Paul’ s authority and apostleship. They charged him with unwarranted pride and overconfidence, and with saying one thing one time and something else another. The recriminations of this segment of the Corinthian church were furious and bitter — so serious that Paul had to respond, to express his deep love for and continuing confidence in the immature congregation. While Paul intended to deal with several specific questions (such as giving), the main thrust of his letter was to reassure the Corinthians. In spite of what Paul’ s enemies were saying, he did trust them completely. And he did care for them. Paul’ s motives and feelings, as well as his teachings, had been twisted by his critics. For the Corinthians’ own benefit, Paul now opened his heart in complete self-revelation. Earlier Paul had written to the Thessalonians and referred to his motives. “ You know how we lived among you for your sake,” he said (1 Thessalonians 1:5; see also 1 Thessalonians 2:5). Paul’ s whole approach to ministry was to live among the members of a new body as a completely transparent man. He freely and openly expressed his motives, his feelings, his values — everything. Paul so loved his converts that he was ready to share with them not only the Gospel but his own self as well. Certainly Paul had been this kind of man among the Corinthians. There could be no reasonable basis for doubting him, or for questioning his motives. Yet a group in Corinth did question. Their backbiting and innuendoes were troubling the whole body of believers. Perhaps these were people converted after Paul left Corinth, people who never knew him. Or perhaps they were simply proud and bitter people whose pretensions of superiority — whether based on a claim of superior “ knowledge” or on the supposed superiority of the gift of tongues — had been gently destroyed in Paul’ s earlier letter. At any rate, these people did attack Paul — bitterly. They could not refute his teaching, so they attacked him personally, seeking to undermine Paul’ s influence by making him appear to be a weak, plastic, venial man. It should not have been necessary for Paul to defend himself against this kind of attack. Many in Corinth had been converted under Paul’ s ministry. But apparently even their confidence in Paul had been shaken. The weakness and failures which Paul identified in that first letter must have devastated the faithful; even they began to doubt that Paul could love and continue to respect them. And so Paul wrote 2 Corinthians — which should have been an unnecessary letter. Yet in this letter Paul ministers to us in unique ways. We find answers to some of the most basic questions about spiritual leadership that face the church today. And we find, in the self-revelation of the apostle, a picture of the kind of person God is calling each of us to become.
Special Contributions of 2 Corinthians What are some of the specific values your group will receive as you teach this great New Testament book? Gain insight into transformation. Several times in the Corinthian letters Paul urged young believers to “ follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1). “ Transformation” sounds like such an abstract thing. Even when we say that transformation involves growth in Christlikeness, it is hard for us to grasp the meaning. But in the person of Paul (a living, breathing, real human being whom the body could watch and observe and listen to), Christlikeness took on fresh reality. In the close, personal relationship that Paul developed with his converts, they could learn the lifestyle of one who had traveled further than they down transformation’ s road. The invitation of Paul to believers to “ imitate me” or to “ let me be your example in this” was not rooted in pride. It was rooted in the apostle’ s awareness that a living example is essential in the communication of Christian truth. As we see in other New Testament passages, the bridge between knowing God’ s truth intellectually, and building it into one’ s life, is often the modeling of truth in another’ s life. This is one reason why 2 Corinthians is so important to us today. We don’ t know Paul as a person. We don’ t live in his first-century world. But in this letter, we not only meet Paul face-to-face, we meet him heart-to-heart. In this most intimate biblical portrayal of Paul as a person, we discover in him the kind of person God is calling us to become. Learn how to motivate. In a nationwide survey of 5,000 pastors I conducted through Renewal Research Associates, a Phoenix foundation, every respondent, when asked to identify the greatest need he saw for strengthening the life and ministry of his church, gave “ getting my lay people more involved as ministering people” a first- or second-priority ranking. The problem these pastors faced was one of motivation. How could they move others to follow Jesus? What is the motivational key to making disciples? All too often we hear a presentation of the Scriptures that is encased in an “ ought” framework. We’ re made to feel guilt or shame for what we haven’ t done; we’ re urged to try harder. Such guilt-producing approaches, however, create a sense of hopelessness, and actually retard transformation. At best, they force us into a flurry of activity which we call “ ministry.” God has a far better way; a far more freeing way! In 2 Corinthians, we’ ll come to know Paul the motivator, and will discover a different avenue to making disciples. Discover how to exercise spiritual authority. A final focus in our exploration of this intimate letter will be authority. This too is a question troubling the church today. What is the nature of spiritual authority? How is it expressed and exercised? How can we have authority that isn’ t oppressive, impersonal, restrictive — even degrading? In observing Paul gently exercise his authority with the Corinthian church, we gain new insights into how Christian authority operates. In the process, we’ ll find guidance for our own lives, in our homes, and in the church of God. This New Testament letter truly is a rich and exciting one. Once again God’ s Word will speak to each of us. In listening, and taking what Scripture teaches to heart, we will find new and open doors leading to faster personal spiritual growth.
Biographical Study Because this letter is such a personal one, one effective way to study it is by using the biographical method. As noted in an earlier study, the basic method for exploring the New Testament Epistles is what is called the synthetic method. That is, we try to trace the thought of the writer over extended passages, and then put it all together, often by using paraphrase. In this study I’ ll continue to trace the flow of the apostle’ s thought so your group members will be able to master content. But you may also wish to help your group members come to know Paul, the man better. For his words, “ Let me be your example,” are written not only for the Corinthians but for Christians throughout the ages. In exploring Paul’ s motives, values, and attitudes; in sensing his feelings and emotions, and discovering the basic convictions that shaped him, we will learn much about what it means for us to be truly Christian men and women. There is another reason for use of the biographical method of Bible study. It helps us understand truth in ways we might not if we remained strictly “ logical” in our approach. Truth in Scripture is not divorced from life. When seen in and through life, we often discover dimensions of truth we might not otherwise glimpse. Truth in life. Yet, it’ s important to remember that what we see in Scripture through the filter of life is rooted in revealed truth. The living example of men like Paul does not have validity in itself; instead, the lifestyle is valid only when it expresses truth. For instance, in this letter we’ ll meet Paul as vulnerable and inadequate. We’ ll see that Paul, under attack from the Corinthians, did not respond from a position of strength. Instead, he responded by revealing his weakness! At the very beginning of this letter Paul wrote, “ 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. Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death” (2 Corinthians 1:8-9). How striking! Paul immediately exposed himself to his enemies. How they might have used that against him! Can’ t you hear Paul’ s critics now? “ Paul’ s not so great. Look, he gets depressed just like some new believer! Why, what does he know of victorious Christian living? He even admits feeling despair.” Or, “ How can you ever respect a weak person like that! Paul needs help!” Why did Paul give his enemies this kind of edge? Why didn’ t he simply exercise his great power as an apostle and strike out against his critics? Why didn’ t he at least begin by recounting his strengths, rather than by revealing his weaknesses? Paul’ s underlying motive for this approach was his desire to minister to the Corinthians. Paul knew that, to minister effectively, he would have to identify with them in their humanity before he could show them a way to rise beyond themselves. Paul also grasped a basic truth — and realized its full implications. In order to truly minister to others, you must be completely honest and real with them. LINK TO LIFE: YOUTH / ADULT Have your group members use the biographical study method, without taking time to explain it to them. Begin by having each person read silently 2 Corinthians 1:1-2:4 and then jot down impressions of Paul as a person. Say: “ If you could choose one word to characterize Paul, what would it be? Why?” Then in pairs reread this passage, pausing after each verse to discuss: “ What insights do you get into Paul’ s motives? His values? His feelings, attitudes, and thoughts?” As a whole group, go one step further: “ What do you think was Paul’ s image of himself? How did he view others? How did he view God?” Finally, ask each individual to write a paragraph of no more than 200 words on what Paul would say if he were asked to “ tell us everything we need to know to understand you as a person.”
God’ s Comfort: 2 Corinthians 1:1-2:4 Paul was concerned first of all in laying a basis for continuing ministry to the Corinthians — and especially to his critics. He knew that a basis for ministry to others calls for sharing, not preaching. That is, we are most effective in helping others when those others see us as like them. If we are truly like others, then there is hope, for those who are overwhelmed by a sense of weakness cannot learn from people they view as strong — and therefore not like them. Paul could have begun his letter with an appeal to his unique authority as an apostle. However, Paul wanted all the brothers and sisters in Corinth to identify with him as a mere human being, so that they would see the divine power which was expressed in his life as something they could draw on too. This is the significance of Paul’ s statement that God “ comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.” It is because I have known troubles, and experienced God’ s enablement, that I can understand and come alongside those who have troubles like mine. If a brother or sister realizes that I am speaking about God from personal experiences that are like their own, they will be able to receive God’ s comfort from me. Because of this conviction Paul was willing to share his weakness, even revealing his times of despair, to build a foundation for a solid continuing ministry to that church. LINK TO LIFE: YOUTH / ADULT When your group has completed its initial biographical work from 2 Corinthians 1:1-2:4, point out that Paul was strikingly open and revealing in these verses. In view of Paul’ s example, how would they evaluate possible objections to an exhortation to also “ be real” ? “ But, people will lose respect for me.” “ Exposing weakness like that must undermine authority.” “ It’ s all right, but it can be carried too far.” “ If you share weaknesses, won’ t young Christians become discouraged and feel that Christ doesn’ t come through as promised?” “ People today feel uncomfortable with all this ‘ personal’ and ‘ self-revelation’ stuff.” After letting your group respond to these objections, move immediately to a direct study of 2 Corinthians 2:1-17 and 2 Corinthians 3:1-18.
The Case for Openness: 2 Corinthians 2:12-3:18 The context makes it clear that Paul was speaking about something he called a “ New Covenant” ministry. As a result of that ministry, the Corinthians themselves were a letter of recommendation, for Christ through Paul had engraved His own person on their hearts. They were living letters, “ written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts” (2 Corinthians 3:3). It is this unique ministry of inner transformation that Paul spoke of when he said that God has “ made us competent as ministers of the New Covenant” (2 Corinthians 3:6). Paul contrasted his ministry with the ministry of Moses. That Old Covenant ministry had a certain fading glory, but is not to be compared with the splendor of the present ministry of the New Covenant. Paul brings the issue into focus: Therefore, since we have such a hope [that is, the hope of inner transformation], we are very bold. We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to keep the Israelites from gazing at it while the radiance was fading away. 2 Corinthians 3:12-13What Paul was referring to was the Old Testament description of Moses, entering the tabernacle of God and returning to speak with the Israelites, transfused with a radiance and splendor. Remember that Moses was leading a group of people much like some of the Corinthians. The Israelites were constantly challenging Moses’ leadership. They murmured, complained, plotted against him, and at times were on the verge of stoning Moses to death! But when Moses came away from the Presence of God, with that visible splendor shining on his face, the people must have been stunned into temporary silence. We can even imagine Moses taking daily walks through the camp, pleased by the quiet that fell. But then Moses noticed that the splendor faded. The glow went away! And “ Moses . . . put a veil over his face to keep the Israelites from gazing at it while the radiance was fading away” (2 Corinthians 3:13). A process of deterioration was taking place, and Moses could not bear to have others see it. But ah, the contrast! Paul said, “ We are not like Moses” ; instead, “ We are very bold.” And Paul explained: Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’ s glory, are being transformed into His likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:17-18What did Paul mean? Simply this: I unveil and reveal myself in order that you might see Jesus in me. Jesus is not revealed in some supposed human “ perfection,” but rather in our progressive transformation. It is not, “ See how good I am,” that witnesses to the reality of Jesus, but, “ See what God is doing in such a sinner.” So Paul revealed his weaknesses. And in doing so, he also revealed the reality and the power of Jesus. Paul was weak, but the Spirit of God was constantly at work in him, working His transformation, overcoming his weaknesses, and infusing him with new strength. By taking off the veil that hid the real Paul from others, Paul knew that his critics would discover a weak and needy person. But Paul also knew that these people would also see Jesus!Core truths. How stunningly clear. In Paul’ s explanation of his openness and vulnerability, we see reflections of basic truths testified to by the Word of God. We are sinners, warped and twisted out of shape, far from being the persons we want to be, or that God intends us to be. Jesus Himself enters the life of the believer; once born again, we receive “ His own indestructible heredity” (1 Peter 1:23, PH). God is in the process of working His transformation in us believers; we “ are being transformed into His likeness with ever-increasing glory” (2 Corinthians 3:18). To Paul, the implications of these truths were compelling. As a leader, called to be an example, Paul had to take the veil off his life and personality, and let others see him as he really was. Of course, Paul realized that the Corinthians would discover he had weaknesses; his transformation, like our own, was incomplete. But Paul also knew that since Jesus was in his life, his brothers and sisters would also be beholding the Lord’ s glory (2 Corinthians 3:18). As others saw Jesus at work in Paul, they would find the confidence to hope for their own transformations. It costs to be this kind of Christian. Some will misunderstand and try to use our weaknesses against us. Others will tend to look down on us. But once again, Paul has opened for us God’ s way of thinking — a way so very different from man’ s. Not pride or self-protection, but humility and self-revelation. Paul’ s understanding of this truth led to his commitment: “ We have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the Word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly, we commend ourselves to every man’ s conscience in the sight of God” (2 Corinthians 4:2). May the Lord use Paul’ s example to free us and our group members to live, and to minister, in this same open, powerful way. LINK TO LIFE: YOUTH / ADULT Give a minilecture explaining Paul’ s argument in 2 Corinthians 3:12-18. As the illustration shows, Moses veiled his face when he left the presence of God because a process of deterioration was taking place; the radiance on his face faded. Now Paul said, believers are bold and remove veils, because God is present within, and the Holy Spirit has undertaken a process of transformation. The radiance of our lives shines with “ ever-increasing glory.” Only when our veils are removed can people see that Jesus is within, making us better people, and lifting us beyond our own innate weaknesses to bear the very likeness of our Lord.
Teaching Guide Prepare What evidences of transformation can you see in the lives of those you teach? Be prepared to encourage individuals with feedback just before or after your group meets.
Explore Launch with the biographical study of Paul through 2 Corinthians 1:1-2:4 as explained in “ link-to-life” above. This study should take at least half of your allotted time.
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- Raise objections to self-revealing in Christian interpersonal relationships. Let your group members try to answer them, as outlined in “ link-to-life” above.
- Give a minilecture on 2 Corinthians 3:1-18. It is important to see that while self-revelation, as Paul practiced it in this book, does establish a common bond with others, it is the fact that Jesus has been at work within to gradually transform that finally frees us to share. We share so that others can see the reality of Christ’ s work in our lives, even though honesty in sharing will reveal personal weaknesses and needs.
Apply How have members of your group seen Jesus in the lives of one another? Go around the circle and share, so each can sense how his or her life is having an impact on the brothers and sisters with whom he or she shares.