Year 8, Day 85: 2 Corinthians 1

Theological Commentary: Click Here

As we open up the book of 2 Corinthians, we notice that there is a distinct lack of joy in these words.  Paul does not offer up any thanksgiving for the people.  This is extraordinarily odd for Paul.  Usually, Paul speaks great words of praise.  At the very least, Paul acknowledges the people.  Here, though, we have nothing.  We have a short section about the glory of God and then Paul gets down to business.

Why would Paul neglect to say words of thanksgiving to the people?  The reasons are fairly simple.  The most obvious reason, as we will see later in the book, is that the Corinthians haven’t resolved anything.  They are still bickering.  They are still treating people unfairly.  There is still sexual immorality going on among the people.  Nothing’s changed.  Paul’s earlier words have fallen upon deaf ears.

There’s another reason that Paul may express no thanksgiving.  Paul has experience turmoil in his present locale.  Paul has had to change his plans.  He wont winter in Corinth.  In fact, he has to scuttle plan B, too.  He won’t even come and visit.  He has to rely upon writing another letter, knowing full well that his first letter wasn’t effective.

That being said, we get a really neat perspective on leadership with Paul.  Although he is irritated for multiple reasons, he is still trusting God.  He is still looking for God’s hand at work.  He looks to the trouble he’s in and the fact that he cannot get to Corinth and concludes that God is sparing the Corinthians.  He concludes God is sparing them, and perhaps even sparing himself from either a fruitless venture or perhaps even making a mistake.  I respect this about Paul.  Even when things don’t go his way, he is still willing to look to and trust in the Lord.  He may not be overly happy about what happened, but he puts that aside to continue to be a servant of the Lord.

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