2 Corinthians 6:3-10

In the movie Inside Out, Riley faces a crisis when her family moves across the country. As a result, she must face the trials of grief and sorrow. Eventually, her emotions find a healthy balance between both sadness and joy—an accomplishment that brings her to a new place of maturity to help her face life’s complications.

country. As a result, she must face the trials of grief and sorrow. Eventually, her emotions find a healthy balance between both sadness and joy—an accomplishment that brings her to a new place of maturity to help her face life’s complications.

emotions find a healthy balance between both sadness and joy—an accomplishment that brings her to a new place of maturity to help her face life’s complications.

accomplishment that brings her to a new place of maturity to help her face life’s complications.

complications.

3 We put no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, 4 but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, 5 beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; 6 by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love; 7 by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; 8 through honor and dishonor, through slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; 9 as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; 10 as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything.

3-4a In defense of his ministry, Paul presented a list of hardships he had suffered which no one could dispute. His suffering testified to his credibility.

Holman New Testament Commentary: I & II Corinthians A. A Ministry beyond Discrediting (6:3–4a)

In defense of his ministry, Paul presented a list of hardships he had suffered which no one could dispute. His suffering testified to his credibility.

“That God knows me, he comes to us in this fallen world of futility, and pain, and death, and sorrow, and moral collapse of a nation, and slaughter all over the world, and 700 people being trampled to death in Saudi Arabia, and babies being killed by the millions, and our Congress can’t even vote to save the later ones that can live — what a sad world. It’s a sad world! How can you live in this world and not be sad? You’re sick if you’re not sad, aren’t you? And you should be the happiest people in the world. And that is not a contradiction,”

Paul has lived the way that he has spoke of knowing that people will walk away from truth if the minster doesn't measure up.

“That God knows me, he comes to us in this fallen world of futility, and pain, and death, and sorrow, and moral collapse of a nation, and slaughter all over the world, and 700 people being trampled to death in Saudi Arabia, and babies being killed by the millions, and our Congress can’t even vote to save the later ones that can live — what a sad world. It’s a sad world! How can you live in this world and not be sad? You’re sick if you’re not sad, aren’t you? And you should be the happiest people in the world. And that is not a contradiction,”

4a Paul is saying we aren't perfect but there is no major fault that you can bring before me.

“That God knows me, he comes to us in this fallen world of futility, and pain, and death, and sorrow, and moral collapse of a nation, and slaughter all over the world, and 700 people being trampled to death in Saudi Arabia, and babies being killed by the millions, and our Congress can’t even vote to save the later ones that can live — what a sad world. It’s a sad world! How can you live in this world and not be sad? You’re sick if you’re not sad, aren’t you? And you should be the happiest people in the world. And that is not a contradiction,”

death, and sorrow, and moral collapse of a nation, and slaughter all over the

Paul explained that he did not hesitate to commend his ministry because he and his company had ministered faithfully at great cost in many different ways

Holman New Testament Commentary: I & II Corinthians B. Paul’s Exemplary Ministry (6:4b–10)

Paul explained that he did not hesitate to commend his ministry because he and his company had ministered faithfully at great cost in many different ways.

v4b Paul explained that he did not hesitate to commend his ministry because he and his company had ministered faithfully at great cost in many different ways

troubles

kind of stuff that has caused his physical body to waste away

world, and 700 people being trampled to death in Saudi Arabia, and babies being

hardships

distress

possibly a personal weakness that has hindered Paul

beatings in Philippi and many other times.

Imprisonments at least twice once for many years

Riots, crowds wanted to kill him.

Hard work, he had to support himself and preach and teach.

Sleepless nights, think about the fleeing, the adrift at sea, the working to pay your bills and preaching.

hunger

6-7a Not only did Paul put up with these troubles he responded with positive faithfulness.

Purity, fidelity to Christ, innocence from guilt, and honesty.

understanding, Paul knowledge of Christ allowed him to understand his afflictions.

Patience, this caused Paul to refrain from hastily retaliations

kindness, tender, pleasing, compassionate demeanor.

sincere love that came from the Holy Spirit

Truthful speech + power of God means he is claiming more that human power in his preaching. He stands out.

7b There is a battle and Paul is using that imagery again with weapons of righteousness.

that produce and weapons that come from both a shield and a sword.

8-9a We see a contrast of Paul’s ministry. The good compared to the bad.

10 Sorrowful yet always rejoicing.

“That God knows me, he comes to us in this fallen world of futility, and pain, and death, and sorrow, and moral collapse of a nation, and slaughter all over the world, and 700 people being trampled to death in Saudi Arabia, and babies being killed by the millions, and our Congress can’t even vote to save the later ones that can live — what a sad world. It’s a sad world! How can you live in this world and not be sad? You’re sick if you’re not sad, aren’t you? And you should be the happiest people in the world. And that is not a contradiction,”

We cant be constantly rejoicing.

Living with joy and hope amid pain requires an ability to live in tension. We can’t just deny the pain and pretend like all is peachy. We can’t add a silver lining to every dark cloud. That would be false. As believers, we must place our hope in a faithful God who says there is not only an end, but a divine purpose to our pain if we go through it with him, and embrace the tension of joy and grief.

just deny the pain and pretend like all is peachy. We can’t add a silver lining to every dark cloud. That would be false. As believers, we must place our hope in a faithful God who says there is not only an end, but a divine purpose to our pain if we go through it with him, and embrace the tension of joy and grief.

Living with joy and hope amid pain requires an ability to live in tension. We can’t just deny the pain and pretend like all is peachy. We can’t add a silver lining to every dark cloud. That would be false. As believers, we must place our hope in a faithful God who says there is not only an end, but a divine purpose to our pain if we go through it with him, and embrace the tension of joy and grief.

killed by the millions, and our Congress can’t even vote to save the later ones

every dark cloud. That would be false. As believers, we must place our hope in a faithful God who says there is not only an end, but a divine purpose to our pain if we go through it with him, and embrace the tension of joy and grief.

faithful God who says there is not only an end, but a divine purpose to our pain if we go through it with him, and embrace the tension of joy and grief.

we go through it with him, and embrace the tension of joy and grief.

Holman New Testament Commentary: I & II Corinthians B. Paul’s Exemplary Ministry (6:4b–10)

Yet, the lives of faithful followers of Christ will be characterized by joy as they experience God’s blessing and remember his goodness even in times of sorrow.

He lived in poverty but not for the sake of poverty he lived there so others could become rich aka knowing christ.

that can live — what a sad world. It’s a sad world! How can you live in this world

\From the preceding context, his meaning is plain. In terms of this world, Paul had practically nothing. He had lost his home, family, friends, religious standing, and livelihood. Those things of this world were of little importance to him. Even so, Paul had his eyes set on the wondrous future promised to every believer. Paul applied to himself what he had already said about other believers. He was a coheir with Christ as well ().

Holman New Testament Commentary: I & II Corinthians B. Paul’s Exemplary Ministry (6:4b–10)

From the preceding context, his meaning is plain. In terms of this world, Paul had practically nothing. He had lost his home, family, friends, religious standing, and livelihood. Those things of this world were of little importance to him. Even so, Paul had his eyes set on the wondrous future promised to every believer. Paul applied to himself what he had already said about other believers. He was a coheir with Christ as well (Rom. 8:17).

From the preceding context, his meaning is plain. In terms of this world, Paul had practically nothing. He had lost his home, family, friends, religious standing, and livelihood. Those things of this world were of little importance to him. Even so, Paul had his eyes set on the wondrous future promised to every believer. Paul applied to himself what he had already said about other believers. He was a coheir with Christ as well ().

Paul was able to be “sorrowful yet always rejoicing” (v. 10). This maturity gave him strength when he faced immense suffering for the gospel. All believers will find a similar capacity to endure hardship with pervasive trust in God when we develop this ability to hold mixed positive and negative emotions simultaneously

him strength when he faced immense suffering for the gospel. All believers will

find a similar capacity to endure hardship with pervasive trust in God when we develop this ability to hold mixed positive and negative emotions simultaneously

develop this ability to hold mixed positive and negative emotions simultaneously

and not be sad? You’re sick if you’re not sad, aren’t you? And you should be the happiest people in the world. And that is not a contradiction,”

Paul was able to be “sorrowful yet always rejoicing” (v. 10). This maturity gave him strength when he faced immense suffering for the gospel. All believers will find a similar capacity to endure hardship with pervasive trust in God when we develop this ability to hold mixed positive and negative emotions simultaneously

happiest people in the world. And that is not a contradiction,”

Researcher Brenè Brown studies human emotions and how to live wholeheartedly. She says, “The research taught me the hard truth that we can’t selectively numb out. When we numb the dark, we numb the joy. When we’re anxious, disconnected, vulnerable, alone, and feeling helpless, the booze and food and work and endless hours online feel like comfort, but in reality they’re only casting their long shadows over our lives”

wholeheartedly. She says, “The research taught me the hard truth that we can’t

selectively numb out. When we numb the dark, we numb the joy. When we’re anxious, disconnected, vulnerable, alone, and feeling helpless, the booze and food and work and endless hours online feel like comfort, but in reality they’re only casting their long shadows over our lives”

anxious, disconnected, vulnerable, alone, and feeling helpless, the booze and food and work and endless hours online feel like comfort, but in reality they’re only casting their long shadows over our lives”

food and work and endless hours online feel like comfort, but in reality they’re

only casting their long shadows over our lives”

2 Corinthians 6:3-10

Intro