The Book of Second Corinthians

The Tale of Two Teachers

Over the years, our family has enjoyed the Harry Potter books and movies. In case you’re unfamiliar with the fictional series, it’s a story about an orphaned boy as he learns to use his magical powers at a special school for people like him. Each book and movie covers about a year of life - beginning with Harry’s birthday and ending with the conclusion of the school year.

One of the interesting elements of series is that each year, Harry and his friends have a new “Defense against the Dark Arts” teacher. Allow me to tell you briefly about two of them as I think they tie in with our discussion.

In Harry’s second year at the Hogwarts School, his teacher for the Defense Against the Dark Arts is Gilderoy Lockhart. Lockhart is not just any teacher - he is famous - and has the looks to boot. Lockhart has become famous by writing about his magical exploits in a series of books. On top of that, he is, in some people’s opinion, handsome. He has great hair, great teeth, a winning smile, dashing clothes and a winning personality - and he knows it.

In a stark contrast to Lockhart, Harry’s third year Defense Against the Dark Arts Teacher is Remus Lupin. Professor Lupin dresses humbly. He lacks the perfect hair and teeth. He speaks softly, but with confidence. His general outlook is concern for others - often even taking time for special lessons for Harry. He also has a hidden weakness that often leaves him tired and disheveled.

We’ll come back to these two teachers, but I want you to have an image in your minds eye about these two teachers.

Introducing Second Corinthians

If you’ve had a chance to read 2 Corinthians this week, you may have noticed that it is a drastically different book than Romans or 1 Corinthians. Many commentators refer to 2 Corinthians as one of Paul’s most intimate and emotional books. He talks more about himself in this book than he does in any other book. It’s clear in this book that he is emotionally spent on behalf of the people in Corinth. But how did it get to this point?

If we think back to Acts 18, that’s where we learn that Paul established the church at Corinth and spent about 18 months there. A couple of years after he left Corinth, Paul received a report about the state of the church and some questions from the church, which prompted 1 Corinthians. The changes he hoped would take effect in Corinth were not successful, so it appears that Paul made what he called a “painful visit” to Corinth (2 Cor. 2:1) - but that too was a failure. So it appears that Paul wrote another letter that some refer to as the “severe letter” where he spoke more boldly and plainly and even severely (Dever, 192; 2 Cor. 2:4; 7:8-9). Paul references that letter:

2 Corinthians 7:8–9 ESV

For even if I made you grieve with my letter, I do not regret it—though I did regret it, for I see that that letter grieved you, though only for a while. As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief, so that you suffered no loss through us.

Unfortunately, that letter has not survived and so we only have a reference to it. It does appear that this severe letter had some of the desired effect, and so in response to that, Paul writes this letter. He addresses still more issues in the church, but also expresses his desire to return to Corinth at some time in the future.

2 Corinthians is organized in a rather simple way:

Paul’s defense of his ministry (chapters 1-7)

Paul’s request for aid for the poor in Jerusalem (chapters 8-9)

A “fresh defense of his apostleship” (chapters 10-13)

(Dever)

While the overall outline is fairly simply, a close reading reveals a much more emotional and heart-felt language. Paul tends to jump from one topic to another in fairly quick succession through this letter. He does this so much that some commentators have surmised that this letter is a collection of several letters all compiled together (deSilva).

Whether it’s a compilation of many letters or a single complete letter, we have this as one letter in our Bible’s.

As we dive into the book, one of the big things that we see is that Paul is challenging the church to value...

Substance over Style

Last week, we considered briefly the culture of Corinth. In many ways, it was not unlike America today. They had wealth, influence, pleasures, and more. It also appears that they had famous Christian leaders - just like we do.

There were some new leaders in the church that were pretending to be apostles. They were professionals. They had pedigree. They had credentials and letters of recommendation. It seems that they had the gift of gab. They could talk and argue and persuade with the best of them. Paul calls them “super-apostles” because of how some people had esteemed them and likely how they viewed themselves (2 Cor. 12:11).

Everything looked good on the surface, but where was the substance?

It seems that some people were wanting a letter of recommendation for Paul. They wanted to know about his background and training. Was he coming from the right schools? Did he have the true experiences of an apostle? Did he measure up to these new teachers?

To this, Paul responds,

2 Corinthians 3:1–3 ESV

Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, as some do, letters of recommendation to you, or from you? You yourselves are our letter of recommendation, written on our hearts, to be known and read by all. And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.

Then, later on he almost seems to drive himself crazy by talking of his true credentials - his suffering. This afternoon, check out chapters 11 and 12. Consider this snippet:

2 Corinthians 11:22–29 NLT

Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I. Are they servants of Christ? I know I sound like a madman, but I have served him far more! I have worked harder, been put in prison more often, been whipped times without number, and faced death again and again. Five different times the Jewish leaders gave me thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea. I have traveled on many long journeys. I have faced danger from rivers and from robbers. I have faced danger from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the Gentiles. I have faced danger in the cities, in the deserts, and on the seas. And I have faced danger from men who claim to be believers but are not. I have worked hard and long, enduring many sleepless nights. I have been hungry and thirsty and have often gone without food. I have shivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm. Then, besides all this, I have the daily burden of my concern for all the churches. Who is weak without my feeling that weakness? Who is led astray, and I do not burn with anger?

I think it’s important for us to see that as Paul boasts here, he is not boasting in his knowledge or gifting or strengths. He is boasting in his weakness. He is boasting in what Christ has done through him.

What happens when the going gets tough? Would these super-apostles stand in the test of these trials?

When it comes to the people that we listen to, are they substance or style? There are many people I admire. America is replete with people who have a lot of style. They have the right look, the right church, the right way catch phrases.

I’m so grateful that there are people in the church in North America like John Piper - a man who has a gifted mind but who has remained humble through all of his success. I’m grateful that there are people like Matt Chandler who has a gifted ability to teach and explain the Word of God. For these two men, God allowed them to face extreme trials against their health in order to give them a humble perspective.

We’ve witnessed over the last several years a great downfall of super-pastors in North America. Moral failings, pride, greed, prestige - have become stumbling blocks for some people who may have been preaching good things and impacting lives - but ultimately it became more about them than it did about Christ.

(Popularity is a very real temptation for Pastors. I wrestle with that sometimes - the desire to be known. In fact, I’ve often thought about writing, but I’ve been hindered in part because I don’t think my motives are pure.)

Paul helps us to understand the delicate balance of being gifted but also being a vessel for the Lord.

2 Corinthians 12:7–10 ESV

So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Paul’s desire is not that they would be led by some famous, fast-talking celebrity pastor, but that they would fervently seek after Christ. That they would follow people who are following Christ.

In the church, we not only run the risk of following after celebrity or popularity, but trendy. There will always be trends and fads that will sweep through the church. Some are innocuous, and others are downright dangerous. When certain fundamentals of our faith are called into question or when biblical values are undermined, we need to be mindful and careful and sure.

Which brings us to the final thing for us to consider for today. It seems that as Paul is laying out his own defense and is explaining why he does the things he does, he wants the Corinthians and us to remember that...

The Way of the Cross is the Way of the Christian

What is the way of the cross? In so many ways, the way of the cross is the essence of the “upside down kingdom” of God. It’s a kingdom where we give up to gain, where we lose to win, where we rejoice in weakness to trust in the strength of God.

In the cross, Jesus gave up his life so that we might be reconciled to God - he gave up is life in order to give us life.

2 Corinthians 5:14–15 ESV

For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.

Paul continues by stating...

2 Corinthians 5:21 ESV

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Later Paul writes...

2 Corinthians 8:9 The Message

You are familiar with the generosity of our Master, Jesus Christ. Rich as he was, he gave it all away for us—in one stroke he became poor and we became rich.

Think about that - Jesus - the second person of the trinity, God himself - gave up the richness, the glories of heaven. He lost everything - in order that we might have the richness of God’s grace, the richness of eternal life, the richness of abundant life. It was not comfortable or easy, but it is the way of the cross.

Gianni Versace, in an interview, responded to a question about religion. He said ‘I believe in God, but I’m not the kind of religious person who goes to church, who believes in the fairy tale of Jesus born in the stable with the donkey. That, no- I’m not stupid. I can’t believe that God, with all the power that he has, had to have himself born in a stable. It wouldn’t have been comfortable.” (Dever, 204)

Versace simply didn’t understand the way of God - the way of the cross - the way of the upside down kingdom. What is comfort - but temporary ease?

When we live according to the way of the cross, we get to be uncomfortable for while.

We get to live life openhandedly.

We get to give generously. In fact Paul calls the Corinthians to give for the benefit of the poor in Jerusalem (2 Cor. 8-9).

We get to spend our lives for eternity - for an eternal reward.

We get to suffer for the spiritual health of others around us.

The American way seems to be all about getting all I can right now. It’s about how much I have, how much money, fame, likes on Facebook or Instagram, how many toys, a fancy title.

David deSilva writes:

Society counsels us to secure our financial future through hoarding and investing: Jesus calls us to invest in the poor and hungry. Society advises us to network with people who can advance our careers; Jesus calls us to network with the outcast, the homeless and the sick to advance their good. Where the veil is removed, we see clearly how Jesus’ way leads to a better approval.

The way of the cross runs contrary to our society’s way of thinking.

We recognize that this pain, this suffering, this season is only temporary.

2 Corinthians 5:1–5 ESV

For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked. For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.

A tent is temporary - this tent is temporary.

Our eternal dwelling with God is permanent - fixed - secure.

Because what we see is passing away and what we do not see is eternal, we learn that our eyes can deceive us...

2 Corinthians 5:7 ESV

for we walk by faith, not by sight.

As the Mandalorian might say - “This is the Way.”

Closing thoughts

At the beginning I told you about two drastically different teachers. Gilderoy Lockhart had all of the looks, all of the talk, all of the fame. When things got difficult, he was in it only to save his skin. He would have willingly sacrificed the lives of the students for his own safety - and had a fancy way of accomplishing that. In fact, in the end, we find that all of his books were stories that he stole from others - they weren’t even his.

On the other hand - mild-mannered Remus Lupin - he didn’t have the looks or the speech - but he had the substance. He sacrificed time to teach what his students needed to learn. He risked his weakness to be authentic and vulnerable. In the end, he willingly sacrificed his life for the sake of the cause.

Both of these men are fictitious - but they are also symbolic of the reality that the Corinthians faced. They could follow the super-apostles that had all of the outward trappings, or they could follow Paul - who bore on his body the death of Christ (2 Cor. 4:10).

The Corinthians could also choose to be people of style - having all of the trappings of success, or they could be people of substance - by living the way of the cross - by allowing God’s power to be made perfect through their weaknesses.

I think we have before us the same choices. Which will you choose? I believe the outcome will be drastically different. One will result in lots of temporary gain here and eternal pain later. The other, the way of the cross, will be painful now, but has eternal rewards.

We enter into the way of the cross by first of all admitting our weakness, by admitting our sin problem, and by trusting in what Jesus did to place his life as a replacement for our sin.

As we walk each day, we get to walk by faith, we get to walk in the grace of God, we get to walk the way of the cross.

Let’s pray.

Memory verse:

2 Corinthians 5:7 ESV

for we walk by faith, not by sight.

Benediction:

2 Corinthians 13:14 ESV

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

References:

https://bibleproject.com/blog/2-corinthians-paradox-cross/

https://bibleproject.com/explore/video/2-corinthians

deSilva, David Arthur. An Introduction to the New Testament: Contexts, Methods and Ministry Formation. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2004.

Dever, Mark the Message of the New Testament: Promises Kept, Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 2005

Gromacki, Robert G. New Testament Survey. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 1974.