Day 62: Weakness and Grace at the End of 2 Corinthians

So we are drawing to the close of Paul's 2nd Letter to the Corinthians (though some people think it is actually portions of two different letters) and Paul is ratcheting up his rhetoric in the face of his competition:  the super-apostles.  Whether the problem is that those super-apostles are there, on the ground, or that the super-apostles just seems so, well, super, strong, without flaw, awe-inspiring, charismatic, inspiring -- or, perhaps, all of the above, I don't know.  But his reputation among the Corinthians suffers by comparison.  He doesn't speak as well as they do.  He doesn't cut as fine a swatch as they do.  He does not have the mega-churches or large crowds that they do.

So, what does Paul really have to brag about?

Plenty, as it turns out.

He can brag about the hardships and persecution that he has endured.  (and he does.)  He can brag about how much he loves them (and he does).  He can brag about his credentials as a good Jew (he does mention that).  He can brag about Jesus (this is always Paul's point:  if you are going to brag, brag about Jeus!).  And, he can brag about his weaknesses.

Which he does -- because, as Paul writes, when he is weak, God's grace shines even more brightly.

Oh, Paul backtracks a little; he talks about his own and others' visions and revelations, as if to say, "if that's what is important to you, I've had them too."  But then he goes on to say, "being caught up into the 7th heaven is not what is most important.  God's grace is what is most important."

So he talks about his "thorn in the flesh".  No one knows what it is.  A long time ago, I heard some say they thought it was a speech impediment, like a stutter.  More recently some interpreters have opined that Paul struggled with homosexual urges.  Both interpretations are interesting, but actually, we don't know what Paul's thorn in the flesh was.  All we know is that he heard God say that he would not remove the thorn, saying, "My strength is made perfect in weakness."

So, Paul boasts about his weakness.

When I think hard about this, it's about the most amazing thing.  Do I want to boast about my weaknesses?  Do I even want anyone to know what they are?  What does it mean to let God use the holes in our lives, and not just our successes?  What does it mean to boast in God's grace?  Really?  Seriously? 

Day 61: The Offering

A good portion of these chapters is taken up with the offering that Paul is bringing to Jerusalem, and that he hopes the Corinthians will contribute generously to.  In Macedonia, they astonished Paul with their generosity, and it might seem that he is shaming the Corinthians (a somewhat wealthier congregation) to do their part.  It is not that they are not going to give anything; he wants them to (cheerfully) give generously, not just a little.

Paul goes back and forth -- give generously, he tells them.  But then he will say, but I'm not saying you should give above your means, just what is appropriate.  Then again, "God loves a cheerful giver."  But  again, it's not what you don't have that counts, but what you do have.  He doesn't seem to want them to give out of guilt or compulsion, but freely, but this is really really important to him.  He wants it to be as important to them.

I think I understand this.  I want people in my congregation to give, and be generous and support the mission of the church, but I feel conflicted about it, too.  I don't want the widows on fixed incomes to hear the message and  give more generously than they can afford.  But then again, I do know there are people out there who can do more than they are doing right now, and I hope to inspire them.  Then again, I really want people to hear the central message -- the message of the overflowing grace and generosity of God, more than anything else.  I would never want people to think that God's love was dependent on their giving.

So, I think I can understand a little of what is running through Paul's mind.

Perhaps this is why I latch onto that one verse, "for you know the generous act of our Lord Jesus Christ, who, though he was rich, became poor for our sakes, so that by his poverty we might become rich"

Again, I'm surprised by some of the things that Paul says.  He has to justify himself (or feels like he does.)  He tells them that he is shy when he is with them, but bold in his letters (which is a fascinating detail to me; I imagine that Paul-in-person would be much like the letters).  He also says that he is quiet and unassuming in person, not eloquent; but he does write eloquently.  Again, this is not the way I imagine Paul.  I may be reading into his words here, but it seems to me that perhaps the Corinthians have heard a flashier preacher of late, and they are wondering if this Paul fellow is really all that he is cracked up to be.

(sigh).  People are often taken in by the flashy public speaker.

Day 59: Paul Writes to the Corinthians Again (beginning)

So after Paul writes a somewhat critical letter to the church at Corinth,  he decides not to visit them again just yet, but writes to them again.  He begins by, again and again, speaking of the comfort of God in times of persecution and trouble.  These are verses we now read often at funerals.  Paul is speaking of one who brings the promise of God's comfort in Christ to people and one who has been through trouble and needs comfort himself.  He and his companions have been through hardships of many kinds in their missionary journeys.

One of the reasons Paul is delaying though, has to do with that other letter he wrote to Corinth, the one in which he was critical of them.  It is clear (and will become clearer as this letter goes on) that Paul feels that the Corinthians are unfairly mistrustful of him, and he needs to re-assert his credentials as an apostle.  He does have their best interests at heart.  He may have changed his plans, but he is not unreliable in what he preaches.  He is not (and Christ is not) "yes and no" to them, but only "yes."

Paul also contrasts himself with missionaries who preach the word for profit.  The only profit Paul seeks is the conversion of hearts to the gospel of Christ.  He feels as if they are requiring "Letters of Recommendation", but Paul feels that the churches he has started, churches filled with people following the way of Christ, should be the only letter of recommendation needed.

He goes on to contrast the glory of Moses in front of the ten commandments, with the glory of Christ.   Moses was able to stand in front of God, but the glory was too great to bear at that time, so he had to veil his face when he came down the mountain.  Paul writes that now, we are being transformed, so that we will be able to see the glory of God in the face of Christ.

Day 58: The Resurrection of the Dead

Finally, Paul gets to another controversy that the Corinthians are involved in:  whether the dead are raised or not.  Apparently this is another disagreement that the Corinthians have, and Paul meets it head on, and ends up with one of the most beautiful (and oft-quoted) chapters in the New Testament.

It appears that the Corinthians do believe that Jesus was raised from the dead, because one of the arguments he uses is that, if you aren't raised from the dead, that means that Jesus wasn't raised either.  He also appeals to the witnesses to the resurrection:  Cephas (Peter), the Twelve, 500 disciples, James, and then, finally, to Paul.  (Note that when he sees Jesus on the road to Damascus, it is more like a vision, but it is still proof to him that Jesus has been raised.)

Here's what I don't like about Paul:  he doesn't mention Mary Magdalene, or any of the other women.  Nothing.  Is it because women are considered to be unreliable witnesses?  Still, all of the gospels put the women first....

He's pretty blunt:  if you don't believe in some sort of resurrection, for yourself and for Jesus, then your faith is in vain, and you are dead in your sins.  In other words, the resurrections means victory over sin, the possibility of new living, and victory over death itself.

He tries to describe resurrected bodies (with limited success); they will be very different than the physical bodies we have now, just as a tree is different than the seed that is planted.  They will be real, but spiritual bodies, designed to live in a new realm, a new reign.  And this new reign is the purpose and end of our faith.

Chapter 16 brings greetings and a recommendation to for them to care for Timothy, as well as final words of encouragement and exhortation.  This is a congregation that Paul has corrected, warned and yelled at.  But he ends by saying, "My love is with all of you in Christ Jesus."

Day 57: Spiritual Gifts, Love, Spiritual Gifts

If you want to know something about what the church as "the body of Christ" means, you want to read first Corinthians 12.  There Paul uses a metaphor for the body politic for the Christian community.  It was common to talk about the community, the city, the state as a "body," where there were many members, and where each member had a part.  So Paul wants the Corinthians to consider that they are united in one common purpose, even though they are diverse in gifts.  Paul, of course (as always) tweaks the metaphor so that the weaker members have greater honor.

And then he puts all of the talk about the body in the context of spiritual gifts, gifts given to the Corinthians, but for the common good.  That seems to be a growing edge for the Corinthians, who love spiritual gifts, the glitz and glamour of them, but don't seem to get the idea that the purpose of gifts is to share and to build up the body, rather than to divide and sow contention.

Chapter 14 is an entire chapter devoted mostly to one of the spiritual gifts:  speaking in tongues.  Although Paul is careful to note that tongues is one of the gifts of God, and he also boasts that he "speaks in tongues more than you all", he gives careful guidelines to the use of this gifts, and also seems to disparage it.  (I'll just come right out and say that I don't understand what Paul means when he says that tongues are a sign for unbelievers.  Especially since he contradicts himself afterwards by saying that if unbelievers come into your church and hear you speaking in tongues, they will think you are crazy.)

Speaking in tongues still seems to be controversial even today.  Some churches deny that the phenomenon exists (it was supposed to have died out after the apostolic era.)  Others make tongues the sign of a more mature faith.  Where are you at?

Then, in the middle, is Chapter 13.  Often read at weddings (although there is no word about marriage here), this beautiful chapter seems sometimes out of place.  In fact, you can take chapter 13 out and read  chapter 12 and go directly to 14 and it won't seem like anything is missing.  Where does chapter 13 come from?  and why is it here?

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.  Love never ends.

As for tongues, they will cease.

Maybe in the middle of all the arguing and the glitziness of spiritual gifts, Paul wants to set down the most important things, remind them of what it worth seeking, of what they have already been given.

Day 56: Eating and Drinking and Appropriate Dress, in Worship and Out

Paul continues speaking about the issue of eating and drinking, circling back first to remind his readers of the unfaithfulness of some of the Israelites back when they were wandering in the wilderness.  Don't grumble or complain or wander away!  He warns them.  Be vigilant! he says.  Everyone in the wilderness had come through the Red Sea, but that didn't stop them from losing their way later on, forgetting their freedom, and focussing on idols instead.

Eating and drinking is connected with relationships, right relationships, and with our neighbors.  So Paul says, it's not that eating meat sacrificed to idols is either good or bad, but it's the effect it has on our dinner companions that makes a difference, and reveals our own hearts.  If you eat meat sacrificed to idols it won't harm you.  But if someone tells you, "Hey, this is meat that was sacrificed to idols," then maybe you shouldn't, because that might cause your dinner companions to stumble.  It's all about what is harmful or good for your neighbor, and for your neighbor's faith.

Perhaps that's what is going on in Paul's convoluted arguments about women praying with their heads covered.  Paul says women should pray with their heads covered because "a woman has authority over head head."  I'll just come right out and tell you I don't know what that means.  And though Paul says that a woman should keep her head covered because "man was created first, and then woman" and that "man is the image of God and woman the image of man", later on he admits that now "men come from women" (biology).  (by the way, in Genesis 1, both men AND women are made in the image of God.  Wish I had Paul right here with me so we could have a talk about that.)

Then Paul returns to the subject of eating and drinking, but this time he is talking about the fellowship of Christians, and the Lord's supper.  In the early church, oftentimes the community would share a meal as well as the Lord's supper, and it appears that in Corinth, the community meal has become the occasion for some to be gluttons and other to go hungry.  There is no sharing going on, and this is part of what bothers Paul.  So, later on, when he talks about eating and drinking worthily, and discerning the body, I don't think he is just talking about the "Real Presence," but he is talking about discerning the Body of Christ in the community, and eating and drinking honoring one another as bearers of Christ.

Again, for Paul, it's all about relationships, about how we treat one another, and how we treat one another reveals the condition of our own soul.

Day 55: What to Do, What Not to Do

In this section of the letter, Paul gives marriage advice to the Corinthians.  It's fair to say that it might be confusing advice.  Don't get married, unless you are having a hard time controlling yourself, in which case, get married.  If you are widowed, stay single.  If you are already married, don't get a divorce.  Single is best, except if being single is too hard for you.  If you are single, you can be single-mindedly devoted to the Lord.  (Theoretically.)  But you possibly might find yourself too tempted to sin if you are single.  In that case, get married.  But, marriage is hard.  I want to warn you about that.  (vs. 28).  I have not ever heard this verse quoted in a wedding sermon.  (Another note:  Paul uncharacteristically calls much of this chapter his opinion.  Perhaps he would be shocked to find out that it got into the Bible.)

There seems to be an abrupt shift again, while Paul gives advice regarding eating meat sacrificed to idols, one of the many controversies of the Corinthian church.  Again, there is a difference between theory and practice.  In theory, they are free to eat meat sacrificed to idols, because they realize that the idol is not real, and the meat is "just meat"; there is nothing especially holy or unholy about it.

BUT, Paul writes, if there are people for whom eating meat causes them to doubt, who wonder if they are sinning when they eat it, or it their consciences bother then, then we should be willing to abstain so that we don't shake their faith.  Again, what is important is how our actions affect our neighbor.

Finally, Paul addresses the issue of compensation for apostles.  He seems to be arguing that he has a right to make a living by the gospel (good for pastors to know!).  After all, the priests got to eat the food that was in the temple (to use one example).  Paul seems to feel that he and Barnabas have been singled out for special criticism in this regard.  Even so, Paul says that even though he could be compensated for his work, he is voluntarily choosing not to be paid, because he wants to do everything possible to be blameless in their eyes.

Well, maybe not exactly blameless, but he wants to work in a way that will make his witness there credible, that will make his witness take root.  So he says that he tries to be all things to all people, to those under the Law, he is under the Law, to those outside the Law he is outside the Lord.

All things to all people.  Who can really pull it off?  Paul is willing to do anything to make Christ real.   And he's intense.  Reading his letters makes me wonder what it would have been like to meet him....

Day 54: Corinth is sort of like a Soap Opera

Or, at least that's what it seems like, reading Paul's next three chapters.  They've been staying up late in Corinth, and engaging in some actions that some people won't do.  And even if they aren't all behaving immorally, they are not calling into account one of their own who is (ahem) sleeping with his father's wife, for example.

The Corinthians brag that they are free -- they are free, right?  That means they can do whatever they want, right?  Paul is all for freedom, but thinks that the Corinthians might have misunderstood him.

Of course, that's not all of it.  Paul begins by calling the Corinthians on their arrogance.  They are acting as if they "know-it-all".  They don't need a teacher; they don't need instruction.  Paul sarcastically says, "We are fools for Christ, but you are wise for Christ!  We are weak, but you are strong!  You are honored, but we are dishonored.!"   The Corinthians have let some success in spiritual matters go to their heads, and it has affected their vision with regard to their behavior toward one another as well.

(This reminds me a little of the arrogance of the Enron executives right before its fall.  They were so drunk with their financial success they lost their moral compass.)

The Corinthians are wayward not only in sexual matters, but also in matters of how they treat one another.  They accuse each other and bring lawsuits against each other.  They are contentious.  They treat each other (and themselves) with disrespect.

Yes, you're free, Paul tells them, but free for what?  That's the question.

In Corinthians, Paul's ethics is defined by this axiom:  "Don't you know that your body is  temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you?  Do't you know that you have the Holy Spirit from God, and you don't belong to yourselves?"

Honor your body.  Respect your body as given by God and a dwelling for the Holy Spirit.  And respect and honor your neighbor's body too.

It's not just your spirit that is important.  It is your beautiful, breathing body, created by God.

Day 53: Wisdom and Foolishness, an Inside Look at a Real Congregation

I like the first letter to the Corinthians.  I think one of the reasons that I like it is that it's very clear, in this letter, that Paul knows these people, that Paul knows this congregation, and that he is responding to very specific issues that have arisen in the community.  Even though it's helpful to read background notes about the people in Corinth, you can figure out some of what is going on without doing any background reading, because you can just tell from the kinds of things Paul is talking about.  It's like reading other people's mail, something of course no one should do, but something perhaps we are tempted to do on occasion, just out of curiosity.

So, what's going on in Corinth?

People are fighting, for one thing.  People are playing  favorites, jockeying for position, saying "I'm a better Christian than you are because such-and-such baptized me."  There are factions based on leadership, and who is the best public speaker (possibly Apollos) or who is the best looking or who is the most "spiritual."

Does this sound familiar to anyone?

As the letter to the Corinthians goes on, we'll find out that the arguing and the factions and the one-upmanship is just the tip of the iceberg.  There many other things going on in Corinth.  It makes you wonder how Paul can keep his temper, because, one of the things people are questioning is whether Paul is such a great apostle after all.  They've had some flashier preachers come in since Paul left, and they've been wowing the crowds and telling them some different things....

All right, I'm getting ahead of myself.

Just for now, we're dealing with the church conflicts, and the arguing.

And Paul uses the occasion to do some great preaching about foolishness and wisdom, about how sometimes the things that look the most foolish are really wise (like the death of Jesus on the cross) and how sometimes the things that look wise to us are not worth the paper they are printed on.

Now while I am attracted to Paul's paradox about wisdom and foolishness, I need to say that I don't think Paul is advocating a sort of "know-nothing-ism."  I don't think that foolishness is the same as ignorance, or that he is advocating being stupid.  I think the wisdom that he is speaking of is a sort of "wisdom of the world", the sort of "if you are rich it must be because you are the smartest person in the world", or "the people who speak fluently are the ones we ought to trust" -- that sort of wisdom that looks at the surface of things and makes judgments.   If it is that sort of wisdom we are looking for, it certain is foolishness to follow Jesus, the one who was crucified, and everyone knows it.  We also believe that he was raised, but NOT everyone knows that.

In particular, Paul is interested in reminding them that when he came among them, all he preached and all he wanted them to know was "Christ crucified."  That was it.  No fancy words.  No secrets of the ages.  Just "Christ crucified", (not even Christ resurrected!) equally confounding to Jews and Gentiles, but powerful and wise to those who heard.

It makes me wonder, in church conflicts today, what would be the results if we began and ended with "Christ crucified."  If we decided to know nothing with each other but this:  "Christ and him crucified",  what would that mean?  If we looked at each other and saw people for whom Christ died, people in whom (by grace) Christ lives, what would that mean?

Would it make any difference?

Day 42: Disturbing the Peace, Defending the Gospel

Paul journeys and preaches in some cities with names that might be familiar to us:  Thessolonica, Corinth, Berea, Athens.  Some of the cities are familiar because we'll be reading Paul's letters to congregations in those cities soon.

In the meantime, Paul's preaching incites controversy, as well as curiosity, and conversion, where-ever he goes.  The Jewish people who are concerned about the new religion come out and accuse Paul and his friends of "disturbing the peace."  Another translation reads something like this, "The people who have been turning the world upside down have come here also...."

It makes me wonder whether we can be concerned about turning the world upside down lately.  Sometimes the responsibility of the church is to keep the peace, but other times, I wonder if it's not more appropriate to disturb the peace, to shake things up, especially when justice is not being done, when the peace needs to be shaken.

Paul preaches in Athens, among people who love to hear "the latest thing," and gathers a number of curiosity-seekers willing to listen to him.  It's interesting that his sermon is quite different than the ones we have heard him preach before.  Paul quotes not scripture, instead reaching for allusions from popular philosophy of the day.  There are people who scoff because of his references to Jesus' resurrection, and it's hard to tell how many converts he gained, but he portrayed the good news in a new language in Athens.  It is still the job of missionaries to speak good news in new languages today.

In Corinth, Paul meets a couple who lead a house church:  Priscilla and Aquila.  He stays in Corinth for 18 months, longer than he has stayed anywhere else.  (We'll learn more interesting facts about Corinth a little later.)  In Corinth, Priscilla and Aquilla train another effective missionary, Apollos, who seems to be charismatic and successful in defending the faith.  For some reason, when I hear the word "Apollos", I think of someone really impressive, probably good-looking, someone combines charm, intelligence and eloquence.  For some reason, I'm always a little suspicious of people like that.