Grace Baby, Grace

In 2 Corinthians 1-4, Paul addresses the Corinthian church, emphasizing God's comfort in affliction, his apostolic authority, and the glory of the New Covenant. He begins by highlighting the comfort received from God amidst sufferings, asserting that comfort experienced is meant to be shared with others in their afflictions. He then addresses accusations and clarifies his change of plans, expressing his integrity and sincere love for the Corinthians.

Paul goes on to discuss his apostolic ministry, emphasizing its divine origin, contrasting it with the deceitful work of false apostles. He portrays his ministry as one of proclaiming the light of the Gospel, which is the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ, and elaborates on the challenges he faces, including the blinding influence of the "god of this world" on unbelievers.

The apostle contrasts the glory of the New Covenant with that of the Old, illustrating the surpassing and enduring glory of the ministry of the Spirit. He describes believers as having unveiled faces, beholding and being transformed into the image of the Lord.

Paul concludes these chapters by emphasizing the treasure of the Gospel housed in "jars of clay," signifying the paradox of the surpassing power of God in the frailty of human ministers, and the endurance and hope in the face of afflictions, anchored in the eternal glory to be revealed.

2 Corinthians 1-4

Read These Chapters
2 Corinthians 1

Chapter 1 opens with Paul delineating the symbiosis of suffering and comfort in the Christian experience, positing that the comfort we receive from God is intended to be dispensed to others in their tribulations. He candidly addresses the consternation stemming from his change of travel plans, insisting his conduct was not capricious but marked by fidelity to his word and deference to God’s leading, to spare the Corinthians a painful visit. He acknowledges his previous letter caused sorrow but rejoices at the repentance it engendered, underlining his motives were grounded in love and a desire for their well-being.

2 Corinthians 2-3

In Chapters 2 and 3, Paul delves deeper into the nature and dynamics of his apostolic ministry. He depicts it as diffusing the fragrance of the knowledge of Christ, a fragrance redolent with life or death, contingent on one’s response to the gospel. He then introduces the contrast between the Old and New Covenants, portraying the former as a ministry of death and condemnation and the latter as a ministry of the Spirit and righteousness, endowed with surpassing glory. The splendor of the New Covenant is not transient but eclipses the glory of the Old, enabling believers to approach God with unveiled faces, reflecting and being transformed into God’s image, a transformative journey orchestrated by the Spirit.

2 Corinthians 4

Chapter 4 witnesses Paul grappling with the paradoxes intrinsic to his ministry, characterized by transparency, resilience, and an unwavering focus on the eternal gospel of Christ. He asserts the god of this world blinds unbelievers to the luminous gospel of Christ’s glory, the image of God. Despite the external decay and internal renewal, he persists in proclaiming Jesus Christ as Lord, with himself as a servant for Jesus' sake. He metaphorically describes the treasure of the divine message as residing in “jars of clay,” illustrating the juxtaposition of human frailty and divine power. The afflictions and perplexities encountered are juxtaposed with the prevailing resilience and faith, undergirded by the hope of resurrection and the anticipation of eternal glory, rendering the present tribulations momentary and light in comparison to the impending eternal weight of glory, an unseen reality apprehended by faith.

1 Corinthians 15-16
Summaries
2 Corinthians 5-9
1 Corinthians 1-4 Sermons