December 24 Click on verses for Full Scripture

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Today's Pathway: II Corinthians 12:19-20 Again, think ye that we excuse ourselves unto you? we speak before God in Christ: but we do all things, dearly beloved, for your edifying. For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults:

Paul has come to the end of his defense against the accusations of the false apostles. However, he makes an interesting statement to open verse 19. He writes that his real purpose in reciting his resume has not been to defend his reputation. He is not trying to get on the good side of the Corinthian believers. Instead, he wants them to understand that everything that he has written is true, he has written it all in the sight of God, and God will be the final judge of Paul's ministry. He wrote previously in I Corinthians 4:3-4,

"But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man's judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self...he that judgeth me is the Lord."

Paul tells them all this because they need to understand that he is coming to see them, and that since his resume proves that he is an apostle and that the things he says are of God, the church had better respond properly or there will be consequences. Bruce Hurt wrote,

"It was not Paul who was on trial before the Corinthians, but closer to the truth is that the Corinthians were 'on trial' before God as to how they would respond to Paul's words in this letter."

In verse 20 Paul writes that he is afraid that when he arrives in Corinth the church members will not be doing the things that they should. I like the way Paul phrases this. He says that he doesn't want to find them doing things that he wishes that they were not doing, for if that happens the church members will find Paul doing things that they will wish he were not doing! He then lists some of the issues in the church that should not be taking place and that he will be forced to deal with if they are still there when he arrives. It is worth noting the types of sins that he specifically mentions. These do not deal with immorality, although that had been a problem in the church previously. They don't deal with criminal activity. They all deal to one extent or another with the relationships between believers. Christians tend to watch what they "do" to their fellow church members, but we are not nearly so cautious about what we say to them or think about them. As long as we don't steal from them or cause them physical harm then we assume that we are acceptable to God. Paul is about to show the Corinthians that they are wrong about that, and he will reveal their sinful attitudes that must be repented of.