December 31 Happy New Year! Click on verses for Full Scripture

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Today's Pathway: II Corinthians 13:7-14 Now I pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we should appear approved, but that ye should do that which is honest, though we be as reprobates. For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth. For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong: and this also we wish, even your perfection. Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the power which the Lord hath given me to edification, and not to destruction. Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you. Greet one another with an holy kiss. All the saints salute you. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen. (The second epistle to the Corinthians was written from Philippi, a city of Macedonia, by Titus and Lucas.)

Yesterday we saw from verse 7 that Paul's desire was for the Corinthians to do what was right without him having to discipline them, even though his apostolic authority would be enhanced if he did discipline them. In verse 8 Paul explains that if the Corinthians obey they will be living out "truth", and Paul could never discipline the church members if they were doing what was Biblically correct. Paul was a supporter of truth, and his goal was that in every decision he made he was uplifting truth. In verse 9 he adds to this by saying that he is glad when the Corinthians are strong and he is weak. The Corinthians are strong when they are doing what is right, and weak when they are failing to do so. Paul is strong when he is able to exert his apostolic authority on churches, but is weak when he doesn't need to do so. Once again he shows that his priority is the Corinthians and not himself.

Bruce Hurt made an interesting application of this principle. He wrote,

"What Paul writes here throws particular light upon the office of the Christian pastor. He must not shrink from openly imposing discipline when circumstances demand it. But at the same time he must always remember that, in contrast to the great ones of this world who exercise their authority as domineering overlords, it is not his part to be overbearing. He must not allow authority to degenerate into authoritarianism. He must never forget that, in conformity with the teaching and example of Christ, he who would be great must be the minister and servant of all (Mark 10:42-45). An overbearing spirit, ambition for preferment, and notions of superiority must be shunned by him as the marks of hirelings and false leaders. Like Paul, he will rejoice when the spiritual well-being of his people is such that, so far as the display of his authority is concerned, he can move among them in 'weakness'."

Paul concludes verse 9 by stating that his wish is for the "perfection" of the believers. He repeats this in verse 11 by telling the Corinthians to "be perfect". The word "perfection" means to be "complete" or "to be prepared to function properly". Paul wrote in Ephesians 4:11-12 that the purpose of the "office gifts" was "the perfection of the saints", and the perfection of the saints would cause them to carry out the work of the ministry and edify the body of Christ. This is Paul's goal for those he ministers to, and should be our goal not only for ourselves, but for all those that we have contact with. Paul says in verse 10 that he has written all these things to the church because he wants them to repent and change before he gets there so that he can use his God-given authority to build them up rather than pull them down ("destruction") through sharp discipline. No leader who loves others craves disciplining them. Throughout the Scriptures we see preachers admonishing transgressors to repent before judgment comes. Warnings are given out of concern and love. In today's world those who warn others about sin are considered "haters", yet the truth is that those who issue Biblical warnings love sinners far more than those who commend them do. If we truly care about others, we will be "speaking the truth in love" (Ephesians 4:15) in hopes that they will repent, just as Paul did.

Paul concludes his letter with some instructions. He tells them to be perfect, to be comforted and comforting one another, to be united, to live peacefully with each other, and to greet one another with a holy kiss. All of these things would be lacking in a church that was as severely divided as the Corinthians were. If they were going to be the right type of church they would need to start to care about each other, get along with each other, and have close personal relationships with each other, which is exactly what our churches need today. They would be able to do this because God, Who is love and peace, is with them and will help them. And He will also aid us as we attempt to be everything that He wants us to be for Him.