2 Corinthians 1 (résumé): The God of all Comfort

2 Corinthians is a more personal letter from the Apostle Paul to the church in Corinth than was the first epistle. Paul explains his ministry, defends his apostleship, stimulates reconciliation, calls out false teachers, and shows that God's power is displayed through human weakness as he himself was experiencing with his famous "thorn in the flesh".

Paul starts chapter 1 praising God as the one "who comforts us in all our troubles so that we can pass on comfort to others... through Christ our comfort overflows... because God shares in our suffering and in our comfort... and in Asia we learnt to rely on God when we were under great pressure... so on God we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us". Paul then says that he had lived in holiness and sincerity with them, "so that you can boast of us just as we will boast of you in the day of the Lord Jesus... and it is God that makes both us and you stand firm in Christ... he set his seal of ownership upon us... and put his Spirit in our hearts... and it is by faith that you stand firm".

1 Corinthians 16 (résumé): The collection for God's people & personal requests

Paul starts 1 Corinthians 16 organizing regular weekly collections in the church in Corinth, as he had done with the Galatian churches, for the Jerusalem church in need. Then he says that he will be going through Macedonia on his way to Corinth where he will stay for a while, maybe the whole winter period. Then he would stay at Ephesus until Pentecost. He also asks the church to take good care of Timothy if he should go there. Apollos will also go to Corinth "when he has the opportunity". Then he says: "Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith, be men of courage; be strong. Do everything in love". "Stephanas, Fortunatus and Achaicus refreshed my spirit  and yours also. Such men deserve recognition". He closes sending greetings from the Asian churches and from Aquila and Priscilla, sending greetings with a holy kiss. He ends cursing all those who don't love the Lord but sending the church his love in Christ Jesus". 

1 Corinthians 15 (résumé): The resurrection of Christ

Paul now starts chapter 15 encouraging the Christians to hold firmly to the word of the Gospel. That is: "Christ died from our sins, was buried, and was raised on the third day... he appeared to Peter and the 12... then to 500... and eventually appeared to me also... for I am the least of the apostles... but by the grace of God I am what I am... but how come some of you are doubting the resurrection of the dead?... for this would make our preaching useless together with our faith... and it would make us false witnesses... and those asleep in Christ are lost... but Christ was indeed raised from the dead!... and as in Adam all die in Christ all will be made alive... and at the end Christ will hand over the kingdom to God the Father... but he must reign until he has put all enemies under his feet... and then God will be all in all... but some of you need to come back to your senses and stop sinning... but some ask how are the dead raised and what will their body be like?... well it's just like a seed planted to produce a new body... so there are heavenly bodies and earthly bodies and sun, moon and stars... so it will be with the resurrection of the dead which dies perishable but is raised imperishable... sown in weakness but raised in power... sown a natural body but raised a spiritual body... as we have borne the likeness of earthly man so shall we bear the likeness of the man from heaven... for flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God... but we will not all sleep but will be changed in the twinkling of an eye at the last trumpet... and mortals will be raised and clothed with immortality... and the words of Isaiah 25:8 will come true which says Death has been swallowed up in victory!... thanks be to God who gives us the victory through Jesus!... so let nothing move you!"

1 Corinthians 14 (résumé): Gifts of Prophecy & Tongues

Paul now talks in chapter 14 about the gifts of prophecy and tongues saying initially: "Follow love, desire spiritual gifts, especially prophecy... because tongues are to God alone but prophecy strengthens men... and edifies the church... I would like all to speak in tongues but I would prefer prophecy... for prophecy is intelligible... and the trumpet needs to sound a clear call to prepare everyone for the battle... and try to excel in gifts that build up the church... and those who speak in tongues should pray for the interpretation... I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you... but in the church I would rather speak intelligible words... for tongues are a sign for unbelievers... and prophecy is for believers... so when you come together bring a hymn, word of instruction or revelation and a tongue and interpretation... all to strengthen the church... 2 or 3 in tongues is enough and there must be an interpretation... so too 2 or 3 prophets can speak with the others evaluating what is said... remembering that the spirits of prophets are subject to the control of the prophets... but women should remain silent in the churches... and if they have questions they should ask their husbands at home... for it is a disgrace for a woman to speak in the church... be eager to prophesy... speak in tongues... but always do things in an orderly way".

September Festival

Patos is now in its annual festival from September 14th to 24th for the Catholic patron saint of Patos known as 'Our Lady of Guidance'. The central streets of Patos are one massive fairground with roundabouts, and swinging boats, and dodgem cars, and helter-skelters etc. all raising money for the catholic church. You can perhaps imagine the chaos of the traffic with the centre of town blocked. Every year there is talk of moving the fairground to a more sensible location than the central streets, but always the power of the catholic church overrules. We grin and bear it, and carry on preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  

Last night I brought the Bible study to the Men's Fellowship on 'Trusting God under all circumstances' from Philippians 4:10-13. The meeting was led by schoolteacher Claudivan and was held at our school in the borough of Jatobá on the south side of Patos where we hold a meeting once a month to build bridges with the men of that area. One man from the local community joined us for the meeting.

1 Corinthians 13 (résumé): Love

In the middle of 2 chapters about spiritual gifts Paul points to the indispensable "most excellent way" of love for our fellow man as supremely important. He says: "if I speak in tongues but don't have love I am a clanging cymbal... and if I prophecy with great faith but don't have love I am nothing... love is patient, kind and doesn't boast of envy... love rejoices in the truth and never fails... prophecies and tongues will disappear... but we will see God face to face... and out of faith, hope and love the greatest of these is love!"

1 Corinthians 12 (résumé): Spiritual Gifts

Paul states that: "No-one can say Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit... and there are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord... one has the gift of the message of wisdom... another the message of knowledge... another the gift of faith... to another gifts of healing... to another miraculous powers... another the gift of prophecy... another discernment of spirits... another the gift of tongues... to another the gift of interpretation... all this is the work of one and the same Spirit which God distributes as he wills". Then Paul goes on to talk about the body of Christ showing that as there are many parts in the human body "so it is with Christ... and Jew, Gentile, slave or free in Christ have the same Spirit... and all parts of the body are important and valued... and you are the body of Christ and each one of you is a part of it... and in the church are apostles, prophets, teachers, workers of miracles, those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those that speak in tongues... so eagerly desire the greater gifts... and next (in the next chapter) I will show you the most excellent way!"