Paul now starts chapter 5 comparing the human body to an "earthly tent" and expresses the Christian hope of after death receiving "an eternal house in heaven... for which we long... so that mortality be swallowed up by life... so whilst we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord... but we know that one day we will all appear before the judgement seat of Christ... thus we try to persuade men concerning this... because Christ died for all so that people don't just live for themselves but for him who died for them and rose again... and if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation; the old has gone and all things have become new... for God was reconciling the world to himself through Christ... and he has committed to us the message of reconciliation... for which we are Christ's ambassadors... so be reconciled to God... because he made Jesus who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God!"
Thursday, 17 September 2026
2 Corinthians 4 (résumé): Treasures in Jars of Clay
Paul starts 2 Corinthians 4 saying: "By setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God... but the god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers... but we don't preach ourselves... we preach Jesus Christ... whose light shines in our hearts to give us the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ... and we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God... so we are hard pressed but not crushed... perplexed but not in despair... persecuted but not abandoned... struck down but not destroyed... and we are given over to death for Jesus' sake... for we know that God who raised Jesus will also raise us with Jesus... so that the grace which is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God... therefore we don't lose heart but are being inwardly renewed daily... for our light troubles are bringing eternal glory".
2 Corinthians 3 (résumé): The glory of the New Covenant
Paul commences chapter 3 saying that he doesn't need a letter of recommendation because the transformed lives of the Corinthian Christians constitutes that letter, "written by the Spirit of God on the tablets of human hearts... for our competence comes from God... for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life... and if the law on stone came with glory... how much more glorious is the ministry of the Spirit which brings righteousness... Moses would put a veil over his face to keep the Israelites from seeing the glory... but when someone turns to God the veil is taken away... and where the Spirit is there is freedom... and we are being transformed into his likeness with ever increasing glory".
2 Corinthians 2 (résumé): Forgiveness for the Sinner
Paul starts chapter 2 explaining that he decided not to visit Corinth again while things were difficult and "painful". His previous letter had been written with "great distress, anguish of heart and many tears", not to "grieve them", but because he deeply loved them and wanted them to recognize the seriousness of their situation. Paul then goes on to say that a person in the church "had grieved all of you... and had been disciplined ("punishment inflicted")... sufficiently and should now be comforted and forgiven... so that he doesn't get too upset... and says that forgiveness is important to that Satan doesn't take advantage of the situation". Paul then says that he had gone to Troas but didn't have peace of mind because Titus wasn't there. But, he says, "thank God who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ... and we are the aroma of Christ... so to the perishing we are the smell of death but to those being saved we are the fragrance of life... so we speak like men sent from God with sincerity".
Conference Preparations
Liz took all the food for the Pastors Conference yesterday to Green Pastures having purchased everything at the supermarket with the help of Sister Zenaide. The Conference starts tomorrow with everyone arriving in the morning in time for a midday fellowship lunch, although the kitchen team moves in this afternoon. Then there will be a meeting at 2 pm on how to improve books of minutes and other church records. This will be followed by a meeting at 4 pm on our social action projects. Then comes the evening meal at 6 pm prior to our devotional service with praise, prayer and sharing on the topic of Biblical integrity. Please pray for the conference.
Yesterday I concluded my summary of the book of First Corinthians. This means I have completed 46 books of the Bible, 1,078 chapters and just over 90% of the Bible. The end is in sight and now it's on to the 13 chapters of Second Corinthians.
Wednesday, 16 September 2026
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".