Devotional Questions:
2 Corinthians 4:1-5
- What are the things that cause me to lose heart in serving God? What do I need to remember when this happens?
- How should a Christian bear testimony to the world according to v. 2?
- How has “the god of this age […] blinded the minds of unbelievers?” What is the evidence of this all around us?
2 Corinthians 4:6-12
- How have I experienced v. 6 when I became a Christian?
- Reflect on the words Apostle Paul uses to describe his life: “hard pressed,” “perplexed,” “persecuted,” and “struck down” but, ultimately not “crushed,” “in despair,” “abandoned,” nor “destroyed.” What is the link between Apostle Paul’s paradoxical experience—“struck down, but not destroyed”—and Jesus’ life?
- What is the relationship between my frailty (“jars of clay”) and revealing God’s “all-surpassing power” through my life? Think about the things that cause me to feel “hard pressed,” “perplexed,” “persecuted,” or “struck down.” What should be my response to these things?
- What can be learned about the path of deep fellowship with Jesus from these verses?
2 Corinthians 4:13-18
- For the second time in this chapter, Apostle Paul asserts that he “does not lose heart.” Why does Apostle Paul “not lose heart” according to this passage?
- Reflect on the two contrasting themes in vv. 16-18, and arrange in two columns the contrasting pairs of words.
- To what extent has my life focus shifted from one column to the other?
Commentary:
vv.1-2 “This is confirmed by the parallel between 4:2 and 2:17b, which makes it clear that Paul’s preaching with sincerity has resulted from God’s conversion-call in his life and from the knowledge that he stands ‘in the sight of God,’ that is, before God as judge. Paul goes on to delineate three ways in which he has renounced the duplicitous maneuvers of his opponents, two negative and one positive. Negatively, Paul need not ‘use deception’ (lit., walk around in a cunning way) or ‘distort the word of God’ (4:2b). Positively, ‘by setting forth the truth plainly,’ Paul can ‘commend [himself] to every man’s conscience’ (4:2c). Because of his own clear conscience (cf. 1:12), he can boldly appeal to the conscience of others (cf. 3:12). Conversely, all whose consciences are likewise clean because of God’s mercy will accept this divine commendation of Paul’s ministry (cf. 2:15–16a). ”[1]
vv.7-12 “Paul’s understanding of God’s sovereign design for affliction, once embraced, will dramatically transform our own experience whenever we too find ourselves in situations of suffering. When Christians suffer, they too, like Paul, can take courage from the fact that their lives will mediate to others the power of the resurrection, either through God’s act of deliverance or, even more profoundly, through the testimony of their endurance and holiness. Even though the circumstantial suffering that was an essential part of Paul’s call may be an occasional aspect of God’s will for all believers, all of us can follow Paul’s example of incurring the suffering that comes from considering the needs of others more important than our own.”[2]
vv.13-18 “At the same time, it must be emphasized that suffering in and of itself is not the revelation of God’s power. Paul never glorifies affliction. Although the revelation of Christ’s power takes place in the paradox of Paul’s suffering, this paradox is not absolute. The cross is not itself glory, death is not itself life, weakness is not power (cf. 4:8–11, 16–18). Instead, Paul posits that deliverance, power, and renewal also exist in, through, and after suffering. Paul’s suffering is not the glory of Christ; Christ’s glory is mediated through Paul’s suffering. Believers are therefore to avoid circumstantial suffering and persecution whenever such avoidance does not hinder or compromise their calling, and to pray for healing and deliverance when sick (cf. Rom. 12:17–18; 1 Cor. 7:15; Phil. 4:4–7; 1 Tim. 5:23).
“But the righteous do suffer (cf. Ps. 116:10 in 2 Cor. 4:13). And some, like Paul, are even called to do so for the sake of the gospel. God makes known his sovereignty and love by handing Paul over ‘to death for Jesus’ sake’ (4:11–12; cf. 1 Cor. 4:9; 2 Cor. 2:14) and then by sustaining him through it so that he may be able to endure in faith (2 Cor. 4:8–10; cf. 1 Cor. 10:13; Phil. 2:15–28). It is Paul’s ability to endure and rejoice in the midst of adversity that reveals ‘the life of Jesus’ to others. Anyone can worship Santa Claus. In stark contrast, the ultimate testimony to God’s power is the praise that arises in the midst of affliction because of our conviction that God is at work in and through our suffering for a future good so great that all present suffering seems ‘light and momentary’ (4:14–17).”[3]
[1] Hafemann, Scott J. ‘Paul’s Confident Boldness in Spite of Rejection (4:1 – 6)’ In NIV Application Commentary, New Testament: 2 Corinthians. By Scott J. Hafemann, 175-176. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, © 2000.
[2] Hafemann, Scott J. ‘Contemporary Significance’ In NIV Application Commentary, New Testament: 2 Corinthians. By Scott J. Hafemann, 196. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, © 2000.
[3] Hafemann, Scott J. ‘Contemporary Significance’ In NIV Application Commentary, New Testament: 2 Corinthians. By Scott J. Hafemann, 197. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, © 2000.