Peter Misselbrook's Blog

May 11 2020 - Introduction to 2 Corinthians

When Paul dispatched the letter we know as 1 Corinthians, he expected to follow it with a personal visit and to be able to remain a while at Corinth (1 Cor 16:5-8). In the meantime he sent Timothy to them (1 Cor 4:17; 16:10). Shortly after Timothy's departure, Paul seems to have changed his plans. He now proposed to visit the Corinthians twice, once on his way to Macedonia and a second time on his return, before sailing on to Judea (2 Cor 1:15,16), along with delegates from the churches taking gifts to the Christians at Jerusalem.

However, when Timothy arrived in Corinth he found that a particular ringleader had launched a personal attack on Paul (2 Cor 2:5-11; 7:8-13). Timothy was unable to resolve the problem and returned to Ephesus to inform Paul of the situation. In response, Paul made a brief and 'painful' visit to Corinth (2 Cor 2:1). The opposition to Paul seems to have centred upon one or two leaders whom the Corinthians tacitly supported or at least refused to disown.  "Moreover, the church had been infiltrated by Judaisers from Judea, men who were adamantly opposed to the gospel Paul preached and who ridiculed his apostleship (2 Cor 2:5-8; 7-12)" (Donald Carson). The work of the gospel was in jeopardy at Corinth.

Paul left, and rather than making the previously planned double visit to Corinth he returned to Ephesus from where he wrote a severe yet tearful letter. This further change of plan left him open to the charge of being fickle (2 Cor 1:16-2:4). The 'severe letter' was sent to Corinth in the hands of Titus (2 Cor 2:4; 7:8). This letter has been lost (though some think that it is (partially) preserved in 2 Corinthians 10-13). In this letter, Paul demanded the punishment of the ringleader(s) who had opposed him (2 Cor 2:3-9; 7:8-12).

Shortly afterwards, Paul faced severe problems at Ephesus which, we believe, led to his imprisonment. Eventually he was released and compelled to leave the city (see Acts 19 and 2 Cor 1:8,9).

Paul's imprisonment in Ephesus had proved traumatic to him not only in terms of its physical brutality and the uncertainty over whether he would live or die, but also because of his deep concern for the welfare of the churches – not least, Corinth.

Having been released, Paul may first have travelled to Colossae where Philemon's guest room awaited him. Here he could spend a little time recovering from his ordeal. Yet all the time he was anxious to be on his way to Corinth. Paul decided to travel not by a direct sea route but overland, hoping to meet up with Titus on the way and to discover what sort of reception he might expect in Corinth.

2 Corinthians seems to have been written in bits and pieces as Paul moved around northern Greece on the slow road to Corinth. It reflects his genuine anxieties and changing moods.

Paul travelled north from Ephesus to Troas hoping to find Titus there. When he did not find him he continued on to Macedonia (perhaps Philippi) to intercept him (2 Cor 2:12f.). There Titus informed Paul that the worst was over, the rebellion has been quelled (2 Cor 7:6-16). In response, and in the midst of organising the collection from the Macedonian churches, Paul wrote (in part or in whole) the letter we know as 2 Corinthians. This letter he sent back to Corinth with Titus.

In 2 Corinthians 1-9 Paul expresses his joy concerning the news brought by Titus. For a while he had regretted having written the 'severe letter', fearing it might have done more harm than good. Now he sees that it has produced genuine repentance and he is glad. Now he encourages the Corinthians to complete the collection.

With chapter 10 the tone seems to shift from joy to anger and polemic. For this reason, some suggest that chapters 10-13 are the misplaced 'severe letter.' Ralph Martin suggests rather that Titus was initially sent to Corinth with the letter we have preserved in 2 Corinthians 1-9. Shortly afterwards Paul learnt of further trouble at Corinth, prompting an addendum which is now chapters 10-13. Carson, however, suggests that Paul wrote (or dictated) the first nine chapters shortly after meeting up with Titus but at this stage the letter remained unfinished (and unsent). The business of organising the collection among the Macedonian churches meant that completion of the letter was delayed and it was during this time that Paul heard of further problems at Corinth. This fresh news prompted completion of the letter with chapters 10-13. The chapters are different in tone because they are Paul's response to very different news, but all of the chapters form a single letter.

Paul eventually arrived in person at Corinth (Acts 20:2), where, after about a year he wrote the letter to the Romans.

May 11 2020 - 2 Corinthians 1:1-11 – The God of all comfort

After the greetings in the opening verses of this letter, Paul immediately pitches into a hymn of praise:

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort... (2 Corinthians 1:3)

The God who has revealed himself in the Lord Jesus Christ is not the unmoved mover of the philosophers; he is not the impassive observer of his creation. Rather, he is the Father of compassion. He is moved by the plight of those he has made and who bear his image – those created to share fellowship with him. He hears the cry of those who call out to him and his heart is moved to help and heal and save. It is part of his very nature to have mercy.

And this compassion results in comfort for those in trouble; he is the God of all comfort. Paul goes on to use the word comfort (or its cognates) again and again in the verses that follow (ten times in all in verses 3-7 if my count is correct).

What is this comfort that Paul speaks of? The hint may come in verse 5 where Paul writes “For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.” The sufferings Paul speaks of would seem to be those that arise from being joined to Christ. As the letter goes on to make clear, these may be of many kinds: threats and persecution from those opposed to his message, including beatings and imprisonment; trials and difficulties of travel such as shipwrecks; the constant care for the churches... All of this is not merely suffering for the sake of Christ; it is sharing in his sufferings for the sake of the kingdom. In the same way, therefore, the comforts of which Paul speaks are those which come to him through being joined to Christ. He shares in the very comfort of Christ (if we may put it that way), even as he shares in the sufferings of Christ. He shares in the comfort of acceptance with God, adoption into his family and being an heir of glory. He enjoys the very presence of Christ by his Spirit, the presence of the Paraclete, the Comforter.

All of this is ours also in Christ. In Christ, the Father has had compassion upon us. Christ who is risen and exalted in the heavens gives us the comfort that is poured into our hearts by his Spirit – the knowledge that we are his and that nothing in life or in death can separate us from his love. And this comfort is given us that we might minister it to others also; God “comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.” Out of the trials and joys of his own experience of following Christ, Paul is able to minister encouragement and comfort to others facing similar trials. Because of his own experience, his ministry has an authenticity and sympathy that enables him to be an effective minister of the comforts of God.

Whatever our experiences may have been, each one of us who has come to trust in Christ has received immeasurable blessings – overflowing comforts – from the God of all comfort. Let’s make sure that we are marked by compassion and a readiness to bring comfort to others who are in trouble. Let’s make sure we reflect the likeness of Father God; we were made to bear his image.

Father of compassion and God of all comfort, we pray today for our brothers and sisters around the world who are facing all manner of troubles, threats and dangers. By the presence of your Spirit, be their comfort, strength, wisdom and encouragement this day. May both we and they learn to rely daily, not on ourselves, but on you, the God who raises the dead.

May 11 2019 - 2 Samuel 15:1-23 – Absalom's revolt

Absalom had killed his half-brother Amnon and fled from his father David. After three years, David longed for Absalom to return home. Joab, the commander of Israel's army persuaded David to allow his son to return to Jerusalem. David agreed but said that Absalom must return to his own house in the city; he could not come to the king's palace to see his father. Only two years later was David persuaded to allow Absalom to come to court and greet him. This is where we pick up the story in 2 Samuel 15.

Absalom appears to be the oldest of David's surviving sons and probably expected to succeed his father as king. But, having allowed a single meeting between them, David seems to have then sent Absalom away and ignored him. So Absalom decides to take matters into his own hands.

Absalom sets himself up with a chariot and horses and has fifty men run ahead of him. He is behaving like a king and parading his power and splendour before all the people. Then he set himself up as a judge and counsellor in the gateway of the city of Jerusalem – the traditional place where people came for judgement. In these ways "he stole the hearts of the people of Israel" (v.6) – he is beginning to become more popular with the people than his aging father.

After four years, Absalom went off to Hebron with 200 men from Jerusalem. From there he "sent secret messengers throughout the tribes of Israel to say, ‘As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpets, then say, “Absalom is king in Hebron.”’" (v. 12).

When David heard of Absalom's conspiracy and that he had the support of many of the Israelites, he decided that he must flee from Jerusalem so that Absalom does not come and wage war against the city. So David, his household and his band of supporters left Jerusalem. Among those supporters were 600 Gittites, led by a man called Ittai, who had accompanied David when, many years before, he had left Gath. David tried to dissuade Ittai saying, "Go back and stay with King Absalom. You are a foreigner, an exile from your homeland… shall I make you wander about with us, when I do not know where I am going? Go back, and take your people with you." (vv 19-20). But Ittai replies in words similar to those spoken by Ruth to Naomi, "As surely as the Lord lives, and as my lord the king lives, wherever my lord the king may be, whether it means life or death, there will your servant be" (v. 21).

David had failed to discipline his sons and to bring them up to love and serve the Lord. They had seen how he behaved and had followed his example by descending into rape and murder. And David had done nothing. Now the judgment which God had pronounced on him through Nathan is working its terrible consequences: "The Lord told David, 'You struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and took his wife to be your own. You killed him with the sword of the Ammonites. Now, therefore, the sword shall never depart from your house, because you despised me and took the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your own.'" (2 Samuel 12:9-10).

Praise God that we have a perfect King to rule over us in the Lord Jesus, one who has left us an example of humble obedience towards God and loving service of others. If Ittai could promise unfailing love for David, with all his faults, and declare that he would follow him in life and in death, how much more should we be ready to declare our love for the Lord Jesus and promise never to forsake him. After all, he has promised never to leave or forsake us; he has promised that nothing in life or in death will separate us from his love.

Father, we thank you for our Saviour and King, the Lord Jesus Christ. Thank you that no power on earth or in hell can threaten his kingship or rob him of his kingdom. Help us by your Spirit to follow him closely and to live lives that reflect his holy character and glory.

Peter Misselbrook