Paul’s concern for the church
2 Corinthians 12:11-13:14
As Paul comes to the end of his letter he refers to his next visit (12:14, 20-21; 13:1-2, 10). He does not want his 3rd visit to the church to be another painful experience like his last visit (see 2:1). He had opened his heart to the church, explained his ministry, answered their accusations, and urged them to obey the Lord. He wants them to prepare for his visit by repenting and self-examination.
Paul shames the church (12:11-21)
When we were children, sometimes our parents said, “Shame on you!” It is a good thing when people are ashamed of their bad actions and attitudes. People with a hard heart and calloused conscience feel no shame when they do wrong. Jeremiah said that God’s people in his day were not ashamed when they sinned (Jeremiah 6:15).
The Corinthian church had made Paul act like a fool—boasting like he did in chapter 11. They should have been boasting about him. Paul had given proof that he was truly an apostle, sent by God Himself. He did many signs and wonders and miracles among them. Paul was not inferior to the others. The Corinthians had seen Paul’s ministry. He had persevered in his ministry at Corinth in spite of persecution and problems. He had cost the church nothing. Paul uses irony as he writes. “The only thing I didn’t do was to become a burden to you. Please forgive me for this wrong!” (12:13)
Instead of being grateful, the Corinthians had criticized Paul. He had taken no financial support from the church, and had given sacrificially to help the church. It seemed that the more Paul loved them, the less they loved Paul. Paul was willing to gladly give all he had for their spiritual good. They could never accuse him of being interested only in money. Paul had not been a burden to the church. But some thought he was taking advantage of them. But none of the men he had sent had taken advantage of them.
It is sad when children do not appreciate what their parents do for them. The Corinthian church had not appreciated what Paul had done. Why? There was sin in the church and Paul wanted it dealt with before he came so his visit would not be painful. Paul was not just trying to defend himself. Everything he did was for the church’s benefit. He was afraid that when he came that he would find quarreling, jealousy, anger, selfishness, gossip, conceit and disorderly behavior. He was afraid that some were still living in sin—impurity, sexual immorality and lustful pleasure.
Some of the church people perhaps thought that if Paul came again, he would just create more problems. Paul wanted to solve the problems and help strengthen the church. Sin in the church must be dealt with. To sweep it under the rug and ignore it only makes things worse. Sin is like cancer that must be cut out. Paul wanted them to get rid of sin.
Paul was not sure what would happen on this next visit to the church. He was afraid that he would not find the church as he wanted it to be and he would have to use his authority to deal with the sin. His love for them was too great to ignore the problems and to let sin continue to weaken the church. The church should have been ashamed but they were not.
Paul warns the church (13:1-8)
Paul gives two warnings. “Prepare yourselves!” (13:1-4) Paul had already warned those who had been sinning when he was there on his second visit. He warns them and everyone as he did before that he would not spare them when he came if they did not repent.
Paul quotes Deuteronomy 19:15 in 13:1. In dealing with sin, it is important to have the facts. If the church members had followed Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 18:15-20 the problems would have been solved. Sometimes small disagreements and sin grow into complicated problems because we do not follow what the Bible says.
The false teachers accused Paul of being weak. Their approach was dictatorial, while Paul was gentle and humble. Paul tells them that they will see how strong he can be if that is what is necessary. The false teachers wanted Paul to prove that he was a true apostle. Paul said, “Like the Lord Jesus, I am strong when it seems I am weak.” On the cross, Jesus seemed weak, but the cross is the power of God (1 Corinthians 1:18). Paul did not want them to look on the surface of things, but to look deeper.
By the standards of the world, both Jesus and Paul were weak. But in God’s eyes, they were strong. A wise leader knows when to be “weak” and when to be “strong” as he deals with problems in the church. How do we measure leaders? Not by the world’s standards, but by what God says.
“Examine yourselves!” (13:5-8) The Corinthians had been examining Paul, but it was time for them to examine themselves. Those who are quick to condemn others are often guilty of even worse sins themselves. It is easy to make yourself look better by condemning others.
Paul tells them to examine their hearts to see if they are really followers of Christ. “Is your faith genuine? Test yourselves. Do you love others?”
Many of the problems in the church were perhaps caused by people who said they were saved, but had never truly repented and trusted Christ. Paul did not want the Corinthians to fail the test just to prove that he was right. He did not mind being criticized as long as they obeyed the Lord. He was not concerned about his own reputation. The Lord knew his heart. He was concerned for them. He wanted them to do what was right even if it seemed the Paul had failed. Our responsibility is to stand for the truth at all times.
Paul encourages the church (13:9-14)
Paul encouraged the Corinthians by praying for them. “What we pray for is your restoration to maturity.” The Lord uses His Word to strengthen and build us up. He also uses suffering to mature us. As we pray for one another and help each other the Lord restores us and works in our lives.
It is impossible to grow in the Christian life in isolation. We need each other. A baby needs to grow up in a loving family.
Paul did not want to deal harshly with the church when he came. He wanted to use the authority the Lord had given him to build up the church, not to tear it down. He wrote this letter so they would repent. He did not want to have exercise authority and discipline them when he visited.
A farmer must pull up the weeds before he can plant the seeds and get a good crop. Paul had to get rid of the wrong thinking in their minds before he could build them up. It is often hard to change the wrong thinking of an older Christian.
Paul ends with some final commands. “Rejoice. Change your ways. Listen to my appeals. Live in harmony and peace.” There were divisions in the church. If they loved each other, there would be peace. We do not need to agree on everything. Especially on things that are not essential, we should agree to have freedom.
God is the God of love and peace. Can the world tell that from how we live and work together in the church? “Look how they love one another” was what the world said about the early church.
“Greet each other with a holy kiss.” They were to show their love and concern for each other by greeting each other. Paul writes to a church full of dissension and reminds them to greet each other in Christian love. Quarreling needed to be replaced by reconciliation and arrogance by love.
The closing benediction emphasizes the Trinity and the blessings we receive because we belong to God. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ reminds us of the One who became poor in order to make us rich (see 8:9 and 12:9). The love of God reminds us of the cross where God gave His Son to take away our sins (see Romans 5:8). God showed His love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. The fellowship of the Holy Spirit reminds us of Pentecost when the Spirit came and formed the church. We come to Christ and meet God and receive His Spirit. This letter (full of many emotions) ends with a benediction addressed to all the members of the church.
All believers need the blessings of grace, love, and fellowship. The church is a miracle and needs the work of God to sustain it. No human skill or programs can make the church what it should be. Only God can do that. If we live by God’s grace and walk in His love, we will live this blessing and be a blessing to others. May God make us that kind of Christian.