II Corinthians 2:1-11

So, is there a lost letter or a lost visit? I’ve chatted around this topic the past few days. I sense that the majority of scholars tend to believe that yes, there is a lost letter and an unreported visit. There is clear evidence for an unreported visit later in II Corinthians, at II Cor 12:14 and I Cor 13:1, where Paul mentions visiting them for a third time. The only reports that we have of his visits to Corinth are when he first visited during his second missionary journey (Acts 18:1, ff, which we read before we read I Corinthians) and on his third missionary journey (Acts 20:2-3), which we have not yet read. So there does appear to be a missing trip by Paul to Corinth. As to when that occurs, most speculation centers on a short visit from Ephesus during his three-year ministry there, between his writing of the two Corinthian letters.

As to that lost letter… There is some evidence of a missing letter in today’s reading: And I wrote as I did, so that when I came I might not suffer pain… (v. 3a) and For I wrote to you out of much affliction and anguish of heart and with many tears… (v. 4a) I don’t see anything that we read in I Corinthians that would have been painful for Paul to write. Much of the letter was about Paul answering questions that the Corinthians had asked. The chapter 5 incident (a man living with his father’s wife) was a rebuke of one person’s behavior. So I see Paul writing that first letter calmly, much like a teacher counseling a student. I don’t see the harshness that would have caused pain for either Paul or the Corinthians.

Finally, a quick word on the bulk of today’s reading, II Cor. 2:5-11. It appears that someone within the Corinthian church was guilty of some serious sin – perhaps the man I mentioned above from I Corinthians 5. However, whatever this person had done, he had been punished by the church to the point where he was repentant and remorseful, such that Paul’s advice was to receive him back into the body with love and full forgiveness. It’s hard to imagine such a person ever being universally fully received, but I suspect that Paul may have had himself in mind, in that he persecuted the church mightily until the Lord met him on the road to Damascus. And if everyone at St. Andrew’s knew our deepest sins… Ouch.

Slava Bohu!

II Corinthians 1:12-24

I have a lot of difficulty weighing through Paul’s difficulties with the Corinthians. There are a lot of references to letters that Paul might have written to the Corinthians that have been lost and of visits to them that are not recorded. So it’s difficult to follow his relationship with them when the critical evidence may have been lost. For now, as I said yesterday, scholars believe that Paul wrote this letter from Macedonia, having determined (in the Spirit) not to visit them immediately. And it’s probably good that he did not visit them; he has some harsh words and feelings that he shares. I will point out two. First, he appears very defensive when he says Was I vacillating when I wanted to do this? Do I make my plans according to the flesh, ready to say “Yes, yes” and “No, no” at the same time? (v. 17) He wants the Corinthians to believe him when he speaks, but he is not sure that he has their confidence.

Second, he uses powerful language in verse 23: But I call God to witness against me… Again, it looks like he is thinking that the Corinthians do not trust him, that he thinks that they think that he may be lying to them. These verses make this section of II Corinthians very difficult to follow.

I don’t know what to make of these thoughts – in one sense it’s true that face-to-face conversation is far better than letter writing (or texting or e-mail notes!). In addition, it appears that the Corinthians themselves, have some serious problems within themselves. But, don’t we all…??!!

Slava Bohu!

II Corinthians 1:1-11

Affliction, suffering, burden, despair, peril, death… Deliverance, comfort, salvation!! There is really only one message in these few verses today. God is a God of deliverance, of comfort, of salvation! No matter our circumstances, He is there for us – and He wants us to be there for others. Whether we are up or down, we can be a comfort to others. It’s not always easy, but it’s what He wants from us! And in this more difficult time in which we now live, it’s more important than ever to comfort and encourage those around us. Make your life a “comfort zone” for others!

Slava Bohu!

Acts 19:23-20:1

So yes, it’s a strange reading schedule – one day’s reading of 20 verses in Acts between Paul’s two Corinthian letters. This is the pattern that they have in our Chronological Bible that I’ve been using the past two years and I have not seen fit to change it (much). However, this Acts reading really does fit here. All of Acts chapter 19 to this point has had Paul at Ephesus, from where he wrote I Corinthians. Now in today’s reading we see this “riot in Ephesus”, with the riot followed by that one verse (20:1) where Paul departs for Macedonia (Philippi, Thessalonica, etc.). Although scholars differ on the makeup of II Corinthians, as to whether it is really one letter or a compilation of pieces from different letters, there is more general agreement that he wrote at least part of II Corinthians from Macedonia. So that’s why we have these 20 verses from Acts inserted here – Paul leaves Ephesus bound for Macedonia.

But even Paul’s trip to Macedonia is not without controversy, this time in Paul’s own mind. Sometime in the next few days we will read Paul telling the Corinthians that he had initially planned to visit them, then go to Macedonia, then return to them again (see II Corinthians 1:15-16). But evidently he changed his plans so that he could have one long visit with them (after Macedonia) instead of two shorter visits. So again, as Acts 20:1 tells us, Paul leaves Ephesus headed to Macedonia. The very next verse finds him in Greece (Athens, Corinth, etc.) after a short Macedonian visit. A small, intriguing item is found a few verses prior to today’s reading: Now after these events Paul resolved in the Spirit to pass through Macedonia and Achaia and go to Jerusalem… (v. 21a) Paul “…resolved in the Spirit…” That is, in these few words we see Paul changing his mind (as noted above), but not just “changing his mind” – he was “Spirit-led” to do so!

There’s a lot going on in today’s reading about this riot. Paul wants to venture into this riotous crowd, but not only his disciples, but also some leading Gentile authorities convince him not to do so. Then a Jew named Alexander wants to speak to the crowd, but he is shouted down. So, one asks, why would this Jew want to speak to the crowd? Was he going to defend the Christians against this pagan crowd? Or was he wanting to further incite the crowd against these Christians? We’ll never know! But the Jews were also not followers of Artemis, so Alexander himself is fully rejected by the crowd. Finally, reason wins out in the voice of the town clerk and order is restored. Carol and I visited Ephesus in 2017 and tried to imagine the location of that riot, tried to imagine the crowd and Paul and his friends. Fun.

OK, now back to Corinthian letters…

Slava Bohu!

I Corinthians 16:13-24

Depending on your translation, verse 22b will say either “Maranatha” or “O Lord, come” or “Our Lord, come.” I had noted two days ago that many commentators felt that Paul was expecting Jesus’ imminent return. Now he closes with this greeting. My Study Bible noted Paul’s expectation in its comment on this verse.

I rejoice at the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus, because they have made up for your absence, for they refreshed my spirit as well as yours. (vv. 17-18a) It’s not really a comment on this verse, but something of a reality for the present moment. Paul was “refreshed” to have these three visitors. During our current pandemic, I suspect that there are many from our congregation who might also be “refreshed” by a phone call from someone in the church. Our Vestry and Staff are already making these calls, ideally to everyone in our congregation, but it would probably also be a blessing to anyone to also get a note from someone else. And, visits are not prohibited! Make a phone call – invite someone over or invite yourself over to their place; take some cookies; keep your distance; enjoy your time together! Just a thought…!

Slava Bohu!

I Corinthians 16:1-12

…so that you may help me on my journey, wherever I go… (v. 6b) and Help him on his way in peace… (v. 11b) These statements seem unusual for Paul to write. Typically he is telling his listeners that he is self-sufficient, that he is not a burden to the church, that he works alongside them. But now he is asking for their support for himself and for Timothy. Maybe it was earlier in his ministry that he was being more self-sufficient and he has found out over time that he is more useful to the Lord when he is preaching than when he is tent-making. Just wondering…

Years ago I was Assistant Treasurer for the Episcopal Diocese of Lexington when Bishop Sauls appointed me to a group that he called the Mission Funding Task Force. Our objective was to evaluate how the local congregations should fund the Diocese. We gathered data and worked through our findings and wrote it up. I don’t need to go into details about our work or our findings, but there was one thing that I learned during my time on that Task Force. There were two Episcopal priests on that committee and three or four other lay Episcopalians. As we looked for guidance from “outside”, essentially where to begin before we started looking at the data, different people (especially one of the priests) did their research and reported back. As I listened, no one talked about the “collection for the saints” (v. 1 in today’s reading). Paul talks about it in his Thessalonian letters and his Corinthian letters and Luke writes about it in Acts. When I brought up this “collection” as a model for the parishes supporting the Diocese, no one knew what I was talking about, not even the priests! I daresay that the priests that we have known in the Anglican Church would have been right there with me, quickly accessing chapter and verse for inclusion in our report. Bottom line: where our Anglican clergy are trained is important – Asbury, Pittsburgh, Nashotah House – when our Anglican priests are trained they come away Bible-literate. And as my wife is prone to say, “And that’s a good thing!”

Slava Bohu!

I Corinthians 15:50-58

Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep… (v. 51a) Many commentators have written that Paul was expecting Jesus’ return to come in the near future, but clearly that didn’t happen. But I agree with the commentators. I think this verse is one of the strongest that he makes in support of that expectation.

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. (v. 56) It’s not immediately clear what Paul is saying in this verse. It helps to reverse the two statements connected by the conjunction “and”. It also helps to “invert” each statement. Paul has done this very thing for us when he wrote to the Romans. Here are two verses that re-state verse 56 above. For by works of the Law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the Law comes knowledge of sin. (Romans 3:20) And For the wages of sin is death… (Romans 6:23a) I think these two verses together clarify verse 56.

A good closing thought: Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. (v. 58)

Slava Bohu!

I Corinthians 15:35-49

What a delightful passage to read! Paul makes so many comparisons, mostly one-to-one but also men-beasts-birds-fish and sun-moon-stars. But what I really love are his pairings: perishable-imperishable; dishonor-honor; weakness-power; natural-spiritual; soul-spirit; earthly-heavenly. Very well written, St. Paul!!

You fool! (v. 36a) Paul is pretty hard on the Corinthians. I thought they had a reasonable question – what will we be like when we are raised from the dead? I am reminded of Paul’s earlier chastisement of the Galatians: O foolish Galatians…! (Galatians 3:1) But to the current point… I wonder how we will know people that we have known in our lifetime. For example, there are thousands of people that I have met in my lifetime, some of whom I haven’t seen for 30, 40, 50, 60 years. I wouldn’t even recognize them today. But if I see them in Heaven, I believe that I would know them – from when I knew them, back whenever! That is, even though my Army buddies had changed over the 50 years since I knew them when they were young, I believe that I would still see them as they were back then and they would see me as I was back then. At any rate, that’s what I think! Blessings, y’all!

Slava Bohu!

I Corinthians 15:20-34

I will venture where I don’t belong, theology over my head! …what do people mean by being baptized on behalf of the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized on their behalf? (v. 29) “…baptized on behalf of the dead…” What’s this all about? My Study Bible says that the jury is still out among Bible scholars, that we’ll never know in our lifetime. I am not a scholar of world religions, but I understand that the Mormons regularly have themselves baptized on behalf of the dead. I presume they draw their theology and practice from this verse. Evidently Joseph Smith in 1840 read from I Corinthians 15 at a funeral service, focusing on verse 29 (https://mormonbeliefs.org/temples-and-prophets/mormon_temples/mormon-baptism-for-the-dead/). Also, in my Roman Catholic background we prayed regularly for the souls in Purgatory – a place between Earth and Heaven where souls are suffering while they are being more completely cleansed from their sins before their entrance into Heaven. The following citation offers Biblical support for this practice: https://www.biblestudytools.com/topical-verses/purgatory-in-the-bible/. So, what of verse 29? Here, as I have often in the past, I claim “blessed ignorance”.

So, another confusing verse… When all things are subjected to Him, then the Son Himself also will be subjected to the One who subjected all things to Him, so that God may be all in all. (v. 28) This verse says that the Son, Jesus, will be subjected to the Father. But doesn’t that go against our Trinitarian thinking? Are not the three persons of the Trinity co-equal and co-eternal? One online source explains it this way: “The second person of the Trinity (Jesus) is equal in nature to the Father but takes a different role by taking on human flesh, and subjects himself to the headship of the Father. The Father and the Son can be co-equal, while at the same time the Son submits to the headship of the Father; similar to the headship of the husband over the wife.” (https://biblicalworldviewacademy.org/loving-the-trinity-part-11/) Again, confusing, but we retain our belief in the three Persons of the Trinity being co-equal.

Blessings in spite of our lack of understanding! Some day we will be more fully informed!

Slava Bohu!

I Corinthians 15:1-19

And if Christ has not been raised, … we are of all people most to be pitied. (vv. 17a, 19b) For many years I was quoting this “verse”, except that it was not one verse, but the combination of two partial verses. So much for my Bible memory skills…!! But the reality of what I had been quoting (and still do) is absolutely relevant. If Jesus was not raised from the dead and we have been placing all our hope on this truth, then we are stupid. Stupid! Actually, no! Pitied by others, maybe. But stupid? NO! We are absolutely blessed in our belief that Jesus physically rose from the dead. We have joy, we have confidence, we have peace. We are not to be pitied. Others may think what they want, but we are COMPLETE in Christ and in the workings of His Holy Spirit in our lives. Live with that confidence, folks, and be blessed! GLORY!!

Slava Bohu!