Bible Study - 2 Corinthians Chapter 4
Bible Study - 2 Corinthians Chapter 4
| 1 Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we received mercy, we do not lose heart, |
At the end of chapter 3, Paul used the veil of Moses as an illustration of our lives in Christ. The veil is removed and God's glory is visible to others in our faces. Our ministry is the same as Paul's, with the difference of the target audience and method. That is the spreading the gospel message. Paul states the reason we don't become discouraged is because of the mercy God showed us. While it is definitional of grace, it bears repeating that we do not deserve it. Not becoming discouraged in the context of chapter 3 means that we are bold and unashamed of our ministry, the gospel. |
| 2 but we have renounced the things hidden because of shame, not walking in craftiness or adulterating the word of God, but by the manifestation of truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. |
Bad actors try to keep shameful things such as sins, scheming, manipulations, and such hidden. Shining the light of truth on these hidden things by confronting them and making it clear that they are not acceptable is the right and proper thing to do. It is much easier to deny bad behavior is occurring and aid in covering it up. That is walking in cunning, working to hide corruption. Another bad response to bad behavior is to say it's not really bad by distorting or changing the word of God. This does include actually changing scripture itself. But more often, this is teaching that scripture doesn't say what it says or says what it doesn't say. Isaiah 5:20 Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; Who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! Paul taught and spoke the truth, and that was his commendation, not a letter from the church in Jerusalem. That Paul declares the gospel validates him, and not that he validates the gospel. Openly declaring the truth is the commendation to others, not the self-proclaimed commendations of Paul's detractors. Invoking the sight of God emphasizes that it God's opinion is what ultimately matters, not that of men. |
| 3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, |
This is a response to one of the attacks against Paul. This one was that his teaching was deliberately mysterious and not understandable. Using the Mosaic veil analogy like in chapter 2, Paul asserts that if it is veiled, it is because the receiver is an unbeliever headed for hell. Those who insist on their own understanding cannot accept truths like the Trinity, salvation by faith apart from works, the atonement of Jesus' crucifixion, that we have free will does not contradict God's sovereignty, and so on. If they can't comprehend it, it can't be the truth in their minds. |
| 4 in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. |
The god of this world is Satan. In other words, those who don't believe are blinded by Satan in their minds so they won't see the truth. John 14:6 Jesus *said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me." (The asterisk on "said" in the NASB indicates the Greek present tense, (present active indicative,) was changed to English past tense since English doesn't have an equivalent tense.) The unbelievers here are people inside the church. Satan cannot obscure the minds of believers unless they allow it. The end of this verse is used by trinity deniers and those who deny the divinity of Jesus, connecting it to Genesis 1:27 that says we are made in the image of God. The argument is that if Jesus is the image of God, then He is not God but a created being. However, this is not just a stretch of scripture, it breaks it. It does not say that Christ was created in the image of God, but that he was the image. The word image is not confined to a theological term for our status, just as spirit doesn't always refer to the Holy Spirit. It is used throughout the Old Testament to refer to idols, as well as in Acts and Romans. In verse 3:18 we are being transformed into the image, the same Greek word. But this is two different meanings. In Genesis we are created in the image of God, that is our nature as humans. In the 3:18 usage we are becoming more like Him, and are therefore earthly representations of God that others can see and be led to Him. We can't be transformed into something we were already created as. In this verse, Jesus is the image of God in the sense that he was God incarnate, God made man so that we could see Him in person. Although our perceptions were limited and we did not see His full glory then, Jesus was the visible image of the invisible God. |
| 5 For we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants for Jesus' sake. |
This is in response to another charge against Paul, and is a common one against Christians today. That is, we are just promoting ourselves, or that we are in this for our own benefit. This is a concise depiction of the Christian attitude. We preach Christ Jesus as Lord (over all). And we are not lording over others, but we are bond-servants not just to Jesus, but to other Christians for His sake. (That it is for Jesus' sake is expanded in verses 10-12.) Bond-servant is a voluntary slave, one who has sold themselves into service. Or it could be a slave who has achieved their freedom and chooses to remain in slavery-service to their master. Only Jesus is Lord. We are all His slaves, and by His command, slaves to each other. |
| 6 For God, who said, "Light shall shine out of darkness," is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. |
This is most often thought to be a reference to Genesis 1:3 "Let there be light." But it is more likely referring to Isaiah 9:2 The people who walk in darkness Will see a great light; Those who live in a dark land, The light will shine on them. Paul uses the same verb and tense here in verse 6 as Isaiah 9:2. Or this could be a reference to what was said to him on the Damascus road when Paul was transfixed by the light of God. Either way, this is a continuation of the metaphor from verse 4. This is also a continuation of the shining face of Moses reflecting the glory of God in chapter 3. But now God's light is shining on our hearts, and it is through the changing of our hearts that people see the glory of God shining out. Note that it is the knowledge of God's glory that we see in the face of Christ. This is not a Phil Donahue touchy-feely emotional trip. This is not our feelings, but our knowledge that changes our inner man. It is our core beliefs showing in our attitudes. Some look to the emotional trip of their church services as an emotional recharge, and stop there. And when they fail, they attribute the failure to their emotional (they say spiritual) batteries being depleted. When in reality the root cause is they are all emotion and little knowledge. If we really love Jesus we will read and study his word, get it in us, and let it transform us into His image. |
| 7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves; |
On the one hand, we are the clay pots that contain the priceless treasure that is glory and power of God. And therefore, we should not become arrogant and full of ourselves when we are the conduit for God's work in this world. Because it is not anything about us that makes it possible, it is God. All we can do is have faith in Him. On the other hand, this also points out the lie in one of Satan's attacks on us. We should never think that we are not good enough to do God's will. God works through messed up people. If not, He wouldn't have anyone to serve Him. The light on the lamp stand in Mark 4:21-23 is a cheap clay vessel even the poorest could easily afford. Yet it provides light to the entire room because of what it contains, not what it is made out of. Rabbinic midrashes point out that wine cannot be stored in gold or silver vessels because it will quickly spoil. But it can be kept for decades in clay pots. We may be only clay pots compared to the priceless treasure we carry. But perhaps it is the way God intended it to be, that we are be the ones who carry his glory here on Earth. |
| 8 we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; |
These are points that will be expanded on in chapters 7 and 8. No matter the trials, we can bear up under them. Things we don't understand leave us at a loss, but do not bring us to despair. This is a very important point. When we can't understand something it should not be a threat to our faith. It is the height of arrogance to even think we are even capable of comprehending everything. Those that think they know everything are deceiving themselves. They are unaware of their own deficiencies, so they think they know it. Worse, they are immune to correction or improvement. This is arrogance. Those that are actually the most knowledgable got there by acknowledging their deficiencies and seeking to improve them, which is an act of true wisdom. The more they learn the more they realize there is so much more they don't yet know. Those with great wisdom realize that being an expert in one subject does not mean they know anything about any other subject. |
| 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; |
When we face persecution, the enemy tells us the lie that God has given up on us and we are alone. It is a lie. Deuteronomy 31:6 Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the LORD your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. The second part of the verse is deliberate word-play in Greek. The verbs in this tense mean the opposite but rhyme. In modern English we have a boxing analogy that means the same and has that kind of word play. We are knocked down but not knocked out. |
| 10 always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. |
Here is the how of verses 8-9. Dying here refers to the state of being in the process of dying, not its end. Dying to self is not a one and done deal. It is something we continue to do. Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. We identify with the death of Christ, dying to the self, and replacing that with the life of Christ. That is the only way for us to be like Him. There is only room for one on the throne of our heart. |
| 11 For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. |
What the world sees as weakness is in reality the real strength. Paul’s critics were wrongly focused only on displays of divine power, and viewed the afflictions of Paul and others as a sign of disfavor. But that is a logical contradiction to the gospel. It is through the suffering and death of Jesus that God’s greatest demonstration of His power was shown. If suffering is disgrace, then Christianity is a lie. Paul makes it clear that in the humility of Christians the true power of God is revealed. Charismatic signs are easy and simple. Changing of the heart is the real miracle that moves people. |
| 12 So death works in us, but life in you. | Because Paul, Timothy and others die to the self, enduring all sorts of afflictions and persecutions, the Corinthian church has the opportunity to live in Christ, the true living. |
| 13 But having the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, "I believed, therefore I spoke," we also believe, therefore we also speak, | The quote is from Psalm 116, which was one of the Psalms that Jesus and His disciples sang after the first communion. (These were Psalms 113-118.) Because we believe that we are saved from death, we speak of it. This is the motivation for sharing the gospel. |
| 14 knowing that He who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and will present us with you. | Continuing the argument of verse 13, our hope and faith is based on the sure knowledge that the Father raised Jesus from the dead. And we will also be raised from the dead to stand with Jesus and all the other believers. |
| 15 For all things are for your sakes, so that the grace which is spreading to more and more people may cause the giving of thanks to abound to the glory of God. |
Contrary to being a shame, the suffering of Paul, Timothy, et al were a blessing to the Corinthian church and to us, just as the suffering and death of Christ was for us. The why is to spread the gospel so that God’s grace will cover more and more people. And we give thanks for that. Because we give thanks for God’s grace and the spreading of that grace, we should also give thanks for the suffering as well. Although that suffering is nothing compared to the joy that awaits us. Once again, Paul gives God all the credit. That the gospel is spread is not for his glory, but all is for the glory of God. |
| 16 Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. |
Connecting back to verse 1, the reason for not losing heart is stated. While our mortal bodies are growing older, wearing out, suffering wear and tear, it does not matter because this body will be transformed. (We are to be good stewards of the resources God gives us, including this body. But that it fails us is nothing to a Christian. We believe in eternity and our perfected bodies.) It is what is going on inside us that really matters. That our heart, the inner man, is being daily transformed more and more into the likeness of Christ is what matters. That is our focus and our hope. However, the body is not a severable part of our being as some believe, like Plato and the Gnostics. We are a whole person which includes our body and soul. |
| 17 For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, | This life is but a blip in the timeline of our existence. The afflictions referred to do not seem to be light or momentary when viewed from an earthly human perspective. This verse is to orient us to the right and true perspective of a Christian, that these are nothing compare to the glory we will live in. |
| 18 while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal. | Again, the things we can see are temporary. But this is difficult for us to accept on our own. Our experience and understanding is that these things existed before we were born and will be here after we die. To an earthly perspective these things are close to permanent. But we as Christians have faith in the truly eternal. The new heaven and new earth will be joined together, and we will live lives of joy greater than we ever experienced or could even imagine in this life. |
Scripture quotations taken from the NASB © The Lockman Foundation.