Pastor’s Bible Reading Schedule:
2 Corinthians 11-13
The apostle began the last chapter by reminding them again that this would be his third visit. From the information we have in the New Testament, Paul gave more attention to the Corinthian church than to any other. He stayed there one and a half years; he wrote to them frequently; he visited a second time; and here he told them plainly he was coming again. Paul had been patient with the Corinthians, and he had gone to great lengths to be kind to them; however, his patience seemed to be waning.
Paul told the Corinthians to prepare to face the issues he had raised with them. To begin with, he did not want to have to deal with rumors and unsubstantiated accusations. He would not listen to accusations unless they were established by the testimony of two or three witnesses. Paul relied on Mosaic legal procedures for this point, applying this national policy from the Old Testament to the legal procedures to be followed in the church. Paul’s insistence on witnesses indicated his intention to deal strongly with the situation in Corinth. He had already given them a warning on his previous visit, and he was repeating it here. On his third visit, there would be no more warnings. He was not going to spare those who sinned earlier or any of the others. The first group consisted of those who had fallen into the immoral practices of Corinth. The others of whom he spoke are more difficult to identify. Paul probably meant anyone else whom he had to discipline. If any Corinthian Christians failed to heed this warning and to repent, Paul would discipline that person when he arrived.
To close this section, Paul summarized his motivations for potential discipline in yet another way. He wrote these things when he was absent so that when he arrived he might not have to be harsh. His harshness was intended to render unnecessary any harsh use of authority when he visited. Paul had the power and authority, given to him by the Lord, to inflict much trouble on the church in discipline. But he knew that discipline was not the central purpose of his authority. The Lord had given Paul this authority for building up, not for tearing down. Insofar as discipline served to build up the church, Paul was willing to inflict it when necessary. His primary desire, however, was to build up the church through positive means. He felt the best way to build up the church was to exhort them to repent and to discipline them only if his words failed to bring about change. Paul preferred a gentle touch, but he was ready to do whatever was necessary to rescue them from sin.
Prayer Requests:
Personal
- Lord, please help me to remember that the only motivation for discipline is love and to always communicate love through discipline.
- Lord, please help me to honor your holiness and purity and strive to live pure so you will not need to discipline me.
- Lord, please help me to give the time and energy to keep FBC pure and holy before you and to accomplish your will for our church.
Political
- Representative Cynthia Johnson – district 005 – Detroit
- Senator Ruth Johnson – District 014 – Holly
- Representative Jewell Jones – District 011 – Inkster