Title Min Lee / 2 Corinthians 6
Contents divisions (2 Corinthians 6)
Chapters 6-9 consist of a series of loving exhortations to the Christians in Corinth. In 6:1-13, Paul exhorts them to examine their life and ministry, so that they can broaden their minds and accept him. 6:14-7 Chapter 1 (sorry that the chapter is split here) recommends separation, whereas 7:2-16 pleads for reconciliation. Chapters 8-9 deal with offerings for the poor believers in Judea and appeal to their cooperation.
Let us now consider the two appeals in Chapter 6.
1. Appeal to Investigation (6:1 -13)
Let us remember that in the five chapters so far, Paul is defending his life and ministry. His enemies in Corinth denounced Paul for the wrong methods and motives of his ministry. His final remarks in chapter 5 deal with the ministry of reconciliation. Therefore, his appeal to the Corinthians for reconciliation and God's favor went a step further. He pleads not only with sinners (5:20) but also with saints (6:1).
When someone told Spurgeon that he was planning to write his life, he said, “Write my life in heaven. Because I have nothing to hide!” he replied. Paul knew that in his life and ministry there was nothing to hide. He was careful not to stumble others, and he tried not to raise doubts about his ministry. In verses 3-10, Paul makes several arguments that prove that his ministry was flawless.
① The war he fought (verses 3-5) - “endurance” (patience) is not the image of a Christian sitting on a rocking chair, but of a soldier at war rushing to victory despite obstacles . Paul's fight for obedience to Christ was to prove his sincerity and unselfishness in his ministry. These sufferings come not because of his disobedience, or because of the need for discipline, but because he is obedient and a threat to Satan.
③ The fame he gained (vv. 8-10) - We see here a series of paradoxical or contradictory statements. It is clear that Christian ministers look different in the eyes of saints and sinners. If the sinner sees him from one point of view, the saint sees him from another point of view. It's like people have different views of Jesus Christ. What a moving expression to describe a Christian as sold to Christ!
Paul ends this appeal by reminding them of his love. He widened their hearts, but their hearts were narrow. Paul appeals to his spiritual children to accept him in love as he has accepted them.
2. Appeal for separation (6:14- 7:1)
The problems of the Corinthian church were spiritual. The members of the church were living in the world, not living as Christians, and compromising with sin. Paul makes two main arguments for separation.
① The point drawn from the principle (verses 13 - 16) - The fundamental principle of this life is that opposites cannot have fellowship with each other. “Do not share yokes” reminds us of Moses’ counsel in Leviticus 19:19. These Corinthians were being yokeed with unbelievers in marriage, social life, business, and other ways, and they were losing their testimonies of Christ. After all, if a Christian lives just like the world, how can he testify to the world?
Here, righteousness and unrighteousness, light and darkness, Christ and Belial (Old Testament names of Satan). Believers and non-believers (Latin for "heretic"). Let's look at the successive contradictions of God's temple and idols. The attitude of too many Christians today is that in order for the church to lead the world, it must win the world's favor and please the world. Nothing is farther from the truth than this!
Separation from sin must be achieved. This does not mean isolation or going out of the world. Rather, it means keeping ourselves from the filth of the world. It's good to have a boat floating in the water. However, be careful when water enters the boat! Paul quotes Leviticus 26:11-12 to show that God lives and walks with the believer, so the question of a believer's relationship with the world will affect his fellowship with God.
② The point drawn from the promise (verses 17-18) - God promises to bless those who keep Himself pure. Secularity is a subtle thing, and it comes gradually, without the Christian knowing. At first, you become friends with the world (James 4:4). Next, you will love the world (1 John 2:15-17), and then you will adapt to the world (Romans 12:1-2). However, God promises to bless those who separate Himself from Him (see Isaiah 52:11). The compromised Christian loses the enjoyment of God's love and the deeper communion in the Holy Spirit, the only life-building experience.
Chapter 7 begins with a verse that ends Chapter 6. This verse is a close summary of Paul's words about personal holiness, in a series of "Duets."
① Two motives for separation - this is love for God (“love very much”) and fear of God. These two must always work in our lives. A wife who loves her husband purifies her life because she loves her husband. Also, if a healthy fear of God is not a motivator, God must discipline us to cultivate obedience.
② Two Responsibilities - We must purify ourselves in the negative way and reach holiness in the positive way. It is the only thing we can ask God to purify us (Psalm 51:2, 7). God's promise in 1 John 1:9 promises to cleanse us completely.
We must also wash out of our lives everything that is displeasing to the Lord. Isaiah 1:16 says, “Wash yourselves, and cleanse yourselves…!” We should not expect God to take away the problems we have to deal with on our own. “If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off.” By doing this, we can grow in holiness through the Holy Spirit.
③ Two types of sins - Just as there are sexual injustices in the body, there is spiritual injustice, and just like the sins of the mind, there is also the sin of deeds. The prodigal son committed the sin of the flesh, but his brother committed the sin of a terrible spirit (see Psalm 51:17).
Separation is passive, holiness is active. It is very sad to see churches and Christians separated from sin but not growing in personal holiness and bearing the fruits of the Spirit. The Pharisees were separated from sin, but their lives lacked love and heartfelt obedience. Separation separates us from sin, but separation should not isolate us from fellow Christians.