Romans 2, God's Impartiality

Paul's introductory chapter of the letter to the church in Rome claims an inherent conflict between God and all humankind.  The next passage is a "diatribe" against the "religious" person.

Romans 2: 1-4, And you (Jewish leaders) are no better

You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things.  Now we know that God's judgment against those who do such things is based on truth.  So when you, a mere man, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God's judgment?  Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads you toward repentance?

Some questions from the text:

1. How do the religious people react?  Behave?
2. How are we supposed to react to God's kindness?
3. What is implicitly acknowledged, when people judge others?

Romans 2: 5-10, Rewards for good and evil

But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God's wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed.  God "will give to each person according to what he has done." To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life.  But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger.

There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.

According to verse 5, there will indeed be a judgement day.  The quote in verse 6 is from Psalm 62:12 or Proverbs 24:12.

Questions:

1. Isn't salvation one of "works" here, based on actions?
2. What is the connection between our "works" and the heart?

God's impartiality is at stake here.  Notice how we go back and forth between Jews and Gentiles.

Romans 2: 11-16, The impartiality of God

For God does not show favoritism. All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law.  For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God's sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous.

(Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law,  since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them.)

This will take place on the day when God will judge men's secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares.

Verse 11 is the theme of the section, that ultimate obedience to God is the only issue, whether trained by the Law or not.

Questions:

1. How will God judge men's hearts, in verse 16?  (Through whom?)
2. In verse 16, "that day" is mentioned again.  What day?

Romans 2: 17-24, Religious hypocrisy
Now you, if you call yourself a Jew; if you rely on the law and brag about your relationship to God;  if you know his will and approve of what is superior because you are instructed by the law;  if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light for those who are in the dark,  an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of infants, because you have in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth--  you, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself?

You who preach against stealing, do you steal?  You who say that people should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery?  You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? You who brag about the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law? 

As it is written: "God's name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you."

The Jew is not spared in Paul's attack.  (This passage vaguely reminds me of Jesus's parable of the sheep and the goats. in which Jesus says, "in how you treated others, you have treated me.")

The quote in verse 24 is similar to Isaiah 52:5 or  Ezekiel 36:22.

Romans 2: 25-29, Circumcision of the heart
Circumcision has value if you observe the law, but if you break the law, you have become as though you had not been circumcised.  If those who are not circumcised keep the law's requirements, will they not be regarded as though they were circumcised?  The one who is not circumcised physically and yet obeys the law will condemn you who, even though you have the written code and circumcision, are a lawbreaker.

A man is not a Jew if he is only one outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical.  No, a man is a Jew if he is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a man's praise is not from men, but from God.

There is a clear message here – it is the heart, the inside, which matters.  This will lead to right action. 

Romans 1, Conflict between God and Humanity

Many people--even those who think of themselves as followers of Jesus--believe being a Christian is mostly a matter of avoiding bad things and doing good, religious things, good things that will make God "happy".  Jesus didn’t think that way, though.  Neither did the Apostle Paul.  

Paul wrote his letter to the Romans to explain that being a Christian is not about being religious.  In fact, trying to be good to make God happy won’t get a person very far at all.  Instead, God uses his great power to save those who are not--who cannot be--good by forgiving them and making them his children.  We don’t become a Christian by being religious, and we don’t remain a Christian by being religious.  We become and remain Christians by following Christ in faith.  That is much different than being religious.

Paul's letter to the Romans is an attempt to lay out carefully what that means.  In this first chapter, I will comment less and simply includes some questions about the text. (My notes on the letter to the Romans comes from an Adult Bible Study at Mt. Pleasant Community Church in Michigan, with friend and colleague, Dr. Tim Hall. Tim, I miss our times together!)

Romans 1: 1-7, Greeting

Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God-- the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures regarding his Son, who as to his human nature was a descendant of David, and who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God  by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord. 

Through him and for his name's sake, we received grace and apostleship to call people from among all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith.

And you also are among those who are called to belong to Jesus Christ.  To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

From the text, some questions:
What can we tell about the readers of this letter?

How was Jesus proven to be the Son of God?

How does this salutation differ from the ones in Galatians, Philippians, other epistles?  (In general, it is longer.  Why?)

Romans 1: 8-12, Your involvement in the Gospel
First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world.  God, whom I serve with my whole heart in preaching the gospel of his Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you in my prayers at all times; and I pray that now at last by God's will the way may be opened for me to come to you. 

More questions:

1. What is the state of the church in Rome?  
2. Has Paul met the people in the church of Rome?
3. Why is Rome such an important location for a church?

The last quarter of the book of Acts describes Paul long journey to Rome, fulfilling an expectation given him in an earlier vision.

Romans 1: 11-13, My longing for you
I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong-- that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith.  I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that I planned many times to come to you (but have been prevented from doing so until now) in order that I might have a harvest among you, just as I have had among the other Gentiles.

Paul hopes to see the church in Rome strengthened, just as churches in southern Turkey and Greece grew during the visits described in Acts.

Romans 1: 14-15, Paul's desire to preach the gospel (transition)
I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish.  That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are at Rome.

Paul's ministry has, over time, moved from a predominantly Jewish ministry to a ministry to the Gentiles ("Greeks".)  But he is committed to both groups. 

Romans 1: 16-17,  The power of the Gospel
I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.  For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith."

The quote in verse 17 is from Habakkuk 2:4.
Questions from the text:

1. How does Paul describe the gospel?
2. Which people groups does the gospel benefit?  In what order?
3. What is revealed in the gospel?  Who is the source?
4. How is Righteousness distributed?

Romans 1: 18-23, God's wrath
The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.  For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.  For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.  Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.

1. What is the opposite of God's righteousness?  (What attribute of God makes righteousness so important?)
2. Does mankind need God's righteousness?  Why?
3. Describe mankind's response to God.

This passage has a famous assertion, that God's work is visible in creation, displayed in the universe around us.

Romans 1: 24-27, God's reaction
Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another.  They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator--who is forever praised. Amen.

Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones.  In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion.  

According to Paul, how did God respond to mankind's response?

Romans 1: 28-32, The depravity of mankind
Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done.  They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless.

Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.

What is the "natural" result of not being interested in God?

This passage is, in some ways, very depressing.  It claims active conflict between God and humankind.  Paul starts with this as his thesis and then builds his arguments towards a solution.

II Corinthians 13, A Third Visit Coming

Paul finishes his letter with a few final words, a final appeal, and an affectionate blessing.

2 Corinthians 13: 1-4, Third Visit
This will be my third visit to you. "Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses."  I already gave you a warning when I was with you the second time. I now repeat it while absent: On my return I will not spare those who sinned earlier or any of the others, since you are demanding proof that Christ is speaking through me.

He is not weak in dealing with you, but is powerful among you. For to be sure, he was crucified in weakness, yet he lives by God's power. Likewise, we are weak in him, yet by God's power we will live with him to serve you.

The Old Testament quote is from Deuteronomy 19:15, a central piece of Jewish law, designed to prevent second- or third-person slanderous attacks.  Paul indicates that he will be more rigid and demanding in his third visit, in the same way that a precise legal charge would require two or three witnesses.  It is possible that Paul views his third visit as a third testimony of Jesus towards his work.

2 Corinthians 13: 5-6, Examine yourselves
Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you--unless, of course, you fail the test? 

And I trust that you will discover that we have not failed the test.

Everyone should self-examine.  Double-check, Paul says, to make sure you are indeed "in Christ" and serious about following the Messiah!

2 Corinthians 13: 7-10, Truth ... and some authority
Now we pray to God that you will not do anything wrong. Not that people will see that we have stood the test but that you will do what is right even though we may seem to have failed. For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. We are glad whenever we are weak but you are strong; and our prayer is for your perfection. 

This is why I write these things when I am absent, that when I come I may not have to be harsh in my use of authority--the authority the Lord gave me for building you up, not for tearing you down.

Paul's next visit will be with love and authority!  It is neither apparent weakness nor apparent strength that matters, but simply the truth.

2 Corinthians 13: 11-14, Goodbye and blessing
Finally, brothers, good-by. 

Aim for perfection, listen to my appeal, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you. 

Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the saints send their greetings. 

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

The word in verse 11 translated "good-by" by the NIV is really chairete, literally "rejoice" but often used as a Greek farewell, much like "good-by" is a condensed English blessing.

The ending of the letter is a bit hurried, an offer of love and affection with a brief blessing.

Tomorrow we will move on to a later and much more structure letter, Paul's letter to the Romans.

II Corinthians 12, Visions, Revelations, Thorns

Paul continues describing his experiences as an apostle and a servant of God. Others been boasting of their dramatic visions. Even there, Paul has seen more....

2 Corinthians 12: 1-4, Visions and revelations
I must go on boasting. Although there is nothing to be gained, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord. I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know--God knows. And I know that this man--whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows-- was caught up to paradise. He heard inexpressible things, things that man is not permitted to tell.

The "man in Christ" in verse 2 is surely Paul, given here in the third person. It is not clear what Paul means by "third heaven"; there are a variety of explanations provided by various commentators, none of which are particularly convincing to me.

The word paradise in this verse appears only two other times in the New Testament, in Luke 23:43 and Revelation 2:7. But the Greek word, paradeisos, is used throughout the Septuagint translation of the Old Testament for "garden".

2 Corinthians 12: 5-6, Boastful fool
I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses. Even if I should choose to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say.

Paul alternates between boasting and the awareness that buffoons and deceivers boast... and so he fears he sounds like a buffoon.

2 Corinthians 12: 7-9a, Thorn
To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."

With Paul's mystical experiences came a "thorn", a physical ailment, apparently intended to keep him grounded.  This ailment is not described, although other passages make it clear that Paul had eye problems. It is likely he had a number of physical ailments. He expected God to heal him (for Paul's actions healed others!) but God did not.

2 Corinthians 12: 9b-10, Boasting in weaknesses!
Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Paul has learned the importance of weakness and humility.  He does not want the Corinthians to misunderstand this. These characteristics do not mean that Paul is truly defeated.

Throughout this passage, as throughout the gospels, there is a recognition that God uses the weak and humble. There is nothing wrong with admitting one's weakness, especially if it leads one to hang on to God.

2 Corinthians 12: 11-13,  Fool for Christ, fool for Corinth
I have made a fool of myself, but you drove me to it. I ought to have been commended by you, for I am not in the least inferior to the "super-apostles," even though I am nothing. The things that mark an apostle--signs, wonders and miracles--were done among you with great perseverance. How were you inferior to the other churches, except that I was never a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong!

"Super-apostles" is clearly sarcastic.  Do not misunderstand my meekness and timidity, Paul says.

2 Corinthians 12: 14-15, Third visit
Now I am ready to visit you for the third time, and I will not be a burden to you, because what I want is not your possessions but you. After all, children should not have to save up for their parents, but parents for their children. So I will very gladly spend for you everything I have and expend myself as well. If I love you more, will you love me less?

Acting like a parent... Paul has deep love and concern for this young church.

2 Corinthians 12: 16-19, Paul's trickery and craftiness
Be that as it may, I have not been a burden to you. Yet, crafty fellow that I am, I caught you by trickery! Did I exploit you through any of the men I sent you? I urged Titus to go to you and I sent our brother with him. Titus did not exploit you, did he? Did we not act in the same spirit and follow the same course? 

Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves to you? We have been speaking in the sight of God as those in Christ; and everything we do, dear friends, is for your strengthening.

Paul's sarcasm returns. Neither Paul nor Titus have ever exploited the Corinthians.

2 Corinthians 12: 20-21, Seeking purity
For I am afraid that when I come I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be. I fear that there may be quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, factions, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder. I am afraid that when I come again my God will humble me before you, and I will be grieved over many who have sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual sin and debauchery in which they have indulged.

Seriousness returns. Paul wishes for peace and common love when he visits next.  He makes one final appeal for love, purity and unity.

In the next chapter Paul finishes his letter with some final words and a brief discussion of his next visit.

II Corinthians 11, Foolishness, Boasting, Anxiety

Paul continues to defend his ministry.

2 Corinthians 11: 1-6, Paul's foolishness
I hope you will put up with a little of my foolishness; but you are already doing that. I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him. But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent's cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.

For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough. But I do not think I am in the least inferior to those "super-apostles." I may not be a trained speaker, but I do have knowledge. We have made this perfectly clear to you in every way.

Paul uses the metaphor of a father giving away a bride to describe his desire for the church in Corinth. The bride metaphor also appears in Paul's letter to the church in Ephesus (see Ephesians 5: 25-33.)

The "super-apostles" are a sarcastic description of other Christians who have been aggressively promoting themselves, causing the divisions and running down Paul's ministry.

2 Corinthians 11: 7-9, I was careful to not be a burden to you
Was it a sin for me to lower myself in order to elevate you by preaching the gospel of God to you free of charge? I robbed other churches by receiving support from them so as to serve you. And when I was with you and needed something, I was not a burden to anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied what I needed. I have kept myself from being a burden to you in any way, and will continue to do so.

Strangely, one of the accusations against Paul seems to have been that he did not get paid for his work, that he received support from other churches but not the church in Corinth!

2 Corinthians 11: 10-15, I love you and want to protect you
As surely as the truth of Christ is in me, nobody in the regions of Achaia will stop this boasting of mine. Why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do! And I will keep on doing what I am doing in order to cut the ground from under those who want an opportunity to be considered equal with us in the things they boast about. 

For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.

Paul's "boasting" is out of continued concern for the Corinthians.  As earlier, Paul sounds a bit like a betrayed lover, for he has put in much energy and care for this church and it hurts for others to portray his actions as selfish.

The "angels of light" passage makes it clear that many seem to be doing only good, but may have nefarious motives.  Evil often (usually?) masquerades as good, else it would not be attractive.

2 Corinthians 11: 16-21a, If others boast, then let me boast
I repeat: Let no one take me for a fool. But if you do, then receive me just as you would a fool, so that I may do a little boasting. In this self-confident boasting I am not talking as the Lord would, but as a fool. Since many are boasting in the way the world does, I too will boast. You gladly put up with fools since you are so wise! In fact, you even put up with anyone who enslaves you or exploits you or takes advantage of you or pushes himself forward or slaps you in the face. To my shame I admit that we were too weak for that!

Paul had never thought to honestly brag about his past -- he had indeed been meek and humble -- but maybe it is now time for him to put himself forward and be assertive about what he has done for the Corinthians.  Here it comes....

2 Corinthians 11: 21b-27, CV of an apostle
What anyone else dares to boast about--I am speaking as a fool--I also dare to boast about. 

Are they Hebrews? So am I. 
Are they Israelites? So am I. 
Are they Abraham's descendants? So am I. 
Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. 

I have worked much harder, 
been in prison more frequently, 
been flogged more severely, 
and been exposed to death again and again. 
Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 
Three times I was beaten with rods, 
once I was stoned, 
three times I was shipwrecked, 
I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 

I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. 

I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. 

There -- there, in a long list of characteristics and actions, Paul finally tells the Corinthians how much he has done! Can anyone else make these claims?  Is anyone else as qualified as Paul for his position as apostle to Corinth? This list is his apostolic resume', as it were.

First century Christianity is still very much Jewish.  It is still all about the Jewish Messiah, and so a number of Paul's first claims are that he too, like those other "apostles", is a good Jew, a descendant of Abraham.

2 Corinthians 11: 28-31, Anxiety and concern
Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn? If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is to be praised forever, knows that I am not lying.

In addition to the physical punishment, Paul, like any parent, has suffered anxiety and frustration.  He has worried and cried over the church of Corinth.  God has been a witness to his pain.

2 Corinthians 11: 32-33, Escape from Damascus
In Damascus the governor under King Aretas had the city of the Damascenes guarded in order to arrest me. But I was lowered in a basket from a window in the wall and slipped through his hands.

Even in Paul's first days as a new believer, he was chased by those who wanted to hurt him.

Paul continues his list of achievements and experiences in the next chapter.

II Corinthians 10, Both Boldness and Timidness

Now begins a four chapter emotional defense of Paul's ministry, a continuation of chapters 3-5.

2 Corinthians 10: 1-2, Please, live holy lives!
By the meekness and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you--I, Paul, who am "timid" when face to face with you, but "bold" when away! I beg you that when I come I may not have to be as bold as I expect to be toward some people who think that we live by the standards of this world.

We live by different standards, argues Paul, aware that he has been accused of inconsistency.

2 Corinthians 10: 3-6, Our battle is different, it is spiritual!
For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete.

The Christian -- a resident of a different country! -- does not wage a material, earthly war, but a spiritual one. Part of the spiritual warfare is learning to transform one's thinking and mindset.

2 Corinthians 10: 7-8, Don't look just on the surface
You are looking only on the surface of things. If anyone is confident that he belongs to Christ, he should consider again that we belong to Christ just as much as he. For even if I boast somewhat freely about the authority the Lord gave us for building you up rather than pulling you down, I will not be ashamed of it.

Paul argues that there are deeper things at play and that those who belong to Christ should recognize Paul's common work. More generally, those who follow Christ should be aware of -- and supportive of -- the work of other followers.  This is good advice for many of us amidst the denominational divisiveness here in the USA.

2 Corinthians 10: 9-11, We are both timid and forceful
I do not want to seem to be trying to frighten you with my letters. For some say, "His letters are weighty and forceful, but in person he is unimpressive and his speaking amounts to nothing." Such people should realize that what we are in our letters when we are absent, we will be in our actions when we are present.

If people think that Paul is timid, they may be surprised when he arrives in Corinth.

2 Corinthians 10: 12-15a, Proper boasting
We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise.

We, however, will not boast beyond proper limits, but will confine our boasting to the field God has assigned to us, a field that reaches even to you. We are not going too far in our boasting, as would be the case if we had not come to you, for we did get as far as you with the gospel of Christ. Neither do we go beyond our limits by boasting of work done by others.

There is a place for legitimate boasting.  Paul is proud of his work in Corinth, and rightly so. Paul boasts that they reached even faraway Corinth with the gospel and he recognizes that others have similar rights to be proud of their own work.

This passage is a little unclear; the Greek words translated here as "limits" imply some type of measurement. Is Paul speaking of physical limits like distance? The NIV offers an alternative translation to verses 13 and 15: "We, however, will not boast about things that cannot be measured, but we will boast according to the standard of measurement that the God of measure has assigned us--a measurement that relates even to you ....  Neither do we boast about things that cannot be measured in regard to the work done by others."

2 Corinthians 10: 15b-18, Going further in Christ
Our hope is that, as your faith continues to grow, our area of activity among you will greatly expand, so that we can preach the gospel in the regions beyond you. For we do not want to boast about work already done in another man's territory. But, "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord." For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.

Paul wants to go even further than Corinth, on west to places the gospel has not yet reached. In Romans 5:24, Paul expresses his desire to travel on to Spain. At the time of this letter, Paul had not yet traveled as far west as the Italian peninsula.

The quote in verse 17 is from Jeremiah 9:24.  Again Paul emphasizes proper boasting; one can brag about one's work if they recognize God's action in it.

Suffering (Paul, Jesus, Us)

I heard a good sermon this morning at West End Presbyterian Church (while visiting Richmond, Virginia.) The sermon was out of II Corinthians, chapter 6, focusing on the first twelve verses, and fits nicely into our study of this letter.

The sermon was essentially on Christian suffering -- following Paul's long list of sufferings he experienced as a Christian.  An underlying theme was that it is unrealistic, indeed wrong, to expect that good moral spiritual growth leads to comfort and ease.  The pastor, Steve Shelby (whom I've heard before and who has experience in these matters) listed Paul's sufferings from II Corinthians 6 ("... in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything...") and emphasized the contradictions in terms that occur in this passage. The contradictions (deliberate by Paul) make it clear that he experienced events that were both painful and joyful, both harmful and glorious, involving honor and dishonor, and so on.

The passage emphasizes Paul's honesty and his desire not to create a barrier of dishonesty in the presentation of the gospel. We should leave room for lament in our Christian walk, leave room for sadness, frustration and doubt.

At times we (in the USA) act as if the decision to follow Jesus, embracing his death and resurrection, leads to a painfree, joyous life.  It does not.  Surely there is joy.  But some types of suffering are replaced by a different set of sufferings, stresses and pain.  That is the way it is and we should not hide that or shrink from that reality.

Although Steve Shelby did not say much directly related to Mother's Day -- Yes, today is Mother's Day -- it was easy to draw some analogies out of motherhood and parenting in general.  Jesus mentioned the pain of childbirth as an example of suffering and pain that later brings great joy.  I think Shelby's message was to embrace this and rejoice that we are called to "suffer" and that a time will come when all suffering ends.  But that time is not yet.

A secondary theme which I heard is that some suffering is good. We may come away pleased, proud. At the end of a long hike, we are sore and aching and we say, looking back, "Yes, that was worth it!" When I became a Christian I traded away superficial and vain suffering for a life of purpose and meaning.  Some of the suffering has purpose.  Paul recognized that much of his past suffering led eventually to great good.