II Corinthians 3:1-6: "Being a Letter of Christ"

Paul continues to defend himself in the midst of the spurious claims of the false brethren. He begins this section by asking a rhetorical question, "Are we beginning to commend ourselves again?" If you were to look over the body of work written by Paul in the new testament you would get a clear picture of a humble man who always gives credit to God for everything. Paul, better than anyone, understood he was handpicked by God, and all blessings he received were undeserved. That being said, there are various times in letters where Paul must describe his motives and defend himself as an apostle, so that his authority would be respected. It is during these times that the false brethren would come and point at Paul to say, "see, he is commending himself". It is to this that Paul simply says in the form of a rhetorical question that he is in no way commending himself. He asks another rhetorical question to further his point, "Or do we need, as some, letters of commendation to you or from you?" Paul did this as a way to undermine and expose the false pretense of the false apostles who were attacking Paul. MacArthur explains, "In their attempt to discredit Paul, the false teachers claimed that he lacked the proper official letters of commendation. Such letters were commonly used in the ancient world to introduce people to those who did not know them (cf. Neh. 2:7; Acts 9:2; 18:27; 22:5; Rom. 16:1, I Cor. 16:3). When the false apostles arrived in Corinth, they likely produced deceptive letters of commendation, possibly purporting to have come from the Jerusalem church (cf. Acts 15:24). They used those letters to help them gain acceptance by the Corinthians". These same men would also come to seek them from the Corinthians and then move onto their next victims. Paul understood the wickedness and pridefulness that drove this and wanted to help the Corinthians understand this.

As Paul does so often he brings it back to the gospel and its transforming power. He does not rely on externals (ie letters of commendations) he gives his proof in hearts transformed by Christ. Paul writes, "You are our letter, written in our hearts, known and read by all men". Here Paul explains that the Corinthians transformed heart in response to Paul's gospel message was his letter of commendation. Their lives proved that Paul's ministry was sincere and approved by God. Not only was this a testimony to Paul to see the fruits of his labor, but it should have been a testimony to the Corinthians, as they would be persuaded to see the motive of Paul's heart being genuine and true. Their lives were the letter of commendation that were seen by all men. Paul continues, "being manifested that you are a letter of Christ, cared for by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts". Paul again is coming down to the Corinthians level to say, "Do you really need some letter written with ink to prove that you are a true apostle? If that's the proof you crave for someone to be legitimate, let me take you a step further and show you a transformed life, a true living heart being transformed". Paul preached the true gospel message and the lives that were truly transformed were a letter of Christ's powerful work in their lives. Paul wanted to show he had a true genuine care for their souls, while the false apostles came in to get what they wanted, spread lies, and then leave. MacArthur writes, "Unlike the false apostles letters, Paul's was written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God. Human words written in ink are silent; they just sit fading on a page. Anyone can write a dead letter with ink, but only Christ, through the supernatural power of the Spirit of the living God, can write a living letter". MacArthur also explains, "Paul notes that his letter of commendation was not written on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. With this statement the apostle directly confronted the false apostles, who preached a false gospel that mixed Christianity with circumcision, old covenant ceremony, and legalism. The tablets of stone were those on which God supernaturally inscribed the Ten Commandments (Ex. 31:18; 32:15-16). But the miracle of Sinai cannot match the miracle of salvation. At Corinth, God had written not on tablets of stone, but on human hearts". Paul truly desired his readers to see the genuine nature of his ministry compared to the false brethren. And he used his very own readers' lives to prove it.

There is no doubt that Paul was a very confident person, however, in ministry Paul always explained why he was able to be confident: because he knew that the power to transform lives was not with him but in Christ. Paul continues to defend his ministry, "Such confidence we have through Christ toward God". This statement can be looked at two ways. For Paul, he could be confident in his ministry in front of God because he boldly proclaimed Christ. He knew that the power of Christ was his ministry, and Christ had the power to truly change lives. This can also be looked at from the perspective of the readers. They could come before God with confidence because of what Christ had done for them. With Christ as their advocate, they can now with confidence boldly approach the throne of God.

As Paul always does after speaking of his confidence he brings it back to humility to show that, yes he is confident, but it does not come from within his own self. "Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God, who also made us adequate". In his own strength Paul recognized he would utterly fail. Apart from the power of God, Paul's ministry was utterly useless. In fact, Paul recognized and admitted that he had nothing to add, nothing came from himself, it was all an outflow of God. MacArthur writes, "Apart from God's power and wisdom, Paul was not adequate to rightly assess or judge his ministry. Nor did he concoct his own plans but instead followed God's leading (cf. Acts 16:6-10). He did not trust in anything coming from himself; on his own he was useless and powerless". Here we can see Paul's confidence and humility on display at the same time. A perfect mix of what is needed to be an effective minister.

Lastly, Paul explains his message to them. He wants his readers to understand the difference in his message with the message of the false brethren. He explains that in God's power he was made adequate "as [a] servant of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life". This section shows us what Paul was trying to combat. Its seems likely that the false brethren that came in to attack Paul's ministry were Judaizers that wanted to negate the gospel of grace by instilling the old law/works based salvation. With the death of Christ, it was made clear to the New Testament believers this was a new covenant. What was once a mystery was now made evident in Christ. However, many of the Jews were unable to see that Christ was preached to them all along. They neglected to recognize Christ as the Messiah spoken of all throughout scripture. Instead they had settled into a works based righteousness from the law. They were relying on the letter (or adhering to the written law) as their way of salvation, rather than on the Spirit coming in to change a heart who trusts in Jesus Christ. Following a religious system based on the letter, or the law, MacArthur writes, "kills in two ways. First it kills through the living death of grief, frustration, unfulfillment, guilt, and shame that results from people's inability to keep the Law. Paul wrote, 'I was once alive apart from the Law; but when the commandment came, sin became alive and I died; and this commandment, which was to result in life, proved to result in death for me; for sin, taking an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me' (Rom. 7:9-11). Second, the letter kills through eternal death (damnation in hell), the penalty for not keeping it". As we can see throughout Paul is trying to help the Corinthians fully grab hold of the gospel he has unwaveringly preached numerous times to them. He wants them to see God using the power of his gospel to change lives. He wants them to understand the truth of Christ and not to be persuaded by those who would come in to tell them they can only be saved through circumcision, birthright, and following the law.

II Corinthians 2:12-17: "The Concerned Pastor"

Paul had so much care and concern for his believers at Corinth that he could have easily found himself constantly being depressed. However, Paul understood the burden of ministry and faithfully took the good with the bad. Continuing his letter to the Corinthians he explains, "Now when I came to Troas for the gospel of Christ and when a door was opened for me in the Lord, I had no rest for my spirit, not finding Titus my brother". Paul came to Troas after visiting Ephesus. It is speculated that because of a serious riot in Ephesus because of Paul's preaching he had to leave. Paul came to Troas to meet up with Titus to hear about the report of the Corinthians response to his severe letter. So distraught was Paul over the news that Titus may bring about them his spirit was at unrest. Despite being given an opportunity to spread the gospel of Christ, Paul was so concerned over the Corinthians that he was unable to take full advantage of the opportunity God had given him and he left them to go to Macedonia to see if he could catch up with Titus there. MacArthur writes, "The door that was opened at Troas represented a divinely prepared opportunity, the kind Paul longed for and prayed for. But he was so overwrought and burdened by the situation at Corinth that he found it difficult to focus on the opportunity; he had no rest for his spirit. The turmoil and discontent of his heart were debilitating and threatened to close the door that was opened for ministry at Troas. His intense concern for the Corinthian church raised troubling questions in his mind. Would they affirm their love for him? Or would they follow the false apostles?" Just like when we have situations in our life that consume our thoughts and render us ineffective to do anything until we get it resolved, so Paul was having one of these times.

However, despite this turmoil Paul always finds ways to rejoice in the Lord as he begins his thought, "But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place". MacArthur writes, "the reason for which [Paul writes thanks] is not readily apparent in the text. It is true that he finally met Titus in Macedonia (7:5-7) and received a generally encouraging report about the situation in Corinth. That report certainly brought Paul some much-needed relief". As Paul so often does, he does not let his circumstances get the best of him. He understands and knows that despite all that is going on around him, he will always have inner joy because of his relationship with Christ. Despite being concerned and distracted by the Corinthians, Paul thanks God for always leading him into triumph in Christ. Because of what Christ has done for us as believers, we can always be joyful no matter our circumstances. Although earthly situations and errant people can let us down, Christ will always be with us giving us victory over sin. With Christ in our hearts we have much reason to be full of joy, and with that we should be a sweet aroma to all we come in contact with. By preaching Christ to those around us we bring the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Christ, which leads to salvation. Paul was ever aware of the opportunities he had to preach the knowledge of Christ, and despite his emotions or external pressures, he could always think about the goodness of the Lord and give off the sweet aroma of his gospel to those he came in contact with. We should look at our own testimonies, do we let our circumstances dictate our attitudes and examples? Do we put the things of this world aside and focus on the goodness of God and the wonders of Christ? What is our aroma? Do we give off the sweetness of the gospel of salvation and forgiveness of sin? Or do we give off the stench of sinfulness?

Continuing with the fragrance metaphor Paul writes, "For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing". MacArthur writes, "Although a preacher proclaims the gospel to men, it is in reality God who is his audience. His faithful gospel ministry causes the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Christ to be manifest to people, but the fragrance of that gospel ministry ascends to the very throne of God". To please God was Paul's life goal. Everything in him passionately desired to please God. Paul's ministry before God revealed two things: 1) For those who rejected the gospel of Christ it was "death to death", and 2) For those who accepted the gospel "an aroma from life to life". When presented with the truth of Christ and who He is Paul always pushed for a decision. When confronted with the gospel there are only two responses. We either accept Christ as Lord and confess our sins to Him and repent, as He becomes our Savior and gives us eternal life. The other response is rejection of the truth, and only holds us more accountable before the judgment seat of Christ. MacArthur writes, "It pleases God to express His mercy when He redeems repentant sinners. And though He has no pleasure in the death and damnation of those who reject the gospel (Ezek. 18:23, 32; 33:11; 1 Tim. 2:4; 2 Peter 3:9), He is nevertheless pleased by the expression of His justice".

Paul concludes this section by speaking of the sincerity of his testimony, "And who is adequate for these things? For we are not like many peddling the word of God, but as from sincerity, but as from God, we speak in Christ in the sight of God". Paul as he usually does, recognizes that he is not adequate in himself to carry out the necessary work that we are called to. Paul consistently recognizes God as the giver of every good gift and the source of power to carry out His will. Those who Paul had been writing against, the false prophets who had infiltrated the Corinthians, were relying on their own strength and merely peddling the word of God to the Corinthians. However, Paul's ministry to them came from a sincere care and love for their hearts. Speaking with the power of God, and God being his witness as to the sincerity he was doing his work for the Corinthians, Paul would rely completely on God. MacArthur concludes, "since he recognized his own inadequacy and depended entirely on God's power to energize his ministry, the apostle had no need to resort to corrupting the Word to influence people. . . Paul's pure life and unadulterated message would stand up to the closest scrutiny. Any man can proclaim a whittled-down false gospel, but those who preach the true gospel can do so only by means of divine power". May we recognize our strength to do the Lord's work does not come from within ourselves, but rather comes from God. May we not allow the fallenness of this world and the circumstances around us disconcert us as to take us off course. Rather, may we rejoice in the never-changing love and hope of Jesus Christ.