Lesson for July 12, 2023
The Book of II Corinthians
Chapter 1:12-24
Verse 12
“For our proud confidence is this: the testimony of our conscience, that in holiness and godly sincerity, not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God, we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially toward you.”
The Greek word for proud confidence is “kauchesis,” which means to boast. This was not some arrogant boast of self-pride by Paul. This was the fact that he was proud of what God had accomplished in his life. He clearly states this when he said, “but in the grace of God.”
Paul had a clear conscience with regard to his conduct toward others. Paul’s desire was that everyone would come to know Jesus Christ as their Savior and grow spiritually through the knowledge and application of God’s Word. A clear conscience meant that Paul and his companions had replaced the human norms and standards of Satan’s world system with the divine norms and standards of God.
Holiness is the Greek word “hagiotes,” which means experiential holiness (sanctification). Godly sincerity is the Greek word “eilikrines,” [krines = to judge; eili = by light] which means pure. It is a word that was used when someone held something up to the sunlight to see if it was pure. Godly sincerity is discernment from the knowledge of the truth from God’s Word.
Not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God means not from Human Viewpoint Thinking. The process by which Paul wrote was based on the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. The wisdom to which Paul was referring was the wisdom from his knowledge and application of Bible doctrine.
We have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially toward you. This meant that Paul and his companions had always conducted themselves with honor and integrity while in Corinth.
Verses 13-14
“For we write nothing else to you than what you read and understand, and I hope you will understand until the end; just as you also partially did understand us, that we are your reason to be proud as you also are ours, in the day of our Lord Jesus.”
Reading Paul’s letter and understanding the content was not necessarily the same thing. It was important for these believers, who had previously abandoned Paul’s teaching of grace, to understand two things about Paul and his team: 1) they had divine authority from God over all the churches and 2) they taught the absolute truth of God’s Word. Since these believers had recovered their fellowship with God through Rebound and were once again filled with the Holy Spirit as a result, they would be able to understand what Paul was writing.
That we are your reason to be proud as you also are ours, in the day of our Lord Jesus. This is a reference to the Judgment Seat of Christ where all believers in the Church Age will be evaluated by the Lord Jesus Christ. If on that day, these believers had continued to execute the Christian Way of Life, Paul and his team will have reason to beproud of them and they will have reason to be proud of Paul and his team for teaching them doctrine and helping them on their way to spiritual maturity.
Verses 15-22
“In this confidence I intended at first to come to you, so that you might twice receive a blessing; that is, to pass your way into Macedonia, and again from Macedonia to come to you, and by you to be helped on my journey to Judea. Therefore, I was not vacillating when I intended to do this, was I? Or what I purpose, do I purpose according to the flesh, so that with me there will be yes, yes and no, no at the same time? But as God is faithful, our word to you is not yes and no. For the Son of God, Christ Jesus, who was preached among you by us—by me and Silvanus and Timothy—was not yes and no but is yes in Him. For as many as are the promises of God, in Him they are yes; therefore, also through Him is our Amen to the glory of God through us. Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and anointed us is God, who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a pledge.”
Apparently, some believers’ feelings had been hurt because Paul had not returned to Corinth, as he had hoped to do. So, Paul addressed the issue and explained why he had not made it back to Corinth. Paul’s desire was to stop in Corinth on his way to Macedonia and stop on his return to Philippi (most likely where he was when he wrote to them). His plans to visit them was changed by God.
In this confidence refers to the previous verses where Paul explained that he was confident that he and his team had conducted themselves in a holy and sincere manner. Just because the plan to come to the church in Corinth did not happen, did not mean that Paul no longer cared for them.
Therefore, I was not vacillating when I intended to do this, was I? Or what I purpose, do I purpose according to the flesh, so that with me there will be yes, yes and no, no at the same time? The legalists of Corinth were claiming that Paul intentionally bypassed them. Paul was following the leading of God the Holy Spirit, not his own desires, when he by-passed them. If he ignored God’s desire for his own, he would be vacillating. This is the meaning of, “yes, yes and no, no.” Some people say yes, and they mean no. Paul was saying that he was not unstable or couldn’t make a decision. Paul was following God’s instructions to go elsewhere. They were operating on their emotions, not realizing that it was not God’s plan for Paul to revisit them.
But as God is faithful, our word to you is not yes and no. God was faithful means that even if Paul had been unstable and vacillating, God was not. God’s plan for Paul was clear, which did not include a return trip to Corinth. God’s plan for us is also clear and should be followed regardless of the emotional feelings of others.
For the Son of God, Christ Jesus, who was preached among you by us—by me and Silvanus and Timothy—was not yes and no but is yes in Him. Paul was reminding them how they were saved. The Gospel message was not one of vacillation, but a clear, sound message regarding Jesus Christ and His work for them on the Cross. They had been saved by believing a clear message presented to them by Paul, Silas, and Timothy. So, why would Paul now be vacillating or unstable in doctrinal teaching, or to the will of God?
For as many as are the promises of God, in Him they are yes; therefore, also through Him is our Amen to the glory of God through us. All of God’s promises are stable promises based on the faithfulness of God. God’s promises, including the Gospel are absolute and cannot be broken. Our Amen meant Paul and his fellow workers agree that God is always faithful to His Word. His promises are to be believed to the glory of God.
Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and anointed us is God, who also sealed us and gave usthe Spirit in our hearts as a pledge. Establishes means to stabilize. Stability comes from Bible doctrine in your soul. Paul was not unstable because he hadn’t shown up, but some Corinthians were unstable because they took Paul not coming wrongly. The word anointed means believers are chosen to be in the plan of God. Stepping outside of God’s plan, like they wanted Paul to do, would have been wrong. The Holy Spirit is God’s pledge to believers of all that He prepared for us in eternity past. This includes a plan of where He wants us to be and what He wants us to do. His plan does not always line up with what friends and family want us to do.
Verses 23-24
“But I call God as witness to my soul, that to spare you I did not come again to Corinth. Not that we lord it over your faith but are workers with you for your joy; for in your faith, you are standing firm.”
God in His wisdom knew that if Paul returned to Corinth, it would not be beneficial for them. Everyone must take control of their own spiritual lives without being forced to do so by some “dictator.” Paul’s job was to teach accurate Bible doctrine and they needed to respond to the doctrine, not to a dictator. Attempting to force someone to live their faith is wrong. But workers with you for your joy means that the motivation to live the Christian Way of Life must come from the filling of the Holy Spirit and Bible doctrine. Joy comes from responding to Bible doctrine.
For in your faith, you are standing firm. These believers in Corinth had doctrine, but some of them did not apply it. Just because Paul was redirected by God to bypass Corinth, did not mean Paul did not love them or did not value them. It was simply a case of doing God’s will which they should have understood and rejoiced in and prayed for Paul and his team.