Lesson for August 2, 2023
The Book of II Corinthians
Chapter 4:1-18
Verses 1-5
“Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we received mercy, we do not lose heart, but we have renounced the things hidden because of shame, not walking in craftiness, or adulterating the word of God, but by the manifestation of truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bondservants for Jesus’ sake.”
Paul was saying that his, and that of his team’s, motives were pure, and they did not use gimmicks or false doctrine when sharing the Gospel. Paul was so confident that his ministry team had not distorted the truth of the Gospel and that their motives were pure, he encouraged the Corinthians to examine the message of the Gospel in light of their conscience. It was the accurate message of the Gospel that commended Paul’s team.
But we have renounced the things hidden because of shame. The Greek word for renounced is“apeipon,” which means to disown. The hidden things of shame are the secret things of dishonesty which Paul explained as not walking in craftiness or adulterating the word of God. The Greek word for craftiness is “panourgia,” which means unscrupulous or dishonest conduct. The Greek word for adulterating is “doloo,” which means deceitful or corrupt. In presenting the Gospel and teaching doctrine, Paul was saying that he had never preached false doctrine like the Judaizers preached.
And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
We must be aware of Satan’s cunning devices. Satan is not omnipresent, omniscient, or omnipotent, but he is a genius and has been observing mankind from the beginning. He uses direct attacks, demon influence, and the world system to influence unbelievers to reject the Gospel.
Verses 6-7
“For God, who said, “Light shall shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves.”
At Creation, God commanded the light to break through from darkness. Paul used this truth regarding Creation as an analogy for the Light of the Gospel – what Jesus accomplished on the Cross. When a person accepts the Light of the Gospel by a simple act of faith in Christ, their spiritual darkness turns to spiritual light. The glory of God was made known to the world in the Person of Christ (the face of Christ). It is therefore imperative that we share a clear Gospel message so that the Holy Spirit can “turn on the light” for unbelievers. We are the “earthen vessels” who God uses to spread the message of the Gospel (which we have within us) to those in spiritual darkness who Satan has blinded to the truth. Notice it is God Who provides the power to be bold in our witness for Christ. Therefore, we must stay in fellowship with God a maximum amount of time, since we never know when the opportunity will present itself to share the Gospel.
Verses 8-12
“We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So, death works in us, but life in you.”
The Greek word for afflicted is “thilbo,” which means pressure or trouble. The Greek word for crushed is “stenochoria,” which means distressed or anguished. The Greek word for perplexed is “aporeo,” which means to be at a loss or to doubt. The Greek word for despairing is “exaporeo,” which means utterly without a way to escape. The Greek word for persecuted is “dioko,” which means to put to flight or to pursue. The Greek word for forsaken is “enkataleipo,” which means to abandon or leave behind. The Greek word for struck down is “apollumi,” which means to destroy, to die, to be marred, or to perish. Paul used the same Greek word “apollumi” for destroyed, emphasizing the fact that he and his team had only been marred, but they were still alive and carrying out God’s purpose for their lives.
Paul and his companions had both internal and external pressure when presenting the Gospel and teaching doctrine. There was constant opposition to their teaching from the Romans, the legalistic Jews, the Judaizers, other false teachers, and those reversionistic believers who followed them. Yet in all of this, they were not distressed, not without a way of escape, not forsaken, and not destroyed.
Always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. We have the information within us regarding Christ’s death on the Cross and what it means for others. As believers, we are to make known the work of Jesus Christ on the Cross and all that it entails from eternal life, to living the Christian Way of Life. The Greek word for manifested is “phaneroo,” which means to make visible, clear, or known. (Romans 12:1-2)
So, death works in us, but life in you. Paul and his team were constantly under the threat of death from many sources. But this threat caused them to trust completely in God and motivated them to accomplish even more for the cause of Christ.
Verses 13-16
“But having the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed, therefore I spoke,” we also believe therefore, we also speak, knowing that He who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and will present us with you. For all things are for your sakes, so that the grace which is spreading to more and more people may cause the giving of thanks to abound to the glory of God. Therefore, we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.”
Paul quoted David from Psalm 116:5-10, “Gracious is the Lord, and righteous;
yes, our God is compassionate. The Lord watches over the simple; I was brought low, and He saved me. Return to your rest, my soul, for the Lord has dealt generously with you. For You have rescued my soul from death, my eyes from tears, and my feet from stumbling. I shall walk before the Lord in the land of the living. I believed (continued to have faith) when I said, ’I am greatly afflicted.’” David wrote about being faithful even in times of adversity and pressure. When Paul faced adversity, he used the technique that David used – Faith-Rest. Paul, like David, kept claiming the promises of God and applying the doctrinal rationales he had learned. Because Paul believed in the sufficiency of God (I believed), he continued to communicate the Gospel and teach doctrine (I spoke), even though he continually experienced affliction for doing so.
For all things are for your sakes, so that the grace which is spreading to more and more people may cause the giving of thanks to abound to the glory of God. Paul was referring to all the things that these believers had been taught, which were for their benefit for spiritual growth. Paul said this grace was spreading to more and more people, as others believed in Jesus Christ for salvation. God’s grace caused people to give thanks for their salvation, bringing glory to God. The more people who came to know Christ as Savior, the greater the glory for God.
Therefore, we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. Pressures, such as threat of death, can make a person lose heart, but because of the grace of God, Paul and his team were not despondent. They had a personal sense of destiny in knowing that they would be with the Lord in the near future. Therefore, they did not lose heart or become despondent. They were experiencing the pressure of the physical body becoming weak or being killed, and yet inwardly they were strong because of the doctrine in their souls. Their inner man (soul) was made like new every day through doctrine. (Philippians 4:10-13)
Verses 17-18
For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal. Paul understood his many persecutions were temporary and considered them light in comparison to eternity. (II Corinthians 11:24-28) Paul understood eternal rewards and blessings and called them an eternal weight of glory. Paul and his team had been bearing a heavy weight of pressure from persecution, but Paul chose to focus on the “heavy weight of glory” that he would receive as a result of passing the suffering for blessing tests. The eternal rewards for a believer who executes the Christian Way of Life far exceed any problems they will ever face in this life. When Paul said he looked at the things that were unseen, he was referring to his personal sense of destiny. (Philippians 1:21-26)