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The Second Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians, Chapter Four
<>< <>< ><> ><> 1. Why did Paul say and he Timothy does not lose heart, what did Paul say they have renounced, what did Paul say they do not use, what did Paul say they do not distort, and on the contrary, what did Paul say they do?
________________________________________________________________________________ Preachers, teachers, and anyone else who talks about Jesus Christ must remember that they stand in God's presence - he hears every word. When you tell people about Christ, be careful not to distort the message to please your audience. Proclaim the truth of God's Word. 2. Who did Paul say their gospel is veiled to, who did Paul say has blinded the minds of unbelievers, and why did Paul say he does this?
________________________________________________________________________________ The gospel is open and revealed to everyone, except to those who refuse to believe. Satan is "the god of this age." His work is to deceive, and he has blinded those who don't believe in Christ. <>< <>< ><> ><>
<>< <>< ><> ><> The allure of money, power, and pleasure blinds people to the light of Christ's gospel. Those who reject Christ and prefer their own pursuits have unknowingly made Satan their god. 3. What did Paul say he and Timothy did not do, how did Paul say they did preach, who did Paul say had made his light shine in Paul and Timothy's heart, and why did Paul say God had done this?
________________________________________________________________________________ The focus of Paul's preaching was Christ and not himself. When
you witness, tell people about what Christ has done, and not about your
abilities and accomplishments. People must be introduced to Christ, not to you.
And if you hear someone preaching himself or his own ideas rather than Christ,
beware - he is a false teacher. 4. What did Paul say he and Timothy had in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from them, what did Paul say they were on every side, what did Paul say they always carry around in their body, why did Paul say they did this, what did Paul say all who are alive are always being given over to for Jesus' sake, why did Paul say this was done, and although Paul say death is at work in them, what was at work in believers?
________________________________________________________________________________ The supremely valuable message of salvation Paul reminds us that though we may think we are at the end of the rope, we are never at the end of hope. Our perishable bodies are subject to sin and suffering, but God never abandons us. Because Christ has won the victory over death, we have eternal life. All our risks, humiliations, and trials are opportunities for Christ to demonstrate his power and presence in and through us. 5. What did Paul say was written, what did Paul say he and Timothy did with the same spirit of faith, why did Paul say they did this, what did Paul say this was done for, and what was the reason this was done?
________________________________________________________________________________ But what enabled Paul faithfully to discharge his ministry, even
though it involved suffering? It was (1) his sharing the psalmist's conviction
that faith cannot remain silent and (2) his own Christian conviction that
Christ's resurrection guarantees the resurrection of all believers. (NIV
Commentary - Zondervan) <>< <>< ><> ><> ORD, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy. (2)Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live. (3)The cords of death entangled me,
"O LORD, save me!" (5)The LORD is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion. (6)The LORD protects the simplehearted; when I was in great need, he saved me. (7)Be at rest once more, O my soul,
(8)For you, O L ORD, have delivered my soul from death,my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling, (9)that I may walk before the LORD in the land of the living. (10)I believed; therefore I said, "I am greatly afflicted." (11)And in my dismay I said, "All men are liars." (12)How can I repay the L ORDfor all his goodness to me? (13)I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the LORD. (14)I will fulfill my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people. (15)Precious in the sight of the L ORDis the death of his saints. (16)O LORD, truly I am your servant; I am your servant, the son of your maidservant; you have freed me from my chains. (17)I will sacrifice a thank offering to you (18)I will fulfill my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people, (19)in the courts of the house of the LORD— in your midst, O Jerusalem. Praise the L ORD.<>< <>< ><> ><> In a real sense, then, the psalmist's expression of thanksgiving
arose from his vindicated trust in God: "I held firm to my faith and was
vindicated; therefore I have spoken." Similarly, Paul, for his part, could not
remain silent about the Gospel he believed: "Woe to me if I do not preach the
gospel" (1st Corinthians 9:16). (NIV Commentary - Zondervan) <>< <>< ><> ><>
<>< <>< ><> ><> Our being raised "with Jesus" means that the resurrected Christ forms the prototype and ground of our resurrection. (NIV Commentary - Zondervan) <>< <>< ><> ><>
<>< <>< ><> ><> His resurrection from the dead is the firstfruits of the Easter harvest; ours is the full ingathering. (NIV Commentary - Zondervan) <>< <>< ><> ><>
<>< <>< ><> ><> This verse (2nd Corinthians 4:15) concludes a section of Paul's thought, for in verse l6 he repeats the phrase "do not lose heart" from verse 1.Rather movingly, he reminds his convert that he endures all his afflictions with resilience, not to promote his own good but for their benefit (cross-reference 4:5), and ultimately for God's glory. As God's grace expanded in their hearts and through them reached ever-increasing numbers, so too the volume of thanksgiving to God for the receipt of illumination (cross-reference 4:6) was increasing and promoting the glory of God. (NIV Commentary - Zondervan) 6. What did Paul say he and Timothy does not lose, what did Paul say they were doing inwardly, though outwardly they were wasting away, what did Paul say their light and momentary troubles were achieving for them, what did Paul say they fix their eyes on instead of what is seen, what did Paul say is temporary, and what did Paul say is eternal?
________________________________________________________________________________ Paul had faced sufferings, trials, and distress as he preached the Good News. But he knew that they would one day be over, and he would obtain God's rest and rewards. As we face great troubles, it's easy to focus on the pain rather than on our ultimate goal. Just as athletes concentrate on the finish line and ignore their discomfort, we too must focus on the reward for our faith and the joy that lasts forever. No matter what happens to us in this life, we have the assurance of eternal life, when all suffering will end and all sorrow will flee away. <>< <>< ><> ><>
<>< <>< ><> ><> It is easy to lose heart and quit. We all have faced problems in our relationships or in our work that have caused us to want to think about laying down the tools and walking away. Rather than giving up when persecution wore him down, Paul concentrated on experiencing the inner strength from the Holy Spirit. <>< <>< ><> ><>
<>< <>< ><> ><> Don't let fatigue, pain, or criticism force you off the job.
Renew your commitment to serving Christ. Don't forsake your eternal reward
because of the intensity of today's pain. Your very weakness allows the
resurrection power of Christ to strengthen you moment by moment. <>< <>< ><> ><> 1.
Because through God's mercy they have this ministry...secret and shameful
ways...deception...the word of God...by setting forth the truth plainly they
commend themselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God <>< <>< ><> ><> |