Blessed Hope Bible-Presbyterian Church
500 Upper Bukit Timah Rd, Singapore 678106
William MacDonald said insightfully, “The assembly in Corinth had acknowledged Paul in part, that is, some of the believers had acknowledged him but not all. The loyal ones understood these two facts — that they would be proud of him and that he would be proud of them in the day of the Lord Jesus.”
William MacDonald said well, “The integrity which characterized his past dealings with the Corinthians is true also of this letter. He is writing exactly what he means.”
The Apostle Paul acknowledged the gospel work in his lifetime was done through the ardent prayers of the saints who supported his ministry. He relied on their prayers. He simply presented his prayer request to them and their prayers were answered by God making possible the exploits of the gospel mission.
The Apostle Paul observed insightfully, “Here Paul generously assumes that the Corinthian Christians had been praying for him while he was going through this time of deep testing. Actually, many of the believers had become critical of the great apostle, and there could have been a serious question whether they were remembering him before the throne of grace at all.”
Jesus Christ, the Son of God, says, “Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of God”. When a man realises that he cannot order his life and surrenders himself to God through Jesus Christ, he is translated from the kingdom of death to the kingdom of heaven. This was the Apostle Paul’s experience on the road to Damascus when he met the resurrected Christ through a bright light. He was blinded for three days. This Pharisee of Pharisees was struck with the reality of his utter vulnerability.
The Apostle Paul speaks of the danger and the risk that he encountered in the work of the gospel. Many instances, he faced imminent danger to his very life and yet he learned that even in the most dangerous place according to God’s will is but the safest place. He learned to trust God to direct him to accomplish His will for his life. Clearly, it was a life of leaning on the everlasting arms of God’s care and protection.
The Apostle Paul highlighted to the Corinthian church not just of the afflictions and comforts he received in Christ but the fact the persecutions and sufferings became even more severe.
This is the Christian man’s consolation as he seeks to do the will of God in his life. The world is at enmity. As he bears the cross and despise the shame, there is a joy that surroundings him despite sufferings. It is borne out of faith that the gospel work has an eternal value. He can be hopeful for every ounce of suffering and heartache will receive a consolation and reward from Christ at the last day. Its not wasted effort but effecutal in Christ.
The Apostle Paul endured the sufferings of persecution in Corinth. Because he did not give up and was willing to bear with all that befell him, there were those in Corinth who believed. These form the nucleus of the infant church. His message to the Corinthian church was not about him rather it was about them.
These words of the Apostle Paul was a historical testimony to the founding of the church in Corinth in Acts 18:1-11 (KJV) 1 After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth; … 5 And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ. 6 And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles. He first preached to the Jews, his own countrymen, who rejected the message and persecuted him.