In
chapter 3, we saw Paul deviated from defending himself to talk about the glory
of the New Covenant and how it is greater than the Old. It is very likely that in
opposing Paul, His opponents had overemphasized the Old Testament. So in 2
Corinthians 3 Paul maintained that he had a more superior ministry than that of
Moses’. Now in chapter 4, he resumed to defend himself. Verses 1-6 he presented
three arguments.
Firstly,
in verses 1-2, he argued that he was called into the ministry by God’s mercy
and not because of self-effort. In talking about mercy, Paul was thinking of how
he had persecuted the church till Christ initiated to make him His own apostle.
And as a recipient of this mercy he cannot see himself functioning any other
way than being faithful and persistent in the task. He would not allow anything
or anyone to derail him or cause him to lose heart. The fact remains that nothing
could be more discouraging than being accused by the very people he sought to
help. But for Paul he would not allow the accusation made against him to bring
him down. Verse 2 implicitly tells us that his accusers were insinuating that Paul
functioned to suit himself. They seemed to imply that Paul was acting deceitfully
and covertly and adulterating the Word of God. Just because he broke away from
some of the laws of the Old Testament, they had concluded that he was tampering
with God’s Word. Paul insisted that he was open, sincere and honest in his
handling of the truth. He was confident that his ministry had impacted the conscience
of those he was ministering. This he said without contradiction before God whom
he would have to finally face at the final accounting.
Secondly,
in verses 3-4 Paul was answering the accusation why the message he preached
failed to win everyone for Christ. He maintained that those who did not respond
to the Gospel was because their eyes were veiled. He had picked up what he said
in chapter 3 to support his argument. Paul maintained that there were those who
were perishing hence they could not see the light of the Gospel. The fault,
Paul argued, was not in the preaching or the message. The fault lies in the
fact that Satan, the god of this world had blinded their minds. He was the one preventing
them from seeing the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ, Who is the very
image of God.
Thirdly,
in verses 5-6, the apostle was refuting the accusation that he was too self-absorbed
in his preaching and was highlighting himself rather than the truth. Paul vehemently
denied this accusation. He insisted that his preaching was never about himself but
Christ Jesus the Lord. And he had always been conscious that he was serving the
people willingly as a bond-slave of Jesus Christ. Paul was intensely certain that
he had given his total allegiance to Christ Jesus, Who is Lord. In verse 6, he went on to affirm that the
light that comes through Christ was God’s. Paul was so overwhelmed by the
greatness of God in Christ that he exuberantly described the gospel in such a
grand way. The Gospel is about the light of God. It is about the glory and
splendor of God. It was the same light that shone on Paul on his way to
Damascus that brought him to Christ. The light of the Gospel brings light and
knowledge to one who is open to it. God and Christ can never be separated. God’s
brightness is always seen in the face of Christ, Who is the likeness of God. The
glory of God is seen on the cross of Calvary as much as it is seen in the risen
and exalted Christ.
What
a glorious Gospel! We get an inkling to why Paul was so faithful and passionate
about living and serving Christ. Not having a grip of this glorious Gospel could
diminish our passion in living and serving Christ. Let’s come to grip with
this: Christ in you, the hope of all living!
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