2 Corinthians 13:1-14

2 Corinthians 13:1-14

Paul concludes by telling the Corinthians that he is coming to see them. This is both a promise and a threat. In the church there were three parties or groups: godly believers who were trying to live faithfully, misguided believers who had gone horribly wrong, and the agents of evil: the Uber apostles, who were profoundly wicked. Paul says he will not spare anyone. He has given and is giving the church the opportunity to work out their issues of discipleship. When he arrives, if things have not been corrected, then he will deal with the problems and the problem people.

Some of the antagonists have claimed that Paul was weak, at least in person. Paul is hoping that when he arrives he will not have to prove how strong he actually is. Paul uses the example of Christ that in the crucifixion He was apparently weak, His body succumbing to death. But there is no doubt that when He returns it will be in power. In many ways church discipline is a preparation for the Lord's coming, dealing with difficult things now so that we don't have to address them in the Lord's presence.

Some feel that if we practice church discipline, we are not being nice. Church discipline is painful and direct; it doesn't allow a way out; rather, it requires that evil persons change. In the process it is extremely unpleasant. But the cruelest action is to take no action. Inaction in church discipline is the spiritual equivalent of a doctor diagnosing a stage 1 cancer but refusing to act because cutting it out would hurt so much. The result is a long, painful, slow death, because the cowardly and heartless doctor was unwilling to do the painful thing. Let there be no doubt that the church leader who is unwilling to participate in church discipline is living in sin, every bit as much as a flagrant sin of the flesh. That sin will not lie dormant for long. There will be a day when it will manifest itself in a new and deeper, more wicked way. Such leaders must actively and honestly repent.

Paul concludes hopefully because while the Uber Apostles and those they deceived are a large problem, they are an actual minority. In verse 11 Paul gives middle voice commands, things that we do to or in ourselves. These things sound odd in the conflict-thick environment of Corinth, but it reflects how little we understand. Rather than our need to feel in order to act, we can act out of a choice of the will to live out these behaviors. The result of our doing these things to ourselves is the active presence of God. Paul concludes with the beautiful Trinitarian blessing on this congregation, which was such a hot mess. How thankful we ought to be that we can, messed up as we are, have the grace, love, and fellowship of the Son, the Father, and the Holy Spirit.

“Lord, prepare me for the coming of my Lord, AMEN”