What Ministry Is All About – Part 2
In our message, PURE MOTIVES IN MINISTRY (2 Cor. 1:12-24), we continued our new study in the book of Second Corinthians which is about ministry, and the suffering it can entail as one stands for the Bible (Gen. 3:1, etc.). In Second Corinthians, we see “false apostles” led and instigated an attack against the truth of God’s Word spoken through the apostle Paul (2 Cor. 1:1; 11:13-15, etc.). In our passage today, they cited Paul failed to keep plans he had made- alleging he was a liar.
To understand this message better, it is helpful to have a brief overview of the timeline the Bible gives us of these events at Corinth. Nelson’s New Testament Survey correctly shows us the following order of events:
1. Paul’s founding visit [Acts 18]
2. His “former letter” [written before First Corinthians, 1 Cor. 5:9]
3. The Corinthian letters to him [1 Cor. 1:11; 16:17-18]
4. First Corinthians
5. Paul’s “painful visit” [2 Cor. 2:1-3 NIV]
6. His severe letter [written between First & Second Corinthians, 2 Cor. 2:4-5]
7. Second Corinthians
8. Paul’s anticipated visit [as he closes his third large missionary journey, returning to Jerusalem]
Paul explains here his motives were sincere and his “conscience” above board when he made these plans to visit Corinth (2 Cor. 1:12-13), but they changed, in the first case, because of circumstances beyond his control (2 Cor. 16:5-7; 2 Cor. 1:15) and in the second case because he did not want to have another “painful visit” with them where he was forced to exercise apostolic discipline (2 Cor. 2:16, 23-2:1 NIV). Paul stated they already understood “in part” some of his motives were good, and he hoped they would grow in this understanding so as to believe all of God’s Word written through him (2 Cor. 1:13-14). Paul also knew, because they were saved, he would be their “boast as [they were his] in the day of the lord Jesus” (2 Cor. 1:14). All believers have been (aorist/past tense) “anointed… sealed… and given” the Holy Spirit of God forever the moment they believed in the Gospel, and all of God’s children are destined for heaven (2 Cor. 1:21-22; Eph. 1:13-14; 4:30, etc.).
Paul’s plans did not turn out the way he thought- not because of insincerity- but because he, as a human being, could not see all that was ahead (1 Cor. 16:7; 2 Cor. 2:15-17, etc.) But God knows all things and His Word as the Lord Almighty wrote through His apostle is to be completely trusted (2 Cor. 1:1, 18-20; 2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Pet. 1:19-21, etc.). If the believers in Corinth held to the Word of God and corrected their ways, Paul would not have to have another painful visit (1 Cor. 11:27-32; 2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Cor. 1:23-2:1; 1 John 1:9, etc.). We too as Christians are called to have pure motives in all of our lives as we minister for the Lord- examining ourselves daily in the light of His coming return (Heb. 10:23-25; Rom. 12:1-2, etc.). *For more information on this message, please see SBFC’s February 9, 2025 sermon above.