2 corinthians - home - broadway church of christ€¦ · 2 corinthians lesson 14 ... of paul,...

2CorinthiansLesson14

2Corinthians12

Objective:Toexploretheancienttextof2CorinthiansinordertounderstandmorefullyandcompletelythecallofGodforustodayasweseektoliveoutourlivesinservicetotheKingdomofGod,toHisglory,HisHonorandHiswill.Theseancienttextscanchallengeus,andinspireus,tolivelifemorefullyasparticipantsinGodsstoryofredemptionandlove.Atthecore,thehopeanddesirefordoingthisstudyisthatwewillbecontinuallytransformedmorefullyandcompletelyintousefulinstrumentsinthehandsofGodforbringingHismessageofloveandcompassion,andlifetoeverycreature.

Materials:TheBible,Commentaries,journalarticles,dictionaries,theinternetandotherresourcesasmaybeappropriate.ItisalsoourhopethateachpersonwillbringtothediscussionandclasstimesthethingsthatGodhasplacedupontheirheartthroughtheiruniquejourneyaspeopleseekingthefaceofGodandthelifeHeseekstobring.

Procedures1. ToexplorebiblicallyandlogicallywhatmattersmosttoGodin

ordertounderstandhowwearetolive.Thiswillentailexploringthebackgroundofthesetextsinordertounderstandmorefullytheirintendedmeaningfortheiroriginaltargetaudience.

2. Wewillalsoseektoexplorehowtheseancienttexts,addressedtoancientspeoples,should,andmustchallengeustodayinourwalkoffaithandobediencetothewillofGod.

PAGE OF SERIES 2 DURATION - 8 WEEKS1 23

3. WeintendineachinstancetooffersomepracticalsuggestionsastohowthecallofGod,throughHisApostle,Paul,callsustoliveourlivesinsuchawayastoreJlectourconJidenthopeandexpectationinthepowerofGod.WeseekthefaceofGod.


Inchapter12,Paulcontinueshisdefenseagainsthisrivals,

thefalseapostles.Inthispartofhisdefense,hecontinueswith

theboastinghebeganearlier;eventhoughhedescribesitasnot

proJitable().Inspiteofhimsayingthatitisnot

proJitablehestillsaysthatitisnecessary.Whyisitnecessary?

Likely,itisnecessarybecausethethingsheisgoingtomention

nowarethingshisopponentsaresomehowtryingtouseinorder

todriveawedgebetweenPaulandthebelieversofCorinthand

Achaia.ThekindsofthingsPaulchoosestoboastaboutarelikely

chosentocounteractthingsbeingsaidbyPaulsdetractors.Paul

isherestillverymuchhereinthemodeofacaringandconcerned

father,anxiousforthewelfareofhischildreninthefaith.Itis

likelythatthefalseapostleshavebeenbraggingabouttheir

visionsandrevelationsandsoithasbecomenecessaryforPaulto

speakofhis.

Inhisaccount,Paulindicatesthattherearemultiplevisions

andrevelations,butheonlyrecountsonehere.Inverse2,Paul

beginshisaccountbysayingthatheknewapersonwhofourteen

yearsagowascaughtuptothethirdheaven.Somescholarshave

thoughtthatPaulherewastalkingaboutsomeoneotherthan


himself,whilemostscholarshaveconcludedthatPaulisindeed

talkingabouthimself.Hesayshewascaughtupintothethird

heaven.TheideaoflayersinheavenappearsinotherNew

TestamenttextssuchasEphesians4:10 and2Peter3:5,7. 1 2

Jewishscholarshaddifferentthoughtsregardingthelayeringof

heaven,includingsomewhothoughtthatthethirdheavenwas

thehighestlevelofheaven.ItappearsthatPaulJitsintothis

categoryofthinkers. Certainhighlyrespectedrabbis,inthetime3

ofPaul,practicedwhatiscalledmerkabahcontemplation.Thisis

whensomeonewouldfocustheirattentionintentlyuponthe

visionsrecordedinEzekielchapter1and10,whichrecords

visionsoftheThroneChariotofGod. 4

RabbanJoananb.Zakkai,oneofthegreatestJewish

scholarsatthetimeofthefallofJerusalem(A.D.30-90),taught

merkabahcontemplationtosomeofhismostfavoredstudents.

He,theveryonewhodescended,isalsotheonewhoascendedabovealltheheavens,in1ordertoAillallthings.NET.

5Fortheydeliberatelysuppressthisfact,thatbythewordofGodheavensexistedlongago2andanearthwasformedoutofwaterandbymeansofwater..7ButbythesamewordthepresentheavensandearthhavebeenreservedforAire,bybeingkeptforthedayofjudgmentanddestructionoftheungodly.NET.

MitziL.Minor,2Corinthians,intheSmyth&HelwysBibleCommentaryseries(MaconGA:Smyth&3HelwysPublishingIncorporated,2009),pp.223-224.

J.W.Bowker,MerkabahVisionsandtheVisionsofPaul,JournalofSemiticStudies(1971)16:2,4pp.157-173.


Therewasarestrictionplacedonthistypeofcontemplation

amongtherabbisduetotheextremedangerassociatedwiththis

endeavor.ThedangerarisesbecauseofthegeneralBiblical

warningthatnomanshallseeGodandlive(Exodus33:20),andin

particularbecauseanyonewhoapproachesholiness,ortheholy,

inanuncleanstateisindiredangerofdeath.Itishighlyprobable

thatthemajorityofrabbispracticedthistypeofcontemplationat

thetimeofPaul.Thiswasconsideredtobeahigherformof

educationfortherabbisandreservedforthosewhowere

consideredtobetheeliteamongthisgroup. Thiswasconsidered5

acredentialofspirituality,withthisevenbecomingatypeof

gradingsystemamongcertainrabbis.Ifyouweretrulyanupper

levelrabbithenyoupracticedsuccessfullymerkabah

contemplation.Thisislikelywhatthefalseapostlesweretelling

thepeopleofCorinthabout,andtoutingthisasacredentialof

theirsuperiorityoverPaul.

Itisimportanttoremember,thatinthecaseofmerkabah

contemplationthatthemainpurposeofthecontemplationwas

notnecessarilytoproducevisionsatall,buttoattendexegetically



toparticularpartsofscripture.However,infact,such

contemplationdidoftenleadtoesotericspeculationnotonlywith

regardtothepassagesfromEzekiel,butalsoinregardtothe

narrativeofcreation.WithinJudaism,overtime,therewould

cometobeawholeclassofliteratureassociatedwiththistypeof

contemplation.BecausebothEzekiel,andthecreationaccount,

werescripturetheyhadtobeinterpretedsimplybecauseofthe

factthattheywereactuallyapartofscripture;itwasnecessary

foranattempttobemadetounderstandthem.However,it

appearsthatthiscontemplationwasattimessointensethatitled

tothecontemplativepractitionerseeingagainthevision,

particularlythatofthethronechariotofGod.Thiscertainlydid

nothappenoneveryoccasionthatapersoncontemplatedon

thesepassages,butitcouldhappenifapersonwereparticularly

holy,welltrained,andskillful.Itwasalsothoughttobenecessary,

thatinordertohavesuchabilitiesonehadtobeadirect

descendentofAbraham,becausehe,thefatherofthefaithful

wasalsoonewhowastakenupintoparadise,accordingto

tradition.Suchvisionsbecameasignofextremefaithfulnesson


thepartoftheonewhosawsuchavisionamongthosein

PharisaicJudaism. 6

Fromallthatweknow,thereiscertainlyeveryreasonto

suspectthatPaul,duetohistraining,andhisorthodoxy,hewould

likelyhavebeentrainedinsuchamannersoastoundertake

merkabahcontemplation.Asamatteroffact,thewayPaul

phrasessomeclaimsabouthimself,suchasthathewasdeeply

andthoroughlytrained,andthathewasindeedatruedescendent

ofAbrahamitmaybethatinparttheseweresomeofthethingshe

wasalludingtobysuchtalk.ItisknownthatPaulhadatleast8

visionsthatarespokenofintheNewTestament. Itclearly7

appearsthatvisionaryexperienceswerebynomeansunusualfor

Paul.Bowkersuggeststhatthevisionsof2Corinthians12,and

theroadtoDamascusexperience(Acts9:3-9)arosefromabaseof

merkabahcontemplation.HecomparesthevisionsofPaulwitha


ThevisionontheroadtoDamascus,thevisionofAnanias(Acts9:12);thevisionofthe7Macedonianman(Acts16:9ff.);inCorinth(Acts18:9-10);JesusintheTemple(Acts22:17-21);Jesusduringthenight(Acts23:11);theangelintheshipwreck(Acts27:23-26);theexperiencedescribedherein2Corinthians12:1-7).TherewasalsoofnotethepromiseofActs26:16andthediscussionoftheresurrectionappearancesGalatians2:11ff.


numberofaccountsofthistypeofvisionrecordedbytherabbis

andJindssigniJicantsimilarities. 8

OneofthecomparisonsiswithadreamofJoananwhoalso

speaksofthethirdheaven.Thisdetailhasbeennotedbyother

scholarsbeforeBowker.Anotherthingisthatoftenphysical

journeyswereconsideredtobeparticularlysuitableopportunities

forsuchcontemplation;suchasPaulsjourneytoDamascusin

ordertopersecutethechurchthere.Atrance-conditionwasoften

associatedwithsuchvisionsasissuggestedin2Corinthians12:3;

inActs9:8ff.,22:11,26:12-18(notePaulappearstobetheonly

onewhohearsthevoiceontheroadtoDamascus)andthe

conditionofblindnessmayalsobeaconditionassociatedwitha

trance(Acts9:9).Paulmayhavebeenlikeotherrabbis,who,

whentheywouldtravelontheroadwouldreJlectontheopening

visionofEzekiel.Suchathingmay,inpart,betheexplanationfor

whyweseesuchasuddenanddramaticreversalinPaulgoing

frompersecutingthechurchtobecomingitsgreatadvocateand

proclaimer. IfPaulwascontemplatingonthisparticularpassage9




fromEzekielandexpectingperhapsanangeltoanswerhim,you

canimaginehissurprisetohearthevoiceofJesus,theveryone

whoheispersecutingansweringfromthethroneofGod.This

certainlywouldhaveinducedadramaticaffectinonesodevoted

toGod.

TheassociationofEzekiel1and10withthevoiceofJesus

wouldhaveprovidedatotallycoherentcontextforPaulsdramatic

conversion.Bowkerconcludesthatthereareenoughpointsof

contactbetweenwhatweknowofPaulsvisionsandthoseof

othermerkabahmysticstoconcludethatPaulindeedpracticed

merkabahcontemplationasanordinaryconsequenceofhishighly

extendedPharisaictraining. Thethingssuchasspeakingof10

paradise(),beinginthebody,oroutofthebody,

hearingthingsthatnomortalispermittedtorepeatareexactly

thetypeofthingsthatweJindinotheraccountsofrabbis

undertakingmerkabahcontemplation.Theconventionsthatwere

inplaceatthetimePaulwaswritingsuggestedthattellingastory

liketheonetoldin2Corinthians12,inthethirdperson,was

advantageouswhensuchastorymightbeheardasaformofself-



promotion.Thisexperienceapparentlyhadhappenedfourteen

yearsearlier,butthisistheJirsttimethatherecountssuchan

experiencetohisaudienceatCorinth.Thosefourteenyearsof

silencewouldseemtounderscorePaulsreluctancetoboastin

suchthings. 11

Paradise,inthetimeofPaul,mightbeareferencetothe

GardenofEden,aplaceofpeaceabovetheearth,ortheplace

whereGoddweltandcaresforthoseHehaschosen.Paradisealso

cametohaveapocalypticovertoneswiththerebeingthe

expectationthattheJirstparadisewouldreappearattheendof

thisperiod.Suchanotionofanexisting,buthidden,paradisemay

liebehindwhatPaulsaysinverse4.Additionally,thethirdheaven

andparadisearelinkedinsomeancientJewishliteraturesuchas

theApocalypseofMoses and2Enoch. Ifallofthisisthecase,12 13

thenPaulisclaimingtohavebeentransportedintothehighest,

andcurrentlyhidden,realmofGod.InsomeJirst-centurycircles

MitziL.Minor,2Corinthians,p.223.11

38:1-2,4-5.12

8:1,7-8.13


thiswouldhavebeenconsideredthegreatestofsuchexperiences

possible. 14

SuchanexperiencecouldcertainlyhaveelevatedPauls

authorityamongthosewhowereimpressedbysuchthings.It

seemshighlylikelythattheCorinthianswereamongthosewho

wereimpressedbysuchexperiences.Paulappearstobereluctant

forthemtobeimpressedbythingssuchastheseandactually

appearstodownplaythesigniJicanceofsuchexperiences.Paul

seemstofocusontheunknownelementswithinthesevisionsand

thustobeattemptingtofocustheirattentionuponthe

mysteriousnessofGod,theothernessofGodratherthanelevating

thepersonexperiencingthesevisions.Wheneverwe,ashuman

beings,areremindedthatGodisGodandwearenot,thatGodis

thecreator,andthatapersonisthecreature(inotherwords

createdbythecreator)thenthereisnochoiceexceptforhumility

toensue.Inthemidstofboasting,andwhatcouldbeaformof

triumphalismswirlingaboutweJindPaulseekingtoevokeGods

mysteryanditssubsequentcallforhumilityinsteadoffocusing

humanonthehumanelementofsuchexperiences. 15

MitziL.Minor,2Corinthians,pp.223-224.14



Paulsnextphrase(verse5)canseemconfusingand

disorientingtous.Wemusthoweverrememberthecontextand

whatPaulistryingtoaccomplishhere.IfPaulweresimplytrying

tooutdohisopponentsbyhavingagreaterecstaticexperience

thantheydid,wewouldnothaveverse5,orPaultalkingabout

engaginginfoolishness.ItisclearthatPaulbelievesthatfounding

hisauthority,andthatoftheGospelmessageonsuchgroundsis

notonlyfoolishness,butalsoundesirable.Hadhechosentofound

hisauthorityuponsuchvisionshewouldhaverecountedsuch

experiencesverydifferentlythanhedidhere.Theywouldindeed

havebeenrecitedasfoundationaltohisauthority,whichwas

exactlywhatPaulsopponentswereclaimingbyrecountingsuch

experiencestotheCorinthiansasproofthattheyshouldbe

followedoverandabovePaul.

Paul,however,makesitclearatverse5thathewillnot

boast,exceptinhisweakness().Hecontinuesin

verse6sayingthatifhewishedtoboast,hewouldnotdosoasa

fool()thusindicatinghisassessmentofhisopponents,

theyarefools.Heindicatesthathedoesnotboastinsuch

revelationsinorderthatpeoplewillnotthinkmoreofhimthan


theyshould.Hedoesnotwantthefocustobeuponhim,hewants

thatfocustobeuponGodanduponthegoodnewsthathehas

cometoproclaimonbehalfofGod.Hedesirestobeseenasthe

unworthy,weak,andhumbleinstrumentofGod,nothingmore,

andnothingless.Thefocusistotallydifferent.Heevenindicates

thatthereisatemptationonhisparttoboastinthegreatand

magniJicentthingsthatGodhasrevealedtohim.

Atverse7,Paulindicatesthathehasbeengivenathornin

theJleshinordertokeepsuchatemptationfrombecominga

reality.HeindicatesthathehasamessengerofSatan(

)senttotormenthimandtokeephimfrombecoming

arrogant().Tosaythereisvirtuallyendless

speculationwithregardtowhatPaulsthornintheJleshis,isnot

inanysenseanunderstatement.Weashumanbeingshave

endlesscuriosityandsometimesthatcuriositysoenthrallsusas

tocauseustomissthefocushere.WhateverPaulsthorninthe

Jleshwas,apparentlytheCorinthianswerealreadyverymuch

awareofit.TherewasnoneedforPaultonameitforthem.No

matterhowmuchwetodayspeculateregardingPaulsthornitis


nothingbutspeculation,anditcertainlyisnotcrucialforusto

identifythethorninordertounderstandPaulspointhere.

Paulwishestorecountthathehasbeengiventhisthornin

ordertoremindhimtobehumbleandtofocushisattention

whereGodwishesforthatattentiontobefocused.Paulsays,at

verse8,heprayedthreetimesforthisthorntoberemoved,butin

verse9,theanswerhereceivedis,Mygraceisenough.ForPaul

thisanswerwasmorethansufJicientandheindicatesthatthe

powerofGodisinfactmadeperfectinweakness.Becauseofthis,

Paulwouldboastallthemoreinhisweakness,sinceinthisway

thefocuswastakenoffofhimandplacedonGod(verse9).Paul

understandsthatany,andall,strengthjustlikeany,andall,of

everythingelseultimatelycomesfromthesamesource,God.Inall

ofthisargumentPaulcontinuestopressforthemtohavethisvery

differentviewoftheworldthatfocusesonGod,andthegraceof

God,ratherthanuponhumanstrength,humaninstitutions,and

humanvaluesastowhatisimportant.Hewishestoreorienttheir

compasstopointtoGod,andGodalone,asthesourceofallthatis

worthyofhonor,praise,andboasting.Therefore,Paulwillboast

inhisweaknessinorderthatfocusmaybeplacedwhereittruly


belongs,inGod,thecreator,thesavior,andthehopeforsomething

betterthanwhatcanbeobtainedinourpresentrealitythrough

ourfeebleeffortsandpower.

Verse11,beginswithPaulsoundinganoteofrepentancefor

hisfoolishnessforboastinginthewaythathisopponentshave

boasted.Heindicatesthathewasactuallydriventothisbecause

oftheir(theCorinthians)failuretodowhatshouldhavebeen

theirduty;theyshouldhavestoodupforhimandnotbeensilent.

Heindicates,afterall,heisnotinferior()tothese

super-apostles().Heendsverse11with

whatsomeconsidertobeabitofsarcastichyperbole,thatlikely

repeatsoneoftheaccusationsmadeagainstPaulbyhis

opponents.Itmayalsobethecasethatheissayingthatheis

nothingandthatChristiseverything.Criticismalwayshurts,but

itusuallyhurtsevenmorewhenitisnottrue.ThoughPaulworks

throughtheseissuestheystillhurt.

Atverse12,Paulremindshisaudiencethatthesignsofthe

apostle()wereindeedpresentwhenhe

proclaimedtothemtheGospelmessage.Oneofthosesignswas

endurance()whichwasdescribedintermsofall


endurance.ThewordthatPauluseshereforenduranceisused

atkeymomentsinNewTestamentwritingstoencouragethose

thatbelievetoholdontotheirfaithinthemidstsofopposition

andtrials.InLuke8:11-15Jesusexplainsthemeaningofthe

parableofthesower.Heretheseedthatbearsgoodfruitisthat

whichholdsfastandretainsagoodheartwith

endurance().IntheapocalypticdiscourseofLuke,

Jesuswarnsin21:12-19thathisfollowerswillbearrested,

persecuted,betrayed,hated,andevenkilled.Herehetellshis

disciplesthatbyendurancetheywillgaintheysouls.James

(5:7-11)writesregardingtheneedforpatienceandsays,Indeed

wecallblessedthosewhoshowedendurance.Thewriterof

RevelationdescribesRomeandhisoppressivepowersasabeast

fromtheseainchapter13.Becauseofthegreatpowerofthe

beastmanywillcometoworshiphim,butthosewhodowillsuffer

thefateofthebeast.Herethenisacallfortheenduranceofthe

saints(13:10). 16

In1Corinthians1:22PauliscriticalofJewswhodemand

signsinordertoprovethemessageofthecrossandyetherehe



usesitasevidenceofanapostle.Perhapsitisthecasethatitis

thedemandingofasignthatistheproblem.Perhapsitisthecase

thatthereisadifferencewhenthepurposeofthemiraclesisto

bringhealingandliberationforothersratherthantoshowoff.It

isalmostcertainthatPaulexpectstheaudiencetoknowthat

PaulssignspointtoGodratherthanbeingseenasanelevationof

theman.HoweverPaulintendsthemtoperceivethesignsthat

weredonebeforethem,heexpressesthattheywereactuallydone

andthatthey(theCorinthians)witnessedthem. Atverse13,he17

comesbackonceagaintoanissuethatobviouslywasamajor

problemfortheCorinthiansandthatwastheissueofnottaking

supportfromthem.He,perhapssarcastically,pleadswiththemto

forgivehimfornottakingsupportfromthem.

Atverse14Paulindicatesthatheisabouttocometothema

thirdtimeandthathedoesnotintendtoburdenthemwithhis

supportthistimeeither.Hecasteshisreasonfornottaking

supportintermsoftheparentchildrelationshipindicatingthatit

istheparentswhoshouldlayupfortheirchildrenandnotthe

childrenwhoshouldlayupfortheirparents.Hereheindicates,



likeagoodparent,thatheismorethanhappytospendforhis

children,andindeedtobespent.Paulsetshisrefusaltoaccept

supportintermsoflovingthemmore,ratherthan,asIamsureit

wasbeingcastbythefalseapostlesthathesomehowlovedthem

lessandhisrefusalofsupportdemonstratedthis.Paulindicates

thatthisisnotonlyfalse,buttheoppositeofthetruth.Evidently

Paulsdetractorshadbeenindicatingthathewasdeceitful.He

thenremindsthemnotonlyofhisbehavior,butalsoofthe

behaviorofTituswhomhehadsent.Innoway,hasPaul,orhave

hiscompanionsactedinanywayotherthanhonorably.

Atverse19,Paulquestionswhattheythinkhehasbeen

doing,hashebeendefendinghimselfbeforethem?Itisvirtually

certainthattheCorinthianswillhaveansweredyeshere.Paul

thenclariJiesthatindeedhehasbeendefendinghimself,butnot

totheCorinthians,buttoGod.Hehasevenusedhisdefenseinan

efforttobuildthemupnottogainpointswiththem.Paulseeksto

placethefocusawayfromhimselfanduponhismissionbefore

God.ThatiscentralforPaul.Heindicatesatverse20,thathe

fearsthatwhenhecomestheymaybedisappointedineachother

andPaullaysoutwhatwoulddisappointhim.Hefearsthatthere


mayindeedbequarreling,jealousy,angerandselJishness.For

PaulthesewouldbesignsthatthegraceofGodhasnoteffectively

transformedthem.IndicationsofthetransformingpowerofGod

workinginthemwouldbethelackofthesethingsaswellasthe

turningfromtheirlivesofsintorepentance(verse21)and

changedactionsontheirpart.

WhatwouldhumblePaul,wouldbethatifthesethingshave

nothappened,andthetransformationoftheheartsofhischildren

hasnotactuallyoccurreduponhisarrival.Inthisinstance,Paulis

nothumbledbythem,butbeforethem,byGod.OnceagainPaul

triestoreorienttheirfocustobeuponGod.Hewantstheirhearts

andtheiractionstobedirectedtowardhowtheyshouldrespond

toGodratherthanfocusingonhumanrelationships,human

wisdom,humanaccomplishments,andhumanreasoning.Paul

seekstoturntheirfocustoGodandtorecognizeHisroleinall

thattheyhaveexperiencedandinthecallfortheircontinued

transformationintotruedisciplesofJesusChrist.Theyarecalled

topursueGodJirst,andforemost,andtocontinuetobearthe

imageofGodashasbeendemonstratedtothembyJesusChrist.


Synopsis AsPaulbeginsthischapterhestatesthatitisnecessaryto

boast,thoughhesaysnothingistobegainedbythisboasting.He

holdsboatingandthefoolishnessofboastinginatension.THISIS

perhapsduetotheimmaturityofhisaudiencethathavelikely

beenimpressedbytheboastingofthefalseapostles.Inorderto

drawthembacktotheirsenses,andtocontinuehiseffortsto

reorienttheircompassPaulwillengageinthetypeofboasting

thatthesefalseapostleshadbeenengagingintotheCorinthians.

Inthisboasting,herecountsoneofhisgreatvisions.Thistypeof

visionwillhavebeenthestockandtradeofmanyrabbiswhohad

undergoneadvancedtraininginthetimeofPaul.

Paulwillgoontosaythathehadreceivedamessenger

fromSataninordertoinsurethatheretainedhishumility.Even

thoughheprayedthreetimesfortheremovalofthisthorninthe

JleshtheresponseofGodwasthat,mygraceisenough.Paul

seekstocontinuehismessage,thatitisthroughhumanweakness,

thatthepowerofGodismostpowerfully,andperfectlydisplayed.

Inthemidstofthis,Paulhaslearnedtobecontentwithwhatmost


wouldconsiderextremenegatives;thingslikeweaknesses,

insults,hardships,persecutions,andcalamities.

Paulindicatesthathehasbeenafoolinhisboasting,but

thathewasactuallyforcedintoitbytheir(theCorinthians)lackof

supportforhim.Sincetheywouldnotstandupforhimhehad

beenforced,fortheirbeneJit,todoit.Heremindsthemofthe

signsthattheyhadseenasapartofhisministryamongthem.

OnceagaintheissueofsupportarisesandPaulonceagainsays

thathewillnottakesupportfromthem,thoughitisnotbecause

hedoesnotlovethem.Infact,itisjusttheoppositehelovesthem

somuch,likeafather,thathewillnottakesupportfromhis

children.

Finally,Paulwillchallengehisaudiencetostopsinningand

toliveastheyshouldsothathewillnotbehumbledbeforethem

bytheirfailuretorespondtotheGospelmessageappropriately.

Inallofthissection,Paulseekstoreorienthisaudiencetoward

Godandtoseetheworldinadifferentwaythantheyhad

previously.Hechallengesthemtobetransformedbythegraceof

GodintotheimageofChrist,astrue,humbledisciplesinorderto

fulJilltheirdestinyasimage-bearersofGod.


Questions1. Whataresomethingsthatyouseepeopleboastingabout?

2. Whydopeopleboast?

3. Whatisthefocusofmostboasting?

4. WhydoyouthinkPaulboastsinhisweakness?

5. Whataresomethingsthatshouldkeeppeoplehumble?

6. WhydoyouthinkhumilityisimportantinourrelationshipwithGod?

7. WhydoyouthinkthegraceofGodisenoughforPaul?

8. HowwouldyoudeJinegrace?

9. Whataresomeexamples,inyourlife,whereyouhaveseengraceexhibitedinpowerfulways?

10.WhydoyouthinkPauliscontentwithweaknesses,insults,hardships,persecutions,andcalamitiesforthesakeofChrist?

11.HowisPaulstrongwhenheisweak(verse10)?

12.Whatdoesitmeantobeafool?

13.Whatisanapostle?


14.WhydoyouthinkparentssacriJicefortheirchildren?

15.Whataresomewaysthatpeopletakeadvantageofothers?

16.Whataresomethingsthatyoufearforyourchildren?Why?

17.WhydoyouthinkPaulassociatesthecontinuationofsinfulbehaviorwithhimbeinghumbled(verse21)?

18.HowwouldyoudeJinesin?

19.HowdoyouthinkGoddeJinessin?


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