August 28, 2005

NONE OTHER THINGS

2 Corinthians 1:11-24

 

   Paul wrote "... none other things unto you than what you read and acknowledge (understand); and I trust you shall understand to the end" (2 Cor. 1:15). What could he mean? And why did he write such remarks? He is saying simply that he means exactly what his words clearly convey. He has no hidden or double meaning. They did not have to "read between the lines." Paul had closed his previous letter saying, "I will come to you when I shall pass through Macedonia..." (1 Cor. 16:5). In the mean time he had indeed passed through Macedonia and yet did not visit Corinth. They construed that Paul was fickle. He said one thing and did another.

   First, Paul explained the intense persecutions he had endured, how he had "despaired even of life," and had been delivered from "so great a death" (2 Cor. 1:8,10). Such events might surely be just cause for a change of plans without their assuming he was fickle or insincere. His personal credibility was as stake. If they cannot count on his sincerity visiting them, how can they trust him for other items in his letters? They assumed he was bold to write as he had and now was afraid to face them. To this Paul responded that there was no "Yes" in his "No," or "No" in his "Yes." He challenged, "did I use lightness? ...do I purpose according to the flesh?" Paul insisted, "...as God is faithful, our word to you was not yea and nay" (1:17-18). Paul's whole message hung on the fact that "all the promises of God in Christ are Yea" (1:20).

   The Lord said, "let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil." James cautioned, "my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation" (Jas. 5:12). In this case Paul's oath was not something he would do, but simply to call God as his witness that he spoke the truth. It was to spare them the embarrassment of a confrontation in matters about which they were not yet obedient that he had delayed his visit. His motives of love again misunderstood, for "the more he loved...the less they loved him."

 

Ivan L. Burgener