2 Corinthians 2

 Good morning. Sorry for ditching you all yesterday. It was a long and hard day!

Sherri has been sick (again) for the last several days- really bad and aggressive head cold and probably bronchitis at this point. The kids left Sunday after lunch. My morning "coffee buddy" is gone for the week (insert sad face here). 

I slept in until almost 8 AM yesterday! No grandson to wake me up! Then had to make a salad for my lectionary group picnic; followed by chores. As I was getting ready to leave for the picnic, the boy from the farm next door flew in on his 4-wheeler, in tears. "There's an emergency at the barn. Can you check my goat? I think she is dead." He is going to 5th grade this fall and was a wreck. I drove up to their house; Dingus was dead. I moved her to a clothes basket that was in the barn, covered her with a blanket that I found; the boy was there, so I asked him if I could pray for Dingus and him. We prayed, he cried, we hugged. We put her into the tack room until I could get back from the picnic. When I got home from picnic, I went up and we dug a hole and buried Dingus after a memorial service. It was so hard seeing him and his twin brother so sad. 

Picnic was good. Petonia Lake in Greene. Quiet, peaceful, no noise, good food! Sherri stayed home and rested and recovered. Seems to be doing much better!

But it was a long day and I had no energy when I got home! So, sorry to disappoint you all and miss posting! Thank you for the grace.

Back to Paul and his troubles with Corinth.

He opens this chapter with another thought on why he didn't visit Corinth. The "yes and no" statements may be clearer now. Donna mentioned it was as if the Corinthians were thinking Paul was "speaking out of both sides of his mouth." Paul changed his plans (for whatever reason) and the Corinthians used it as a criticism for Paul saying that he is unreliable and untrustworthy, If we can't trust him to visit like he said he would, how can we trust him with bigger issues- like God and Jesus! Paul's most recent visit was full of unpleasantness and controversy, so he wanted to spare (himself and) the Corinthians more trouble (v 1). If he brought sorrow and pain every time he visited, then who would they look to for happiness and joy (v 2)? Paul wasn't willing to risk losing the church to some outside agency (Satan?). 

Paul decided that a personal letter would be better than a visit (v 3). Paul could say what he needed to say without the "risk" of aggression or conflict. Paul was hoping that this current letter would get all the hardships on the table; that the Corinthians would change their hearts, and that when Paul did visit, they would all be happy and have joy. I'm sure that Paul, like us, didn't like confronting the Corinthians and telling them they were doing wrong. Do we like starting conflict? Paul (and we) was looked at as the enemy when he offered correction and guidance. We can really feel Paul's compassion for the Corinthians in these words he is writing!

Paul uses some brilliant pastoral wisdom (v 5). Paul is referring to someone specifically that caused grief and sadness to Paul and the community, but he doesn't mention the person's name. It is good to not call out the person directly, but also, others now begin to look at what they have done and wonder if they were the reason for these words from Paul. He may be referring to the man from 1 Corinthians 5 (the one having an incestuous relationship with his step-mother), maybe it is someone different. Paul asks the church to stop punishing the man (v 6). It seems as though the man may have repented, but the church is still excluding him! That never happens in our churches, does it?! Paul's words of wisdom- forgive him, comfort him, love him (vv 7-8). We need more of that in our world! Continued harsh treatment of fellow Christians is a way for Satan to get into our lives (v 11). The more anger and hate we harbor, the easier it is for evil to take control. Theologian John Trapp said (about Satan), "That wily merchant, that greedy blood-sucker, that devoureth not widows' houses, but most men's souls." The failure to show love to a repentant man is the avenue Satan is using. 

Paul mentions a brief visit to Troas (v 12, "a door was opened" in some translations), but Paul wasn't a one-man show and his companion Titus was missing, so he didn't stay. Paul mentioned this to partially explain his lack of visiting Corinth.

Paul comments that he is being led by Jesus (v 14). It seems as though Paul is referring to Jesus/God in almost military terms (victory). Do we look at Jesus/God that way- as generals in an army? The sweet fragrance Paul refers to is also a Roman tradition. As the Romans returned from successful battles, they would burn lots of sweet smelling incense. In Paul's mind, this incense was like the wisdom of God. The "sweet smell" may also be a reference to the sacrifices that were made at the altars to God. The sweet smelling incense that was burned at the Roman victory parades were joyful for the victors, but not so much for the people that lost (vv 15-16). In the same way, the Gospel message is sweet smelling and victorious for some, but a message of condemnation for others!

Paul ends this chapter by saying they are not in this job for profit or to make a quick buck! They (Paul and his companions) are in the field of ministry to make a change in the world not to make money quickly!

It is good to be back! Possibly date day in Ithaca!

Enjoy the beauty of the day!

Shalom+
Pastor Paul