2 Corinthians 6:3–10
“We give no offense in anything, that our ministry may not be blamed. 4 But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God: in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses, 5 in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in fastings; 6 by purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love, 7 by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, 8 by honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true; 9 as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold we live; as chastened, and yet not killed; 10 as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.”
In this passage Paul dissects his recommendation and passes from the general to the particulars, that is, from the life he manifested (2 Cor. 4:10,11) to the virtues pertaining to that life. Actually Paul mentions twenty-seven virtues which were exhibited in his mortal flesh. In this brief post I will introduce only a few of them in view to demonstrate the genuineness of his recommendation.
Patience
Speaking to people who had observed his life for eighteen months, Paul wrote that much patience had been manifested. The Greek word he used is ὑπομονή (hypomonē), which meaning includes such entities as patience, endurance and constancy; of which James rightly declares that without this virtue no perfection can be reached (James 1:4).
As for Paul, he maintains that God grants eternal life “to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality” (Rom. 2:7). Obviously this sort of stability cannot exist in a person having a divided heart, for as James had rightly noticed, “A double minded man is unstable in all his ways” (James 1:8).
The person showing patient continuance in doing good has welcomed the blessing of an united heart (Psalm 86:11). A child for instance can do good during a certain period of time in view to receive a recompense. As we all understand this does not display any great virtue. But what if he would patiently continue in doing good even after the reward has been received? This would surely reveal a trait of his character.
No wonder the Scripture affirms that this patient continuance is necessary to be fruitful:
But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience” (Luke 8:15).
This stable continuance was one of the characteristics marking the life of Paul.
As you can imagine, to fake this virtue is nearly impossible since it involves moral continuity. It is therefore an authoritative seal confirming the validity of the commendation.
Tribulations
“And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope” (Romans 5:3,4).
The way a person faces tribulations give an eloquent and authoritative message as well. In Romans 5:3 Paul testified how he was glorying in tribulations. Surely this is not the common attitude a mortal has towards hardship. Actually many Christians would prefer to be free from difficulties altogether; and when they must face them, they do it with frustration, grumbling or discouragement.
In high contrast, the apostle to the gentiles didn’t only welcome them but also gloried in them. How can this be possible? Actually the answer is simpler than it may appear. Paul’s attitude towards tribulation was the result of knowledge:
And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope” (Romans 5:3,4).
Only in the ground of such erudition can the godly attitude grow. Paul had come to know that the side effects of tribulation were indeed precious and necessary.
Here we have a wonderful example of what Christian knowledge is in relation to mere Christian information. A Christian can hear several sermons on Romans 5:3,4; read the commentaries of Bible expositors; and grapple with these two verses for days or even weeks—and this, after having done four years of Bible school—and still get annoyed when tribulations come his way. The raw fact is that Christian information will never produce what Christian knowledge produces because it is void of divine breath.
Here again it is impossible to fake this godly attitude because it implies the heartbeat of divine knowledge.
Needs and distresses
Then Paul comes to such actualities as needs and distresses. Here again he tells the Corinthians how such alarming entities make him rejoice:
Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong” (2 Corinthians 12:10).
The conclusion unveils the cause of this unusual rejoicing: “for when I am weak, then I am strong”. A strong Christian is by no means the one who thinks of himself as sufficient, but rather the one who knows how weak and dependent he is. Here again this knowledge doesn’t grow on sunny slopes, but in times of adversity.
Paul’s ability to remain calm and confident in times of need and distress was part of his commendation. And when Paul refers to times of needs he makes reference to such periods as described in 2 Corinthians 11:27 “in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness”.
Paul knew what few people have learned. “I know how to be abased,” he writes, “and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need” (Philippians 4:12). This kind of learning doesn’t take place in a classroom but rather in the intensity of a daring life.
Reproaches
Another side of Paul’s recommendation was related to the way he could acclimatize to reproaches, insults and calumnies (2 Corinthians 12:10). “By honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true” (2 Corinthians 6:8).
Actually several people were constantly trying to discredit his ministry, which gave rise to ungrounded dishonor, evil reports, vilifications, libels and slanders. Such was his lot as a servant of Christ (Gal. 1:10). Yet all these things had little effect on him, for he was standing on the unmovable Rock of all ages. “I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:14). This is a confession of unshakable continuity and unremitting passion.
And what to say of purity, knowledge, longsuffering, kindness and sincere love? Read 2 Cor. 6:3–10 and meditate on the particulars Paul presents as intrinsic parts of his commendation, and you will understand how difficult it is to fake. It is surely the mark of the divine seal: solid, trustworthy and unimpeachable.
Conclusion
The very life Jesus and Paul manifested was the core of their commendation. And believe me, nothing has changed ever since. It is the only safe commendation upon which one can build. Anything else is as quicksand compared to such divine endorsement.
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