2 Corinthians 5:11-6:10
The Apostle Paul here in this section places his heart on his sleeves and gives a defense for his apostolic ministry. In addition, he also writes to inspire the Corinthians to recognize his ministry as being Spirit-led to follow his example within their lives and ministries. Here Paul provides clarity to the driving motive, the divine mission, the dynamic mission, and the diverse ministries of the New Covenant.
5:11-21
This passage follows the thought of the passage that immediately precedes it. The fear of the Lord relates to Paul’s conviction that everyone, apostles included, will stand before God and give account for what he or she has done. Paul shows a respect and reverence for the Lord, because He is the judge. Paul now lives from that viewpoint. The proverbial writer writes, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.”
Paul is trying to persuade the Corinthians of his own sincerity. He knows that before God his hands are clean and this his motives are pure, but his enemies (some Corinthians) have casted doubt and suspicion on him. Paul’s knowledge that his life was an open book to God led him to voice the hope that it would be transparent to all the Corinthians as well. He’s not concerned about his own personal reputation; however, his concern is about the Gospel. He understands that an attack on his character and credibility, diminishes the message of the Gospel. Because a man’s message will always be known in the context of his character. This is why as Christians, especially ministers who proclaim, must safeguard our character and our witness.
Verses 16 and 17 each begin with the same Greek word: hoste –“Therefore”
The primary reason that Paul could not live for himself, however, was Christ’s love for him. The Greek construction is probably a subjective genitive (Christ’s love for him rather than his love for Christ). Paul went on to illustrate the greatness of Christ’s love for His own. Christ’s love extended to His dying on the cross. Jesus provided the example that all His disciples must follow: He voluntarily sacrificed His life for others. Yet Jesus’ death was much more than an example. Paul had come to appreciate the widespread effects of that death as being “for all” and the essence of that death as a substitute sacrifice (“on their behalf,” v. 15.
To Paul the Christian, is in Christ, and therefore the old self of that Christian has died in that death and he arose a new man, as new as if he had just been created by the very hands of God. In this newness of life there has been a new set of standards acquired. No longer are things judged by the standards of the world.
Certain old conditions and relationships no longer exist (“the old things passed away,” Gr. parelthen, aorist tense), and others take their place and continue (“new things have come,” Gr. gegonen, perfect tense).
This ministry makes us God’s “ambassadors for Christ,” which is one of the most exalted titles that the Christian can claim. An ambassador is at the same time a messenger and a representative. Ambassadors authoritatively announce messages for others and request (“appeal”), not demand, acceptance. The Christian ambassador for Christ, moreover, announces and appeals for God (“as though God were making an appeal through us”).
2 Corinthians 6:1-10
The first ten verses of this chapter are a continuation of the Apostle’s self-vindication from another point of view; they set forth his conduct and his experiences as God’s ambassador, and as a minister to whom has been entrusted the message of reconciliation. He is addressing weak believers, who were in danger of a lapse into heathen laxity, through making so poor an attempt to reach a Christian standard of holiness.
As he had begged unbelievers to receive God’s reconciling grace (5:20), Paul now urged his readers to respond quickly and positively to God’s grace to them. Paul quoted Isaiah 49:8 to stress the importance of responding immediately. The “favorable time” will not last forever. On the other hand, “now” can be understood as emphasizing that the prophesied time of salvation, through His provision of a Savior, had finally arrived, and Paul and his readers were enjoying it and should enjoy it.
In the context of the Isaiah quotation God addressed His Servant, whom the nations had despised, promising eventual vindication and urging Him to restore His people. The parallel with Paul and the Corinthians’ ministry is obvious: Rather than squabbling among themselves over Paul, the readers needed to get on with the ambassadorial work that God had given them to do. Once again in this passage, Paul chooses to provide personal experiences in order that the Corinthians can refute the critics. It is interesting that he doesn’t use words but rather refers to his actions; his endurance in the Christian ministry. He goes on to speak of three groups, each of three things in which this victorious endurance is practiced. 1) Internal Conflicts 2) External tribulations of life 3) The effort of the Christian life.
2 Corinthians 6:11-7:4
Paul clinches his appeal to be reconciled in 6:11—7:4, emphasizing both affection (6:11-13; 7:2- 4) and indignation (6:14—7:1). This is an interesting section. 6:11-13 and 7:2-4 appear to be a unit, while 6:14-7:1 being inserted in awkwardly. The former has Paul speaking with accents of love. This section is the high point of emotion for the whole epistle. It begins and ends with Paul asking the Corinthians to open their hearts to God.
The Corinthians had a tendency to respond to Paul’s teachings by first resisting them and then going overboard in applying them inappropriately. They had done this in dealing with the incestuous man, for example (1 Cor. 5). Consequently, Paul immediately explained what he did not mean by his appeal so his readers would not become dangerously open-hearted to all people. To be open-hearted means to express or display one’s warm and kindly feelings without concealment.
2 Corinthians 7:5-16
Here Paul rejoiced about the Corinthians’ recent reception of Titus, and their response to Paul’s previous letter, demonstrated a proper response to him (cf. 1 Thess. 3:1-9). He said this to encourage his readers to follow through and become completely open-hearted toward him—to accept him and his ministry without reservation.
The connection of this section really goes as far back as 2:12, 13, for it is there that Paul tells how in Troas he had no rest because he did not now how the Corinthian situation had developed and how he had set out to Macedonia to meet Titus to get the news as quickly as possible. Let us again remember the circumstances. Things had gone wrong in Corinth. In an attempt to mend them Paul had paid flying visit which only made them worse and nearly broke his heart. After the failure of the visit, he had dispatched Titus with a letter of quite exceptional sternness and severity. He was so worried about the outcome of the whole unhappy business that he was quite unable to rest at Troas although there was much there that he might have done, so he set out to meet Titus to get the news as quickly as possible. He met Titus somewhere in Macedonia and learned to his overflowing joy that the trouble was over, the breach was healed, and all was well. That is the background of events against which this passage must be read and it makes it very rich.
Sermon Outlines
2 Cor. 5:11-15
- Main Idea: Rest in the love of Christ and know that your value comes from God.
- I. You can be secure because your value comes from God (5:11–12).
- II. You can Make Unpopular Decisions because the love of Christ Controls You (5:13–15).
- God is calling us to bring ourselves before him and to recognize that only he can ascribe and
communicate what our value is. We tend to value ourselves based on persons, places, and things, but God is causing us and calling us to value ourselves based on him.
2 Cor. 5:16-21
- Main Idea: The gospel reconciles us to God and others.
- I. Gospel Reconciliation Impacts How We View Jesus and Others (5:16).
- II. Gospel Reconciliation Frees Us to Operate Differently (5:17).
- III. Gospel Reconciliation Is the Primary Ministry of the Church (5:18–21).
