William Loader
Pentecost 2: 2 June 2 Corinthians 4:5-12
Paul had a turbulent relationship with the believers in
Corinth, despite his having founded their community. Corinth was a busy port
for travellers and commerce. Other Christian leaders soon made an impact on the
community. There was also busy correspondence between Paul and the Corinthians
only some of which has survived. We know of a letter he wrote before writing 1
Corinthians, a letter from them in return plus news brought by its members. In
response Paul writes 1 Corinthians. We then hear of another letter he wrote
subsequently which has not survived, but is described as very serious and
confronting. 2 Corinthians was written in its aftermath in place of a visit
which Paul decided to cancel. The last 4 chapters, which return to a rather
confronting personal style, may belong to a letter written after 2 Corinthians
1 - 9, or may simply be a summing up of the issues.
Why so much interchange and strife? In part it was
because there was a clash of values between Paul and many at Corinth. From
Paul’s responses we can piece together some of the criticism they had and he
had of them. Already 1 Corinthians lets us see Paul’s concern that some of them
saw being Christian as being impressive, with powerful speech, success in
performing miracles, living from high to high as though earthy things like
human relations did not matter so much. Instead Paul argues that the mark of the
Spirit is first and foremost: love. 1 Corinthians 13 is famous for its
celebration of love and putting other things in perspective.
By the time Paul comes to write 2 Corinthians the
relationship with some, at least, has deteriorated. He was under attack personally.
Apparently he did not cut an impressive image. Other Christian leaders had more
impressive credentials. Some who visited Corinth carried letters of
recommendation which itemised their impressiveness. They carried references
from top apostles. Criticism accumulated. Paul had been criticised for working
part time to support his ministry. Surely they argued Jesus instructed them to
depend on others’ hospitality! Paul lacked faith, they said. And when he set
about collecting money for the poor in Judea, they could argue that he was just
wanting the money for himself. You can rad more in the final chapters of the
letter.
When Paul had his back to the wall, he write some of his
finest pieces. 1 Corinthians 13 is one example. Romans is another, which he
wrote to ward off criticisms and reassure the Romans of the legitimacy of his
ministry and message. The fact that he wrote it from Corinth suggests that by
that time the relationship with Corinth has significantly improved, perhaps
under the impact of 2 Corinthians.
Our passage begins with Paul declaring that he is not
interested in engaging in self-promotion, much as he needs to defend himself.
Instead he centres himself and centres the attention of his readers on Christ.
He subverts his opponents’ values, who want to be impressive leaders, by
asserting that Christ is the leader and he and his colleagues are slaves. That
is deliberately confronting of their self-glorification. Paul’s faith is so
shaped by his understanding of God and Jesus, that he can explain himself in
terms which reflect gospel values.
He speaks of himself and his colleagues as being like
clay jars, earthenware vessels, not fancy stone or ceramic beauties. This is
more than humility. It is grounded in his understanding that the treasure of
the Spirit is not the ability to do fantastic miracles and Impress others, but
love, including the willingness to make oneself vulnerable. That was, after
all, how Christ was, and reflects God’s priorities, too. So Paul’s defence is
not to make a case for his ego, but to centre himself on Christ. As Christ was,
so is his ministry to be. The light and glory comes not from models of human
glorification as though God is just a self obsessed human leader writ large,
but from the way God is and was in Christ. This is the nature of God’s
creativity from the beginning. To share that light and life is to share love,
the fruit of the Spirit. This is what informs Paul’s life but also his
ministry.
Paul’s affirmation breaks into a kind of poetry as he
strings together a series of contrasts which declare that his vulnerability and
suffering (including at their hands) leads him not to despair and despondency,
but hope and encouragement. He goes on to confront the Corinthians with
challenging words which portray his willingness to be on the suffering
vulnerable Christ-side of life in order to benefit them.
A serious clash of values and of theology underlies our
passage and the letter as a whole. In the name of faith and the Spirit
religious leaders can sometimes promote the very opposite of faith. Paul takes
himself, his reads, and us back to square one. It is not all about our egos,
our numerical successes, our success in the market place of propaganda, our
stunning influence, but about that creative and transforming lowlifes and love
which is at the heart of God. And for all in ministry it is not about me-making
ministry, but about the only true reward, that of finding fulfilment in oneness
with the God of Jesus.
Gospel: Pentecost 2: 2 June Mark 2:23 - 3:6