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2
Corinthians Chapter Four
I.
Content of the Chapter
The Minister Who Fulfills the Ministry
Faithfully
A. The attitudes of fulfilling the ministry
---- manifest the truth (v.1-6):
1. Not lose heart (v.1);
2. Not handle
the word of God deceitfully
3. Not veil the gospel (v.3-4);
4. Not preach oneself, but Christ Jesus the Lord
B. The way of fulfilling the ministry ----
manifest the treasure in earthen vessels (v.7-12):
1. Manifest the excellence of the power that is of God (v.7-9);
2. Manifest the life of Jesus (v.10-11);
3. Life works through death (v.12);
C. The faith of fulfilling the ministry ----
the glory of the resurrection (v.13-18):
1. Speak by faith (v.13);
2. We will be raised up with Jesus (v.14-15);
3. Even though our outward man
is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day (v.16).
4. We do not look at the temporary affliction which is seen, but at the glory which is not seen (v.17-18).
II.
Verse by Verse Commentary
2Cor. 4:1 “Therefore, since we have
this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart.”
YLT: “Because of this, having this ministration, according as
we did receive kindness, we do not faint,”
Meaning of Words: “ministry”: service, deacon, attendance;
“lose heart”: faint, be weary, weak;
Literal
Meaning: “therefore, since we have
this ministry, as we have received mercy”,
“mercy”, it means that the mercy of God
comes upon someone even though he is unworthy of receiving such grace of God so
that he shall obtain what he is not supposed to have. “This ministry”: the ministration
that the ministers of the New Covenant shall take responsibility for, namely,
the ministry of the New Covenant (see 3:5-9).
“We”: there are many ministers; “the ministry”: there is only one
ministry. It shows that believers in the New Testament do works of the same
principles and nature ---- provide “life” through “death” and build “the body
of Christ” through the affliction and perishing of “one’s body”.
“We do not lose heart.” It means not despising oneself or abandoning
oneself, but boldly taking the responsibility and speaking with plainness (see
3:12).
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Since we can serve God on account of His
mercy, not our qualification, He will take the responsibility for providing the
power we need in service so that we can fulfill the ministry. His mercy will
perfect us unto the end.
2) Those who have been entrusted with the holy
ministry by the Lord will have boldness ---- “not lose heart” and bear witness
with power. And the power is not of them, but of the mercy of God.
3) The truth that we have received from God is
heavenly revelation, not knowledge of men. Therefore, we shall give heed more
abundantly to the truth heard (Heb. 2:1), but not ignore it.
2Cor. 4:2 “But we have renounced the
hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God
deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every
man's conscience in the sight of God.”
YLT: “but did renounce for ourselves the hidden things of
shame, not walking in craftiness, nor deceitfully using the word of God, but by
the manifestation of the truth recommending ourselves unto every conscience of
men, before God;”
Meaning of Words: “hidden things”:
secret, concealment, inward things; “shame”: disgrace,
dishonesty; “renounce”: say off for oneself, disown; “craftiness”: craftiness,
trickery, sophistry, subtlety; “handle…deceitful”: ensnare, adulterate;
“manifestation”: exhibition, expression, revelation; “commend”: exhibit,
constitute, introduce;
Literal
Meaning: “but we have renounced the
hidden things of shame”, “the
hidden things of shame”, the disgraceful
things that cannot be done before men openly.
“Not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God
deceitfully”, “in craftiness, handling … deceitfully”, one deceives the hearts of the
unsuspecting (Rom. 16:18) by good words and fair speeches so that men think
them wrongly as the true words of God
and thus fall into the trap.
“But by manifestation of the truth”,
it means: 1) preach the truth faithfully
without adding anything or taking away anything (see Rev. 22:18-19) and declare
the right meaning; 2) manifest the indwelling Christ in life, for Christ is the
truth (John 14:6). He is the reality of all spiritual things. Therefore, the
manifestation of Christ is the manifestation of the spiritual reality, namely,
the manifestation of the truth.
“Commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the
sight of God”, “commending ourselves to
every man's conscience”, let everyone
judge according to his conscience (see Rom. 2:15) whether the words are of the
truth and whether one’s deeds are of Christ who is the truth.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) We shall not do the Lord’s works through the
political power ---- “not
walking in craftiness”, nor preach wrong
words ---- “nor handling the word of God deceitfully”. This is renouncing “the hidden
things of shame”.
2) Only when we renounce “the hidden things of
shame” and declare the truth of God rightly, can we commend ourselves to every
man's conscience and make them sincerely convinced.
3)
If the workers of
the Lord
preach the truth to cater to the interests of men, it is walking in craftiness
before God.
4)
Once
a preacher has wrong incentive to proclaim the truth, he will handle the word
of God deceitfully ---- preach what he should not preach, and dare not preach
what he should preach. Thus, he has falsified the truth of God and made men go astray.
5) The servants of God preach
the word of God for the purpose
of manifesting the truth, not profiting themselves or pleasing others. All the
words that cannot declare the truth are hidden words of shame and have offended
against God.
6) The preachers shall preach the truth by not
only words, but also deeds in life. What hurts the testimony of God mostly is
that the “words” of God’s workers are inconsistent with their “deeds”.
7) There is an abnormal phenomenon that is
popular in the church now ---- the truth of God is preached by words, but not
deeds in life so that the spiritual testimony of the church is lost.
8) Christians should speak and walk before God
and let everyone judge according to their conscience, without being influenced
by their emotion.
9) Human methods can purchase man’s affection,
but only the truth can persuade one’s conscience.
10) Christians can declare the truth at best by
manifesting the indwelling Christ in life so that men will see this Christ who
is full of grace and truth (see John 1:14) on us, thus revealing the truth.
11) A worker of the Lord should live out the
truth so that all will admire him from the bottom of their hearts, for everyone’s
conscience has met God because of him.
2Cor. 4:3 “But even if our gospel is
veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing,”
YLT: “and if also our good news is vailed, in those perishing
it is vailed,”
Meaning of Words: “be veiled”: be hidden, be covered;
Literal
Meaning: “but even if our gospel is
veiled”, if we preach the truth of God’s gospel faithfully
and yet those who have heard still refuse to receive the gospel, we need not to
take the responsibility, for their minds are blinded so they cannot see or understand the truth
of the gospel.
“It is veiled to those who are perishing”, the blindness of their minds makes them
run to death and eventually become those who are perishing (see 1Cor. 1:18;
2Cor. 2:15).
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Many old opinions, e.g. thoughts of
philosophy, cultural traditions, religious doctrines and etc, will become the
veil that makes men blinded (see 3:14-15) and prevent men from seeing the light
of the gospel of Christ.
2) Those who do not believe have become those
who perish, for their minds are blinded all their life and they do not repent
till death. However, thank
God! Though we believers are blinded, we have thoroughly repented.
2Cor. 4:4 “whose minds the god of this
age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory
of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.”
YLT: “in whom the god of this age did blind the minds of the
unbelieving, that there doth not shine forth to them the enlightening of the
good news of the glory of the Christ, who is the image of God;”
Meaning of Words: “the god of this image”: the god of this
generation; “blind”: cannot see clearly in vagueness; “mind”: thought,
perception; “shine”: beam forth; “image”: expression, likeness, resemblance;
Literal
Meaning: “whose minds the god of this
age has blinded, who do not believe”, “who do not believe”, it refers to “those who are perishing” in the previous verse; “The god of this age”, it refers to the devil, the Satan. Satan
uses the world created by God and forms it into a system, including many souls,
things, materials and various thoughts, philosophy and religions, so as to draw
men’s hearts to the devil and against God. And such system of the world that
draws men’s hearts changes continually in different ages, so Satan the
controller at the back is also called “the god of the age”. “Minds has
blinded”, it means that they have fallen into folly in their thoughts and their
heart without understanding is darkened in the original (Rom. 1:21) and they
are ignorant of things of God.
“Lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ should
shine on them”, man’s mind is the main battlefield in which God wars against
the devil. To preach the gospel is leading captive every thought into the
obedience of the Christ (see 10:5). However, the device of Satan is blinding
those who do not believe, and thus the light of the gospel of the glory of
Christ cannot shine on them and therefore they refuse to receive Christ.
“Who is the image of God”, it indicates that Christ is the expression of
God’s substance (Heb. 1:3; see Phil. 2:6; Col. 1:15) and in Christ dwells all
the fullness of the Godhead bodily (Col. 2:9). No one has seen God at any time.
The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him
(John 1:18).
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) According to the manner of men, the gospel
brings to men all profit but no loss at all. However, men do not believe the
gospel, for the devil has blinded the minds of men. Therefore, we shall pray
sufficiently before preaching the gospel ---- may the Lord remove the work of
the devil in men’s hearts so that men will see the light of the gospel and
believe the Lord very soon.
2) The god of the age ---- Satan ---- schemes
to blind the minds of men by every possible means, “lest the light of the gospel of the
glory of Christ” should shine on them. This is the fundamental reason why men
refuse the gospel.
3) It is the focus of the war between God and
the devil that whether we can see the glory of Christ. Once man has seen Christ,
he will be saved. Otherwise, he is still in darkness all his life.
4) If we Christians are still attached to the
pleasure of sin of the world or love something outside of God, we have fallen
into the device of Satan and are blinded by the god of the world.
5) We should neither follow Christ and the
world at the same time, nor seek what is of the heaven and that of the earth at
one time. We should turn to Christ so that we can see the glory of the Lord
(see 3:16-18) and are drawn by His glory, thus being transformed into the image
of the Lord by the pursuit of the Lord.
6) Christ is the image of God. When we have
seen Christ, we have seen God. The Lord Jesus is the way, and the truth and the
life (John 14:6). We can see God and know God through Him.
7) If man desires to know God, he shall start
from knowing Christ. Once one has known Christ, he will know God (see 1John
2:23).
2Cor. 4:5 “For we do not preach
ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for
Jesus' sake.”
YLT: “for not ourselves do we preach, but Christ Jesus --
Lord, and ourselves your servants because of Jesus;”
Meaning of Words: “Lord”: master, supreme in authority; “bondservant”: slave, servant;
Literal
Meaning: “for we do not preach
ourselves”, “preach
ourselves”: one declares
himself so as to let him occupy a position in men’s hearts, thus worshipping
himself.
“But Christ Jesus the Lord”,
“Lord”: the ruler who governs all. All
exists by Him and for Him. Therefore, to preach Christ Jesus the Lord so that
men will obey Him and live for Him thereafter.
“And ourselves your bondservants for Jesus' sake”, “your bondservants”, it is not the Lord’s bondservants, but
your bondservants, namely, the bondservants of all (see 1Cor. 9:19). In the
heart of Paul, preachers are not men who are upheld or honored by men in a
prominent position, but humble and low bondservants who serve all (see 1Cor.
3:22; Matt. 20:26-28).
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) The central aim of Paul’s ministry is not “preaching himself, but Christ Jesus the Lord”. What do we preach actually?
2) What may blind man mostly is his “self”. He
who preaches himself will cover the light of the gospel of Christ. Therefore,
we should perfectly uphold Christ and preach Christ when preaching the gospel.
3) Throughout the past generations, there were
many so-called servants of Christ who apparently preached Christ Jesus the
Lord. However, they craftily preached themselves secretly so that men would
unconsciously regard them as the agents of Christ ---- men cannot know or
experience Christ without them.
4) He who preaches Christ as well as himself
cares much for men’s evaluation of his works and hopes that men know more about
Christ as well as himself. He who preaches Christ only will hide himself
everywhere lest he should occupy men’s attention that is supposed to be wholly
on Christ (see 11:3).
5) Though Paul speaks in defense of him, he is
not for the purpose of preaching himself, but preaching Christ Jesus the Lord.
Therefore, when he talks about himself, we do not think he is preaching
himself. Therefore, the motive of speaking decides the nature of the words. We
can see the motive of one’s speaking from his words.
6) Satan resists the work of God by upholding
the workers of God and replacing the position of Christ with that of the
workers of God so that believers in the church will pay attention to the
workers more than Christ, and focus on the mind of the workers rather than the
will of God.
7) Christ Jesus is the “Lord”, and yet the
apostle himself is the “bondservant” of all believers, namely, the bondservant
of all bondservants. What an unbalanced position! How can a worker of the Lord
rob the position of the Lord in believers’ hearts by making use of the name of
the Lord?
8) May all the servants of the Lord acknowledge
that they are “the bondservants of all” in their hearts and not say they are
the “servants” humbly in mouth but think they are above others in heart.
9) If one has really seen the glorious Lord and
the glorious salvation, he will be willingly to be bondservant of all.
2Cor. 4:6 “For it is the God who
commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give
the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”
YLT: “because God who
said, Out of darkness light to shine, who did shine in our hearts, for the
enlightening of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”
Meaning of Words: “command”: say, tell; “knowledge”: science; “the light of the glory”: the shining of glory, the effulgence of
glory;
Literal
Meaning: “for it is the God who
commanded light to shine out of darkness”,
all the work of God starts from light (see
Gen.1:3-4). We can say that there is no God’s work without light, because He is
light. Where He is, there is light (Ps. 36:9).
“Who has shone in our hearts”, it shows that not only Paul has seen the true
light but also we who have believed the Lord have turned from darkness to light
by reason of the opened eyes (Acts 26:18). Light that “has been shone in our hearts” is different from the light shone on the face of
Moses (see 3:7), which shows us that the glory of the ministry of the gospel is
distinct from the glory of the ministry of the law. The former shines in the
heart of man, which is in relation to the inner life. And the latter shines on
the face of man, which relates to one’s everyday life. The glory of the New
Testament is deep and can change men’s life. And the glory of the Old Testament
is shallow and makes men constrained in walking.
“To give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in
the face of Jesus Christ”, it shows that the
light of God in the New
Testament firstly shines upon men in order to let them see and know Jesus Christ.
He is the effulgence of his glory (Heb.1:3) ---- He is the manifestation of
God’s glory.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) When God’s light shines upon the universe,
every creature comes into being. When the light of God shines in the hearts of
men, the new creation comes into being. When the light of God shines more
deeply, there will be more excellent workmanship. Therefore, we shall desire
the light of God and seek the true light of life (see John 1:4, 9).
2) God is light and Christ is the image (v.4),
and we men are like camera. God commands light to shine out of darkness in the face of Jesus Christ as well as in our hearts.
3) No one can see the glory of Christ without
the light of God (v.4). And the positive meaning of the light of God is making
the glory of Christ shone in our hearts so that we can see the image of His
glory.
4) The glorious gospel is none other than
Christ Himself, who shines out of the spirits of believers. And the light in us
also makes us become the light-bearer, appearing as lights in dark generation
(Phil. 2:15).
5) The light of God lies in none other place
than the face of Jesus Christ. Therefore, we shall draw near the Lord more and
live before the Lord and behold His beauty so as to let the light on His face
shine in us more.
2Cor. 4:7 “But we have this treasure
in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.”
YLT: “And we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the
excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us;”
Meaning of Words: “treasure”: deposit, wealth; “earthen
vessels”: earthen-ware, clayey vessels; “excellence”: supereminence, abundance,
preeminence, beyond measure;
The Background: in the ancient times, the clayey vessels were often
applied in gold metallurgy. When the gold was completed, men would break the
earthen vessels in order to take the gold. In past days, by reason of the
unhealthy public security, the rich men in the Middle East often buried the
earthen vessels in which their treasure was hid under the ground. Here, it, in
a figurative sense, indicates that Christ dwells in the spirits of believers
just like the treasure in the earthen vessels.
Literal
Meaning: “but we have this treasure in
earthen vessels”, “we” refers to believers. “This treasure” refers to
the indwelling Christ. “Vessels” refer to men, who are dusts on the earth (Gen.
2:7). As for the nature of men, we are merely as humble and frail as earthen
vessels (see Rom. 9:21; 2Tim. 2:20).
“That the excellence of the power may be of God and not of
us”, “the excellence of the power” is the exceedingly preeminent power. The
indwelling Christ has superabundant power that enables believers to deal with
all difficulties. “May
be of God and not of us”, it is not of our
physical life, but the works of God.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) We are the earthen vessels, and the treasure
in us is the Lord Jesus. The earthen vessels are humble and frail, and yet the
treasure is precious and eternal. Therefore, the value of Christians completely
lies in Christ in us.
2) God puts the treasure in the earthen vessels
in order to show the wonderful power of the treasure rather than the honor of the
earthen vessels. Therefore, each of us shall desire to be an “earthen vessel”
that is able to manifest Christ, not ourselves.
3) Our thoughts, affection and will often
tightly encircle Christ the treasure so that men can only see the earthen
vessels without seeing the treasure.
4) The proud men tend to boast of their
preeminence. And the humble men may easily abandon themselves and complain they
are merely dust. Both of them focus on the earthen vessels instead of the
treasure. The earthen vessels should be ignored, but the treasure should be
paid attention to.
5) The treasure in the earthen vessels ---- the
indwelling Christ ---- shall manifest the excellence of His power from us, so
we shall not be earthen vessels that hide the treasure, but earthen vessels that
let the power of treasure fully manifested.
6) At all times, we can appropriate the
excellence of the power of the treasure as the source of the power of our life
and works so as to satisfy all the need of us.
7) We need not to repair or improve the earthen
vessels so as to manifest the treasure. And all the artificial works of men
have covered the treasure in them.
8) The alabaster flask should be broken so that
ointment inside will be poured out (see Mark. 14:3). If the earthen vessels of
us have not been broken, the treasure therein cannot be manifested. If the
risen power of Christ shall be manifested on someone, he has to experience the
death of the cross first.
9) If man’s work has not been rejected or
broken, God’s work cannot be manifested on men. If a man asks God for help when
his old man has not been put to death, God will not answer him. God never helps
the old man. Whenever the old man work, God will not work.
2Cor. 4:8 “We are hard-pressed on
every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;”
YLT: “on every side being in tribulation, but not straitened;
perplexed, but not in despair;”
Meaning of Words: “hard-pressed”:
be troubled, be afflicted; “crushed”: hem in closely, straiten; “despair”: be
utterly at a loss, despond;
Literal
Meaning: “we are hard-pressed on every
side, yet not crushed”, though it is
hemmed, there is still ample space for circling around. It means that the
troubles that we suffer will not be above what we are able (see 1Cor. 10:13).
“We are perplexed, but not in despair”, it
seems to be of no way, but. The things that are impossible with men are
possible with God (Luke 18:27).
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) If the persecutions and difficulties that we
suffer are compared with that Paul suffers, they are nothing. Since Paul is not
crushed nor in despair, we shall not give us up as
hopeless.
2) When we find no way on any side, God can
open us a way from the heaven (see 1Cor. 10:13). When we have no way in us, the
Lord Himself is our way (see John 14:6).
3) Man’s extremity is God’s opportunity.
Therefore, when man still has his way, God will not open his way to us.
2Cor. 4:9 “persecuted, but not
forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed--”
YLT: “persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not
destroyed;”
Meaning of Words: “be persecuted”: be pressed forward, be followed; “forsaken”: be deserted, be left; “struck down”: be
thrown down, be cast down;
Literal
Meaning: “persecuted, but not
forsaken”, one is pressed forward by
the enemy, but he is not forsaken by God.
If God for us, who against us (Rom. 8:31)?
“Struck down, but not destroyed--”, though one seems to have been lost, he will
not fail completely. That is to say, the grace of Christ ---- the power of the
risen life ---- is perfected in man’s weakness (see 12:9).
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) The words “yet” and “but” in verse eight and
nine speak out the mystery of the inner life of Christians. Since we have the
risen life of Christ in us, we can still stand for the Lord in difficulties.
2) Though Christians have pressure outside,
they have the power of confronting the persecutions. The outer pressure is
often for the purpose of manifesting the inner power. All the persecutions are
for the purpose of training us so that we may receive the power of the risen
life.
3) The workers of the Lord need not search
difficulties for them on purpose, and yet should not escape when troubles come
upon them. We should acknowledge that troubles are the hand of God for
edification that makes us purer and more serviceable to the Lord.
2Cor. 4:10 “always carrying about in
the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be
manifested in our body.”
YLT: “at all times the dying of the Lord Jesus bearing about
in the body, that the life also of Jesus in our body may be manifested,”
Literal
Meaning: “always carrying about in
the body the dying of the Lord Jesus”, “the
dying of Jesus” refers to the dying situation of Jesus on
the cross. “Carrying
about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus”, it indicates that we believers take up the
cross to follow the Lord (Matt. 16:24) and put ourselves to the death of the
cross for the sake of the Lord.
All the troubles we suffer for the sake of the Lord can also be regarded
that we always
carry about in the body the dying
of the Lord Jesus. Just as the next
verse
“That the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body”, “the life of Jesus” refers to the risen life of Jesus. The
risen life cannot be manifested in our body, unless the principle of
resurrection is worked (see Rom. 6:4-5).
Controversial Clarification: someone think wrongly that “the dying of
Jesus” is equal to any disease, or disaster, or loss or troubles that
Christians suffer. However, the sufferings of Christians have two sorts: one is
the suffering resulted from his own faults, mistakes, sins or natural elements.
Such affliction is similar to that of the common people in the world and cannot
be counted as the suffering of the cross. And the other kind is for the sake of
the Lord Jesus (Matt. 5:11) and the body of Christ (Col. 1:24) and the kingdom
of God (Rev. 1:9). Such suffering can be regarded as carrying about in the body “the dying of the Lord Jesus”.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) The Lord Jesus Himself is the grain of wheat
falling into the ground dying, and bears us, the much fruit (see John 12:24).
As the Lord’s way is ---- live through death, so is ours, for it is not
quickened unless it die (1Cor. 15:36).
2) The works of death is proportional to the
manifestation of the resurrection. The more the Lord’s workers experience the
dying of Jesus, the more they will manifest the life of Jesus.
3) We will drink the cup that the Lord Jesus
drinks, and we will be baptized with the baptism that the Lord Jesus is
baptized with (Mark 10:38). The will of God on Christians is that through many
tribulations we must enter into the kingdom of God (Acts 14:22).
4) The image of the new creation can be
manifested only when we bear in our bodies the brands of the Lord Jesus (Gal.
6:15, 17). The inward man can be renewed (see v.16) only when the outward man
carries about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus.
5) He must increase, but I must decrease (John
3:30 the original). The increase of the risen life of Christ is perfected by
the decrease of our natural life. This is an immutable spiritual law.
Therefore, if any one desires to come after me, let him deny himself and take
up his cross and follow me (Matt. 16:24). One can receive more spiritual life
through putting his soul to death by the cross (Matt. 16:25).
6) Only if man has suffered the tribulations
and has the experience of the cross can he manifest the life of Christ.
Therefore, the foundation of the ministry of life is that ministers themselves
shall have the experience of the cross. Today, the widespread shortage of the
ministry of life in the church is due to the ministers’ insufficiency of the
experience of the cross. When God gives the experience of the cross, they often
try to weasel out.
7) It is not the spiritual gifts or words of
those who have spiritual gifts, but the life manifested from those who know the
cross and take up the cross everyday and have been dealt with the cross can
help believers and build the church most.
8) The instrument that God will use is the man
that God has made His words constituted into him through the work of the cross
in spirit until the word has become his life. And then such men will fulfill
the ministry of life, and such life will be vividly manifested from them on
account of the
dying work in them.
2Cor. 4:11 “For we who live are always
delivered to death for Jesus' sake, that the life of Jesus also may be
manifested in our mortal flesh.”
YLT: “for always are we who are living delivered up to death
because of Jesus, that the life also of Jesus may be manifested in our dying
flesh,”
Literal
Meaning: “for we who live are always
delivered to death for Jesus' sake”, “we
who live” refer to believers
who still live in the world. “Be always delivered to death”, the difficulty one is faced with is not
positively caused by him, but is due to the provocation of Satan, the
persecution of men, the allowance and sovereignty of God ---- but the real
reason is “for Jesus’ sake”. Here, note that the word “always” indicates that
the tribulations such tribulation is not unusual, but frequent.
“That the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our
mortal flesh”, “the life of
Jesus”, please see the commentary of verse ten. “Our mortal flesh”, it refers to the corruptible flesh (see 1Cor.
15:42, 50, 53), indicating that our corporeal body shall die.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) The word “always” is interesting, for it shows us that the
experience of the cross is not once in our life, but “always” ---- “always” carry about in the body the dying
of the Lord Jesus” (see v.10); be “always
delivered to death for Jesus' sake.
However, it is not that we “always” generate the work of the cross, but we are
“always” delivered unto the work of the cross. As long as are willing to devote
ourselves to the Lord to serve Him, God will train us in our circumstance.
2) The treasure in us (v.7) is the risen
Christ. It is totally on account of the treasure that we have not been
destroyed when entering into death but can provide life.
3) The way of the Lord’s workers is providing
life through death and manifesting life by going through death (v.10).
4) The principle of the risen life is living
after going through the death. The bondage of death has no power in such man,
for there is a power stronger than death in him. That is, after going through
death, he keeps alive without being touched by death at all.
5) All that is of the nature can not keep alive
after death. And all that is of God can live though going through the death.
2Cor. 4:12 “So then death is working in
us, but life in you.”
YLT: “so that, the death indeed in us doth work, and the life
in you.”
Meaning of Words: “work”: show forth, be active, efficient, be
effectual;
Literal
Meaning: “so then”, it shows that this verse is a conclusion
of the paragraph from verse seven to eleven.
“Death is working in us”,
the effect of the working of death in one’s
body makes him feel the power and suffering of death, which is the work of the
cross that puts us to death. “We”, here it refers to believers who are
responsible for providing the life of Christ.
“But life in you”,
“you” refers to believers who receive the service and provision of the apostles
(“us”, in the last half verse). When the servant is experiencing the annihilation of the cross, those whom he serves can
yet feel the constant transmission of the work and power of Christ’s risen
life. Such situation is providing life through death.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) If we want to provide life to others, we
have to receive the work of death. If our natural life has not been put to
death, the risen life cannot be manifested through us.
2) If we can transmit the divine life to
others, it must be the outcome of the annihilating work of the cross. If we are
willing to experience more the dying of Jesus for the sake of the church, we will be the
river of living water that fills the church with full life.
3) Anyone who seeks life in himself cannot
receive life. Only when death works in us will life work in others.
4) In like manner, we shall not seek power in
ourselves, but shall ask us whether we have the anointment. If the anointment
is in us, the power will be in others.
2Cor. 4:13 “And since we have the same
spirit of faith, according to what is written, "I believed and therefore I
spoke," we also believe and therefore speak,”
YLT: “And having the same spirit of the faith, according to
that which hath been written, `I believed, therefore I did speak;' we also do
believe, therefore also do we speak;”
Literal
Meaning: “and since we have the same
spirit of faith”, our faith is not of us, but is gifted by God (Eph.
2:8).
“The
same spirit of faith”, it means that the
apostles have the same spirit of faith with the speaker of the scripture quoted
in this verse. And the “spirit” does not refer to the Holy Spirit only, but
also indicates the situation that the spirit of man is jointed with the
indwelling Holy Spirit (see Rom. 8:16 the original) ---- when the spirits of
believers response to the indwelling Holy Spirit, they will manifest the
testimony of faith.
“According to what is written”,
the following scriptures are quoted from the Book of Psalm (116:10).
“"I believed and therefore I spoke"”, it means that though the speaker had been in
distress, he believed that he was bound to be saved on account of the faith in
God. Therefore, he declared
that he would walk before God in the land of the living.
“We also believe and therefore speak”, it indicates that Paul, as the poet of
the psalm, has proclaimed the previous paragraph by faith (see v.7-12) as well
as the following paragraph by faith (see v.14-18).
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) All those who know the Lord speak in faith.
However, if man wants to speak in faith, he should above all receive revelation
in faith.
2) The principle of spiritual service is: faith
generates testimony. This is the secret of the perfection and success of
Christians’ services. We believe and therefore we proclaim. If we do not
believe, we’d better close our mouths.
2Cor. 4:14 “knowing that He who raised
up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with
you.”
YLT: “knowing that He who did raise up the Lord Jesus, us
also through Jesus shall raise up, and shall present with you,”
Meaning of Words: “know”: be aware, behold, know;
Literal
Meaning: “knowing that He who raised
up the Lord Jesus”, “He who raised up the Lord
Jesus” refers to God the
Father (Rom. 8:11).
“Will also raise us up with Jesus”,
there are two explanations of “resurrection”
here: 1) it refers to the resurrection after the death of the physical body
(see 1Cor. 15:52). Because of the hope of resurrection, Paul is willing to
preaching Jesus though dying daily (see 1Cor. 15:30-32). 2) It refers to
spiritual resurrection (see Eph. 2:5-6). It also suggests that Paul confesses
he has really tasted the savor of the death in tribulations (see 1:9) and
believes that God will raise
him up with Jesus.
“And will present us with you”, “we” refer to Paul and his fellow workers. “You”
refers to believers in Corinth as well as all believers. “With”, it means that
there is no believer that is exceptional. “Present”, it means “stand”, which
relates to resurrection. The dead cannot stand.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Spiritual knowledge generates spiritual
works. One does not fear death because of the hope of resurrection, so he can
speak in faith.
2) The resurrection of believers does not
merely refer to the hope of resurrection in the future but also the experience
of spiritual resurrection at present. If we are become identified with in the
likeness of his death, so also we shall be of resurrection (Rom. 6:5).
2Cor. 4:15 “For all things are for your
sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to
abound to the glory of God.”
YLT: “for the all things because of you, that the grace
having been multiplied, because of the thanksgiving of the more, may abound to
the glory of God;”
Literal
Meaning: “for all things are
for your sakes”, “all things” relate to all things that Paul suffered. Here,
they especially refer to being delivered to death for the sake of the gospel
(see v.11). “For your sakes”, for the sake of believers’ profit;
“That grace, having spread through the many”, “grace”: gracious gift;
that is to say, the experience of believers’ life and power. “Having spread
through the many”, the more the number of the believers is, the larger of the
sum of grace will be.
“May cause thanksgiving abound to the glory”, the experience of grace
brings about thanksgiving to God. The more one experiences the grace, the more
thanksgiving shall he present. And thanksgiving to God glorifies God.
This verse shows the reason why Paul
fulfills the ministry at the risk of death: 1) the suffering he is faced with
is for the profit of believers; 2) there are more abundant men who shall enjoy
the grace of God on account of his service; 3) the grace of God increased
through the many; 4) more grace brings about more thanksgiving to God; 5) all
glory shall be unto God;
Enlightenment
in the Word: the purpose of
service is glorifying God the Father. This is the highest and noblest belief of
the workers of the Lord. Let more people enjoy more grace of God so that thanks
and praise will be unceasingly unto the throne of God. The workers would rather
enter into death than manifest His life.
2Cor. 4:16 “Therefore we do not lose
heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being
renewed day by day.”
YLT: “wherefore, we faint not, but if also our outward man
doth decay, yet the inward is renewed day by day;”
Meaning of Words: “perish”: rot thoroughly,
ruin, corrupt, and destroy;
Literal
Meaning: “therefore we do not lose
heart”. “Not
lose heart”, we do not lose heart toward the difficulty when fulfilling the
ministry (see v.1).
“Even though our outward man is perishing”, “outward man” includes the body and soul. “Perish”, it
refers to the physical and mental consummation and corruption.
“Yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.” “The
inward man” includes the quickened spirit and the renewed soul. “Day by day”,
it means being transformed into the same image from glory to glory (see 3:18).
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Though there are many trials and pressure in
the environment, they can only destroy our outward men and increase more the
constitution of God in us so that the inward men will be strengthened and
renewed and transformed. Therefore, no matter what suffering that strikes us,
we shall not lose heart.
2) The workers of the Lord should keep being
renewed in spirit everyday. If we stay in the obsolete condition, lest it
should be due to our outward men who seek after comfort and escape the work of
the cross.
2Cor. 4:17 “For our light affliction,
which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal
weight of glory,”
YLT: “for the momentary light matter of our tribulation, more
and more exceedingly an age-during weight of glory doth work out for us --”
Meaning of Words: “for a moment”:
temporal, momentary, at the very instant; “light”: least, petty; “affliction”: pressure,
persecution, tribulation; “work”: accomplish, do work fully, perform; “weight”: burden, load; “far more exceeding”: a
throwing beyond others, supereminence, more excellent;
Literal
Meaning: “for our light affliction,
which is but for a moment”, this verse indicates that all the afflictions we suffer in this age are extremely
transient as for its time extent and are very light as for its measure of weight.
“Is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight
of glory”, “is working for us”, it means that the afflictions we suffer are not in vain, for they will
bear some fruit. “A
far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory”, though the cost we have paid is temporary and
light, the glory we have obtained is more exceeding concerning its measure of
weight and eternal concerning its time extent.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Our transient “afflictions” at present can
render us receive the eternal “glory” forever. Therefore, the afflictions in
this age just “make a deposit” on the eternal glory.
2) The way of the holy service is by no means
“skies always blue”, nor “flowers strewn all our lives”. However, the end of
serving the Lord is “the far
more exceeding and eternal weight of glory”.
3) “The far more exceeding and eternal weight
of glory”, it is exceedingly
heavy and permanent, and cannot float nor disappear. Only God possesses such
far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. All the glory that is not
weighty enough and unable to endure belongs to “vain glory” (Phil. 2:3). Even
though men covet for the vain glory, they cannot definitely obtain it.
4) If there is no the cross, there will be no
glorious crown. The fruit of suffering afflictions for the sake of the Lord is
receiving the far
more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. Therefore, the willingness of suffering
tribulations does not equal to the maltreatment of oneself, but is for the sake
of entering glory.
2Cor. 4:18 “while we do not look at the
things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things
which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.”
YLT: “we not looking to the things seen, but to the things
not seen; for the things seen temporary, but the things not seen age-during.”
Meaning of Words: “look at”: take heed, take aim at;
Literal
Meaning: “while we do not look at the
things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen”. “The things which are seen” relate to all the earthly and material
things that we can feel by the corporeal sense organs. Here, they especially
refer to the corruption of the outward man and the afflictions we suffer (see
v.16-17). “The
things which are not seen” refer to all the
heavenly and spiritual things that can be known by the spirit of faith and yet
cannot be felt by the corporeal sense organs. Here, they particularly refer to
the renewal of our mind and the glory we shall receive (see v.16-17).
“For the things which are seen are temporary, but the
things which are not seen are eternal.”
All the earthly and material things and the physical and mental coziness or
afflictions are merely transient. All heavenly and spiritual things shall abide
forever.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Both the visible wealth on the earth and joy
of this age are temporary. Even though men have obtained them, they will turn
to vanity in a moment. Only the Lord Himself, though He is invisible, He is of
the eternal value. We shall set the Lord as the goal of our pursuit of our
life.
2) If we look at the “afflictions” that are
seen (v.17), we will lose heart. If we look at the “glory” that are not seen,
we shall be exultant and sing “I will cling to the old rugged cross and
exchange it someday for a crown”.
3) The outlook of Christians on life is not
looking at the material world.
III.
Outlines of the Spiritual Lessons
The Demands for the
Minister of the New Testament
A. One shall keep unto the end and not lose
heart (v.1).
B. One shall not walk in
craftiness nor handle the word of God
deceitfully, walk and work
according to the truth (v.2).
C. One shall not blind the light of the gospel
(v.3-4).
D. One shall humble himself and preach Christ Jesus the Lord and be bondservants of all instead of preaching himself (v.5).
E. One shall live before God and let the light
of God shine in him (v.6).
The Relation of
Christ with the Minister of the New Testament
A. Christ is the light ---- preach the gospel
to manifest the light (v.1-6);
B. Christ is the power ---- confess one’s
powerlessness so as to manifest the power (v.7);
C. Christ is the life ---- receive the dealing
with of the cross in order to manifest the life of Jesus (v.8-12);
D. Christ is the resurrection ---- speak by
faith to manifest the grace of God (v.13-15);
From Glory to Glory
A. Christ is the glorious light of God that
firstly shines in the hearts of the ministers of the gospel. And then the
ministers of the gospel will reveal the light (v.1-6).
B. And there is an increasing number of men who
receive the grace of life, thus causing thanksgiving to abound to
the glory of God (v.14-15).
C. The ministers of the gospel suffer light affliction that is but for a moment for the purpose of receiving the far more exceeding and eternal
weight of glory (v.16-18).
Knowing the Ministry
of the New Testament
A. The attitude of fulfilling the ministry ----
commend … to every man's conscience (v.1-2);
B. The difficulty of fulfilling the minister
---- the god
of this age has blinded the mind of men
(v.3-4);
C. The center of the minister ---- Christ Jesus
is the Lord (v.4-6);
D. The source of the minister’s provision ----
the treasure is in the earthen vessels (v.7-9);
E. The means of the minister’s provision ----
provide the risen life through death (v.10-12);
F. The faith of the minister’s provision ----
the glory of resurrection (v.13-18);
The Spirit that
Keeps the Ministers of the New Testament
A. Keep them because of the presence of God
(v.7a);
B. Keep them because of the power of God
(v.7b-9);
C. Keep them everyday because of the spirit of
being delivered to death (v.10-12);
D. Keep them because of the spirit of faith
(v.13);
E. Keep them because of the hope of
resurrection (v.14);
F. Keep them because of the need of all as well
as the glory of God (v.15);
G. Keep them because of the inward man’s being
renewed day by day (v.16);
H. Keep them because of the hope of the eternal
glory (v.17-18);
The Ministry of the
Apostle
A. The power of life is manifested in the
apostle (v.10).
B. Life works in others (v.11-12).
C. The secret lies in faith (v.13-14).
D. The result will be grace, thanksgiving and
glory (v.15).
──
Caleb Huang《Christian Digest Bible
Commentary Series》
Translated by Mary Zhou