Thank you for listening to First Day.

What self-awareness from Paul! Do we realize the impact that we have on others and how that affects the work of the gospel—both positive and negative? Paul didn’t want his emotions and hurt feelings hinder the movement of the Spirit. In chapter one he tells us that everything he does is to be for the sake of God’s calling—and that everything he does or doesn’t do carries spiritual significance. Paul knew that if he went back to the Corinthians in his emotional state at that time, the kingdom would have suffered. 

Paul tells the Corinthians that they are the ultimate source of his joy and encouragement, and if he grieves them how can he find relief. Regardless of any relational strain, Paul is “confident” that the Corinthians will share in his joy. Of note is the reason for this confidence that he supplies in verse four. “For I wrote to you with many tears our of an extremely troubled and anguished heart—not to cause you pain, but that you should know the abundant love I have for you.” What is Paul saying here?

It appears that the apostle is confident that the Corinthians will be filled with his joy because of his intent in writing them. Yes, he was harsh with them, but the correction was not to make him feel better or to put them in their place. He wasn’t keeping it real. In fact, it pained him to do so. How often do we correct people for their benefit? If we are being totally honest, aren’t our corrections more often than no tinged with a little “I told you so”? In this circumstance, Paul acted solely with the heart of Christ, so he knows that the Corinthians will one day share in his joy.

Verses 5-11 provide some clarity into what prompts Paul’s harsh letter. Who specifically does what to Paul is not stated. Paul states here that he didn’t take it personally— “…he has cause pain not so much to me but to some degree to all of you.” However, it must have had a somewhat of an impact since it made him hesitant to return to the Corinthians. Likewise, this was something that Paul demanded that they correct—which apparently, according to verse six they did. So, what happened? Here’s what I think. 

Paul had spent eighteen months living and working and ministering with and to the Corinthians. After he leaves and makes his way to Ephesus the apostle Apollos takes the reins in Corinth. At some point during his two-and-a-half years there, Paul pens his first letter to the Corinthians—Letter A, now lost, which the Corinthians misunderstood. Paul learns of this misunderstanding from Chole’s people and from ambassadors sent by the Corinthian church. Paul responds by sending a second letter—B—which we call 1 Corinthians. Things don’t get any better in Corinth, and when someone from the church comes to visit Paul and relay this—possibly Timothy—the apostle decides to pay the church a second visit, travelling there directly from Ephesus. And this is he short, painful visit that prompts Paul’s third letter—Letter C—that, too, has been lost. The attack Paul references here in chapter two precedes this lost letter. 

In 1 Corinthians 5 Paul singles out for chastisement the only person that he does in the entire letter—although it is quite obviously aimed at a church filled with errant Christians. If you recall from 1 Corinthians 5, this member of the church is a man who is having sex with his stepmother. Of course, this sinful act is a problem in-and-of-itself, but what makes matters worse is that the church is pleased with itself that this is happening—even to the point of bragging about it. Paul, through his authority as an apostle, though “absent in the body” but “present in the spirit”, pronounces judgement on this man and tells the church to “hand [him] over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord.” (1-5) I believe that they didn’t do this, and when Paul received word that the man was still present in the body, he makes his second, short, painful trip that prompts Letter C. It seems that the Corinthians didn’t respond to this visit as Paul had hoped.

Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 5:6, “that a little leaven leavens the whole batch of dough”, and that they should, “Clean out the old leaven so that [they] may be a new unleavened batch”. His presence, Paul warns them, hinders the church’s ability to be filled by Christ because it is the “old leaven…[of] malice and evil…[and not] the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.” (6-8) And this is precisely why this man “caused pain not so much to [Paul] but to some degree—not to exaggerate—to all of [the congregation].”(2 Cor 2:5) But somewhere between the their receipt of the harsh Letter C and Paul’s visit from Titus in Macedonia, the Corinthians had done a one-eighty and had punished the man. It seems, though, that they may have gone a little too far.

So, they put him out of the church, and he repented, but now they don’t want to let him back in. Paul tells them to “forgive and comfort him,” so that he might not be overcome by grief. This action on their part will “reaffirm [their] love to him” and prove they are “obedient” to the law of Christ. Aren’t these the same reasons why Paul states he did not come to them again after the second, painful visit and the harsh letter? If they don’t forgive and comfort and welcome back the repentant, what damage might they be doing to that person’s relationship with Christ? 

Paul continues by explaining to the church the events leading to and the reasons for this new letter that he has written to them. 

After Titus fails to show in Troas, Paul crossed the Bosporus and makes his way to Macedonia where he meets Titus—who bears the good news that the Corinthian church is on the mend. 

In the Old Testament, God loved the smell of barbeque and appears to be quite a brisket fan. Notice that God doesn’t eat this brisket, though; it’s the aroma that matters. The smoke of the sacrifice being consumed by the fire tells God everything He needs to know about what is important to the one who is making the offering and reveals things like thankfulness, trust, and dependence. If we are willing to burn up this food source as an offering to God, what else are we willing to give to Him? I am reminded of the words that we speak during Holy Communion: “We offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving as a holy and living sacrifice in union with Christ’s offering for us as we proclaim the mystery of faith.” 

“…and through us spreads the aroma of the knowledge of him in every place.” Through our actions, words, and lives we share Christ to the world. Putting this another way, we are proof of Christ. “For to God we are the fragrance of Christ” to the world—as a reminder of Christ’s faithfulness and obedience and as a warning to those refuse to answer God’s call on their lives. 

Paul returns to the importance of intention and sincerity. Why the Corinthians do or don’t do what they choose to is just as important as their actions.