Venice church of Christ1d ago
I have great confidence in you; I take great pride on your behalf. I am filled with encouragement; I am overflowing with joy in the midst of all our suffering (2 Corinthians 7:4).
Show threadVenice church of Christ1d ago

#Paul very deliberately chose a powerfully #emotional way to defend his #ministry and speak of his recent experiences to the Corinthian #Christians. 

Since they all knew the end of the matter, why would Paul do this? 

Sure, he wanted them to feel how much he felt for them; it was not all for show or pretense. 

But he also set it forth as an example of how he would feel despair and yet great joy in his ministry.

Show threadVenice church of Christ

And he presented it to the Corinthian Christians to provide them a framework through which they could understand their recent experiences of grief, shame, and repentance, so they might find #comfort and #joy in the resolution of it all. 

We can appreciate what Paul has done and find ways to apply it to our own lives of faith so we might be able to well contextualize grief, distress, and pain and the comfort and joy that comes in the morning. 

Mar 27 at 6:00pmPostBoost
Show threadVenice church of Christ1d ago
Why would Paul put his own story of joy and pride despite all he endured and suffering out there for the Corinthian Christians and also for us?