1 Corinthians 16 (1)

Pray Psalm 125.1, 2.
Those who trust in the LORD
Are like Mount Zion,
Which cannot be moved, but abides forever.
As the mountains surround Jerusalem,
So the LORD surrounds His people
From this time forth and forever.

Sing Psalm 125.1, 2.
(St. Gertrude: Onward, Christian Soldiers)
All who trust in Jesus, strong as Zion stand!
Naught shall ever move them from their promised land!
Like the hills surrounding safe Jerusalem,
Christ surrounds His Church and holds her in His mighty Hand!
Refrain, v. 1
All who trust in Jesus, strong as Zion stand!
Naught shall ever move them from their promised land!

Read and meditate on 2 Corinthians 1.1, 2.

Preparation
1. How did Paul identify himself?

2. How did he describe the Corinthians?

Meditation
Paul did not waste words. Nor did he merely throw them out as some thoughtless convention. He identified himself with the mission of Jesus Christ and the will of God, thus giving gravitas and authority to his words. He was inspired by the Holy Spirit, and everything he wrote was intended for one purpose: that the people of God might know His grace and dwell in His peace.

Timothy had joined Paul in Ephesus by the time he wrote 2 Corinthians. Apparently, Titus also had arrived, having come from Corinth with news about how the church was getting back on track with the Lord (2 Cor. 7.13-17).

We note that Paul wanted all believers in Achaia—southern Greece—to benefit from this letter, and not just the Corinthians. Why? Because 2 Corinthians has a totally different tone from 1 Corinthians. Here Paul is deeply spiritual. He commends the Corinthians for their faithfulness and identifies with them in their ministry. And he establishes them as a kind of hub for the collection to the Judean believers. His stamp of approval on the churches in Corinth would have positioned them favorably to serve all the other believers in Achaia as well.

As in 1 Corinthians, Paul’s desire was that they might know the grace and peace of the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Whereas a typical letter of Paul’s day would begin with a mere epistolary convention—“Greetings and good health” or “Salutations”—Paul embedded both his desire for and message to the Corinthians in his opening words. He wanted them to know the grace of God, spreading from them to more and more people, and the peace of Jesus prevailing in the hearts of them all. God’s grace is sufficient for all our needs, that we may be at peace as we know, love, and serve Him.

Treasures Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
NKJV preface notes to the Second Epistle to the Corinthians: “Since Paul’s first letter, the Corinthian church had been swayed by false teachers who stirred the people against Paul. They claimed he was fickle, proud, unimpressive in appearance and speech, dishonest, and unqualified as an apostle of Jesus Christ. Paul sent Titus to Corinth to deal with these difficulties, and upon his return, rejoiced to hear of the Corinthians’ change of heart.”

And the amazing Spirit-filled and forgiving Paul was able to start the letter with “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Cor. 1.2). That 1 Corinthians 13 love he felt for those people puts a big lump in my throat and brings tears to my ears. Having been through a somewhat similar family situation in bygone years, I must admit, grace and peace were not first on my list for things I was wishing on the perpetrators!

But I long to be and do what Paul suggested: “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ” (1 Cor. 11.1).

What a beautiful example he was of grace under fire, loving through all circumstances, and feeling and acting upon “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding” (Phil. 4.7)!

And Titus and Timothy, what dear friends in Christ, supporting, defending, and loving him through his trials.
“Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, but a good word makes it glad” (Prov. 12.25). They brought that good word and human touch to a very difficult time in Paul’s ministry. And it helped him survive it.

And of course, Paul’s relationship with God also carried him through this.
“Uphold my steps in Your paths, that my footsteps may not slip.
I have called upon You, for You will hear me, O God; incline Your ear to me, and hear my speech.
Show Your marvelous lovingkindness by Your right hand, O You who save those who trust in You
from those who rise up against them. Keep me as the apple of Your eye; hide me under the shadow of Your wings, from the wicked who oppress me, from my deadly enemies who surround me” (Ps. 17.5-9).

Maintaining unity within the church is often a super-human effort, requiring Herculean strength, only available and possible through the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit. But well worth the effort. Look now at the growth of these churches in Corinth, which Paul’s determination and love beyond human capabilities enabled. Superman could never fill that man’s shoes. Paul wins, hands down.

We have the same powerful Holy Spirit living within us. We can love just that hard and well. We can, amazingly, call down grace and peace on those who hurt us (Matt. 5.44-48). We merely need to imitate the right examples—surely Jesus and Paul are a good start.

For reflection
1. What is grace? Why do we need grace every day?

2. Why do we need the peace of Jesus as much as the grace of Jesus?

3. How will God use you today as an agent of His grace and peace?

Since the gift of God and of Christ is one and the same, Paul wants them to be partakers in the grace of God, that is, in the grace of Jesus Christ. Ambrosiaster (fl. ca. 366-384), Commentary on Paul’s Epistles

Pray Psalm 125.1, 4, 5.
Pray that the grace and peace of the Lord will prevail in your church, and that your church will be strong in furthering its mission of making all the nations disciples.

Sing Psalm 125.1, 4, 5.
(St. Gertrude: Onward, Christian Soldiers)
LORD, do good and care for those upright in heart.
Those who turn to evil shall from You depart.
Sinful men may increase on their way to hell!
Save Your people, let your peace abound in Israel!
Refrain, v. 1
All who trust in Jesus, strong as Zion stand!
Naught shall ever move them from their promised land!

T. M. and Susie Moore

The Church in Corinth was in need of revival. But there was much to be done before that would happen. The Church today is in need of revival, and the same is true for us. Our book, Revived!, can help us to discern our need for revival and lead us in getting there. Order your copy by clicking here.

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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter, available by clicking here.