As we reach the end of this issue – Selwyn looks at the last mention of the phrase ’in Christ’, to be found in Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians – it’s s reflective passage, you can feel Paul’s emotion in these words – a final heart-felt plea, for the Corinthians to seek perfection and to [...]
Selwyn now look at another ‘in Christ’ verse – and, I think it’s an interesting one. The verse follows, with a few other verses to provide the context. 2 Corinthians 19-21 (NIV): “Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves to you? We have been speaking in the sight of God [...]
I think the main statement to be found in today’s study, is: “Three times Paul asked God to deliver him, but each time the answer was ‘No’ (2 Corinthians 12:8-9). It’s not easy when God says ‘No’ to a persistent prayer for deliverance, but His ‘Nos’ always follow a wise and benevolent purpose.” Likewise, Job [...]
Selwyn looks at the following verses of Scripture, and asks: What was Paul’s thorn? 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 (NIV): “To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassing great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take [...]
Today, Selwyn mentions one of Paul’s spiritual experiences, 2 Corinthians 12:2 (NIV): “I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven.‘ It’s thought that Paul uses the third person ‘I know a man’, as a reference to himself, out of humility. I think that many of us [...]
I agree with Selwyn (with some clarifications) when he says: “We must not let others control our behaviour (if it’s not their anointed right to do so), although we must be open to their (mature and Christian) correction.” He expands this statement, further on: “We are to follow Paul’s instruction and do what is right not only [...]
‘The Terrible Meek’
Selwyn ends his meditations on the theme of Paul’s magnificent obsession by reflecting further on the text we looked at yesterday: ‘ … we are weak in Christ, yet by God’s power we will live with him to serve you’ (2 Corinthians 13:4). I thought this part of Selwyn’s conclusion was especially good: “There is [...]
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