2 Corinthians 4:11-18
2/21/10
Shoreline Community Church
11. FOR
REASON
(An explanation of the preceding.)
We
who are alive
PROPOSITION
are
constantly being handed
CONSEQUECE
over
to death
(The apostle portrays he and his associate’s
ministry in context of impending death. He says we are an ever-living prey our
lives in constant danger.)
for Jesus sake
JUSTIFICATION
(This constant risking of life is well worth
facing for Jesus’ sake. This certainly justifies that ministry.)
IN
ORDER THAT
PURPOSE/RESULT
the
life of Jesus may be manifested
OUTCOME
(Somehow the essence of Jesus life is displayed
as Paul is risking his life for the gospel in situations that threaten his
life.)
in our mortal flesh.
REALM
(In other words, his body is taking the
brunt of the abuse, which is meant by his enemies to take his very life from him.)
12. SO
THAT
INFERENCE
death
is working in us
PROPOSITION
(Paul’s suffering and constantly facing
death. His suffering because of his message is the basis of his authenticity as
an apostle. Notice not eloquent speech, miracles, and connections.)
BUT
life
in you.
DEVELOPMENT
(He develops this in a new direction, namely,
that his sufferings made it possible to bring the life-saving Gospel to the
Corinthians. They were saved by hearing the gospel due to his suffering for that
gospel to bring it to them.))
13. BUT
since
we have the same spirit of faith
DEVELOPMENT
as
that shown in what has been written
SUPPORT
I
believed therefore I spoke Psa 116:1
(Paul quotes Psalm 116 to emphasize his
faith shared with the psalmist. His faith is in line with the faith of his ancestors
that compels him to speak in this case about Jesus Christ.)
and we also believe
CONNECTIVE
therefore,
we also speak.
STATEMENT
(Facing death did not keep Paul from speaking
out about the gospel. He believes the gospel so he must speak about it no
matter the risk to his life.)
14. BECAUSE
REASON
we
know the one
CERTAINTY
who
raised up the Lord Jesus
PROPOSITION
(The reason he can speak up in spite of
the risks to his life is because he knows the one who raised Jesus from the dead.
With this knowledge in hand he proclaims the gospel).
and also will raise us up
CONNECTIVE
and
will present us with you.
CONNECTIVE
(Paul and the Corinthians will be resurrected
by Jesus together also at the rapture to be presented to Christ together. He
has an eternal perspective in his present circumstance.)
15. FOR
REASON
all
things are for your sake
PROPOSITION
(All things Paul does and suffers is done
for the converts not himself or the apostles. On one hand what he does is for
Jesus sake vs 11 which also makes
it for their sake.)
IN
ORDER THAT
PURPOSE
the
grace that is including more
DESCRIPTION
and
more people
(The outcome of proclaiming the gospel is
many have believed and many more are believing and many more will still
believe! In concentric circles the gospel makes impact into many other lives
who then share that gospel in their sphere with rippling effect into our day.)
may cause thanksgiving to increase
OUTCOME
(Paul is not in this for himself or his
own glory. He wants many people to believe so that many can express thanksgiving
for what they have received and that thanksgiving increase.)
to the glory of God.
REFERENCE
(This thanksgiving then will bring glory
with reference to God. God will receive much glory because of the many who
receive the gospel and Paul is not looking for any for himself.)
16. THEREFORE
INFERENCE
we
do not despair
STATEMENT
(The inference drawn form the reality of Jesus resurrection is a full confidence
to precede ahead with the ministry of the gospel. This is no time to despair.)
BUT
CONTRAST CONNECTIVE
(He uses this occasion to completely shift
the argument into a different direction. Now he will contrast our physical life
with our spiritual one.)
even if our outer man is wearing
away
CONDITION
yet
our inner nature is being renewed
CONTRAST
day
by day.
TEMPORAL
(Even if our bodies of flesh experience
decay that might be accelerated due to suffering, the wear and tear taking it’s toll—in contrast to that, our inner man, our spirit,
is already being renewed by the suffering as it engenders in our spirit,
virtues that our eternally worthwhile. So Paul can deteriorates
physically under persecution but bloom spiritually through it.)
17. FOR
REASON
our
momentary light suffering
TEMPORAL
(So he can see his suffering for what it
is and not be depressed. They are meager things indeed. It is a moment compared
to eternity.).
is producing or working out in us
OUTCOME
an
eternal weight of glory out of all
PERSPECTIVE
proportion.
(The reason for this perspective is because
a light affliction compared to the ‘eternal weight of glory’ makes any affliction
here seem light. This weight of glory is indescribable even though he tries.
His suffering is producing this effect and again our perspective is absolutely
essential to our demeanor. It is all about the other side of the grave. This is
our focus.)
18. while we are not gazing at the
TEMPORAL
things seen
(Again it is all a matter of our perspective
and four times he repeats this at the end. Paul’s perspective made all the
difference for him and it will for the Corinthians too. If we keep our gaze
fixed on what we can see i.e., the suffering of our physical bodies, the threats
to the gospel, we will not have perspective.)
BUT
CONTRASTIVE CONNECTIVE
gazing
at what is not seen
PERSPECTIVE
(It is at spiritual things, eternal things,
God Himself we are to look. The things not seen. It is
a correct perspective that will keep us focused and determined.)
FOR
REASON
the
things seen are for a time
TEMPORAL
(The reason for this perspective is that
all things here are transient, they pass away, and so will our mortal bodies. If
you have a temporal perspective and instead try to protect your life and not risk
it for the gospel, you will eventually die anyway. You end up with nothing to
show for it eternally).
BUT
CONTRAST CONNECTIVE
the
things not seen eternal things.
PROPOSITION
(So invest your perspective here on these
eternal things. Now for Paul that meant staying steadily on the gospel in spite
of the suffering associated with it. But the Corinthians needed to understand
that this was also the badge of his authenticity as an apostle).
SIGNIFICANCE:
(1) One reason we share the gospel and suffer
for it is that in this way we also share in manifesting it’s
authenticity. Our suffering on behalf of the gospel is the same suffering Jesus
experienced. We manifest his life by sharing the gospel and suffering for it. Have
you, do you suffer for the gospel? Have you lost business, friendships, donations,
reputation, opportunities because of your commitment
to the gospel?
(2) Another reason why we want to give the
gospel is because the gospel, as it is believed, brings glory to God as more
and more people are able to express their thanksgiving to God for their salvation.
We should want God to be glorified. Suffering for it then becomes a peripheral
issue.
(3) The gospel has to do with eternal matters
and most people are preoccupied by the present or the past or some the future.
The gospel cuts across the grain of our earthly perspectives and so is necessary
for us to share it even though we may take a hit because of it. It is vastly
more important and significant.