2 Corinthians 6:1-10 – A Blameless Ministry
When Paul describes his ministry he is not saying that he is some superhero Christian, he’s not describing himself as having attained all these things by the mere force of his own will and his own greatness. Instead, these things grow up out of a heart alive in Christ. Paul first talks about patience, or endurance under trials. When we face the attacks of a hostile world, Paul says that God gives us strength to persevere, knowing that we will give an account to the Lord. The trials of this world can feel like a weight on our chest so that we can’t even breathe. But Paul says that the tribulations that we suffer are such that God is using them to bring glory to Himself and to His church. Paul speaks about the specific trials that he went through. Here you might think of the one who is so convinced of doing what is right that he or she would not shrink from trouble when trouble comes. We know that our God’s great purpose is being served in that trial. Over and over again, Paul showed himself to be self-sacrificing in his labour for the Gospel. Again, this is not because Paul was making himself out to be a superhero Christian. In chapter 1, Paul very revealingly talks of his own weaknesses, his struggling in his own faith. What this does is to show the high glory of Christ and his kingdom that motivated Paul, that out of that rich soil grows this type of ministry. It’s such that Paul would give everything in order to be found in Christ personally. And he would give everything that the church would persevere in faith in Christ.
In verses 6 and 7, Paul talks about the graces and gifts that God had given. In purity, he maintained his ministry. Purity is a word that has the idea of being free from corruption, or free from being dirty or polluted. Paul didn’t just teach them something that he had no knowledge of personally himself. Paul was very wise and very knowledgeable, but he sets it up here as a gift from God. Another gift that he lists here is long-suffering or patience. Paul says that the ministry that he pursued was characterized by kindness. He was disposed to doing good. The Holy Spirit is building up the church and supplying every need through the gifts that he gives. And Paul very directly identifies his own gifts as coming by the Spirit of God. One of those other graces is the grace of sincere or genuine love. Christian love has no ulterior motives. Paul confesses that he’s not going to follow clever methods of oratory or speech-making, but he is, out of faith, going to preach the plain truth of the Word of God. And coupled with that is the power of God. The final grace that he lists here are the weapons of righteousness. There is an enemy that fights hard against Christ and His church. So we need the armour of God.
Question
- How can the graces Paul was given encourage us?
Prayer Points
- Pray for your minister and elders.
- Use prayer points from your congregation.
- Pray for family matters.