Monday 22nd May
Read 2 Corinthians 10:1-6
“By the humility and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you—I, Paul, who am “timid” when face to face with you, but “bold” toward you when away! 2 I beg you that when I come I may not have to be as bold as I expect to be toward some people who think that we live by the standards of this world. 3 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 6 And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete.” (NIVUK)
When I first became a Christian I confess I thought Paul was a little strange, disturbingly misogynistic, and unyielding with his opinions on morality and salvation. It really wasn’t until I looked closely at these four chapters at the end of his correspondence with the Corinthian church that my mind changed. In these chapters we see Paul at his most vulnerable, his most personal, and his most pastoral. They are truly inspirational chapters.
Inspirational? Yes, because we must first understand that Paul is under direct attack from interlopers in Corinth. We will understand more clearly what they are saying over the coming weeks – but it was personal, professional, targeted character assassination. In modern parlance, they were ‘cancelling’ Paul. What is the Christian response to such attacks? How do you defend yourself? Particularly when the attack is made on Paul’s supposed ‘timidity’, or literally his humility, as if humility is actually the worst thing you could be!? Paul can’t be an apostle because his personal presence is too pathetic. All bark when away, no bite when present.
But look at how he starts his letter. He doesn’t start with a rebuke. He doesn’t declare his apostolic authority. He doesn’t command immediate repentance. (Which, let’s face it, is our first instinct when our credentials are challenged unjustly). He starts with an appeal. He humbly begs their attention. He does so personally, ‘I Paul, I myself…’. He begins with the very behaviour for which he is being condemned. He begins with humility and meekness.
This is not for show. This is not clever argument. It is the written equivalent of a dog lying down and baring its throat. It is the mark of someone who has been so transformed by the gospel, so in touch with Jesus, that Jesus’ spirit and actions have become Paul’s. Yes, Jesus could thunder when required and overthrow tables and rebuke self-righteousness, but His ministry was characterised by gentleness. “‘Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.’” (Matthew 11:28-30) (NIVUK).
Imagine being mocked, ridiculed, disparaged, and slandered. Imagine it being believed by people you love dearly. Imagine you aren’t there in person to defend yourself and that even if you were, the very character traits that define you and are being mocked, are the same character traits of Jesus. Would you respond with such gentleness?
Paul is humble because Jesus is humble. Paul is gentle and tender and compassionate because Jesus is gentle and tender and compassionate (cf Philippians 2:1-4). Paul is slow to anger because God is slow to anger (cf Exodus 34:6-7). Paul’s defence against vilification is truly inspirational.
