Wednesday, December 5, 2012

2 Cor. 10-13


Paul concludes 2 Corinthians with some interesting stuff.

We get an insight into how he is perceived as an actual person.  In person, he is unassuming and perhaps a weak speaker.  This contrasts the heavier tone of his letters and surprises the audience.  

Paul again defends himself as an apostle.  This probably provides insight as to what prompted this second epistle to the Corinthians.  From his statements, we can infer that there was an issue of other "apostles" showing up who presented different Gospels than what Paul preached.

Other things that Paul mentions in defense of his Apostleship is that signs and wonders follow apostles and that Paul himself was beaten, stoned, and shipwrecked.  We actually get some detail into what exactly Paul has experienced, although not all of them were covered in the Book of Acts.  

A recurring theme in the book is the contrast between our mortal fleshly bodies with that of our spiritual selves.  Paul takes this to an interesting level by referring to a man who was taken up into the "third heaven" which Paul calls "paradise".  This might refer to the stoning of Stephen, but it might refer to something else.  Regardless,  "paradise" reminds us of the statement Jesus said to the man on the cross behind them that he will go to paradise on that day.  Here in 2 Corinthians, we do not get details of "paradise" other than visions of paradise by humans are indescribable.  

Paul concludes the letter by saying that he will return to Corinth again and when he does, he will not be nice to those who oppose him.

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