Friday, June 27 – 2 Corinthians 4, 5

1. How can we identify with Paul in his ministry?

2. What attitudes should we adopt from the apostle?

3. How can we contribute to the ministry of reconciliation?

As always, the apostle Paul is consistent and steadfast. He defends the Christian ministry, his own and other believers, with humility and conviction. His ministry is upright, honest, tested, confident, dedicated, and centered on reconciliation. In these chapters, he appeals to the Corinthians to exemplify godly conduct within their community.

Chapter 4 continues Paul’s discourse on the work of the Holy Spirit in his life and the lives of all believers. Notably, Paul refers to the Holy Spirit as “Lord” (Greek: kurios), the same title used for the Father and the Son. The Spirit transforms us “from glory to glory” to reflect our God’s image (cf. 2 Corinthians 3:18).

In verses 1–6, Paul declares that as a minister of the gospel, he does not lose heart, for he is certain that God, in His mercy, has entrusted him with this ministry. His preaching is not veiled in shame or deceit. He writes, “But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully” (v. 2, NKJV). In verses 3–4, he explains that if the gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds “the god of this age has blinded.”

Verse 6 offers profound encouragement: “For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (NKJV). That same creative power shines in our hearts, revealing Christ to others.

Ellen G. White beautifully echoes this in Christ’s Object Lessons: “Let your minds dwell upon the love that has been shown us by the Father and the Son. Let the bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness shine into the chambers of the mind and into the soul temple… The Holy Spirit will take the things of God and show them unto you, conveying them as a living power into the obedient heart. Christ will lead you to the threshold of the Infinite.” (COL, p. 115)

In verses 7–18, Paul acknowledges that we are “earthen vessels” (v. 7) to make it clear that the power is of God, not of us. Ellen White concurs in The Desire of Ages: “However imperfect and sinful we may be, the Lord holds out to us the privilege of co-operating with Him.” (DA, p. 296)

Paul shares the cost of discipleship: “We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed… struck down, but not destroyed” (vv. 8–9). Though outwardly we decay, inwardly we are renewed day by day. He points us to the eternal: “For our light affliction… is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory… For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal” (vv. 17–18).

Chapter 5:1–9 speaks of the believer’s hope in the resurrection. Paul compares our mortal body to a tent, temporary and fragile. Yet, we await a “building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens” (v. 1). This passage is often misunderstood to mean that the soul immediately goes to heaven upon death. Still, Paul’s teaching aligns with his earlier words in 1 Corinthians 15:51–55: the immortal body is received at the resurrection.
Paul writes, “For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed” (v. 4), expressing his desire to be transformed at Christ’s return rather than experience death.

Genesis 2:7 reminds us: “The man became a living being.” Man does not possess an immortal soul; he is a soul. The hope of the believer is the resurrection, not a disembodied afterlife.

In verses 14–15, Paul speaks of dedication: “For the love of Christ compels us… that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.” This love was the driving force of Paul’s ministry and should be ours as well.
The well-known verse 17 proclaims the transforming power of grace: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (v. 17).

All this is the work of God, “who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation” (v. 18). As Jesus said: “Freely you have received, freely give” (Matthew 10:8).
Ellen White encourages us in Christ’s Object Lessons: “He who gave Himself to save the sinner will not withhold any gift whereby His work may be accomplished… He will mold and fashion your character according to His own will.” (COL, p. 121)

Blessings to all on this day.