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Daily Scripture Passage: 2 Corinthians 1:8-22

Since I was sure of this, I wanted to come to you first, so that you might have a double favor; I wanted to visit you on my way to Macedonia and to come back to you from Macedonia and have you send me on to Judea. — 2 Corinthians 1:15

Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians, which scholars tell us is likely his third or even fourth letter to that community, is among the most vulnerable writing in all of the New Testament.

In this letter, Paul reveals his anguish over the deteriorating relationship he has with this church community. Paul founded the church in Corinth, yet other missionaries who followed him did not respect Paul’s teaching and taught in opposition to him.

To defend himself, Paul uses this letter to reassert his teaching authority and to justify his ministry among them. As he does this, Paul also exhibits insecurity, defensiveness, and anger.

Another result of this conflict is that Paul keeps changing his plans to visit Corinth. He does so in order to avoid stirring up trouble and causing pain.

What we can learn from Paul’s example is that even the greatest apostles were human. They were very much like us. Paul had his difficult days and had to deal with difficult people who opposed him and treated him unfairly. He sometimes changed his travel plans to avoid conflict. He did not always respond opponents by “keeping his cool” or by bestowing an understanding grace. Sometimes, he got very angry.

But Paul always kept the faith. Even when he was most despairing, and even when circumstances did not bring out his best, Paul always sought to serve the God who had been revealed to him in Jesus Christ. That is an example that we can also follow.