Ep. 316. 2 Corinthians 4-5 | Ambassadors?

EPISODE 316

AMBASSADORS: 2 CORINTHIANS 4-5

As is often the case, we can not read these chapters in isolation. Instead, what we read in Chapter Three directly influences Chapter Four. You will right away recognize the language "veiled" in verse three. Yesterday, we saw that the gospel was veiled to those who were still under the Old Covenant. They, who are holding to the Law of Moses, have missed Christ. Paul emphasizes this in chapter four when he says, "Even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled only to those who are perishing. In their case, the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God."

I always try to remind you to pay special attention to the usage of "we" and "you" in Paul's letters. When I was growing up, the pastor would make the "we" the audience in one verse, and the next Sunday, use the "you" of the following verse to also make that the audience. Obviously, in writing a letter, the "we" is talking about the letter writer himself and those who he represents, while the "you" is clearly the audience/recipient of the letter. (In this case, the Corinthians)

Therefore, "We have this treasure in jars of clay" is not about the Corinthians or even believers in general, but is about Paul and the other apostles and teachers who have been carrying the word of the gospel to the nations. Again, "We are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake" is about the perils of the ministry of the gospel in Paul's day. That is not to say that we believers do not have the treasure of the gospel, nor does it mean that we are not jars of clay, but it does shape the context of the second letter to the Corinthians and is important in our understanding of what Paul is trying to say.

Again, it is helpful to remember that Paul is contrasting himself with the false teachers who have infiltrated the church in Corinth.

ADDITIONAL READING: Genesis 1:3; Psalm 116:10