EmmDev 2017-03-03 [Treasure in Clay Pots (2Cor)] Paul's Fears

Paul's Fears

Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves to you? We have been speaking in the sight of God as those in Christ; and everything we do, dear friends, is for your strengthening. 20 For I am afraid that when I come I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be. I fear that there may be quarrelling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, factions, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder. 21 I am afraid that when I come again my God will humble me before you, and I will be grieved over many who have sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual sin and debauchery in which they have indulged.      (2Corinthians12:19-21)

In all of Paul's "boasting" we might be tempted to apply the well-known saying "Methinks he protesteth too much!" thereby implying that Paul may be trying too hard, and may be covering up a failure of his own. But our passage today clears this up.

Paul is clear:

1. He isn't defending himself - he wants to strengthen the Corinthians.
2. He is genuinely afraid that they will have been alienated from each other ("I may not find you as you want me to be..." (and vice versa)).
3. He is fearful that a visit, in the current state of relationship, will result in the worst being brought out in everyone.
4. He is afraid that he will be disappointed by the depths to which they have sunk.

The last point needs clarification. The "super-apostles" came with a false-teaching the scholars identify as an early form of Gnosticism. Gnosticism placed an emphasis on the philosophical aspects of Christianity arguing that, as long as you possessed "knowledge"(gnosis in Greek), you were saved and that your body was simply a vehicle or cage for the soul. You could therefore do whatever you wanted with your body and, as long as you have the philosophical framework and "secrets" that the super-apostles had, you were OK. This led to rampant sexual sin within the church and this is one of Paul's deep fears.

Paul's fears tell us a lot about him and his relationship with the Corinthians.

1. He really cared about their growth and progress. He was willing to "protest" (by ridiculous boasting) to get their attention.
2. He valued their relationship deeply and didn't want to be alienated from them.
3. He didn't enjoy conflict and the mudslinging that goes with it.
4. He cared so much about them that he knew he would "break down" if he discovered that they had fallen into rampant sexual sin.

This is a very vulnerable Paul, and his fears tell us the kind of man he is.

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