THE SECOND PART: A BIRD’S-EYE VIEW OF THE NEW TESTAMENT
The Second Epistle of Paul to the Corinthians
Message Four—The All-fitting Life
Scripture Reading: 2 Cor. 6:1-13; 7:2-3
I. Every believer who loves the Lord and who wants to come up to God’s standard should become a minister of the new covenant—Eph. 4:11-12; 1 Tim. 1:16:
A. The goal of the Lord’s recovery is to recover the ministering of Christ by all the believers so that the church as the Body of Christ may be built up.
B. In order to be new covenant ministers, we need a life of ministering Christ to others for the sake of His Body— Matt. 24:45-46.
C. This excellent, marvelous ministry needs excellent ministers with an excellent life, whose living and being match their doing.
II. We need to work together with God by a life (not by any gift) that is all-sufficient and all-mature, able to f it all situations, able to endure any kind of treatment, to accept any kind of environment, to work in any kind of condition, and to take any kind of opportunity, for the carrying out of our ministry—John 14:6a; Acts 27:22-25; 28:3-6, 8-9:
A. To work together with God means that we are in God; only a person who is in God can bring others into God; our closeness to God is the measure of the result of our work—2 Cor. 5:20; 2:10.
B. If we have been fully saved and have an all-fitting life, then any situation or circumstance is right for us to minister life to others—Phil. 1:20; 4:22; 2 Tim. 4:2a; cf. 2 Chron. 1:10.
C. There are eighteen qualifications of the ministers of the new covenant and of the pattern of an all-fitting life— 2 Cor. 6:4-7a:
1. In much endurance—Rev. 1:9a; 2:10; 3:10a; Heb. 12:1-2a.
2. In afflictions—2 Cor. 1:8-9.
3. In necessities.
4. In distresses—12:10.
5. In stripes—11:23-24; Gal. 6:17.
6. In imprisonments—2 Cor. 11:23; Eph. 3:1; 4:1; 6:20.
7. In tumults—Acts 17:5; 19:23.
8. In labors—2 Cor. 11:23, 27; 1 Thes. 2:9; 2 Thes. 3:8.
9. In watchings—2 Cor. 11:27; Acts 16:25; 20:7-11, 31.
10. In fastings—2 Cor. 11:27.
11. In pureness—1 Tim. 5:1-2.
12. In knowledge—Col. 1:9.
13. In long-suffering—1 Thes. 5:14.
14. In kindness—Gal. 5:22; Rom. 2:4.
15. In a holy spirit—2 Cor. 7:1.
16. In unfeigned love—Luke 10:27; 1 Pet. 1:22.
17. In the word of truth—Eph. 4:15.
18. In the power of God—Isa. 40:31; 2 Cor. 12:9.
D. The new covenant ministers with the pattern of an all-fitting life carry out their ministry through three groups of items—6:7b-8a:
1. Through the weapons of righteousness on the right and on the left—Matt. 6:33; 5:6, 10, 20.
2. Through glory and dishonor—1 Cor. 4:10-13.
3. Through evil report and good report—Matt. 5:11.
E. The new covenant ministers with the pattern of an all-fitting life are seven kinds of persons—2 Cor. 6:8b-10:
1. As deceivers and yet true—Matt. 10:16.
2. As unknown and yet well known—John 6:15; 2 Cor. 4:5.
3. As dying and yet behold we live—1 Cor. 15:31; 2 Cor. 4:10-11.
4. As being disciplined and yet not being put to death—Rom. 8:28-29.
5. As made sorrowful yet always rejoicing—Matt. 5:4; 2 Cor. 11:28; Phil. 4:4.
6. As poor yet enriching many—Eph. 3:8.
7. As having nothing and yet possessing all things—1 Cor. 3:21-23.
F. If we would have an all-fitting life, we need an enlarged heart, a heart to embrace all of God’s people—2 Cor. 6:11-13:
1. To be enlarged by growing and maturing in life is equivalent to being fully reconciled to God.
2. With an enlarged heart we are able to embrace all believers regardless of their condition, and with an opened mouth we are free to speak to all believers frankly concerning the real situation into which they have been misled—Matt. 5:7; 6:14-15; 7:1-2.
III. We need to be enlarged to have the intimate concern of the ministering life—2 Cor. 7:2-3; 1 Thes. 2:8; Phil. 2:19-20:
A. If we have the ability to carry on a work but lack an intimate concern, our work will be fruitless; our not having the loving and forgiving heart of our Father God and the shepherding and seeking spirit of our Savior Christ is the reason for our barrenness—cf. Luke 15.
B. Eloquence, gift, and power can never touch people as much as our concern for them—1 Cor. 12:31; 2 Tim. 1:7; Philem. 9-12.
C. How fruitful we are does not depend upon what we are able to do, but on whether or not we have an intimate concern—1 Cor. 12:31b; 9:22; Matt. 9:12-13.
D. A ministering life is a life that warms up others by cherishing them in the humanity of Jesus to nourish them in the divinity of Christ with the riches of Christ—Eph. 5:29; Prov. 25:15:
1. Paul shepherded the saints as a nursing mother and an exhorting father—1 Thes. 2:7-8, 11-12; Acts 20:19-20.
2. Paul came down to the weak ones’ level so that he could gain them—2 Cor. 11:28-29; 1 Cor. 9:22.
3. As a lover of the church in oneness with the churchloving Christ, Paul was willing to spend what he had, referring to his possessions, and to spend what he was, referring to his being, for the sake of the saints in order to build up the Body of Christ—Eph. 5:25; 2 Cor. 12:15; 11:28-29.
Ministry Excerpts:
WHAT WE ARE AND WHAT WE DO
Working Thru the All-Fitting Life
This portion of 2 Corinthians does not indicate that they work together with God by an all-sufficient power or by an all-wonderful gift, that today’s Christians, however, mainly devote their attention to. If you read carefully through the entire book of 2 Corinthians, you will see that Paul’s concentration is on life. Hence, in 6:1—7:16 we see that he worked together with God by an all-fitting life.
Being a minister of the New Testament does not depend on gifts or power; rather, it depends on having a life which is able to fit into any kind of situation. To be sure, in 6:1-13 the word all-fitting is not used. But if you consider what is contained in these verses, you will see that they describe a life which certainly is all-fitting. As we shall see in a later message, here Paul mentions eighteen qualifications, three groups of items, and seven kinds of persons. Paul, therefore, was qualified to be a minister of the new covenant in all these ways. (Life-Study 2 Corinthians, msg. 39)
THE FIRST CATEGORY OF QUALIFICATIONS
In Much Endurance
In verse 4 Paul says, “But in everything commending ourselves as ministers of God, in much endurance, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses.” In verses 4 through 7 Paul gives us the first category of qualifications of the ministers of God, the ministers of the new covenant (3:6). When I read these verses many years ago, I was bothered by the fact that the first qualification given by Paul is endurance. I thought that in speaking of the qualifications of New Testament ministers, Paul should have begun with something great. Instead, he begins with the words “in much endurance.” If a believer today were to apply to be a medical missionary, surely he would mention his education. Would he instead claim that he possesses the qualification of endurance? Nevertheless, the first qualification listed by Paul is endurance.
In Afflictions
Paul refers to his afflictions in 1:8: “For we do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, as to our affliction which came to us in Asia, that we were excessively burdened, beyond our power, so that we despaired even of living.” This is another qualification for him to be a minister of the new covenant.
In Necessities
It is difficult to grasp the real meaning of the word rendered necessities. Darby in his translation also uses the word necessities. The Chinese version uses the word poverty. Whenever we are in want, short of food, lodging, or clothing, we are in necessities. In 12:10, where the same Greek word is used, the Chinese version uses a word meaning straits. The Greek word means constraints, urgent needs that press heavily. It refers to sufferings that result from calamities and straits. An example of calamity would be the eruption of Mount Saint Helens some time ago. That was a calamity to those in the vicinity of the volcano. The result of such a calamity is want, shortage of daily necessities. Paul passed through many calamities and straits and, as a result, was in necessities.
In Distresses
In verse 4 Paul also speaks of distresses. Literally the Greek word rendered distresses means narrowness of room; hence, straits, difficulties, distresses. It is not easy to explain the difference between afflictions and distresses. Some translators even reverse the order of these words in verse 4, using distresses for afflictions, and afflictions for distresses. We may say that distresses are the inward sufferings which come as a reaction to the outward afflictions.
In Stripes
Verse 5 says, “In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in watchings, in fastings.” The stripes refer to the beatings Paul received. In 11:23 he refers to “stripes excessively,” where the word excessively literally means above measure. In 11:24 Paul says, “From the Jews five times I received forty stripes less one.” Furthermore, according to Acts 16:23, in Philippi Paul and Silas had many stripes laid upon them and then were cast into prison (Acts 16:23).
In Imprisonments
In 11:23 Paul speaks of “imprisonments more abundantly.” Several times Paul was cast into prison. We have already referred to the occasion at Philippi. In Ephesians 3:1 Paul refers to himself as “the prisoner of Christ Jesus,” and in Ephesians 4:1, as “the prisoner in the Lord.” Again, in 2 Timothy 1:8 and Philemon 9 and 23 Paul refers to imprisonment.
In Tumults
Tumults refer to rebellions, revolts, and great disturbances. Acts 17:5 describes one such tumult. Acts 19 describes a great tumult which occurred in Ephesus. Verse 23 of that chapter says, “There arose no small stir about that way.”
In Labors
In 2 Corinthians 11:23 Paul says that he was “in labors more abundantly,” and in verse 27, speaks of “in labor and hardship.” Paul mentions this in 1 Thessalonians 2:9: “For you remember, brothers, our labor and hardship: working night and day so as not to be burdensome to any of you, we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.” He refers to this again in 2 Thessalonians 3:8, where he says, “Nor did we eat bread as a gift from anyone, but in labor and hardship we worked night and day that we might not be burdensome to any of you.”
In Watchings
Watchings refer to sleeplessness, such as those experienced by the apostles in Acts 16:25; 20:7-11, 31; and 2 Thessalonians 3:8. Paul refers to this in 2 Corinthians 11:27, speaking of “in watchings often.” This refers to a situation where there is either no way to get sleep or no time to sleep. This was an aspect of Paul’s living.
In Fastings
The fastings in verse 5 do not refer to fasting for prayer. These are the fastings due to the lack of food. In 11:27 fastings are mentioned along with labor and hardship, watchings, and hunger and thirst. Since fastings are listed with hardships, they must refer to involuntary fasting due to lack of food. Hence, they differ from hunger. Hunger may refer to a situation in which there is no way to obtain food; involuntary fasting may refer to a situation of poverty.
In Pureness
Verse 6 continues, “In pureness, in knowledge, in longsuffering, in kindness, in a holy spirit, in unfeigned love.” Pureness here is related to motive. In his motive Paul was pure.
The word pureness in this verse implies a great deal. If our intention is not single, it is not pure. If in our motive we are for something other than the Lord Himself, our motive is not pure. Likewise, if our goal is to gain something other than the glory of God, our goal is not pure. Pureness indicates that we care for nothing except God and His glory.
In Knowledge
Knowledge, of course, is a matter of the mind. Paul’s inclusion of “in knowledge” indicates that no minister of the New Testament should be an unintelligent person. As new covenant ministers, we need to be quite knowledgeable. For this reason, I encourage the young people to get a proper education and to learn foreign languages. In particular, if you would be used by the Lord, you need to gain the knowledge of Greek or Hebrew. It is also helpful to study history. No doubt, we need to study the Bible and learn the proper biblical revelation. In order to be new covenant ministers, we need to be knowledgeable.
In Longsuffering
It is difficult to differentiate endurance from longsuffering. Endurance may emphasize the strength or capacity to bear suffering, and longsuffering may emphasize the duration of that suffering. In order to be a minister of the New Testament, we must realize that nothing can be accomplished for God’s eternal purpose without suffering. From the time of man’s fall, everything in human life is accomplished through suffering. According to Genesis 3, women suffer in childbearing. Suffering is necessary in raising our children. Of course, we who are parents enjoy our children. When a mother embraces her little child or looks upon him while he is sleeping, she is very happy. Nevertheless, it is a fact that children cause trouble to their parents. It may be that in the raising of children there is more suffering than enjoyment. Moreover, also according to Genesis 3, man must labor to earn a living, for the ground brings forth thorns and thistles. It seems that in a field weeds always grow better than the things we plant. This is a sign of the troubles, the sufferings, of human living.
All people, the rich and the poor alike, have troubles. If as ministers of the new covenant we would help others in their suffering, how can we avoid suffering? We cannot be an exception. Instead, we must suffer and eventually experience longsuffering. Never think that as a minister you can avoid suffering. You will have some joy in your married life or family life, but you will also have suffering, probably more suffering than joy. Actually, a new covenant minister suffers more than others do. As a minister, he is one who should live a proper human life as the Lord Jesus did. The Lord suffered more than anyone else. To live a genuine human life is to suffer. Human life is a life not mainly of enjoyment but of suffering. The more we live a human life to minister Christ to others, the more we shall suffer. Hence, we need the qualification of longsuffering.
In Kindness
I believe that in Paul’s thought there is a connection between longsuffering and kindness. Usually when we are suffering we do not have the capacity to care for others. But kindness implies that we are for others. I believe that Paul’s concept is that while we are suffering, we also need to take care of others and be kind to them. We are in longsuffering and also in kindness. Even when we are suffering, we should still be kind to others.
In a Holy Spirit
Most versions understand the spirit in verse 6 to refer to the Holy Spirit. Thus, they capitalize the words holy and spirit. But here, according to the context, Paul does not refer to God’s Spirit, but to our spirit. This means that our spirit must be holy. The words “a holy spirit” refer to the apostles’ regenerated spirit.
In Unfeigned Love
Love is a matter of the heart. In this verse we have the motive, the mind, the heart, and the spirit. With stripes on the body (v. 5) and knowledge of the mind and love of the heart, the entire being of the apostles, including body, soul, and spirit, is exercised in their life for carrying out their ministry. In order to be ministers of the new covenant, our whole being, our body, soul, and spirit, must be right.
In the Word of Truth
In verse 7 Paul says, “In the word of truth, in the power of God.” Truth here refers to the reality of the new covenant. Truth means reality and denotes all the real things revealed in God’s Word, which are mainly Christ as the embodiment of God and the church as the Body of Christ. The word of truth is the utterance, the expression, of the divine reality as revealed in the New Testament.
In the Power of God
The power of God matches the word of truth. The word of truth without the power of God is merely knowledge in letters. In the power of God it becomes reality. The power is the Spirit of God, even God Himself. (Life-Study 2 Corinthians, msg. 40)