Feb
06
2010
The Purpose of Paul’s Suffering: To Mediate Christ’s Resurrection Life
What is the central theme of 2 Corinthians? I think Scott Hafemann is exactly right when he writes in the ESV Study Bible introduction to the letter that Paul’s primary emphasis is on “the relationship between suffering and the power of the Spirit in Paul’s apostolic life, ministry, and message.” Paul sees his own physical suffering and spiritual renewal—”though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day” (2 Cor. 4:16)—as a presentation of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Paul again and again hits on the theme that the weakness of his frame is designed to magnify the power of God’s name. Perhaps the most powerful section of the letter is in chapter 4 (vv. 8-12) where he talks about the purpose of his suffering:
We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death is at work in us, but life in you.
Do you see what Paul’s saying? His being beaten and beleagured is a picture of Jesus’ dying; his endurance and perseverance is a picture of the resurrection reality of Jesus’ life. Paul’s suffering and sanctification are designed to be walking advertisements for Good Friday and Easter Sunday:
| The Dying of Jesus | The Resurrection Life of Jesus |
| afflicted in every way | not crushed |
| perplexed | not driven to despair |
| persecuted | not forsaken |
| struck down | not destroyed |
Paul saw the purpose of his suffering as a means to mediate, manifest, and magnify the resurrection power of his Savior.
We can see Paul’s radical other-centeredness in 2 Cor. 4:15, as he talks about why he endures such pain:
It is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.
Paul is willing to endure incredible hardship as long as it means more grace leading to more gratitude leading to more glory for God.
In 2 Cor. 11:23-28 Paul reluctantly recounts his resume of suffering, which included imprisonments, countless beatings, and near-death experiences:
- whipped with 39 lashes (5 different times)
- beaten with rods (3 different times)
- pummeled with stones (1 time)
- shipwrecked (3 times)
- adrift at sea (one night, one day)
- journeys (frequent)
- danger from rivers
- danger from robbers
- danger from his own people
- danger from Gentiles
- danger in the city
- danger in the wilderness
- danger at sea
- danger from false brothers
- toil and hardship
- sleepless nights (many)
- hungry and thirsty (often)
- cold and exposed
- the pressure of anxiety for all the churches (daily)
And yet given his radically God-centered worldview, Paul calls such suffering “light” and “momentary”!
For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. (2 Cor. 4:17-18)
Paul knew that no matter how much it hurt in the hear-and-now, it was as nothing compared to the hope and healing that he would experience for eternity in the presence of his Savior. We “walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Cor. 5:7), knowing that “faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Heb. 11:1). So from Paul’s perspective, the comparison and contrast of now and then—here and there—looks like this:
| Earthly Perspective | Eternal Perspective |
| light | weight |
| momentary | eternal |
| affliction | glory |
| seen | unseen |
| transient | eternal |
May God give all of us grace to suffer well, as living advertisements for the death of Christ and the life of Christ, as we live in light of eternity.
15 Comments
Well said! Thanks for sharing.
Daily dying and resurrecting is a great insight. I’m going to hold that thought with me this week. And it’s a special treat to read on a Sunday morning just before going to church in a country that needs to see the dying and resurrecting Jesus. Thanks.
Thanks, Justin. This sort of post is so helpful to pastors. I filed it.
For, those who are drawn to this theme and wish to study further, I commend Sam Storms recently released, A Sincere and Pure Devotion to Christ. These two volumes are a reflection on 2 Corinthians. Storms writes in a very readable way. It is written as a series of devotions that models both sound exegesis and application.
I intend to post on it but have not yet gotten to it.
[...] Justin Taylor writes: [...]
Thank you for this post. I have been studying Paul and this is a great resource.
The Earthly Perspective and Eternal Perspective chart at the bottom was a great help.
God Bless.
Thank you. For years I agreed mentally with all these truths; only more recently do I find myself living them (minutely, of course, relative to the saints of the ages). But oh, how the pains throb, the sorrows grieve and the threats frighten. Were it not for Paul’s assurances of what God is working in them, despair would be the only alternative.
I have the ESVSB and will attend to Hafemann’s Introduction.
Thanks for your study Justin. We can always tell it’s your stuff by all the charts! :o)
Question for you and for other pastors and teachers: What’s the best single exegetical commentary on 2 Corinthians? If you had to recommend that a pastor buy only one, which would it be?
Mike,
I’d argue that Hafemann’s commentary is the best (NIVAC, Zondervan). In my opinion it is in a class of it’s own, balancing as best one can, between the more traditional NIVAC like commentaries and that of Nelson’s Word Biblical Commentary. It’s very through, based on solid exegesis, and yet practical. After hearing Dr. T. Schreiner say that he had read every word of the commentary and that he found it very helpful, I did the same and can say the same.
If you only buy one, buy this one. If you bought another, well you’ll need to buy this one too. I buy this one to give to pastor/friends who are preaching through 2 Corinthians.
Chris
I like both NICNT commentaries, Hughes (the older one) and Barnett (the current one), Barnett being my pick of those two.
Thanks for the post. I highly recommend a book by Dr. Steven Smith, former professor of preaching and newly appointed dean of the College at Southwestern, entitled, Dying to Preach. Dr. Smith looks at Paul’s ministry of suffering, specifically in preaching, and how it applies to all of us who long to preaching Christ crucified and risen.
http://www.amazon.com/Dying-Preach-Embracing-Cross-Pulpit/dp/0825438977/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1265600941&sr=1-1
Justin,
Great stuff here…very hard to live out! What’s amazing is how this permeates Paul’s ministry and teaching: Paul says he teaches “his ways in Christ” “everywhere in every church” (1 Cor. 4:17), and sends Timothy, who can embody this for the Corinthian church, so they can have a flesh-and-blood example of this message. It’s not just for those in (professional) ministry; it’s for all of us.
And I would add that the ESVSB has got plenty more TOTALLY AWESOME commentary like this. Outstanding help for this busy guy!
So does any one live like this today? I’m asking does anyone know a person who lives their life life Paul is describing? Not did you know, but do you know. As in can pick up the phone and call and talk. Oh that God would give us all the strength to live such lives.
We’re studying 2 Corinthians 4 right now in our Bible study, and what a revelation to learn that Paul saw suffering as a representation of the dying of Christ, carrying it about, as it were. Suffering was necessary to his ministry! It just highlights another way in which the prosperity gospeleteers have missed the boat.
(Incidentally, one of your refs is off–there’s not 28 verse in 2 Cor 4. I assume you mean ch. 11.)
What a blessing this was to read. I am a missionary and just completed a brief lesson on the passage in Philippians when Paul says, “I want to KNOW Him and the power of HIS resurrection..” it took about 30 minutes to explain to my friend, but worth it. I can’t wait to use parts of your post to teach her more. Thank you!