In several places in his letters Paul gives us a revealing glimpse into his prayers for the churches he planted and served. They challenge us about our priorities in prayer.

Paul is planning to visit Corinth for a third time, and warns that, if he finds that there has been no improvement in behaviour of members of the church, they will indeed find that he can be just as tough in person as he is in his letters, contrary to the accusations of his detractors. He hopes, however, that this will not be necessary; his prayer is that Corinthians will cease from doing wrong (v 7). Matthew Henry comments: ‘The most desirable thing we can ask of God, for ourselves and our friends, is to be kept from sin, that we and they may not do evil. We have far more need to pray that we may not do evil, than that we may not suffer evil.’*

Paul may be accused of weakness if the Corinthians’ change of behaviour makes strong action unnecessary, but all that matters to him is that they are strong in their faith. So he prays for their restoration. While the false apostles enjoyed inflating their own status, Paul’s only desire is to build up others (v 10).  

Paul encourages this church to work for healing divisions and mutual encouragement before closing with the short prayer that we often use today (v 14).

*Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible, Thomas Nelson, 1997

At the end of this letter, identify what in particular has struck you and what you will take away from it.

Having been impressively tender, Paul now shows himself to be tough, still concerned that there might be a wilfully sinful minority disrupting the church (v 2).¹ He is prepared to face up to them, indeed he has authority from Christ to do so (v 10). He is reluctant to be harsh but will not shirk his duty. To hold to the truth in word and deed is his watchword (v 8), and a good one. To this end, he requires all to ‘Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves’ (v 5). This is a good thing to do every time we receive communion,² but not just then. Are we living in ways that are consistent with the faith we profess, with the Christ who is within us? Or are we deceiving ourselves?

It is entirely right that every church should be an inclusive community that welcomes people of all kinds to find life in Christ. Much depends on this, if we are to fulfil the purposes of God. But it is also right to ask what we are prepared to exclude. Whereas we welcome all manner of people we do not embrace all manner of behaviour.³ There is a call to repentance and newness of life if we are to be of the truth. The weakness to which Paul refers in verse 4 is not moral weakness but suffering.

The full restoration that Paul hopes for is not only one where the breech with himself is overcome, but one in which the church community is marked by rejoicing, encouragement, unity of mind and peaceful friendships (v 11). This becomes a possibility for all of us when we participate truly in the grace, love and fellowship that are ours in the God who is Father, Son and Spirit.

‘There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.’⁴

¹ See also 2 Cor 12:21  ² 1 Cor 11:28  ³ 2 Cor 12:20,21  ⁴ Gal 3:28