The Covid-19 pandemic meant that many meetings were held via Zoom; one meeting of an obscure parish council (a local government body) became an internet hit, even making the national TV news! Viewers were amazed at the unkind way in which some people, full of their own importance, spoke to each other. I wonder what people would think if some church meetings were televised!

In this final section of the letter, Paul addresses his self-important critics in Corinth but does so following Christ’s example of humility and gentleness (v 1). Are there situations which you need to approach with gentleness and humility?

The church was being influenced by false teachers who said that, while he sent advice from afar, in person Paul did not appear to be a spiritual giant (vs 2,3). They were, perhaps, accusing him of being ‘too worldly minded to be of any heavenly use’. Paul, however, insists that although he is down to earth, he fights with heavenly weapons (see Ephesians 6:10–20).

Christians are called to be ‘in the world, but not of the world’ (John 17:13–16). How do we live for Jesus without retreating from the world?

Pray today, ‘Lead me, Lord, in your righteousness because of my enemies – make your way straight before me.^’1

Paul’s letter makes another abrupt turn. On his list of ‘matters to be dealt with’ is a clash of interests with a group of what he calls ‘super-apostles’.² After he had laid the foundations of the church,³ other ministers had come on the scene. Apollos was a glamorous and eloquent preacher whose influence was beneficial.⁴ However, his ‘great fervour’⁵ may just have overexcited the church, such that when a band of triumphalist, Jewish-heritage⁶ super-apostles then appeared it was taken in by their big talk and subtly turned against Paul. Here is the source of some of the undermining comments Paul endured, including the demand for letters of reference⁷ and the suggestion here that his presence was less impressive than his written warnings (v 1). 

Paul is anticipating conflict with this group. Perhaps he is warning himself not to go over the top! He appeals first to the humility and gentleness of Christ and then renounces worldly methods. The weapons available to him in combating falsehood and ‘strongholds’ (v 4) that resist God are spiritual: prayer, faith, the statement of the truth, the Holy Spirit. Christ is the lens through which all arguments are to be viewed and brought into line (v 5). Every thought needs to be in harmony with him. Paul clearly prefers to come ‘in love and with a gentle spirit’ rather than with the rod of discipline,⁸ but if he has to get tough he will do so (v 6).

Still it is not clear what ‘getting tough’ means. At most it would mean excluding troublemakers from the community. Christians do not pursue godly ends by ungodly means. What is evil, delusional or deceptive is not resisted by returning like for like: this is just recycling. Evil has to be overcome by its opposite.

‘Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone … Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.’⁹

¹ Ps 5:8  ² 2 Cor 11:5  ³ 1 Cor 3:6  ⁴ Acts 18:24–28  ⁵ Acts 18:25  ⁶ 2 Cor 11:5,6  ⁷ 2 Cor 3:1–6  ⁸ 1 Cor 4:21 ⁹ Rom 12:17,21