Betrayal is hard to deal with, especially when it comes from those you hold most dear. Most of us have dealt with a betrayal in some way or another. It is one of the worst experiences anyone can go through and it can be very hard to continue to show love and compassion towards the betrayer.
By the time of writing 2 Corinthians, Paul has faced a betrayal. The church in Corinth, at some point, turned against him and his teaching. This occurred sometime between the writing of 1 Corinthians and 2 Corinthians. We see hints of this complicated history throughout 2 Corinthians, where Paul spends a great deal of time defending his role as an apostle.
While at the time of writing 2 Corinthians a reconciliation had occurred, the wounds still ran deep and opponents of Paul remained. They were challenging his authority and the message he carried. The claimed that there was no way Paul was a Spirit-filled man because of all the suffering he endured. Surely if the Spirit were in Paul then Paul wouldn't suffer so much. What we will see in 2 Corinthians is Paul's response in what is one of the most personal letters Paul ever wrote.
By the time of writing 2 Corinthians, Paul has faced a betrayal. The church in Corinth, at some point, turned against him and his teaching. This occurred sometime between the writing of 1 Corinthians and 2 Corinthians. We see hints of this complicated history throughout 2 Corinthians, where Paul spends a great deal of time defending his role as an apostle.
While at the time of writing 2 Corinthians a reconciliation had occurred, the wounds still ran deep and opponents of Paul remained. They were challenging his authority and the message he carried. The claimed that there was no way Paul was a Spirit-filled man because of all the suffering he endured. Surely if the Spirit were in Paul then Paul wouldn't suffer so much. What we will see in 2 Corinthians is Paul's response in what is one of the most personal letters Paul ever wrote.
Background
As stated previously, 2 Corinthians was written by Paul probably around AD 55. This is after he wrote 1 Corinthians and it seems that a great deal of interaction between Paul and the Corinthians has happened. Paul is writing now to address any remaining opposition to his authority and, more importantly, any doubts about the Gospel that he preached.
Themes
There are several themes in 2 Corinthians that are significant. The first is that of suffering. Paul spends a good deal of time discussing suffering; both his own suffering and the suffering of the church at large. He makes it quite clear that to walk in the footsteps of Jesus is to walk in the suffering of Christ's cross. It is not easy, but through the suffering Jesus is proclaimed all the more.
Another major theme is that of reconciliation. Paul talks about reconciling himself and the church in Corinth, the Christians in Corinth to each other, and the broader ministry of reconciliation handed to us by Christ and made complete in Christ. Following Jesus is about mending the broken relationships in the world.
The final major theme is that of hope. Paul spends quite a bit of time talking about our hope as Christians. Through the suffering of this world we wait for the day of resurrection. We wait for that final reconciliation. It is a glorious future that awaits those who are in Christ.
Theological Point
Our treasure in life should not be our comfort or emotional security but Jesus. Paul talks about our "treasures in jars of clay" in chapter 4, which is the knowledge of Jesus. When this is our treasure, our most valued possession, we can be afflicted but not crushed. We can be confused but never despairing. The suffering we will endure as followers of Christ will broadcast to the world the cross of Jesus.
I think our treasure in life is too often our own safety and security; be it emotional or physical. We want to be safe. We don't want our feelings to be hurt. We don't want to be uncomfortable. The problem is that reconciliation is messy. It requires jumping into the darkest, filthiest parts of people's lives. It requires us to bear the suffering of others. There will be pain. There will be hurt feelings. But there will also be new life.
Conclusion
I think it is always important to remember that Jesus invites, nay commands, his followers to participate in the work of the cross. We are called to be a part of reconciling the world to God once again. God has always operated using human agents, even though it would probably be easier and way more painless not to. He used Moses to free the Israelites from Egypt. He used Joshua to secure the Promised Land. He used David to establish the kingdom. He used the prophets to deliver messages. He used Mary to give birth to the Messiah.
In all these instances God could have accomplished his goals without human assistance. In fact, in most cases, it would have gone much smoother without our "help." Still God partnered with people to accomplish his goals. The same is true today. We are called not to be passive observers in the ministry of reconciliation, but active partners who follow the lead of Jesus our King. As long as he remains our treasure we can endure any suffering the world may throw at us.
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