 |  |
provide a key to the epistle, at least in some degree, is manifest from the careful
arrangement of the words, a phenomenon with which we are already acquainted.
"Commend" (II Corinthians).
A | 3: 1. Do not begin again to commend selves,
nor need letters of commendation to or from you.
B | 4: 2. By manifestation of truth commending to conscience in sight of God.
C | 5: 12. Not commend again, but give occasion to boast,
in contrast to those who boast in appearance and not in heart.
D | 6: 4. In all things commending selves as ministers of God
in much patience.
E | 7: 11. Reference to Corinthians.
D | 10: 12. Not compare with those who commend selves.
C | 10: 18. Not he that commends self is approved.
B | 10: 18. But whom the Lord commendeth.
A | 12: 11. I ought to have been commended of you;
in nothing behind chiefest apostles.
If the context of these eight passages is noticed, one cannot fail to observe that the
apostle has before his mind an antagonist, and that the antagonistic party is connected
with Israel and the old covenant; also that they still find a place for the "flesh." Humanly
speaking, it is probable we should never have such an insight into the ministry of the
apostle had his authority and gospel been unchallenged. He confesses that he is a fool in
his boasting, but that the Corinthians by their attitude had compelled him. Leaving the
reader to pursue this line of study, we draw attention to the word closely connected with
this commendation, namely, "ministry" (diakonia).
Speaking of the new covenant as contrasted with the old, he says of one, "the
ministration of death" (3: 7), and "the ministration of the spirit" (3: 8), and "the
ministration of righteousness" (3: 9). Here also he tells us that God had made him and
those with him "able ministers of the new covenant" (3: 6). This ministry is
accompanied by a manifestation of the truth, commending these ministers to every man's
conscience in the sight of God. In chapter 5: we have another ministry, "the ministry of
reconciliation," and again, as in chapter 4:, it is followed by a commending of this
ministry in a series of unparalleled afflictions for the truth's sake. The next set of
passages dealing with ministry has reference to the financial fellowship which the
Corinthian saints had with the poor saints at Jerusalem (8: 4, 9: 1, 12, 13). This last
reference (9: 13) shows the connection of this ministry to the saints with the
reconciliation, and we shall see this more clearly when we understand what is this
reconciliation really means:--
II Cor. 3: 6-9.
6. Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth,
but the spirit giveth life.
7. But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could
not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away:
8. How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious?
9. For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in
glory.