The Sincerity of Paul
—2Corinthians 1
Between the two letters to Corinth, Paul made a painful personal visit that failed to resolve serious issues in the congregation. This distressed Paul. He wrote a severe "letter of tears" delivered by Titus, who reported to Paul the church’s good response. Paul then prepared 2 Corinthians, blending comfort and encouragement with a defense of his authority. Our chapter for study (2Corinthians 1) shows Paul’s utmost sincerity.
1 A Sincere Greeting
2Cor 1, Verses 1-2
Paul began his letter with a greeting that was honest, humble, and sincere. He called himself "an apostle of Jesus Christ", which he did not become by his own labours, but rather "by the will of God" along with his genuine surrender to that will. This greeting was formal, but it came from the heart.
Paul called Timothy "our brother" with just as much warmth as when he called him "Timothy my son".
Paul called the Corinthian Christians "the church of God at Corinth... with all the saints in all Achaia". He did not think of that church as his, but rather as "the church of God." He wished the many sanctified souls in Achaia "grace and peace", from God, not worldly power, material riches, or fleshly pleasure. His greeting was much more sincere than that.
2 A Sincere Blessing
2Cor 1, Verses 3-4
Paul characterised God in three ways. He is (1) the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, (2) the Father of mercies and (3) the God of all comfort. Paul said that his God is "blessed". In other words God is to be praised and his excellent virtues proclaimed. Of course God was also the source of all blessings, including mercies and peace.
In short, Paul blessed God by praising Him from his heart; God blessed Paul by comforting him in his heart. And it is the same for us today.
3 A Sincere Consolation
2Cor 1, Verses 5-7
Paul and the Corinthians suffered greatly because of their devotion to Jesus Christ. However, God supplied abundant consolation so they could endure faithfully.
Paul understood that those who partake of suffering with Christ Jesus will also partake of consolation and salvation through him. Just as the sufferings of Christ overflowed to His people, so also His comfort overflowed to them. Paul’s trust in this pattern, and his willingness to suffer for Christ, demonstrated his sincerity.
4 A Sincere Trust
2Cor 1, Verses 8-11
Paul described a severe trial that he and his companions suffered in Asia. It was probably the riot in Ephesus (Acts 19). They were so overwhelmed that they despaired of life and felt as though a sentence of death had been passed upon them.
In this crisis, they did not rely on themselves but on God who raises the dead. God delivered them from that deadly peril, and they trusted that He would continue to deliver.
The Corinthians also helped through their prayers, which resulted in Paul’s rescue, and the giving of thanks by many for God’s gracious intervention.
Paul described this trouble with deep sincerity, admitting that he and his companions had been burdened beyond measure and above their strength. But God delivered them from harm.
5 A Sincere Boasting
2Cor 1, Verses 12-14
Paul mentioned boasting again: "For our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience that we conducted ourselves in the world in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God..." (NKJV).
Boasting and godly sincerity seem to be opposed. But Paul’s boast came from his conscience, not his ego. It was not self‑promotion, but a genuine satisfaction of conscience in his dedication to preaching Christ, empowered by the grace of God, in spite of troubles and trials.
6 A Sincere Confidence
2Cor 1, Verses 15-20
Paul conducted his ministry with confidence, but his confidence was in Christ, not in himself. The travel plans he made did not always come to pass and sometimes had to be changed. Some in Corinth accused him of being fickle —saying "yes" and then "no," as though his word could not be trusted. Paul insisted that his intentions were sincere and that his conduct was shaped by the faithfulness of Christ, in whom all the promises of God are guaranteed and find their "Yes" and "Amen."
7 A Sincere Guarantee
2Cor 1, Verses 21-24
Paul appealed to the certainty that both he and the Corinthians possessed in Christ. God had established them, anointed them, and given them the Holy Spirit as a guarantee, confirming that their faith is genuine and that they stood firm in Christ.
Although Paul had to cancel his planned return visit to Corinth, his decision was made with sincerity before God, and he called God as his witness. He changed his plan not out of fickleness, but because he perceived that another visit at that moment would be painful for them. His aim was not to dominate their faith, but to work with them for their joy, since they stood firm in the faith.