Finally… “Finally, brethren, farewell. Become complete. Be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.” (2 Corinthians 13:11) The word ‘finally’ temporally denotes the…

I find it intriguing that Paul refers to his God-given pain as a “thorn”, such a tiny, seemingly insignificant object. When I take a step back and think about what situations in my life are challenging, I…

真使徒的辩护 林后第10-13章的语气和内容，于第1-9章迥然不同。比如 7:6-8 和 11:1-3，保罗心里的两种对立的情感：安慰欢喜 和 愚妄愤恨 ；因此，一些学者认为这是保罗写给哥林多教会的第4封书信。 在第1-9章里，保罗曾经提起一封叫人忧愁的书信 7:8 ，是由提多传达给哥林多教会。此书，叫信徒忧愁和懊悔 7:9，却引领信徒走在正路上。因此，提多把这消息告诉保罗，也安慰了他不少 7:6。 这封书信是为保罗第三次访问哥林多教会而铺路 12:14, 13:1，在信徒顺服使徒的劝导时，再来责罚那些不顺服的人 10:6。 从保罗的书信里，这些不顺服的人有以下特征： 1.批评保罗， 信是沉重/利害； 见面是气貌不扬，言语粗俗 10:10。 2.自我推荐，用自己度量/比较自己 10:12。 3.自称为最大的使徒，专拿保罗和自己比较  11:5，10:12。 4.假使徒，撒旦的差役 11:13-15。 （备注：这些举荐自己的人 2Cor3:1，可能是推举摩西律法。在第三章的篇幅，保罗用新约属灵的职事 与旧约属死的职事 作比较。而且他们凭着血气自夸，自己是希伯来人，是以色列人，亚伯拉罕的后裔 11:18, 22。但在耶稣的眼里，这些犹太人是与撒旦同伙的，Rev 3:9） 这些不顺服的人，是神禾场里的稗子，是面团里的酵粉。他们像伊甸园的古蛇，在信仰的教导上诱惑着单纯的信徒 11:3-4；而且还欺负和吞噬信徒…

Occasionally, we may be confronted on the streets by people asking us to donate for a good cause.   Do we immediately feel the compulsion to do good and readily take out spare cash from our wallets or…

We used to hear and be encouraged to have the virtue of being sympathetic towards others.  To offer others a listening ear, a shoulder to cry on, provide comfort and support in times of need. In recent…

After his conversion, Paul clearly understands the aim and main purpose of his life. His aim is, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him (2 Cor 5:9). This is because Paul knows that his…

When I read this chapter, a few members came to mind. These were members that were formerly active and zealous in church. Those who had once served with passion, faithfully carrying out the commission of the Lord…

In 2 Cor 2, Paul reminds the Corinthians and us of an important truth concerning our identity – that, as a church and as individuals, we are the fragrance of Christ to the whole world. What is…

Jesus said in John 16:33, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” When…