Reading for December 1st

 Read 2 Corinthians 4.1-18. In 4.1-6: Ministering under God's light. These remarks develop 2.17. To stand in God's presence can cause one to lose heart. In verse 2: Paul's language recalls ancient descriptions of false philosophers. Ministry carried out before God in public view requires higher standards that those found among religious impostors. In verse 3: Veiled: Paul admits his teaching can be difficult to understand (2 Pet 3.15-16). In verse 4: God of this world likely describes Satan (2.11; Jn 12.31). Image of God: As God's image, Christ reflects God's dazzling brilliance (3.18; Heb 1.3). In verse 5: The gospel is the message ministers the messengers (Rom 10.9). In verse 6: The quotation draws on Gen 1.3 and Ps 112.4. Creation has been reenacted in Christ (5.17).  In verse 7-12: Embodying Jesus' death and life in ministry. In verse 7: Treasure refers to the gospel (4.3-4). Its source of power is God (Rom 1.16-17). In verses 8-9: This list of hardships echoes the opening prayer (1.3-7; 1 Cor 4.9-13). In verses 10-11: Paul's apostolic lifestyle models the message he preaches: he dies and rises with Christ (Rom 6.8) In verse 12: Paul's experience with death enables him to transmit life to his churches. In verses 13-18: Ministering in the spirit of faith. In verse 13: Ps 115.1 in the Septuagint (the ancient Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures). Spirit of faith is the capacity to believe. In verse 14: What Christ experienced in his resurrection, ministers will experience along with their churches (Rom 8.11). In verse 15: Grace is spread by those who speak the faith they believe (v. 13). In verse 16: Outer nature and inner nature correspond to body and spirit (1 Cor 5.3; 7.34). Christ's spirit renews the believers spirit (3.18). In verse 17: Eternal weight of glory is the fullness of God's glory already revealed in Christ (3.18). In verse 18: This aptly summarizes Paul's understanding of hope (Rom 8.24-25; Heb 11.1-3). Comments or Questions..