Paul’s Planned Third Visit
12: 14-21
Paul’s planned third visit DIG: How did Paul distinguish himself from the false apostles? Who were they? How must he be feeling as he thinks about the Corinthians? What do Paul’s rhetorical questions reveal about his intentions versus their perception of him?
REFLECT: To whom is God leading you to minister? How can you show the spirit of verses 14 and 15? What will it cost you? How will you prepare? How will you keep from being a burden on those to whom God is sending you? What would you do if you knew you couldn’t fail?
The Corinthians’ love may have diminished for Paul, but his would not diminish for them.
Dear Heavenly Father, Praise You that Your love for me never diminishes! Praise You that You are the perfect parent always lovingly guiding and when needed, disciplining but always in love. It is a comfort to know that Your love for me is powerful and unending. It is also wise and can always be trusted. You know the future and what is best for me, so I can always rest in following Your Word. It is a joy to love You back! How wonderful that even in trials, when I trust and follow You, Your love and wisdom turns the trials into eternal rewards (1 Cor 3:11-15). What peace I find in loving You and following Your ways. You are so Awesome! In your holy Son’s name and power of resurrection. Amen
On his first visit, in 50 AD, Paul founded the church at Corinth. His second visit, in the spring of 54, was the impromptu painful visit (to see link click Ao – Paul’s Painful Visit). So now, writing in the autumn/winter of 54/55, Paul mentions a third trip to that conflicted church. Look, I am ready this third time to come and visit you (12:14a). One of Paul’s main purposes for this letter was to prepare the Corinthians for an impending visit to their city, a visit to which he had alluded a number of times (2:1 and 3, 9:4, 10:6), and he mentions the visit several times at the end of his letter. He spoke of the upcoming visit to offer a measure of accountability to the church; the apostle wanted to make sure they were ready for his arrival. He wanted them to have joy at his coming (2:3), but he also wanted them to have the offering for Jerusalem ready (9:4). Moreover, it is clear that he planned to deal directly with the false apostles (see Af – The Problem of the False Apostles), as well as with those who were rebelling against God and His appointed apostle (12:20-21; 13:1-2 and 10).285
First, Paul reiterated his financial policy: And I will not be a burden to you; for it is not what you own that I want, but you (12:14a)! Then he offered to the Corinthians another explanation for his policy of refusing their support, as well as a declaration that all that he and his coworkers’ ministry had been done honestly. Earlier, Paul had explained that his refusal to accept their support didn’t mean that he didn’t love them and would continue his set policy to undermine the pompous false apostles (see Bz – Servants of Satan). After all, children are not supposed to save up for their parents, but parents for their children (12:14b).
The image of a parent recalls his earlier plea: In like exchange, (I speak to you as children) open wide your hearts too . . . make room for us in your hearts (6:13). He had described his relationship to them as the father who cared for them and who begot them (First Corinthians 4:14-15). He brought them the Gospel (10:14); arranged for their marriage to Messiah (11:2); exalted them at his own expense (11:7); loved them faithfully, as ADONAI could attest (11:11); sacrificed himself for them (12:15); devoted himself to their edification (12:19, 13:10); and like any good parent, pointed out their faults and reprimanded them (12:20).
Here, Paul continued the theme of being a loving parent. And as for me, I will most gladly spend everything I have and be spent myself too for your sake. This is the best litmus test for the sign of a true apostle. The true shepherd would be willing to spend and be spent on behalf of his sheep. He would serve at great cost to himself and for the benefit of others. This is what Paul did. The least they could do would be to love and honor him in return. Sadly, the Corinthians relationship was upside down: If I love you more, am I to be loved less (12:15)? The more affection Paul gave, the less they returned it.
Be that as it may – despite their unreturned love for him – Paul would still not be a burden to them. Their love may have diminished, but his would not. Despite their hesitancy, coldness, and hostility, he would continue to love them sacrificially. The Corinthians must agree that he had never asked for nor taken any financial support from them for himself. But someone apparently had twisted his actions and made up a conspiracy theory that Paul had hatched some deep dark plan to deceive them by profiting from the collection for Jerusalem. Possibly, someone claimed that the collection was a ruse by which Paul would have his associates gather up the money and he would secretly skim some off the top without knowing. So, sarcastically, he mocked them, saying: Yet, crafty fellow that I am, I took you with trickery (12:16)!286
Rather than respond directly to the accusation, Paul asked four rhetorical questions. The first two expect a negative answer and the last two a positive response. Did I exploit you through any of the men I sent to you? I urged Titus to go and sent another brother with him (8:10); Titus didn’t take advantage of you, did he? The idea that those highly respected men would join Paul in a plot to defraud the Corinthians was completely absurd. But if they were not involved in any such plot, how could Paul have been? Didn’t we live by the same Spirit and show you the same path (12:17-18b)? They had all acted with the same integrity and honesty toward the Corinthians, and they knew it.287
Paul’s words, “Perhaps you think that all this time we have been defending ourselves before you,” may be surprising. Most readers would think that it is obvious that he had been defending himself. But the apostle was not being insincere with that statement. He wanted to make it crystal clear to the Corinthians that he was not a prisoner at the bar having to submit to an embarrassing cross examination. He had committed no offense and need not exonerate himself. It was God, not they, he must please.288 No, we have been speaking in the sight of God, as those united with the Messiah should; and, my dear friends, it is all for your strengthening (12:19). Everything he did in relation to the Corinthians was to build them up. They were his friends. He loved them, even when they exasperated him.
The apostles’ fears concerning the Corinthians’ sins were well founded, given their history (see the commentary on First Corinthians Ce – The Pagan Background of Counterfeit Spiritual Gifts). He had dealt extensively with sin in their congregation in the severe letter, and even made a visit to Corinth to confront their sin and rebellion in person (see Ao – Paul’s Painful Visit). With good reason, then, Paul was afraid of coming and finding them not the way I want you to be . . . still in unrepentant sin. He knew that there was potential for that, even though most of the congregation had repented (7:6-11). And also, of not being found the way you want me to be. I am afraid of finding quarreling and jealousy, anger and rivalry, slander and gossip, arrogance and disorder (12:20). Paul’s great fear for the Corinthians was that, influenced by the false apostles, they would fall back into the sins which they had previously practiced.289
Paul feared that God would permit a repetition of the humiliation he had experienced on his second painful visit and that he would be grieved over many of those who sinned in the past and have not repented of the impurity, fornication and debauchery that they have engaged in (12:21). In his heart, Paul knew the truth – that the problems plaguing the church at Corinth were caused not so much by the truly converted believers there, but by those who were wolves in sheep’s clothing (see the commentary on Jude Ah – Godless People Have Secretly Slipped In Among You). Yeshua’s ominous words would apply to those enemies of God (James 4:4): Not everyone who says to Me, “Lord, Lord,” shall enter the kingdom of Heaven, but the one who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me on that day, “Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?” And then I will declare to them, “I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness” (Matthew 7:21-23)! There were those in the congregation that would hear those words. Paul felt compelled to warn them of their dire destiny.290
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