2 Corinthians Part5 (Our inner nature is renewed)

“So we do not lose heart. Though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed every day” (ch4 v16)

Paul is continuing to discuss the afflictions which he and the other apostles are experiencing in their work. So when he uses “we” in these chapters, he normally means the apostles. When he says “our outer nature is wearing away”, he must in the first instance be referring to the state of being afflicted, perplexed, and persecuted, being described earlier in the chapter. This momentary affliction is preparing for them an eternal weight of glory. It is a symptom of the fact that they are looking away from the visible and transient things of this world, and focussing on the eternal things which are unseen. At the same time, the renewing of the inner nature may be taken as a more general Christian experience and need not be limited to the apostles.

In the opening verse of the next chapter, he illustrates the point with an accommodation metaphor. The short-term earthly “tent” of our lives will be destroyed, but it will be replaced by a building “not made with hands”, one of the “many rooms” promised by Jesus (John ch14 v2). In v3 the “building” metaphor is switched over in mid-sentence to a “clothing” metaphor; “We long to put on our heavenly dwelling, so that by putting it on we may not be found naked”. There is a New Testament theme that we need to avoid “being naked” (that is, being vulnerable to God’s judgment, as Adam and Eve fond themselves). It is in Revelation ch16 v15, and the solution is to be “clothed in Christ” (see Galatians ch3 v27). We yearn to our present “clothing” in death, not to be left “unclothed”, but to be better clothed.

God had prepared all this for us, and has given us the Holy Spirit as a “guarantee”. It is the “first down payment” in the fulfilment of his promises (v5).

So we persecuted apostles are always of good courage, walking by faith, not by sight. We would welcome death, because we would rather by away from the body and at home with the Lord, the reverse of the present case. In the meantime, we must make it our business to please God, because we know that we must appear before the judgement seat of Christ. You see, Paul does not ignore good works any more than James ignores faith. But they both put good works in the same place, following on from faith instead of preceding it.

It is on that basis, in the fear of the Lord, that the apostles commit themselves to persuading men to the gospel. God knows that, and he hopes the consciences of his readers will recognise it. But this does not mean that “we are commending ourselves to you again” It is very hard for Paul to explain and defend his position without being conscious that he comes up against this charge. It’s just that he wants them to be proud of his work, so that they can answer those “who pride themselves on a man’s position and not on his heart” (those who claim authority on the basis of “letters of recommendation”).

“If we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right minds, it is for you” (v13)
Paul’s opponents accuse him of being “beside himself”. This must have been a frequent charge, because it comes up in Acts Perhaps it was usually prompted, as in the case of Festus, by the assertion that Jesus was raised from the dead. Paul’s answer here involves some word-play, because the two options are not exact opposites. In fact they are both true, if “appear to be” is understood to be added to the first half. The explanation of them both is that “the love of Christ controls us”.

originally posted by: DISRAELI
“We long to put on our heavenly dwelling, so that by putting it on we may not be found naked”. There is a New Testament theme that we need to avoid “being naked” (that is, being vulnerable to God’s judgment, as Adam and Eve fond themselves). It is in Revelation ch16 v15, and the solution is to be “clothed in Christ” (see Galatians ch3 v27). We yearn to our present “clothing” in death, not to be left “unclothed”, but to be better clothed.

Adam and Eve were already naked so already naked in the eyes of God but it wasn't until their eyes were opened to that fact they were naked did they receive God's judgment.

When the woman saw that the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eyes, and that it was desirable for obtaining wisdom, she took the fruit and ate it. She also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate it. 7And the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked.

If they were complaining to the Corinthians? Those people that were consigned to make pillars... Then "Paul" and his lot; Were being the same thing(an affliction) to the Corinthians and keeping them from their work.

:eyeroll:

a reply to: DISRAELI

Though our outer nature is wasting away,
Our inner nature is being renewed every day.

‘Though we’re getting old, we’re young in spirit.’

That’s really all there is to that.

a reply to: Cwantas

Here's whats interesting people(The Corinthians) were employed in the building of temples of gods before the god these other people were talking about and saying; They were adoring rock with man, instead of leaving rock to remain rock... Which their god does not require in a "he is greater" for that scenario despite it being a right livelihood or without fault.

Yet in the biblical origins of the Adam and Eve parable; That the two people were no better than animals and uncivilized. Whats worse about the situation; Is they leave the location 'lost' of someone acting superior when it was; Only through knowledge of what those people didn't have but could have if they had such knowledge... Using their ignorance to his advantage like play things instead of the people they were.

Whom is called evil knowing that what that person was doing let them know; Hey this person is playing you like animals and getting off on doing it. As the true thing that separates us from the animals is they cannot make fire... Yet while you are naked his heart burns with it; By remaining that way and ceasing to be naked, you'll be led out of the bondage that; That individual puts you through trying to play god by showing you things you've never seen and telling you things you've never heard to control you and it is due to that nakedness.

So after adorning clothes and the guy got angry only proving what was said was true... So why wouldn't that guy call the one wise to what what he was doing with them? Evil.

The snake likely represents the religious caste of the person; Sent to put an end to someone playing god due to having more knowledge than those people he was preying on did.

Whats interesting is the same sort of argument takes place this day in politics when you point at the high road and those invested in it just for money etc like a game have never had interest in any higher road out of the methods they know to rig things in their favor.

Kinda like a wink and a nod and please shut up as we have a good scam er thing here don't ruin it and you could be one of us too... Subconsciously, those that bit such a thing have guilt and in those that do not have that guilt can see it clearly.

An eye for an eye really means: Guilt is blind to the not guilty; Already knowing their guilt.

Nothing more; just give that meaning a minute; As it is not only true but paradoxical... Because it points directly to an individual; Even though more than one person is involved.