Bible, NT-23,1st/2nd Corinth: Part 2

LESSON 23

FIRST AND SECOND CORINTHIANS

Part 2

By Rev.  G. Evan Newmyer 

---

I Cor 11:1-16

Paul begins by saying he would praise them if they remembered the Ordinances he delivered, the Greek word for Ordnance is Paradosis, meaning Tradition, or Doctrine, pertaining the to gathering, therefore, we are looking at metaphors as the relate to the gathering, indicating the husband as the leader, the congregation as the wife. What about Corinth? Paul being an Apostle completed his part in Corinth, what was lacking was this aspect of Teaching them again how to Teach. They were teaching all sorts of things, none of which were inline with the Doctrines (Traditions) Paul set forth prior, thus Paul said, “remember me in all things” (I Cor 11:2).

Paul is still talking about following him as he follows Christ; however, he is about to talk about husbands and wives, yet he is not married, giving us our first clue regarding the metaphoric content of the teaching. We also see Christ is the head of the husband, yet Paul wasn’t married; therefore, how could they follow him? Paul is merely saying to follow Christ as he does as a leader, it’s not to make him the person between us and Christ. One of the carnal errors of the Corinthians was placing humans as idols: “I’m of Paul”, thus to assume Paul is saying to follow him as a human before we can find Christ would be a violation of him rebuking the Corinthians for doing just that (I Cor 3:4-5). No, we look at Paul, who was once a man by the name of Saul feared by Christians, yet Jesus took him, cleaned him, trained him, then put him into service. If Jesus can do it with Paul, He can do it with any of us.

Issues regarding Spiritual matters are also seen here, we know the Corinthians prayed in the Spirit by speaking in unknown tongues, Paul even said he more so than they, but he didn’t say he prayed in tongues and they didn’t, nor did he say he didn’t and they did, it wasn’t the praying, but the issue was why they were praying. Did they pray in unknown tongues to impress themselves? Did they refuse to, because they demanded control? They would also prophesy all over the place, yet not understand one word.

We have two metaphors pointing to Authority, Head and Name. The Head is the Authority over us, the Name is what we use to show our Authority. We don’t toss the “Name of Jesus” around like it’s some personal tool to fill their desires. The Name of Jesus is only reserved for those in the Body of Christ, it’s the granted joined authority of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost. It’s the Authority opening the Door so we could receive the Gift of Grace by the Holy Ghost. Authority, then Power, not the other way around. We don’t say, “In the Power of Jesus”, we say, “In the Name of Jesus”, thus pointing to our Authority, yet without the Power from on High we can say it, but not perform in it.

Paul uses metaphors to make a point, as a type of “tongue in cheek” humor, but only a carnal mind would reject “there is neither male nor female in Christ” for “let your women remain silent”. There is no conflict in the phrases, just conflict in the carnal mind.

More evidence to this is found in the word “woman” which is the Greek Gune meaning a wife, it comes from the Greek Ginomai meaning To come to be, often it was used in reference to child bearing. In Ephesians Paul tells us the purpose of leadership is to assist the congregation to grow (Eph 4:10-14). If we make this section gender it would indicate the restrictions are placed on the married women alone, whereas the single women, or widows can make all the noise they want, including running the aisles yelling to the top of their lungs. It would also mean single men, or widowers are not allowed in church, since they are left out of the context. Clearly we’re speaking about something greater than gender.

Another point is how this is placed between two areas speaking of Communion, which means this area is a teaching on the subject of the “gathering”. This shows us why Paul used the cup then the bread, this area becomes a matter of Bread.

In truth, Communion is not a faith issue, it’s a belief issue, it looks back to Remember. Like any Covenant there are sides or duties, we know our first duty is to Seek ye first the Kingdom of God (Spirit), and His Righteousness (Scepter of the Kingdom). Therefore we could in fact take Communion, yet never view our condition in the Body, but it would make us unworthy, since we failed to consider the purpose of Communion. The Bread is a mercy issue, the Cup points to Grace. When we hold the Bread we remember how God forgive us with the proviso of us forgiving others. We ask ourselves, Do we hold unforgiveness? Are we walking in the Father’s Mercy? Then we can Remember the Blood of Christ in the New Covenant regarding our relationship with Jesus by the Spirit.

Communion is like being at the Doctor’s Office, we are allowing the New Man to conduct an examination; much like “Physician heal thyself”. It doesn’t mean we can’t pray, it means Communion is to remember while allowing the New Man to examine us. Our prayers would be to seek Wisdom, honor the Faith of Jesus, asking for the Lord to restore us if we have made errors.

This is the place where Paul said the Lord judges him, lest he be condemned with the “world”. Of course if one is using the wisdom of the world, they will be judged with the world. However, this area still looks at the Authority of leadership and congregation, as well as what to do when things are out of order.

We must remember the center of this teaching is not Power, but Authority. We are not talking about the “horn of power”, but the “head of authority”. The Centurion was told he had great faith based on his knowledge of Authority; when Jesus cleaned out the Temple the religious leaders didn’t question His power, since the cleaning showed He had the Power, it was His Authority (by what Authority do You do this?). Why? Power used outside of Authority is rebellion, and rebellion is like the sin of witchcraft. Both rebellion and witchcraft attempt to oppose, or overthrow the Authority of God. If the Pharisees could prove Jesus acted in Power, but lacked Authority, they would have found Him in violation of nearly every point of the Law. We know Jesus had the Authority and Power, as He used them accordingly.

Paul is faced with a situation where his covering over a Body is being abused, part of the Communion service is holding respect for members of the Body (Bread). Here we find the Apostle began this local body, but even his covering couldn’t change or help them,  yet it did protect them. Paul could instruct, but he couldn’t dominate them, or force them to comply. He trained them in the way they should go, it was up to them to accept the education. The same is true when we read Acts 15, the letter sent to the Gentiles was Doctrine, but the Apostles couldn’t force the Gentiles to follow the Doctrine. Carnal leaders always attempt to manipulate or dominate, or force the congregation to follow rules and regulations. A carnal mind speaks of Liberty, but it’s still in bondage.

A lack of authority doesn’t mean they lack power, it’s evident here in Corinth. They still had the Power, but they were using it without the proper Authority covering them, thus they were in rebellion. What to do? The Congregation had to remain silent, thus for them to hold a meeting to rebuke the leaders would be just as much out of order as having carnal leadership. Carnal rebuking carnal still leaves things carnal. The answer? Communion, another secret Paul alludes to, let them learn at home. Ahh, go home get with the Lord in your prayer closet. Prayer and Communion have a place in the gathering, as well as in our prayer closet. Jesus has made us priests and kings, thus as a priest we can administer Communion, even to ourselves.

On the other hand we could appoint a carnal board, then toss out the carnal leaders, but it leaves us with a carnal board. What to do? Pray the carnal board out? Pray them down? Pray them upside down? No, pray they gain clarity to what they are doing, ask Jesus to bring His correction and edification unto perfection. Perhaps Jesus will send someone, as He did here with the Corinthians. However, the prophet or teacher could show up with Truth, but without the Rhema ear, it won’t be received.

The separation between the males and females, or better between the husbands and wives is a clear rebuke, to those who know the Temple lay-out. The Temple had a place for the women, separating them from the men. Interesting side note, in the Temple the place called the Corinthian Gate was the entrance to the Women’s Court. Paul’s comments to these carnal minded Corinthians warn us all, if we fall to the carnal mind, or remain carnal in our thinking, we are under the Law, and still subject to the ordinances against us.

For some reason we pick up these areas of carnal activity and make them Doctrine, which is exactly what Paul was attempting to avoid. Entire sects hold “let your women remain silent”, without understanding what it means. When our “women” are silent, the leaders are admitting they are carnal, or lack authority. Neither does it give us the right to remain carnal, yet tell the women to yell, thinking it makes us Spiritual.

The context is for the leaders and congregation to be Moved by the anointing, rather than attempting to move the anointed. Authority is an issue is vital, Jesus granted Authority before the Power came. Authority is the right granted to apply the Power, without Authority we have no position to pray or prophesy. Here in Corinth the problem wasn’t the devil, it was their lack of Authority. They were the Bread, thus they were in the Body, their “head” was Christ, but they were carnal. Authority and the Anointing run hand in hand, the metaphor Hair points to the covering of the Anointing, but in order to have the Anointing one must have the Authority. This area connects to Isaiah 10:27, the metaphor Shoulder refers to Government, the place between the Head of the Body and the Body. A yoke is dependent on its purpose, Jesus gave us His yoke, which is based in Rest. However there is another yoke, one choking, or cutting off. In Isaiah 10:27 the context is Government, the Burden shall be taken away from off His shoulder, the Yoke from off His neck, then the Yoke shall be destroyed Because of the anointing, not by it. The Yoke in this case is around the Neck, it separates the Anointing in the Head from getting to the Shoulder, which means it also separates it from the Body. A Yoke of this type can be carnal minded thinking, traditions of men, doctrines of men, or imposed deeds from the Law of Moses, or anything not conducive to the Spiritual nature of the Doctrine of Christ.

In Verse 1 Paul is not saying make an idol out of him, or set him between man and God, it simply means use Paul as an example of one who follows Christ. This teaching Paul is about to give connects back to 7:14, the unbelieving husband (leader) is sanctified by the believing wife (congregation), lest the babes would be unholy. There was nothing artificial between Paul and Christ, no Yoke of separation, Paul had nothing on “his head” to separate his Head from God. However, the Corinthian leaders were placing a Yoke between them and the Christ (Anointing) for the Body, separating them from the Head of the Body.

Verse 2 begins by “I praise you”, yet in just a few verses he will say “I praise you not”, so did he change his mind? (vs. 11:17 & 11:22). This is a request, the facts come later, here in verse 2 he is asking them to remember Paul, by keeping the Ordinances as he delivered them, don’t change them, nor forget them.

Verse 3 then begins the teaching on Authority in the local body, connecting to “And you are Christ’s and Christ is God’s” (v. 3:23), as well as, “if any man defile the Temple (Body) of God” (v. 3:16). Authority differs depending on who grants it, we know the spirit of man uses the authority of darkness, thus if the leadership is using the spirit of man to make decisions, they are allowing the cup of devils to guide them. The gift (Doma) of the office is not to enhance the person, or to make them famous or rich, it’s for the edification of the Body. James says, “My brethren, be not may masters (teachers or leaders), knowing we shall receive the greater condemnation” (James 3:1). To whom much is given, much is required. The appointments of God are based on God’s form of government, which is known as Theocracy, meaning it’s based on Authority. No one can grant a position unless they have the authority to do so. Jesus gave us authority when He said, “Go in My Name (Authority)”, but then He said, “Tarry for Power (New Man, Born Again) from on high”. Two different things, the Authority (Name) came first, but we found from the first chapter of Acts what happens when we operate before the Power from on high is granted. The Power is always the ability to carry out the Authority in a lawful manner. Authority is the granted right to use the Power, thus Authority must come first, then Power.

Authority is only granted to those in position, thus anyone in the Body has Authority to do many things, even if they are a Babe, or Carnal, of Mind the Flesh. We baptize others in water based on the Authority in the Name of Jesus. We cast out devils by the same Authority, we do other things based on the Authority granted to the Body in general. There is an Authority in being Born Again, we have the position to allow the Spirit to Manifest. The Authority found in the Name of Jesus is not privy to anyone outside the Body, it would be someone not in position attempting to use an authority they are not granted. The result would be another Seven Sons Of Sceva fiasco. The same is true with the Office, only the Holy Ghost appoints to the five fold Offices (Acts 13:1-3), we can call ourselves most anything, but it doesn’t mean we have the Authority or the Power of the Office, thus the Office forms the person, it’s not the other way around.

Some of us think the Anointing comes with Power, here Paul uses the metaphor “hair” for the Anointing (metaphor taken from Samson’s experience), but the hair is not artificial, thus a hat is not hair. Hair being a metaphor for the Anointing, also relates to a covering, much like the Unction over the Body. However, can someone place a false, or artificial covering between them and their authority? Yes, leadership above all else is required to be Spiritual in nature, how can a leader hear the Lord if they are not Spiritual? How can they call Jesus Lord, but by the Holy Ghost?

If the head of the husband is Christ, the husband’s head is not to be covered, who then is the head of the husband? We can’t jump from the metaphor to the gender, then back again, the context is the same, metaphors. If this was not metaphoric then we see the wife of Joe walking down the street with Joe’s head. Perhaps stuff movies are made of, but not the things found in the life in Christ. This is a mystery, one defined by the context. If we really want to cause a stir, we have to see the head of the woman is the man, the mouth of the woman is on the face, thus if the woman is to remain silent, it’s the man’s head to remain silent; clearly metaphors. It’s the head of the woman who needs the long flowing hair, since the head of the woman is the man, or we are using metaphors to explain why the congregation in Corinth were having difficulties in answering their own questions.

The leader must be under Authority, which in turn brings the anointing of God as long flowing hair unto the congregation. Leadership must never allow any Yoke on the Neck separating “Christ and God”. So where does it bring us? Defining Christ as Paul uses the title here, as the Anointing for the Rock, the basis for the Living Water. Therefore, God the Son is the Head of the Church, the Christ is the Authority and Power granted by Jesus to the Governments for the Body. No one is going to misuse, abuse or disrupt the Power and Authority of the Church, it’s not the issue here. Here it’s the Bread, or Rock, or Christ the Body. Within the Rock comes the Unction, or the Anointing of Christ. Paul is not concerned about the Corinthians wrecking their local church, his concern is how they are disrupting the Body. This makes more sense when we break down the metaphors, the husband is the leader, the wife the congregation, the hair the anointing, the head the authority. The leaders are not a separate Body, nor are they the Head (Authority of all authorities) within the Body. They are members like all of us, but with the addition of the mantel of leadership. The Congregation is not a separate Body either, they are of the same Body as the leaders. The leaders began as sheep, then Jesus called them to be shepherds, adding the responsibility of the calling. Jesus wasn’t going to force them to be leaders, it would remove Liberty, but if they accept the position, they also accepted the responsibility.

We can see this is a sound rebuke toward the leadership in Corinth, or toward any carnal leadership. Why would God allow it to begin with? Why not strike them with fire, not to consume them, perhaps just enough to get their attention. Because Jesus said, “take eat”, then He gave us the Body, but He said He would build the Church upon the Rock. Ahh, we build the Rock, Jesus builds the Church (Jude 22-23). When we assume we build the Church we have usurped authority. We tend to use the term “Church” for both the Body and the Church, they are connected, but if we confuse one into the other we error. Paul is not talking to the Church, he is talking to a church. There are churches many in the Body, but it doesn’t mean they are The Church. Therefore, whenever we as humans say we are “building the Church” we error, only Jesus can build the Church.

When we use the metaphors the verses may make more sense, “the authority of every leader is the Authority on the Body (Christ), and the authority of the congregation is the authority on the leader, the authority of Christ the Body is Jesus as God the Son”. When we force these verses to fit a gender, we end making a bunch of Frankenstein monsters, with a male’s head on a woman’s body.

For every leader praying or prophesying having his authority covered (yoked) will dishonor their authority, which is Christ. This is very important, they are not dishonoring their selves, they dishonor Christ. Every member of the congregation who prays or prophesies with their authority uncovered (lacking authority) dishonors their authority (leaders). The word Dishonor in both cases is the Greek Kataischuno, a compound word meaning To put to shame, it also means to Disappoint, or frustrate ones hope. To be “shaven” means to be void of the Anointing, thus connecting the Anointing with Authority. If the congregation is not covered by the proper Authority, let them be shorn, but if it’s a shame for the congregation to be without proper authority, then let them be covered by having the proper authority in line providing the granted anointing Jesus established. This again shows the keys were in the hands of the people, even the leadership. They had the choice to remain carnal, or become Spiritual. Who gets hurt? The congregation, as a congregation, but not as individuals. Paul tells them to learn at home, thus two things are obvious, they didn’t learn a thing worth while in the gathering, but their relationship with the Lord must still be intact since they can still to learn at home. Home will be the place for the congregation to begin the road of restoration.

For the leader should never remove his authority in Christ from Jesus the Authority over the Body, for the leader is the image (representation) of the authority over them. If the Authority is in Order, the entire congregation can pray or prophesy as they keep things decently and in order (I Cor 14:40). For the leader is not the congregation, but the congregation is not the leader, neither was the leader created for the congregation, but the congregation for the leader.  Where does Jesus get His shepherds? From the sheep. This doesn’t diminish the purpose of the Gift (Doma), but it does show Jesus gains leaders from the congregation, it’s not the other way around (vs. 11).

For this cause the congregation is the cherished help meet of the leader, for this cause they must be the order of Authority (power in KJV, v. 10), because the angels are also under authority, and have authority as they are watch us. Nevertheless, neither is the leader without the congregation, or the congregation without the leader, in the Lord. For as the congregation is of the leaders, even so is the leader also by the congregation; but all things of God. Judge for yourselves: is it right for the congregation to pray unto God uncovered (void the authority and anointing)?

Then Paul changes to the anointing (Hair alone), showing how important authority is. The Body has an anointing over it, but here it’s still the congregation. The congregation in Corinth was in division, strife, questions amounting to little or nothing, mentor worship, confusion, everyone wanting to be the center of attention, leading to the biggest mistake of all, the misuse of the Communion table. He just finished talking about Authority as it connects to the Anointing, but here it’s not the “head” so much as the “hair” (Yikes the 60’s revisited).

We know the metaphor Hair refers to the anointing, but isn’t it strange how he says the leader should have “short” hair? Or does he? It’s not short, but progression he is talking about. If the Authority is an issue of “I am a man with Authority, and I am under Authority”, then the Authority above would be greater. Here the anointing seems to be the other way around, the anointing gets greater as it flows down from the leader. The leader isn’t bald, but their hair on their Head is not “long”, we have to consider who the “head” is, thus the Christ is the Anointing, but it grows as it flows to the congregation if the Authority is in order. The Hair on the head of the Woman must be long, but her head is the husband (leader). The body of the woman will lack the anointing if her head lacks authority. The Progression of the Anointing is the point, it’s based in Authority, if the congregation lacks the Anointing, it’s not the fault of Christ, rather the fault rests on the “head of the woman” (leadership). If we make this the marriage, we also remove the “two shall be one”, making it appear as if the wife is still under the fall nature (and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee – Gen 3:16). Perhaps it’s the point, they were using the wisdom of the world, thus they talked about Liberty, they were kings, yet by they lacked authority, meaning it was all talk, usually the wrong talk.

There is a Mantel of authority for the Office, just as James had in Jerusalem, but he didn’t sit himself on a chair ten feet higher than everyone else. Unity calls for Unity. On the same note it also calls for Spiritual people in Spiritual positions.

This explains the Hair (anointing) comments Paul just made ( I Cor 11:14-15), we find all the miracles and such come when the Authority in the leadership (husbands) is in order. Leaders can complain all day long about how their congregation is not laying hands on the sick, or how their congregation is “silent”, but the cause is the leadership being out of order, which is caused by either not understanding this area, or placing a Yoke between them and their Head. In some manner, their fault, or not their fault they picked up something as “doctrine” producing a false covering between their Head and Jesus. The Authority has to come from Jesus as the Head of the Body to produce the Anointing to the leader, then to the congregation. The purpose of leadership is to perfect the Saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the Body of Christ, thus it’s the Congregation who does the miracles, healings and such as the Anointing gains by the proper use of Authority (I Cor 12:28).

The Yoke or hindrance is blocking, or disrupting the Authority, which in turn stops the flow of the Anointing. The Power is still there, the Power to do all the things has not passed away, or fallen under the table, but if we have Yoked the Authority, the Power lacks the anointing, yet the anointing brings life to the power, thus the power without the anointing becomes so unstable it works today, but not tomorrow, sometimes not at all. Authority, not Power is the issue to bring the Anointing after the Yoke is destroyed, then the power enhances the authority bringing all things into a balanced nature.

An example? Yes, the most common, any leader who tells his people they cannot speak in other tongues has violated a commandment, setting their personal agenda as a Yoke, removing Liberty (I Cor 14:37-39). If someone doesn’t want to speak in unknown tongues fine, there is no Commandment telling us we have to, but there is one telling us not to forbid others from talking in unknown tongues. Yokes choke Liberty, in the process we find we are choking ourselves. Judas hung himself, in more ways than one, he went outside of his authority losing the anointing of the office, leaving him frightened,  bewildered, and lost.

Since this rebuke is limited to the meeting or assembling of ourselves together, the connection is between leaders and congregation, rather than the individual relationship one has with the Lord. We can also gain an understanding of, “not forsake the assembly as some do”, considering it’s Paul is telling the women (congregation) to do. What? Yes, he tells them to remain silent, then learn at home, which means they didn’t learn a thing in the “assembly”. It’s not the assembly some have forsaken, but the purpose for assembling some have forsaken. We assemble to exhort one another, we don’t come to exercise our carnal behavior. “How is it then, brethren? When you come together, every one of you has a Psalm, has a Doctrine, has a Tongue, has a Revelation, has an Interpretation…Let all things be done unto edifying” (V. 14:26). Clearly this is the congregation doing the work of the ministry, yet if there is no Authority flowing to the congregation, they have to remain silent. Paul can’t say “every one of you”, then say, “wives remain silent”. It makes no sense at all, the phrase “every one of you” is all inclusive, thus the difference is Authority in the proper order.

We also find verses 2 through 15 lay out the authority issue, but then in verse 16 it seems like a “so what?”. However, looking at verse 16 we find if they are “contentious”, but does it apply to? The word Contentious is the Greek Philoneikos meaning to quarrel or found in strife, which means if they are carnal, they will probably reject the teaching. Then in verse 16 we read, “we have no such custom, neither the churches of God”. The word Custom is the Greek Sunetheia meaning a practice followed by people, which means “even if” he was talking about gender, it’s only upon carnal bodies, since no other church of God holds these restrictions; however, if we accept the metaphoric usage we can see none of the other churches had the problem with yoking the authority. Clearly if we tell the women to remain silent, we are acting Corinth in nature, setting carnal rules, because we have yoked the Authority from us.

The Corinthians would sit and wait, when the teacher showed up it was, “okay teach me something”, or, “ahh gee I’m not getting edified”; the Spiritually minded come to exhort. Some neglect the purpose for gathering, the Corinthians are a prime example of coming together, yet forsaking the purpose.

Division is the opposite of comfort: strife the opposite of edification: envy the opposite of exhortation. Paul saw many things wrong in Corinth, but they centered around their misuse of Authority. This will be evident in Second Corinthians when they challenge Paul by attacking his authority in the same manner as Korah challenged Moses. It’s one thing to see something wrong, dealing with it takes authority and wisdom. If we lack the authority and wisdom, we are to observe and learn, not interject.

Paul just went over the harmful ways of the children in the wilderness and how they were baptized unto Moses, but failed to honor Moses, or his authority, thus they “tempted Christ”, which means they tempted the anointing and authority granted Moses. We know Jesus wasn’t there in a physical body, we also know when Jesus came, Christ came, so was Paul teaching heresy? Not at all, rather it was the Authority granted the leader, with Authority comes the Anointing for the position, the leaders in Corinth remained carnal, which was “tempting Christ”. The children in the wilderness were an example of the leadership being in order, but the congregation not. However, we know the out of order congregation caused the leader to fall. The children held the ability to believe or not to believe, the leadership had the same ability to be carnal or Spiritual. They had the Spirit, being Spiritual was the next step. Here in Corinth it was a mess, yet they had the ability to turn it around.

Further, these titles of Christ and God couldn’t mean Jesus, and the Father, since we find the Husband’s head is Christ, yet it’s possible for him to place a Veil between Christ and God, but we know it’s impossible for any human to separate the Son from the Father. Authority and the Anointing are the issue, not gender, nor not power (got it?).

Since this teaching also reflects on the Lord’s Table, it will have a direct connection to why some are sick, weak and die. When there is evidence of division, strife and envy in the ranks, it’s a clue to which spirit they are using, or is using them.

How do we know we’re talking about Authority? In verse 10 we read, “For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels”. The word Power is the Greek Exousia meaning Authority, but we also find the introduction of “angels”, how did they get into this? The word Angel means a Messenger, thus if the covering is in error, then the Message will be perceived to be in error. Therefore, Paul rightly suspects they are engaged in heresies. Most heresies come about when a carnal mind attempts to define a Spiritual matter.

The metaphors haven’t changed either, the head of the woman is the man, thus  the question is, does the leader (head of the woman) have Authority? If so the anointing will show it. Once we see the context here is the ability to Pray and Prophesy in the congregation setting, we can also see why verse 14:34 goes directly to Prophecy and Prayer, while adding “silence”. Paul is not telling females to be silent, rather it shows the Woman (congregation) must remain silent in a carnal church, since it’s so carnal every time they pray or prophecy they bring condemnation down on the leaders, yet if the out of order leaders pray or prophesy they shame (dishonor) Christ, thus making the Yoke tighter. Can it happen? Yes, in Second Corinthians we find these same people allowed self-transformed false apostles to gain entry into their body (II Cor 11:13-15). When the authority is disrupted, so is discernment, allowing those who fake the anointing by witchcraft to gain easy access.

The women (congregation) in Corinth couldn’t pray or prophesy, they had to remain silent, not because they did anything wrong, but because the leaders were carnal, in error, and have Yoked Christ from God. The result was the only other Law granted to the people of God, the Law of Moses. They were not beheaded (giving up personal authority for the authority of Jesus) for Jesus, they made their church headless from Jesus.

The process of the Anointing flowing through the Authority is the key issue in all this, if we were to view this as a chart we could see how the Authority opens a clear movement from Jesus as God the Son, or the Head (Authority) of the Body into Christ the anointing over the leadership, then to the leaders in the Body then unto the congregation in the Body, allowing the Operations to operate. However, if we place a false covering, or a yoke on the Neck we hinder the process of the Operations. The leaders in Corinth were not over the entire Body, so what’s the big deal? Let them sink or swim on their own; right? Wrong, they were still loved of God, Paul was still their father.

The word Pray used in these verses means to make a supplication, or ask for the supply. The word Prophesy means as an oracle of God in the meeting place. If the woman’s head (leaders) are separated or uncovered, yet she prays or prophesies, she dishonors her head (leaders). The covering on her head (leader) must be long flowing Hair (anointing) coming from the Authority. This is the same knowledge the Centurion had, if the leader has placed a false covering between Christ and God, if the congregation begins to pray or prophesy, they dishonor their Leader, thus Paul tells the Leaders to tell the Congregation (women) to remain silent. How do we know? The wording, “let Your women remain silent”, rather than “you women remain silent”. This is a clear rebuke to carnal leadership who have followed the wisdom of the world, or were using carnal means to define Spiritual matters.

This first letter to the Corinthians is based on questions asked of Paul. What type of questions do you think they asked? Real deep Spiritual ones? Hardly, they were carnal, the answers to carnal questions require pointing to corrections. Paul is hearing “what carnal minds want to know”, but he is telling them, “Spiritual corrections will set you free”. This is the Test of True Theocracy. Are we in order? Look for the Glory on those under us. If Not? Look for the error in us, but stop making excuses for our lack of Authority and Anointing. We should never be surprised when the Anointing falls, it should always be in operation.

I Cor 11:17-34

Paul moves right from the Covering to Communion, thus they are connected. What good does it do to take Communion fifty times a day, if we go about with the Yoke of bondage on the Neck? Paul points to the night of betrayal, rather than the Day of the Cross, or the glory of the Passover, or even the Resurrection. The message here is much different from “you must believe Jesus is raised from the dead”, rather it points to the betrayal of Judas, as he attempted to misuse his office and position.

In the other three accounts of the last Passover we see Jesus Break, Bless and Give, but we don’t see Him saying “this is My Body broken for you”, where did Paul get this saying? Where is his reference? “Tell me brother Paul, where does it say that?”. Was the Body of Jesus broken? No, not one bone, His flesh was ripped, but was His Body broken? No, then when did this happen, or perhaps when will this happen? Paul is warning the Corinthians, yet goes back to the twenty-three thousand who died (v. 10:8).

Why would Paul use the connection between Judas and the Bread? Jesus indicated the Rock, or Bread was already in function, the Church was yet to come. Judas wanted to do what Judas wanted to do, he was not only self-run and carnal, he was part of the Rock. Paul’s use of the betrayal is not to be taken lightly, neither is the use of the Broken Body. The Corinthians were right at the breaking of the Bread, they were neither the Good side, or the Broken off side, rather they could fall to either side.

Paul tells us Jesus said, “This is My Body broken for you” but He didn’t say “has been broken”. Where did he obtain the information? In Matthew Jesus said, “Verily I say unto you, one of you shall betray Me” (Matt 26:21), then Jesus took bread, blessed then broke it (Matt 26: 26). In Mark Jesus took bread, blessed it, then broke it (Mark 14:22). In Luke Jesus took bread, gave thanks, then broke it (Luke 21:19). In each case the Bread was broken, in each case Jesus said, “this is My body”, yet Paul said we are the bread (v. 10:17). Not only do we remember Jesus did break the Bread, but we also remember Judas who began the position of the son of perdition.

When we Break the Bread we have two pieces, one representing the Wheat, the other the Tare, thus we take only half of the Bread, we don’t take it all. Neither do we stomp on the other piece, or curse it, we simply discard it. This symbol is seen in the absence of the name of Judas after Acts 1, thus the other Judas’ mentioned are not the traitor. The Breaking is a symbol, we don’t sit around saying, “wonder what half did they gave me?”, rather we submit to the Spirit which keeps on the Side remaining in the Hand of the Lord. Although Jesus said, “this is My Body”, we find we are the Body, thus we are the Bread (vs. 10:17). We are not The Blood, the type and shadow shows the Body is centered in the Son of man, or Mercy. Whereas the Blood is the New Covenant of Grace. The Body is represented in the Bread, the Cup is just a Cup until the Blood enters, the Blood  is the New Testament, not the Bread or the Cup.

We are Worthy by Belief, unworthy by unbelief, thus this unworthy position would be a betrayal to our vow to continue to believe. Paul is not saying the Corinthians are Judas types, his concern is their carnal minds would receive the Judas types, a concern proved just, when it was later verified as he comments in Second Corinthians.

Communion is based on Remembering, which points to believing. We review our decision and confession to determine if we picked up any unbelief, or hold to any concepts contrary to the Doctrine of Christ.

The Blood is the Power and Glory of God, it is the New Covenant, making the Body a safe place, but nonetheless the kingdom of heaven, not the Kingdom of God, thus the Kingdom of God is represented by the Blood. Have we truly believed in the Name of Jesus, or have we formed excuses to hide our unbelief? Do we simply believe in the Power of the Name, or do we believe in the purpose and means of the Name?

We “discern the Lord’s Body”, the Blood will discern us, the fault is never in the Blood. Have we truly opened our hearts for exposure? Or have we been backbiting, complaining, or have we become a thorn in the flesh? For this cause we are sick, weak (without power) and die. What is missing? Life, thus sick weak and dead are the opposites of Life.

If we judge ourselves openly and honestly before the Lord, we will not be condemned with the world. The Lord chastens those He loves, but if He has to chasten us 24 hours a day, something is wrong. In this we find a blessing, if the Lord has chastened us, it’s because He doesn’t want us condemned or judged with the world, He wants us to enter the Rapture. In James we find the cause of some sickness is fault between members of the Body, generally the same thing Paul is saying (James 5:16).

Verse 34 doesn’t mean the Communion table was a place where big meals were served, rather it points to the self-interest of the person. If the only reason we come to the Lord’s Table is for our self-interest, or to engage in a social experience, we missed the point of discerning the Lord’s Body. It’s still the Lord’s Table, we must ask the Spirit, “Have we allowed, or have we been guilty of keeping a Yoke?”, or “What has our walk done for, or against the Body?”. If they have those areas in order, then it’s time to grow up and learn of the Spirituals.

I Cor 12:1-6

From the Covering, to the Table, to the Spirituals, all in order, all connected. The answer to the carnal question is always found in the Spirit, but it takes a Spiritual mind to understand the things of the Spirit. They had to reach above their carnal position and make a decision. Making the decision to be saved from the world is one thing, making the decision to be saved from the old nature another.

The word “gifts” was placed in the text by the translators, although it’s proper, we tend to expand it beyond it’s intended use. There are several gifts in the Body, each coming from The Gift of Grace, but we can’t mix them into one element, or we lose the importance of the context of these verses. All this connects to the Paul’s teaching on Authority, it will also show the gathering is not the only place where a Christian can experience the power of Christ.

The word Ignorant has two meanings; one can ignore the purpose, or they can turn their back on the purpose, which is one meaning, the other is to be unaware of the fact. It would seem if the Corinthians couldn’t understand Spiritual matters, Paul would be wasting time; however, not only is he taking the blood off his own head, but he is removing any excuse the carnal mind might have for not becoming Spiritual

These people Were Gentiles (past tense), rather than being Gentiles (present tense), but the reference to idols is still present tense. Any idol begins in the mind of man, thus we can tear down all the physical idols, yet hold idols in our minds. They were still using the wisdom of man, thus most everything they did related to idol worship. If it wasn’t making idols out of the people of God, it was making an idol out of their intellect. The spirit of man seeks to make idols, in one form or another.

Verse 3 divides the premise, whether one is speaking in unknown tongues, new tongues, prophecy or just speaking, if it’s by the Spirit they never call Jesus accursed. On the same note they can’t call Jesus Lord, but by the Holy Ghost. It doesn’t mean they can’t mouth the words, “Jesus is Lord”, or “Jesus is my Lord”, it means they can’t live up to them until the Holy Ghost has given them the Seed. The next few verses will be examples of how these two areas operate.

Paul now links three areas to separate them from the fourth. Although we have gone over these areas before, we’ll go over them again to make sure we understand the Manifestation of the Spirit is not the manifestations, nor is the Manifestation of a gift or gifts, nor is it the Holy Ghost manifestation, rather the Manifestation comes from the Gift of the Holy Ghost in us, which is the Spirit that is of God.

There are gifts by the Spirit, as we saw in Romans 12:3-21. The gifts are listed as Prophecy, Ministry, Teaching, Exhorting, Giving, Ruling and Mercy, all of which are given to Born Again Believers for the Body as attributes of the nature the Spirit engrafted in us. Part of discerning the Body is determining if we have used our Gift in accordance with Scripture with a Spiritual purpose.

Paul uses a conjunction linking verse 4 with 5, as he moves to the Administrations or Offices of the Lord. The Offices are the Doma gift given to the Body. The gifts of the Spirit are the Charisma of Charis by believers for believers, the Offices are filled by believers for believers. The Offices are listed in Ephesians 4:11 as Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors and Teachers. There is a difference between the office of Prophet, and prophecy. Paul desires all prophesy, yet he says not all are Prophets.

We have to also recall how Paul said the “wife” (congregation) could not pray or prophesy when the leaders have separated themselves from Christ, the type of prophesy he will talk about shortly, as the type centered in Comfort, Edification and Exhortation. The Office is different, just because we gave a Word, doesn’t mean we’re a prophet.

Paul uses another conjunction linking verse 5 with 6, as he points to the Operations of God, which is also filled by believers for believers. The Operations of God are found in 12:28, thus when the Charisma and Offices are operating, then the Body can exercise their gifts, but if there is a Yoke restricting the anointing, it means the gifts will lack, or be ineffective.

The Operations or the manner in which the bodies Should operate if they are in order. Attempting to force these things to happen is still carnal, the Operations Happen when things are in Order, we don’t make them happen. First each believer must know they have Charisma in Charis, then they most know the function of the Offices, thus from the Offices we find Apostle, Prophet and Teacher are essential before helps and governments can be established. If the Corinthians were attempt to reject the Apostle, as well as the Prophet, they were left Yoked from the authority.

After the Offices are in order then the congregation will experience gifts of healings and miracles. This Apostle began the body, or brought Commandment, the Prophet brought Doctrine, these are established for us from the Scriptures. However, we have our Apostle and Prophet, but the Teacher is different. The Teacher is the one who teaches us the Commandments brought by the Apostle, as well as the Doctrine delivered by the Prophet. The congregation checks the teaching to the Scriptures, not traditions. When those functions are in order then helps and governments can operate behind the scenes making sure all remains in order. Helps consists of the Bishops and Deacons, the area of Governments includes Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors and Teachers. Elders are appointed from both groups, as those with Wisdom giving leadership suggestions.

From this we find there are gifts of Grace in each Born Again believer, which are the attributes of the Spirit forming us into sons of God. Then the offices of the Lord confirmed by the Holy Ghost (Acts 13:1-3). Man does not appoint people to the Offices, but leadership does appoint Bishops, Deacons and Elders; however, leaders confirm the callings of the offices. The Father is involved in the Operations, giving us an order, we must have Commandments of the New Testament, we must have Doctrine in accordance with the Doctrine of Christ, The Son gives us the Offices, the Holy Ghost appointing to the Office, also filling us to deal with masses. The Report, or manner in which the Godhead oversees the bodies in the Body is still the Mercy, Blood and Spirit. The next area is for those who are Born Again, and operate in the Spirit.

I Cor 12:7-11

Paul goes from the gifts of the Spirit, the offices of the Lord, the operations of God, to the Manifestation of the Spirit. We can’t assume the Manifestation is The Comforter, rather this is the area for Another Comforter, or the Spirit that is of God. This can be either in the gathering, or at home, showing the individual may be hindered by carnal leadership in the gathering, but not at home. These are the self same Spirit, we will not see one Born Again person countering another. The Spirit is One Mind in operation, thus we will see some checks and balances.

Paul linked verses 4, 5 and 6 together with the conjunction “and”, but verse seven begins with the conjunction “but”, separating it from the others. The Manifestation of the Spirit is for those one on one encounters regardless of who we are talking to. Prior the other areas were by believers for believes, here it changes. The Manifestation comes only from the Believer who is Born Again, but it’s directed at other Believers, or Non-Believers. This is the area where the Witness of Jesus operates through us displaying Jesus in us of a truth; as the area where we ministry to whomever.

Although the Manifestation is by the Spirit, it also shows the submission of the soul to allow the Spirit to operate. This is the very reason Paul talked about Authority, since the New Man hears from the Holy Ghost it stands if we have allowed some separation to hinder the flow, the New Man remains silent, and so should we. However, if the Authority is in order, so will be the anointing. This area can operate in the gathering, yet still one on one, but more important it operates outside of the gathering. If the “women” remain silent in the gathering, they need not in this area.

The word Manifestation means Exhibition, or the manner in which the Spirit is Exhibits to prove the Witness of Jesus. This area is within The Gift, just as the gifts of Grace are within The Gift of Grace. The difference is the gifts of grace in Romans are attributes of the nature, here we are seeing the manner in which the Spirit in us reaches out to others. The Charisma of Charis (Grace) found in Romans 12 is a constant, it will operate in us 24 hours a day, day upon day. However, the Manifestation is not a constant; we may give a word of wisdom today, then nothing for days, or even weeks. We haven’t “lost the gift”, it’s based on time and timing. On the other hand we may be used in one or more areas one after the other for days on end, then nothing. These are Spiritual areas, but the real check for us would be the Charisma of Charis found in Romans. They should be a constant in our lives, one area or another will be seen. Therefore, Grace gives us the constant ability to prophesy in proportion of the Faith, to minister, as we wait on ministering, on teaching as we disciple, on exhorting, giving as a cheerful giver, showing mercy as we let love and cheerfulness guide our rejoicing in the hope to come, all trademarks of the Spirit in us.

However, this is the Manifestation teaching, each area of the Manifestation points to something from the Spirit. A Word of Wisdom gives us the Word from God telling someone how God desires for them to deal with people or an event. A Word of Knowledge is a revelation of information, or knowledge, it doesn’t tell us how to deal with something, it tells us about something, or someone. This can be a revelation of Scripture, or something else revealed to the person to bring them clarity,  but limited to knowledge.

Prior Paul taught on the Wisdom of God, but he also said there was a wisdom of the world, thus one can determine which a person is using by how they deal with events and people. Here we find someone who has the Spirit giving a word to another how God desires for them to deal with a person or event. The carnal minded hear the “word of wisdom”, and say, “oh I know, but this is what I think I will do”. Paul goes over these areas to show the Spirit that is of God works in conjunction with the Spirit of God to bring the Corinthians into restoration.

The gift of Faith is not some super faith in us, it’s when the Rhema is spoken and someone else gains faith. A good example of this is found in Acts 14:9, when Paul spoke to a man, when the man received the words he gained the faith to be healed (Acts 14:9). There are times today when someone says we don’t have the faith to be healed, well here we find they may not be speaking the Rhema so we could have the faith.

In the Manifestation we have “gifts” (plural) of “healing” (singular); however in the Operations we find “gifts” (plural) of “healings” (plural – I Cor 12:28). The difference is of course the Manifestation is one on one, the Operations for the gathering. The word “gifts” is the Greek Charisma, showing it’s a product of Grace, not something carnal.

The working of miracles means the creation or development of something where there was no foundation for it to exist. Much like the man in John 9 who was born without eye balls, thus the clay produced his eyes. Of course the greatest miracle is the New Birth. Healing on the other hand is a restoration of something existing, this area could also pertain to casting out devils, which is a type of healing for the victim. The healing is not limited to the physical body, a healing in mind or soul is included, making it “healings”.

The prophecy noted here is the personal area, it may be guidance, but it’s only for the person, or the local body. In this regard it’s comfort, edification or exhortation. The discerning of spirits is what Paul has been doing with these Corinthians, it’s the clarity of what spirit a person is using, or being used by. This would also fit with Paul’s discernment of the damsel in the Acts 19, she spoke facts, but was being led by a spirit of divination. The damsel had a devil, thus the discernment coupled with a healing, Paul cast the devil our of her setting her free, which is a healing. Another type would when the Spirit in Paul stirred when he saw the idolatry of the people (Acts 17:16), or the discerning could detect a false prophet, even when they don’t have a devil (Acts 13:6). This would also include reading what someone said, or hearing someone, yet knowing they are playing a mind game, using deception, or are using unbelief.

Tongues and interpretation of tongues are also manifestations, all of these are of the self same Spirit. We are Born Again to have the Spirit, but it doesn’t mean we all have independent spirits in us. The New Man is designed just for us, but it’s the Same Spirit in purpose, performance and deed, as the Spirit from where He came. It’s the same as Jesus saying, “if you have seen Me, you have seen the Father”, indicating the word Seen means to perceive, since Jesus was doing the will of the Father, it stands when they saw the Will of the Father being displayed they saw the Father. The same is true here, when they see the Will of Jesus being displayed by the Manifestation of the Spirit, they have seen Jesus.

In verse 11 we find “dividing to every man severally as He will”. The dividing is not among the Believers, but among those to whom the manifestation would be directed. This is an area where we must submit, the Spirit may want to give a word of Wisdom, but our soul says, “no knowledge”. This is not the soul being activated, this is the New Man doing what He does so well, heal, restore and save.

Someone who operates in the manifestation could be a person who says nothing most the time, a carnal mind might say, “they are stuck-up”, but it’s not the case at all, they speak as they are moved, if they are not moved, they don’t speak.

The Interpretation of tongues is different from a Translation, really there is no human Translation; therefore, one might run all over the world thinking they have a translation, but they have nothing. It’s always the interpretation we seek, yet only the  Spirit can interpret the tongue. Early church records show Mark was the Interpreter for Peter, thus the two were one in the speaking and interpretation, but both the speaking and interpretation came from the Spirit. The biggest question we must ask, If the Spirit is the one who interprets, yet we find someone running all over looking for a translation, are they merely ignorant? Or do they lack the Spirit?

Going all the way back to chapter two we find the spirit of man is opposed to the Spirit of God, also the spirit of man may know the things of man, but it doesn’t know the things of God (I Cor 2:11). In this area of the Manifestation enemy is the spirit of man, who is opposed to the Spiritual things of God. The spirit of man will tell us these things are really evil, although we have been clearly told they are not. This tells us the spirit of man is opposed to these areas because they are spiritual in nature, or the spirit of man will misuse them, a situation we find in Corinth. The spirit of man will attempt to deny, mock,   avoid, or destroy a believers confidence in the Spirit. The spirit of the world may attempt to counterfeit these areas, but it will fail, it will always insert the “glory of the world” into the speaking, exposing itself.

We also have to recall how the congregation could not “pray or prophesy”, yet Paul is about to enter the area; the method of prayer he will speak on is praying in unknown tongues. Opening the entire teaching, bringing a great deal of light to an otherwise darkened place. Elements are required in the two areas of praying and prophesy, we can see why Paul desired the congregation to remain silent, but why? Could it be they spoke by the Spirit of Christ, yet attempted to interpret by the spirit of man?

Prophecy from the Office requires interpretation as well, but the prophet who spoke is not to interpret the prophecy, rather the “other” prophets judge the prophecy. Tongues need the interpretation as well, thus in both cases we find Interpretation is required, the question is then, who interprets?

I Cor 12:12-31

There is a difference between being baptized into the Body and being baptized With the Holy Ghost, or being baptized as a means of identification. Paul understood the baptism of the Holy Ghost (Acts 19:6), but why would he say, “for by one Spirit are we all baptized into One Body”? if the Spirit doesn’t baptize anyone? The Spirit is the result of the Baptism with the Holy Ghost, not the cause. This is the same context as we found in Romans, the Spirit of God relates to the entire Report, but more important this also goes back to “baptized unto Moses” (v. 10:2). The Spirit of God identified all of us, whether we mind the flesh or the Spirit, whether carnal or Spiritual, whether Babe, Blade, Youngman, or Father, it was still God as Spirit who brought us to the Cross, then into the Body to operate in Unity, and be of one mind (vs. 12-11). Our Water baptism was our token, here we find God’s Token was calling us into the Body, knowing we would be provided all we needed to win the race. Simply, we are in the Body because the Spirit of God called us to the Body, so we could identify with the Church. As the people were baptized unto Moses to be one nation, we are baptized (identified) to be One Body so the Lord could form us into the Church.

This is still the Body functioning in Unity, the foot is the motivation, thus we walk by faith. Can the faith people say they are not of the Body? No, the Hand is representative of reaching out, can the evangelical say we have no need of the faith people? No, can the charismatic say, since I am not evangelical I am not of the Body? No, we were put in the Body, although we cast the Net and build the Body, it’s still the Holy Ghost who puts the bait in the Net.

What does all this have to do with the Corinthians? Much, simply because they say “Paul is no longer of the Body”, it didn’t make it so. Just because they can’t say, “we will start our own Body”, doesn’t mean they can. The Name of Jesus with the Power of Christ are assigned to One Body. If we accepted the terms of the God’s Mercy, we are in the Body, we may not like a center denomination, but if they are in the Body, we can’t say they are not.

This is also a division between the New Man and the old man. If someone speaks in unknown tongues, it’s the Spirit giving them utterance. Can they fake it? Yes, but the interpretation will say so. Someone could fake the speaking, then hear, “you are a stiffnecked people”, then say, “that’s not what I said, I quoted Psalm 22 in the Hebrew”. It may be what they quoted, but it wasn’t the interpretation, the interpretation pin pointed the faker, then marked them as stiffnecked. Deception is not of God, even deception to catch a false brother is wrong. Why use the same evil to catch evil? It still makes us as evil as the evil we caught!

The Body is tightly fitted, each member has a job, a place, and a performance just for them. God has placed us in the area where we are best suited for the betterment of the Body, but the purpose is not for exalting our ego, or to make us supper stars. We may not be given the ability to teach on Faith, perhaps our area is Love, should we then attack the Faith teacher? If we do, we may have taught Love, but we failed to live it.

If we cause a member to sorrow, or damage a member, we have damaged ourselves, if we cause a Yoke, we have yoked ourselves; think, pray and beware lest we destroy ourselves assuming we are doing God a service. The second we determine one person in the Body, carnal, or believer, or a group of believers are not worthy, we have made ourselves unworthy, we are the Body of Christ, not bodies of Christ, yet we are Members in particular. It’s when we fail to discern the Body we introduce yokes and void ourselves of the Power and Glory, then we run to God hoping for “the Glory to fall” when we caused it to fall from us.

Paul also links this to offices, showing we all have a duty in the Body. If all want to be Bishops, who then will be the Deacons? If all Apostles, who then will deliver the Doctrine? If all Prophets, who then will teach the Doctrine delivered? Desire to be in the Office for the prestige, and wanting an Office in order to serve are different.

Verse 25 tells us there should be no schism, this is the same word translated as Divisions in 11:18 in the phrase, “I hear there be divisions (schisms) among you”: There shouldn’t be, but obviously there were. The gates of hell are schism makers, the more we are divided, the weaker the Body becomes. The Body of Christ is slowly being Broken, until the time when He who now lets, takes us out of here, but we need not be the cause for the Broken Body, we can be the Balm of healing sent for Unity.

Verse 27 shows each has something to do, but fighting over who does what is hardly Spiritual in nature. From all this Paul was able to show the Function of the Operations of God. Remember chapter 11 was showing them how out of order they were, now Paul is bringing the “escape” by showing them the Seal of the Holy Spirit operating in the area of the Spiritual. They had the Spirit, it was being Spiritual they lacked. One can be carnal, have something of the Spirit happen, yet rather than gain from it, they become proud, or puffed up. They needed the understanding of the Spiritual to keep balanced in order to discern what was going on.

The Operations of the Body are the methods, manners and procedure God has Willed for the Body to operate. It may not be the manner in which we operate, but if not, it’s not God’s fault. First we find the established offices, yet prior Paul listed the gifts before the Administrations, thus the Two shall be One, to be One in God. The Charisma of Charis must be in the person before they can operate efficiently in the office. We know about the three offices being established and accepted. However, two offices are not found, one we can understand, but where is the pastor? The Pastor keeps it all running as a member of Governments, the Evangelist is out casing the net.

The Greek language, like most has a method of giving a question, then answering it at the same time, we call it a rhetorical question. The question, “Are all apostles?” denotes a negative response by the question. The error is assuming All are apostles, when Paul just  said it was not the case. If all were apostles where would the teacher be? Can the apostle say to the teacher, I have no need of thee? Can the teacher say to the one speaking in tongues, Since you speak in tongues you are not of the Body? Can the one speaking in tongues say, Since I am not the teacher, I am not of the Body?

Paul covered the error of pride in verse 15, the error of envy in verse 16, now he shows the offices, gifts, operations, with the manifestation can be working, yet something can be missing. What were the Corinthians engaged in? Envy and strife, but the error in their misdirection in reference to baptism was an indicator of how they sought self-glory.  Paul is going to the source of the problem, showing them if they would have been engaged in the Manifestation of the Spirit by submitting to the Spirit, they would have seen how foolish their carnal attitudes were.

There is a more excellent Way, a Way keeping us in the Way; however, this doesn’t mean we can do the Way and not the Acts, rather it means there is a Way to enhance the Acts. Moses saw the Acts of God, but he wanted to know the Ways of God, thus both the Acts and Ways are important. However, all of this isn’t going to happen unless we get the Authority in order. Then we will see the Manifestation of the Spirit as we should, but if we don’t get things in Order we will end more interested in self-image, then the Image of Christ.

This area shows how the metaphor usage of “Christ” in chapter 11 points to the Anointing on the Body. How do we know? We just finished an area teaching about the Body, as each member is a member in particular. What did we learn? “For as the Body is One, and has many members, and all the members of the One Body, being many, are One Body, so also is Christ” (I Cor 12:12). Christ is One Body, the Head of Christ is Jesus as the God the Son. Then we saw the “division” can happen when we remain carnal, or allow the old man, the flesh, the spirit lusting to envy or carnal thinking to place a Yoke around the neck of Christ, which is the same as putting the Veil (middle partition) back in place. The Partition or Veil is a point of division, there “should” be no schism in the Body, we found the word schism is the same word found in 11:18 as “divisions”. This type of division is ungodly, it leads to all sorts of problems, such as clicks for the purpose of exalting one group over another. The next step is separatist movements, dividing the Body further. When this begins the competition begins, as the wild soul of man seeks to find its own revelation, or doctrine to prove their sect is the only one with the Truth, which leads to more division.

When division comes, then comes the many false teachings. Why? All wanting to be better than the other, all wanting to appear holier than the others, or wiser, or more knowledgeable, or more moral. Yet, they’re full of pride, ego and arrogance. First it was the examples of the children in the wilderness, then the lack of authority from the leadership effecting the congregational setting, then Communion itself, then the Spirituals, then Order within the Body, then the manner of Operations (I Cor 12:28), now we come to the only Sign truly telling us if one is a Christian; Love, the one element bringing us to a More Excellent Condition in our Position.

Once we have all this, now what? We better have a motivation keeping all things in Order, something so powerful it will be a witness by itself, something keeping us from attacking one another. There is an attitude attached to the New Birth, it’s an attribute of God’s character. Wonder what it could be?

I Cor 13:1-13

This chapter becomes the defining issue, linking the Spirit to the Spiritual, as it does the Believer to Grace. This area gives us a Purpose of Communion, a reason to seek, knock, and ask for the Love of God to manifest. If holding knowledge without love puffs up, surely having knowledge with love keeps on humble. The same issue would be prophesy without love, or leadership without love, thus whatever the activity, without love it will tend to puff up, but with love it will edify, exhort, ending in victory. Paul will use aspects from the gifts, offices, operations and manifestation, indicating the Acts must have a Godly Way attached to them in order to be beneficial.

The first area covered is speaking in unknown tongues, thus showing the Corinthians may have spoken in other tongues, but tongues without Love is merely a noise. This area isn’t saying to stop speaking in tongues, nor is it saying speaking in tongues is like a brass noise maker, it’s telling us to couple Love into the Act so we can be a benefit. If we presume this is telling us tongues are evil, we also have to say feeding the poor is evil, or prophesy is evil, or faith is evil, since Paul is going to cover those areas as well. The Act is not the problem, the lack of love is. This is the “more excellent way”, not the only way, or the only excellent way, but a Way to add to the Act.

This also links back to Chapter 11, the first two things we see here have to do with “prayer” and “prophesy”. Chapter 14 will center on these two issues, but in Chapter 11 the problem with the lack of Authority caused the prayer and prophecy to cease. From the beginning of his teaching on Authority through Chapter 14 Paul is showing how to bridge the gap, heal the wound to get things back in order. The first order of business was the Table of the Lord, get right with God, get the remembrance in order, if Jesus died so we might live, let us live for Him by the Spirit. Then understand what areas belong where, then what order has to be established, allowing the Lord to establish those areas. With those areas in place, the Acts are ready to begin, but let’s get the more excellent Way operating so the Ways and Acts can benefit all. An unequal area would be having the Acts, but not the Ways, or seeking the Ways, but rejecting the Acts.

This Love is not only for one another, it begins with a Love for God, becoming the mending Balm securing members in the Body. This type of Love is a Spiritual endeavor, it is not something humans have, but it is something a Born Again child of God has. Jesus didn’t say, “It’s okay to be Born Again”, He said, “Ye Must be Born Again”. Receiving the Spirit is the beginning of the Commandment, being Spiritual is completing it.

This Love is not the Agapao love God had for the world, this is the Pure selfless Agape Love of God. The Agape love of God comes with the New Man, just as God’s holiness and righteousness come with the New Man. We know we can reject the righteousness of God, by seeking our own self-righteousness. We can reject the holiness of God when we attempt to form our own self-holiness. Therefore, we can reject the Love God has given us by putting on a mask of affection. Jesus commands us to Agape one another as He has Agaped us, the only way to accomplish the task is by having the Spirit which is of God in us, since God is Agape. How does Jesus love us? If we sin, and ask Him to forgive, does He? Or does He make us write 700 times we’re sorry, or does He punch us in the eye, or does He deal with us through Love to restore us, heal us, as the washing gets rid of the lust? He who says he loves his brother, yet slanders him, is a liar, and the Truth is not in him. Agape love can not be earned, it has to be received, but if rejected the person becomes Anti the Christ nature. However, it’s like Wisdom, Patience is the key, there will be times when we are not acting in Love, other times when we are; yet Patience will move us to the point where Love is part of our New nature.

Agape is one element keeping pride at bay, there is no way pride can enter when we walk in Agape. Therefore, Paul will begin by showing the danger in having Acts, yet rejecting Love.

Although our praying in the Spirit can be helpful, and when interpreted it will help others, yet if we as the voice lack love the benefit for us would be like pounding two trash can lids together. Wow, hold it son, back off, it’s the Spirit in me doing the praying. Right, it’s the point, if we lack Love we will not discern what is going on, rather we will get all puffed up and haughty because we speak in tongues. On the other hand we could pray in the understanding for hours, yet without love we gain nothing, because we’re all puffed up thinking our prayers save the world, or our prayers are the might behind the power of Christ. The issue is not prayer, but how prayer without love ends in a prideful, ego infested soulish mess. It’s the same with faith or giving, if it’s done without love the person becomes puffed up, assuming their great efforts not only obtained God’s attention, but God moved heaven and earth just for them. The issue is not faith, but faith without love, it’s not giving, but giving without love, it’s not praying, but praying without love. James will tell us faith without works is dead, Paul is saying the same thing, faith without love is just as dead.

Jude tells us to pray in the Holy Ghost to build our most holy faith, but the context is to pray in order to deal with the masses as we toss the net, here Paul is telling us to pray in conjunction with the purpose of the Spirit in us. Praying in unknown tongues, or in the understanding without love is so self-based it usually falls to the ground. We are to pray for things, but love tells us the Why. Some of us think “praying in the Spirit” is always tongues, not so, it can mean praying in conjunction with the will of the Spirit. If we pray by the Spirit, we should also pray In the Spirit. There is a difference, we can pray in the understanding yet be praying from pride, anger, or a carnal mind. We can also pray in the understanding from a Mercy based intent, one seeking the will of the Lord to be done. There is a difference between praying for the will of the Spirit to be done, and praying for our will to be done. The Spirit is sumantilambanomai, with the goal to save our souls so we can toss the net allowing others to walk the path of Grace. It stands there must be a common area, and there is. Faith? It’s how we gained grace; so, it must be Grace. It’s how we’re saved, the ground based in Mercy, will also have Love. Love is a attracting force the world can’t give, but longs for. The one thing repelling the world is the hate, strife and bitterness they see in the Body. The carnal mind is still joined to the spirit of man, but the spirit of the world is opposed to the Spirit that is of God. The spirit of the world, uses the he of the world to slander the Body from within, but when the masses see someone in the Body displaying the Love of God, they fall into the net willingly. For us the truth remains, Love still covers a multitude of sins, it’s still a Witness to the character of God.

The “gift of prophecy” also points us to the gifts of the Spirit found in Romans, thus the context will now include the Charisma of Grace as an attribute to the gifts the Spirit.  The words “the gift of” were added by the translators, but proper, since this is not talking about the office, but prophecy through the gift. We can have the Charisma of Grace, yet without love we are still nothing. What was the evidence the Corinthians displayed? Love for one another? “I am of Paul, I am of Apollos”, no, love was not one of their attributes.

We can give and give, yet without love it profits us nothing, we will soon think our giving is our righteousness, meaning we will become puffed up. We can minister and minister, yet without love, it benefits us nothing, we will assume our greatness is the ability, and we will become puffed up. We could give prophesy regarding direction for the entire Body, yet without love we will end filled with pride. Love will destroy pride, bringing us to a humble state wherein we can truly enjoy the Gift to it’s fullness.

Understanding mysteries is a positional matter, one pointing to the offices of Apostle and Teacher (Mark 4:11). Prior Paul said he was a steward of the mysteries (v. 4:1), here he is showing without Love the same stewardship could turn into a ship wreck.

Knowledge is the awareness of facts and truths, one could quote all the verses, know the original languages, yet without love it ends in a haughty attitude. It’s interesting how these verses don’t simply say, knowledge, but all knowledge, indicating the knowledge of man, as well as the Knowledge from God. We could have all the knowledge of the sufferings of Christ, yet without love we will use the knowledge to make others suffer.

Faith to remove mountains refers to the removal of carnal, natural things joined to the spirit of man, yet without love we will think it was by our hand and our might, then we will go about bragging about our faith, or how much our faith does, but we won’t understand how faith in the Godly sense is to please God, whether we’re pleased or not. Where did the faith come from? An apple tree? No, the measure of faith is still a gift from God. Without the gift we couldn’t move an empty can, much less a mountain.

We can give ourselves for service 24 hours a day, seven days a week, but without love it profits us nothing. It won’t take long before we start to belittle others because they don’t put in the hours we do, pride will sneak in, turning our temple upside down.

We know there are various forms of love, we also know the Greek language has different words for love, perhaps therein we may find the answer. We know about Eros, as the type of love for the flesh. There is Agapao a love based in a joy, then Phileo a brotherly love, all based in some feeling or emotion, for some reason we tend to equate the word “love” with emotions. Man has love, God is Love, there is a difference, but if Love is emotional then God is an emotional wreck. Not so, God isn’t Agapao, He is not Phileo, yet He does Agapao and Phileo. God is Agape, the subject matter here, it’s not based on emotions, it’s based on treating people in the same manner as God would, thus it’s based on Nature and Character; meaning the Spiritual nature has Agape love as an attribute. It’s the very heart of “love one another as I have loved you”. It’s not a matter of thinking, “what would Agape do here?”, it’s a matter of doing it by the very nature of Christ in us. Jesus went about doing good, because it was His nature.

Will Agape rebuke? Did Jesus rebuke Peter? Yes, but He Loved him. Did Jesus allow Judas to hang himself? Yes, He loved him as well. Did Jesus allow Satan to sift Peter? Yes, because He loved Peter. Did Jesus protect His disciples from the Pharisees? Yes, because He Loved them. Paul is giving us eight sign posts centering on things Agape will do; in the doing it will not do other things. If we attempt to love “all people” by using natural love., we’ll fail. Love and Trust are different, some of us mix one into the other. We can love someone, yet not trust them. We can honor them, yet not put our trust in them. If we trust in them, yet they fail, we fall all the harder. If we love them, and they fail, we are there to restore them.

In the Book of Revelation the church of Ephesus held it’s second love, but failed to do it’s first work, which was its first love. Our first love is to Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength (Rev 2:4-5). The Greek word used there for love is Agape, so it would appear they were doing the right thing, by treating people as God would. Yet, it wasn’t their problem, they did the second love correctly, their love toward God was lacking. They were unequal in the matter of Love, it can happen to anyone in ministry. Our First love is toward God, then we treat the people of God as God does. We can be so involved in “saving the world”, we forget about our First Love. God so loved the world, but Jesus didn’t pray for the world, He prayed for those in the world who would enter the Body. Does it mean He doesn’t love the people in the world? Of course He does, but to have Agape love one must be Born Again. However, we must keep in mind to “love one another”, is a far cry from “love everyone”. So, do we hate the world? No, we Agapao the world, the Joy is knowing they have a door of escape before them, our job is to point it out.

Before Paul tells us the eight things God’s Love can’t do, he presents two foundations proving his letter is being presented in God’s love. Those two foundations are Mercy and Grace, which gave Paul the ability of Longsuffering in the face of adversity. What adversity? Your kidding, the people in Corinth. These people saw, heard and were with Paul for a considerable amount of time. They also saw the acts and ways of Paul, but when it came time for them to walk in the Way, they rebelled, attacked, and got real nasty, but what would Paul do? “I’ll be Nasty right back? After all, they were”. Doesn’t matter if they are nasty, we must be “kind”, gentle and longsuffering.

The term Longsuffering doesn’t mean we take the blows, then curse the darkness, rather it means we hold up under pressure maintaining a posture of Love, which Paul was doing here. Many of us would have written the church of Corinth off before the first letter, much less the second. Some consider longsuffering as “well brother I forgive you for this wrong, because I’m a child of God”; it’s ego, not longsuffering. Longsuffering is defined as bearing injuries for a long time in patience, or being steady under adversity or offense. Some of us are about as steady as whirlwind when adversity comes. The Greek word for Longsuffering is Makrothumeo or Makrothumia meaning To be opposed to hasty anger by being in Peace, or Not giving up the Faith, while Exercising understanding and wisdom in the intent of the words or actions of others, rather than reacting to those words or actions. The key is Peace, longsuffering is maintaining Peace in the face of any adversity.

The word Kind is the Greek word Chrestuomai meaning Useful, to stand beside, to be help in time of need, to be a partaker, or willing and ready to assist or help in the time of need; it relates to having a good and benevolent nature or disposition; which is a heart with Mercy, thus Kind relates to Mercy, Longsuffering to Grace, these two elements become the motive behind Paul’s comments. We do not render evil for evil, or in this case nasty for nasty, rather we treat nasty with kindness.

Paul shows he has acts in his life as well, he not only spoke with unknown tongues, he had the gift of prophecy, understood mysteries, held knowledge, moved mountains, fed the poor, held offices, preached, but he also had the Ways (Love) of God displayed in his manner of behavior. Taking us back to “follow Paul” it defines how Paul wasn’t saying to make him a hero, but to use his life as an example of one who has the ways and acts, something the Corinthians were missing, yet had the capability.

God is Love, thus God is (1) long suffering, (2) kind, (3) rejoices in Truth, (4) bears all things, (5) believes all things, (6) hopes all things, (7) endures all things, and (8) never fails. If we look at these for just a moment we will find out something about God. He doesn’t give up on us, even when we give up on ourselves. He is kind, when we are yelling, busting holes in the walls, frustrated to the point of tossing everything away, God is still kind and gentle. When our cross becomes so heavy it seems like we can’t go another step, the Love of God carries us and our cross. When there appears no reason to believe again, the love of God gives us many reasons to believe. We tend to forget God is looking at the plan, then telling us what He sees. We tend to look at the Now, wondering what God is seeing. “Huh? Me? No way, I’m not like that”. What did God tell Jeremiah? “Stop saying you are but a youth”. God speaks to our Potential, as He treats us as if we have completed the potential. God knows our heart, but He is trying to save our souls, the Plan has all things well in hand, it’s the Witness bringing them to pass in our lives.

The New Man is a product of the Seed of God, if God is Love, if God said everything produces after its own kind, then we have the Love of God in us, that Born of the Spirit is Spirit. If we have the New Man, then it’s not a matter of obtaining, rather it’s a matter of learning to submit, yield, and walk in what we already have. It’s not a matter of making it work, it’s a matter of submitting to the Spirit so we can be formed into the Image of God’s Son, as sons of God.

We also see the other eight, these eight things in which it’s impossible for God to do. Why? They are the opposite of God’s Love, thus they display the spirit of man. Therein lays the mystery, God is Love, making the Spirit which is of God also Love based: the Love of God is granted in the New Birth, it’s a matter of being changed into the nature of Christ in order for our souls to fit the classification of Love. On the same note any of us can work not to do the eight negative things, yet never do the eight positive. The idea is to walk in the positive by the Spirit, making it impossible to do the negative.

If a lust to envy is afoot, then it’s not God. The word for envy here is the Greek Zeloo, it can be used in a good sense or bad, in the negative it means to be moved by anger, which is the context here. In James the word envy in the phrase spirit lusting to envy we recall is the Greek Phthonos meaning incapable of doing good. God will never vaunt, or be rash, sarcastic, nasty or rude. God is void of pride, thus His love will void us of pride, bringing us into a humble and teachable frame of mind.

God is open to hear our cries and prayers, He is never too busy to listen to us. God will not belittle us, but exposure at times can seem embarrassing, but it’s usually the old man attempting to hide behind the mask of pride. God never seeks His own, neither does His Love. Agape is always seeking the betterment of the other person, regardless of the cost to the holder. Therefore, Jesus said no greater love is there, than when one lays down his life for another.

God is not easily provoked, but we know He can be. After all God said the children in the wilderness did provoke Him, but was it easy? No, it shows why the workers of iniquity are called “workers”, they have to work at it: they work harder at iniquity than one would at Grace. Whatever the situation we never “think evil”, God doesn’t, so why should we? If we think evil, we will find it, yet God is thinking Victory, so should we. God never rejoices in the failures of others, He never uses the failures of others as a means to exalt Himself. Some of us not only use the failures of others to exalt ourselves, we use them as a scale to determine our holiness. It will never work, since we can look around and find someone walking closer to the Lord than we.

Now to take a closer look at some of the words used, the word Vaunts means to brag inwardly, it’s the opposite of humble. Being humble is not an outward attribute, it’s an inward behavior evidenced on the outside. Being Puffed Up is an outward expression of pride, connecting to an inward haughtiness. This also associates to the prior statements, God’s Love will not puff up, thus the idea is to have knowledge with love. To Behave Unseemly is an outward behavior displayed by unbelief. Does not seek her own would connect to, Think not every man on his own things, but on the things of others, let this Mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus. The word Provoked means to cause one to anger, it doesn’t mean one is angry, rather this points to the trouble maker, or strife maker, or the person going about making others angry. In most cases they cause the trouble, but in so doing they take pride in their efforts of causing disruption. They cause wars, or produce strife, showing they are run by the spirit of man, not the Spirit of Christ. Could they have the Spirit? Yes, the Corinthians did, but Paul also saw strife, envy and division among them. Having the Spirit and walking in the Spirit becomes the lesson in this letter, they had the Spirit, but were using the ways of the spirit of man.

God’s Love Thinks no evil, as a compound word, entailing the putting together in one’s mind those things they presume are evil in nature, whether they pertain to one’s self or others. They are usually fables, or illusions, things one thinks are evil, which shows they are draw to the conclusions by their own lusts. The word Evil also points to a cowardly soldier who runs from the battle, they produce anger, hate, bitterness, strife and envy, to avoid the responsibilities of Mercy, Grace, and Love.

Rejoices in iniquity, is holding joy in reference to the failures of others, which causes us to exalt ourselves bringing about the false concept of being so holy and righteous we could never slip. This not only pertains to the iniquity of others, but to our iniquity as well. Holding a false sense of joy in our failures is neither Faith, or Truth.

We saw Longsuffering (1) and Kind (2), the remaining six positive elements of God’s Love are: 3) Rejoicing in the Truth, 4) bears all things, 5) believes all things, 6) hopes all things, 7) endures all things, and 8) never fails, giving us Eight, the number of New Beginnings, we see the word “things” rather than “people”. We judge things, not people, the carnal judge people not things.

When we approach the concept of Believe all things, we must take caution, this doesn’t say we believe in all things, nor does it say we simply believe. We can believe there is a devil, but it doesn’t mean we believe in the devil. We can believe there is a concept of hyper-Calvinism, but it doesn’t mean we believe in it. If someone asked, “well Christian so you believe all things, so you must believe the devil is God”. It’s not a “thing”, what we believe is there are those who lie in wait to deceive, we believe there is deception, in which the false concept of the “devil being God” would fit. As for the concept itself? It’s not whether we believe it or not, it’s whether there is enough evidence to make it a “thing” worthy of belief. Is there? No, there is no evidence in the Bible giving the phrase validity, thus it’s neither believed it or disbelieved, rather it’s not considered, becoming a moot proposition.

Belief and Hope are sisters giving our faith foundation, belief without hope is still unbelief. James says the devils believe there is One God, but they also tremble at the aspect. Do the devils obey? Yes, when commanded by one who has the authority, they have to. However, it’s not the point? The devils have to obey, we don’t. Obedience on our part is a choice, but the devils obey without choice, thus we do not rejoice in the devils obeying, they have no choice, but we have the choice as to whether or not our names are written in heaven. It’s a sad note, but the Pharisees resisted Jesus more than the devils. Therefore, simply believing there is One God isn’t enough, one must also Believe In the Son of the One God, as we obey freely.

The things passing are nonetheless of God, but it’s when they pass and why, explaining the text. If we speak in the tongues of men and of angels, which of the two will pass when we are in heaven? Why use prophecy when we are face to face with Jesus? Knowledge pertains to the awareness of things, when we are face to face with Jesus we will be known as we are known. If tongues has passed, so has knowledge, yet God’s people perish for a lack of knowledge. These elements are Spiritual attributes, thus when the Spirit is gone, so are the attributes, but if the Spirit is still here, so are the attributes.

Now we see through a Shadowed Mirror, a Mirror where we see Jesus vaguely, yet we still see Him. We see Him within us, working, dividing asunder, bringing Hope, cleaning the field, using the most holy Golden Plow to remove bad roots and soiled plants not planted by the Father, we know the work is going on, although we can’t always see it.

Today we still prophesy in Part, we know in Part, we hear the Interpretation in Part, but in Part is still a foundation. The context of In Part points to a mystery, often the prophesy is a mystery. Prophesy proves itself by coming to pass, we don’t prove it by making up events to make it come to pass. For the most part we have no idea what the Prophecy specifics are, so we make up some, then attempt to make it appear as if the prophecy came to pass, then brag in our involvement. Meaning we allowed pride to rule, where patience and humbleness should have reigned. Prophecy is a sign of God personally active in our lives, He has set a sign post in the future for us, when it comes to pass, we know God not only cares for us, but He has the future well in hand.

Hope is future tense, our Hope is be partakers in the First Resurrection, but Hope also tells us we want to Know Jesus, as we are Known. Knowing ourselves is the beginning of clarity, knowing what we are capable of without Jesus is the basis of a sound fear of God. Often the exposures are removing masks we have used for years, to get to the real us, so the Word in us can bring about who we are suppose to be in Christ.

All this is contained in the wording “shall fail”, it would seem Paul is saying prophecies, tongues and knowledge will fail. Not so, the Greek word for fail is Katargeo meaning Completeness, showing when these things reach their purpose, then they will cease, but until then, they will not. What time? The end of the Day.

The word Abideth means Remains; therefore, Tongues, Prophecy and Knowledge are all for the Body of Christ, but on earth: therefore, they have to do with being Born Again. When the time comes for us to stand before the Lord, what will be left? Will we preach to Jesus to show Him our great knowledge? Will we speak and interpret tongues for Him? Will we prophesy? It better be Love and Faith. What about Hope? Our Hope is to be a Partaker in the First Resurrection, here the question is what will we do when we stand before Jesus. The “Lord, Lord haven’t we” people told Jesus all the things the Name of Jesus did, they had nothing else to say. It’s Paul’s point, what will be left? Our tapes with all our great and powerful sermons? Our list of things we did for Jesus? What will be left? Is this a rebuke for the Corinthians? Absolutely, perhaps for us as well. Paul’s comments to the Corinthians shows they did some Acts, but the Acts were from God, yet when the time comes, what will they have to pass through the Fire? It better be Love, or it counts for nothing.

Phileo love can span from loving someone based on their personality, to loving them as a brother or sister, while overlooking faults for the sake of the love. Agape not only overlooks faults, but forgives the person before the fault is exposed, Agape sees the potential of Christ in the person, it’s the Christ calling as a nature. Of course we know both Phileo and Agapao can be twisted to an evil sense. Phileo in the evil sense is loving others for the self-benefit, we are told by Jesus Agapao can love the darkness, but both are based in the fall nature to do evil, thus Agape is based on the Ways of God dividing it from the other forms of love. Agape being God cannot be tempted to do evil, neither can it do evil, neither will it tempt others to do evil, or deceive others, or trick them.

Faith, Love and Hope are Fruits (Ways), not Acts, thus Paul’s edifying correction points out where the Corinthians were out of order. They had many things going for them, but a bunch more going against them. The connection of prophecy, prayer and knowledge with faith, love and hope show the balance. They could pray in the understanding and tongues, yet turn right around and slander. It would be one thing to be slack because they lacked the ability, here we find they had the ability (Spirit), but they were remaining carnal by choice. If it’s by choice, than one can make the choice to reverse the situation and walk in the Spirit. The same is true with belief, we have the choice to believe, or not to.

I Cor 14:1-40

We follow after Love, but we nonetheless desire the Spirituals, but rather we should prophesy, yet he just said prophecy was one of those areas to pass away, thus the passing away has nothing to do with our Acts on earth, it has to do with the time when the Church is taken to meet the Lord in the air. The word Follow is a much stronger word than Desire, Paul is now moving back to the Acts of God. The word Follow is the Greek Dioko meaning To pursue with diligence, the word Desire is the Greek Zeloo meaning To be filled with zeal. On the surface they appear real close, and they are, but Dioko is more of a diligence, it entails never, never, never giving up until the fullness of what we seek is completely in hand. Also we find to Follow is a decision to seek after something, Desire is a willingness, we can desire something, yet not be willing to follow after it.

Both Tongues and Prophecy are Acts, both are good and needed. Since the concept here is “prayer and prophecy” we know this connects back to Chapter 11. Here is the proper method for the “wives” (congregation) who retain the Long Hair (anointing) on the their Head. Prophecy is understood, it’s from the Spirit, but in words of a language which is earthly in nature. Unknown tongues are also from the Spirit, but in a language known only by the Spirit. This area still connects to Love as we do the Acts with the Ways. Let’s face it there are some who speak in unknown tongues, but use the ability as means of pride, they speak so everyone knows they have the Spirit, but it’s what the Corinthians were doing. There are some who pray in the understanding with the same purpose. Paul wanted them to become Spiritual in nature, so they could understand why the Spirit spoke. Somewhere along this Path we gain the revelation, if we pray for others, God will take care of us, if we spend all our time praying for ourselves we end self-based, or go about  telling everyone how great our prayers are.

Prophecy speaks from the Spirit in us to men, but tongues is from the Spirit in us to the Spirit of God. Simply prophecy comes from the throne, tongues to the throne. When the New Man speaks he intercedes for us by speaking of the great and wonderful things of God in a heavenly language. The New Man speaks to us in the understanding, but he speaks to ABBA Father in the tongues of angels. Tongues will place the desire of God into the natural by using a natural voice box, yet the language is not earth based, it becomes one of the ways heaven is loosed. Why? Spiritual things are for the Spiritual, it takes a natural voice to bring those “words” into the natural, but they are so holy no earthly language can utter them without committing blasphemy; even if we find a language on earth it will blaspheme the unknown tongues. Paul makes the same statement in his next letter when he talks about the third heaven, as he points out how any attempt to describe what he saw in an earthly language could not do the third heaven credit, thus his effort would be blasphemy. Why? No earthly language could do it justice, the same is true with unknown tongues. The greatness of God is so great, no earthly language can utter it; thus we seek the interpretation, not the translation.

It’s obvious if speaking in unknown tongues is the Spirit speaking, thus it takes the Spirit in us before we can even consider speaking. It takes submission on the part of the soul, as well as a confidence it is the New Man. “Well, what if it’s some devil”, what is some devil doing in you? The speaking is internal, if it’s a devil, then someone should cast the thing out. From this we find the Spirit in us is speaking in unknown tongues, our souls speak in the understanding; therefore, our souls won’t understand the language, meaning the Spirit is the only one who can interpret His own language. The Spirit gives the Interpretation to our souls, then our souls speak the Understanding of the matter. In 14:27 we find one, two or at the most three can speak in unknown tongues, but it only takes one to interpret, clearly this is not translation, but gaining the purpose of the speaking. The Interpretation is the meaning of the words, not the exactness, rather it’s what the Author had in mind when the words were spoken. Showing a Translation does no good, we must know what the Intent is, to determine what is the Spirit telling us. This Language is so heavenly it can’t be translated into human language, but it can be Interpreted. It also divides the carnal from the Spiritual, the Spiritual know it’s the Spirit who interprets, the carnal run all over the world looking for a translation to prove a self-imposed error, which means from them seeking error they lack the Spirit. If the Spirit interprets, why would someone look for a earthly language? Because they don’t have the Spirit.

This may sound strange, but David by the Holy Ghost said The Lord said to my Lord, Sit You on My right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool; however, David spoke in the understanding, thus his speech was one of prophecy by the Holy Ghost, it was not unknown tongues by the Holy Spirit, showing until the Spirit was given, no one spoke in unknown tongues. Even when the disciples received the Ingress Aires they didn’t speak in unknown tongues. The first recorded experience was on the Day of Pentecost after they received Power from on High. Therefore, the experience connects to the Power from on High, as Peter and Paul testified (Acts 10:46 with 11:15-16 & 19:6).

Why doesn’t God just say what He means so we can understand it? There are several reasons, the language cannot be translated, there are times when God doesn’t want us to know the event, thus the interpretation must come from the Spirit who brought the Words. It’s the Glory of God to conceal a thing, but the honor of the kings to search it out, it’s also a sign and a test of our faith. If it goes beyond the natural, then our faith and trust in God are being tested: do we really trust God? Or are we demanding control over God? Do we really want to submit to the Spirit? Or we just say we do? There is the other side of the test as well, do we brag, or take pride in the ability? Or do we know it is God doing the speaking?

The Spirit of God bears witness with the Spirit that is of God, thus the Spirit that is of God speaks the desire through the natural, but guess what’s between the two? The soul, there are times when it’s better for the soul not to know. God uses the voices of men to project His desire and will into the natural, thus we are either justified by our Words, or condemned. However, there is another element, the natural mind cannot understand Spiritual matters, making this one area the devil attacks constantly. The devil is a spirit, but limited to the natural, no devil has a clue to what is being said. The Interpretation is based in the wonderful things of God, but the exactness of those things are a mystery. We also find no man understands what is being said, it’s the Spirit who interprets.

Speaking in unknown tongues is a mystery, we need the Interpretation, not the Translation (did we say that?). Only the Spirit can interpret His own language, He uses the same process as He did to bring the words, the voices of people. Prophecy is unto Men, not unto God, thus prophecy is used to expose hearts, or build the faith of the believer. Tongues is also an expression through the Spirit to edify us, this is in no way is self-edification, or self-exaltation, since it would mean the Spirit was edifying Himself, yet we know the Spirit testifies of Jesus. Tongues build our faith, becoming another aspect of submission, which also builds our faith. It’s takes faith in God to submit to speaking a language one doesn’t understand. It takes trust in God to believe the Promise has been received, the speaking proves it has. The word Edification means to charge the person to accomplish an act beyond their ability, yet there are two areas. One can charge their own self, or they can be charged from another source. The common car battery is an example, it is charged by another element in the vehicle, or by a “battery charger” outside the vehicle. In our case we find the internal Charger is the New Man, the external is when someone speaks as the interpretation comes. When we read the Bible do we become edified? Yes, so is it “self-edification”? It can be, but in most cases we find the Spirit taking the written word and bringing hope where there was none. In First Thessalonians 5:11 we are told to edify one another, in Ephesians 4:16 we find the Body edifies itself. However we also know self-exalting is not of God (Luke 14:11). The premise Paul speaks of indicates the place from where the tongues comes from, the one doing the speaking knows it’s the Spirit in them, thus they are assured the Seal of the Holy Spirit is active, giving them edification. However, if they think it’s by their hand and their power they twist the edification into self-adulation. Of course the same is true with teaching, prayer, or anything attributed to God. One can preach from the anointing, then presume it’s their great intellect, studies, discipleship, or performance producing the anointing, they are not edifying their self, they are self-adulating. Regardless of the activity of God we give God the glory.

The need for the interpretation is for the gathering, if there is no interpreter, then they person still speaks, but to themselves and God. Showing the primary conversation is between the Spirit that is of God to the Spirit of God. In verse 16 we find the speaking in the presence of the “unlearned” leaves the “unlearned” in the dark. The “Learned” know what is going on, the Unlearned do not, if they are carnal, yet in the Body they will attack based on their envy regarding what they don’t understand. In their attacking they are self-exalting their selves, presuming they are some secret agent on God’s payroll. Even these carnal Corinthians who used the wisdom of the world had an understanding of where the unknown tongues originated.

We find the word “rather” in verses 1 and 5 as the Greek Eukopos meaning Easier, or Light fatigue, or to lighten the fatigue. This shows for the carnal it’s Easier to prophesy, than speak in tongues. Why? They demand to understand what is said, on the same note when someone carnal does speak in unknown tongues, or even prophecy they seem to get puffed up, or make a “show” of their “ability”, thus they turn a Spiritual experience into a theatrical endeavor. However, what is worse? The theatrical endeavor? Or attacking the experience? Both are out of order, each causes the Yoke to tighten the more.

Paul isn’t saying Tongues are out of the question, rather he points out prophecy is something wherein the words are easily understood, usually more quickly received, rather than attempting to explain tongues, or the interpretation. If the unlearned can hear the actual words they can either reject or receive, but if they are like the third group on Pentecost, they will think the congregation are drunk, leaving the carnal at a loss to explain the event. It’s Easier to hear the understanding, than to seek the interpretation. For those who are Spiritual in nature this is good news. For years they have heard speaking in tongues is “self-edifying”, yet Paul desires we “all” pray in tongues as much as he did (vs. 14:14-15 & 14:18).

On the Day of Pentecost Peter spent more time in explaining tongues, than he did the Cross. Tongues are only found in the manifestation and operation, but prophecy in one form or another is found in all the areas (the gifts of the Spirit, the offices, the operations and manifestation), thus it becomes a link to all areas. Clearly Paul’s desire is for all speak in tongues, but rather, or slightly better, for all prophesy, “except he interpret”, then tongues become an equal to prophecy (v. 14:5). The difference between speaking in tongues with the interpretation denotes whether tongues are equal to prophecy. We also have to keep this teaching separate and in order. It refers to the gathering, not one’s private prayer life, there is little need for an interpreter in our prayer closet to explain to the unlearned, by the way, what is the unlearned doing in our prayer closet?

Simply because we gave a “Word” doesn’t mean we’re a prophet, it means the Spirit manifested. Prophecy being words from God to man, shows how Paul desired for these people to prophesy, simply because the words they were speaking were hardly from God. However, when we give a word, then presume we’re a Prophet, we either have no idea what happened, or we are seeking some self-glory. Once it happens we presume we must always have a Word, which leads to speaking from a lust, or giving false words of divination making it appear as if we are a prophet (Ezek 13:1-7).

The prophecy Paul desires we all do is speaking what God desires, words of comfort, edification and exhortation from the New Man. God does not speak words of the Self, Condemnation, Manipulation, or Deception. When someone gives us a word exalting the self, we know it’s not “so saith the Lord”. When we prophesy as Born Again Believers we do so in proportion of the Faith, or within the limits of the Faith. The old saying “What Would Jesus Do?”, is more “What Would Jesus Say?”, in this area.

If the prophecy is from God, then it’s first person, not third person. A word would be “God loves you”, a prophecy would be “Be it  know I love you”. The first is a third person rendering, the latter is a first person rendering. We need prophecy, we don’t need carnal interventions, or hindrances. On the same note we find those who reject prophecy, “I don’t need prophecy, I have the Bible”; however, the Bible says, “despise not prophesyings” (I Thess 5:20). The word Prophesyings means either the word spoken, or the person speaking. Simply, if we believe Greater is He in us, why not let Him speak? Submission also removes the soulish desire for control; as the desire to know what is said, before it’s said, but faith says “God Is”, not “perhaps God isn’t”. Tongues are not a sign of being Born Again, they are a sign of the Seed being planted by the baptism with the Holy Ghost (Acts 10:45-46), thus the Corinthians spoke in tongues, but they were carnal, showing why Paul referred to them being in the fetus stage. Neither is tongues a sign we are carnal, they are a sign the Seed is planted, ye they do help in the growth process, since they are a sign of the Seal of the Holy Spirit, yet we know we can grieve the Holy Spirit (Eph 1:13 & 4:30).

The word Understanding as it’s used here, isn’t the understanding of God, but the understanding of the language being spoken, referring to earthly languages. This helps make the separation between Unknown tongues and Known tongues; thereby showing the sound of the unknown tongue is Unknown to the minds of man, but Known to God. On the Day of Pentecost the hearers received the interpretation, but the speakers didn’t. It’s always interesting to note the teaching on tongues is given to a carnal church, not the Spiritual bodies. The context shows, some were offended by tongues, another sign of the carnal mind.

Every sound has some significance, but one must discern the sound in order to gain from it. We may not know the meaning of the voice, but the speaker does, thus we seek the speaker (Spirit) in order to discern. On Pentecost the speaker was not the person but the Spirit in the person. The Holy Ghost moved on some outside the upper room allowing them to interpret, yet there was the third group, who felt the disciples were drunk. Three groups, one speaking, one gaining the interpretation, another making natural determinations. The sign was there, the Spirit was active, the Holy Ghost displayed the time of the Day had opened, the Church begun, it was the opening of the Season for the New Birth. There is a sign connected we need to consider, if the Spirit was not given until Jesus was Glorified by the Resurrection, then the tongues and prophecy are a sign to us of Jesus being Resurrected, our Hope is secure in the Lord, the New Man in us proves it.

The trumpet makes a noise, but not by itself, it takes someone behind the trumpet to produce the Wind to make the voice. The trumpet can’t tell us what is being said, it takes the one using it to tell us the meaning. It also takes Understanding to determine which Trumpet is being played; is it the First, Last or Great?

Tongues being the Spirit within us speaking the great things of God, means the person who is unlearned has no idea what is going on, they may blaspheme unknowingly, the danger Paul is speaking about. It’s better to speak in the understanding, then produce a situation where the unlearned may gain, of if they do blaspheme it will be knowingly.

Prophecy being from God to man opens two areas, first is exposure, as the secrets of the heart are manifest. Which usually means they are also secret to the person being prophesied to, but there is another area. When the Spirit hits the nail on the head by giving an answer to a problem only the person knows about, they will know God is in us of a truth. Remember when Nathanael was under the tree, then found Jesus knew what the man was thinking? (Jn 1:43-51). When Nathanael heard, “when you were under the fig tree I saw you”, he knew Jesus was surely the Christ. It’s exactly what Paul is saying here, prophecy may bring the answer to a problem, something hidden, or being pondered,  when revealed, they will know only God knew. It can be as simple as, “you must forgive them”, or “God knows the pain you’re in, and wants to help you”, things only known to the person. Another would be the woman at the well, Jesus told her things she knew, but no one else knew, the secrets of her heart were manifest. In each case they knew God was among them of a Truth, but how did they know it was God and not some New Age witch? Love, concern, the absence of manipulation, or domination to control.

We also find different words for the word “understand”: in verse 2 it’s the Greek Akouo meaning To hear, thus it could read, “for no man hears Him; however in the Spirit He speaks mysteries”. This would mean one needs the Spirit in order to gain. This also  connects to verse 21 where we are told it is written God will speak to these people with other tongues, yet they will not believe.

In verse 20 the word Understanding is the Greek Phren meaning the seat of intelligence, or the reasoning, or something understood in the mind as clear. It was used in the Septuagint in Proverbs 7:7 showing the simple one is void of understanding, again in Proverbs 9:4 showing a desire to find understanding. In verse 16 the word Understand is the Greek Nous meaning the mind. All these are important, in verse 16 it’s the natural mind, or the source the unlearned use, they don’t listen to God, or the Spirit, even if they have the Spirit. They use natural intellect, if they don’t understand what is being said they consider the matter foolishness. This goes right back to the unlearned mocking something of God, because they lack knowledge. It’s far better for us to remain silent regarding tongues around an unbeliever, than have them think the Spirit speaking through us is foolishness. Not for our sake, but for theirs. In many cases it’s far better to remain silent around an unbeliever about anything God is doing with us. God may be giving us a sign on a daily basis as a confidence builder for us to remain in the wilderness or cave until Patience has had her perfect work. It might be something as simple as God turning the grape juice we use for Communion into wine, or a dove at our window every morning, or a saint contacting us with a word of encouragement, but share any of it with the carnal minded and they will mock it, make us feel like idiots, or tell us were crazy. Carnal minds are centered on the self, if it didn’t happen to them, it can’t happen to anyone.

If there is no interpreter in the gathering, we pray we may interpret so the Body can be edified, but if we don’t gain the interpretation, we speak to ourselves and God (14:28). Again its important to keep in mind this is in reference to the gathering, it connects to the assembling together to edify one another, going back to chapter 11. This is not the same as our private prayer life, we don’t need the interpretation in our private prayer life, we trust the New Man knows what he is doing.

Our private prayer life would fall under, “let them learn at home”, we can see how Paul is still teaching from the lesson back in Chapter 11, the carnal minds were running wild, they spoke in tongues, mostly to hear themselves. They gave words, mainly to exalt themselves. Therefore, they should remain silent in the gathering, for two reasons. The most obvious is their carnal usage of Spiritual matters, but more important was, “but every woman (members of the congregation) who prays or prophesies with her head (leader) uncovered, dishonors her head” (11:5). Paul is showing how they may have been “having fun”, but they were also dishonoring each other, and Christ. Fun coupled with the Spirit is really Fun and Joy, but Fun by carnal minds attempting to be Spiritual is completely out of order.

There was controversy, the Corinthians were carnal, they spoke in other tongues,  they gave prophecy. What then? Do we cast out tongues for prophecy because the carnal minded didn’t understand? Or do we fear it since the Corinthians did it. Hardly, we pray in the understanding, and in tongues, we sing in the understanding and in the Spirit, let the Two be One so we may be One with God (v. 14). We can’t forget Paul didn’t cast it away, he merely prayed the more: not a bad idea. It’s obvious Paul is talking and teaching to  carnal minded people to encourage them to enter the Spiritual area, but why? So they can be more carnal? Nay, so they can become Spiritual, allowing them to understand Spiritual matters.

Wait, didn’t Paul tell them back in Chapter 11 to remain silent? Yes, it’s the point he is going to make. Here he is speaking “as if” they took his correction, like his prayers, he believed the word spoken would be received. Why pray if you don’t think God is going to answer? Paul had confidence in his prayer life, he prayed the Will of the Spirit, knowing his prayers for the saints would be answered. He is not attempting to control the Corinthians, nor is he using his prayers to make them do as he desires. His prayers are for them to be enlightened, to gain the understanding of the Lord’s love for them. His teaching here is based in the desire for the betterment of the Corinthians, giving us a clue to his prayer life.

We can even bless our food in the Spirit, yet if there be the unlearned around who can’t agree with us, it’s better to speak in the understanding. Verse 16 shows Tongues produce Blessing, not cursing; therefore, speaking in unknown tongues never curses, nor calls Jesus accursed (12:3). If tongues were bad in any degree Paul surely would have warned this carnal minded bunch not to engage, but he didn’t, he encouraged them. Even the carnal minded can’t accurse Jesus when they speak by the Spirit, interesting.

This area of Blessing is very important, the word Bless is the Greek Eulogeo meaning Well spoken of, it was used to show the blessing God grants on us. The word Thank is the key to all this, it’s the Greek Eucharisteo meaning Good Grace, or the Very goodness of Grace. This one Greek word was never used in the Septuagint, rather when it came to the Goodness of God they used Eulogeo. Here Paul says when we pray in tongues we are giving Eulogeo, but we did Eucharisteo. What does it mean? When we pray in tongues we are praying in the language based in all of God’s blessings, which would be the wonderful things of God. It has to edify our souls, knowing we are not merely seeking the Goodness of Grace, we are doing it.

Paul had Confidence in the Greater He, he knew if the person’s heart was to find God, God would find them. Paul goes back to the purpose, showing the Doctrine and understanding are more important than goose bumps. Verse 21 tells us Who is doing the talking, thus removing the interpretation from man, as well as removing any self-imposed glory we may attempt to gain from tongues. It’s God doing the speaking through men, thus this unknown language is only unknown to the mind of man, thus it takes God to interpret His own language. Wait I thought it was the Spirit? It’s the Spirit which is of God, showing it’s God doing the speaking, one should be careful in attacking the act.

Tongues are a negative sign to the unbeliever and unlearned, but not to the Believer. When the unbeliever or the unlearned hear tongues they get mad or scared, they run, attack, or mock, thus we find three groups involved, just like we did on the Day of Pentecost. One group spoke, one group gained the interpretation, the third group mocked the speakers (Acts 2:7-13). In this area Paul doesn’t mention the interpretation, rather he says “and all speak with tongues” (v 23); therefore, it means all were doing the speaking, but no one interpreting, causing confusion in the minds of the unbeliever and unlearned. Yet, we are sent to bring the unbeliever into the Body, as we bring clarity to the unlearned.

If we prophesy is in the understanding, but still from God. The person’s heart will be exposed, since they can understand the words spoken. Falling down on their face, they will declare God is among us; however, it was God doing the speaking in unknown tongues as well. It’s not we who must know God is among us, it’s for the unbeliever and unlearned to know; therefore, tongues are a negative sign, but only to the unbeliever and unlearned. When anyone responds in a negative manner to speaking in tongues, they have proven the point.

Now the Women or Congregation, with the long flowing hair on her “head”, this is the result of order. When we come together every one can have a Psalm (song), a doctrine (teaching), a tongue, a revelation, the interpretation for both the tongue and a revelation, but all things must be to the edifying of the Body, of which we are all members (v 26). How are you going to do this, yet remain silent? One could say the use of “brethren” limited this to males alone, but if it were the case, then no female could enter the Body. The Greek word for Brethren is Adelphos meaning Of the same womb, or family, A fellow believer, which includes both leaders and congregation, as male and female. The phrase, “let all things be done to edifying” settles the question on tongues being “self-edifying”, since he included tongues in this area.

Two or Three can speak, yet it only takes one to interpret. This wasn’t given to limit us, but to remove the carnal mind. We can see how the carnal church did speak in unknown tongues, but instead of two or three, it was fifty or hundred, which means many lost in the interpretation. The speaking was still from the Spirit, thus Paul isn’t saying No, he is simply calling for Order so the rest can be edified. The concept of being silent is again seen, only in this case it’s when there is no interpreter (v. 28). However, the person should not forbid speaking, they merely keep it between them and God. This also shows tongues are from us To God, prophecy is from God to us.

Paul told us to speak to ourselves and God, the Corinthians just got louder, or the reverse, in so doing they exposed their carnal minds. Again, this has to be in the gathering, since our prayer closet would get very crowded with “two or three”. The old thought of mixing our private prayer life into this area produces the concept of “you must know the interpretation or it’s not God”; not so, the interpretation is only for the “other”, we in our prayer closet need to be edified, but we don’t need the interpretation. Seeking the interpretation is also seen here in the gathering, so the other can be edified. If speaking didn’t edify us, what makes us think the interpretation would?

The next area is for prophecy, linking this right back to chapter 11. When they spoke, let it be two or three, which is slightly different from tongues, in each case we find no more than three, for when two or three are gathered together we have a sound check and balance (v 29). The term Other means other prophets, not other people in general. The prophet is not to judge their own prophecy, the worse thing we can do force them to interpret their own prophecy. Prior it was Pray so we might interpret, but we don’t find it  with prophecy, rather we find let the others judge. God has set checks and balances, if the speaker of the prophecy is forced to interpret their words, they have breached the check and balance. In their frustration they will invent a meaning, or mix the world into the Kingdom. This is not the Office of Prophet, although they also allow the judging by other Prophets, rather this is still the “pray and prophecy” as it relates back to Chapter 11, only in this case it’s after the Authority is established.

The context also shows it’s by two or three, never one, problems come when we have one prophetic voice. Cults begin because they only have one prophetic voice allowed by the leader, which is usually the leader. The rule is clear, two or three, never one. History shows every time this rule has been violated, a cult system developed, it doesn’t mean the prophet was in error, rather since there were no other prophetic voices the prophecy or prophecies were left open to carnal interpretation, or cultist thinking.

The test is the prophecy proving itself, there are times when the Spirit ends, yet the soul begins. At times we just know something should be said, or we’re so hungry for a word, we make one up. This check and balance gives the hope of knowing we won’t interweave some fear, or personal concern into the prophecy. As the prophecy comes forth, there are times when it sounds so good, we know the time is perfect to interject our views, desires, fears, concerns, or thoughts, but the other prophets judge. If we keep the premise in mind, it will keep us from interjecting into the Word. The purpose is to Learn so others can be Comforted (exhorted) in the Lord, not to vent our personal opinions, then add, “so saith the Lord” on the end giving it validity.

The spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets, this is a warning to all (v. 32). Ezekiel 13:2-3 says, “son of man prophesy against the prophets of Israel who prophesy, and say you unto them who prophesy out of their own hearts (spirits), Hear you the word of the Lord; thus saith the Lord God; Woe unto the foolish prophets, who follow their own spirit (minds), and have seen nothing”. The context links to Paul’s teaching showing the minds of the prophets are subject to the prophets, meaning a prophet can interject their own fears, concerns, or agenda into the prophecy, yet they will think it was God. If it takes place God will have the other prophets judge the saying. This is clear when we read it was Ezekiel who judged the other prophets, yet there were other prophets in the land who judged Ezekiel’s prophecies as True. Ezekiel 14:9 says, “and if the prophet be deceived when he has spoken a thing, I the Lord have deceived the prophet, and I will stretch out My hand upon him, and will destroy him from the midst of My people Israel”. When the prophet uses the office for self-purposes the time will come when they assume they are giving Truth, when in fact they are delivering deception, yet God allows based on their “Balaam mindset”. Since God cannot tempt us to do evil, because God has no evil in Him, it stands He cannot deceive us since deception is a product of darkness, yet God is light and in Him is no darkness (I Jn 1:5). How then does God deceive? By allowing the prophet who has allowed their own mind to counterfeit the voice of God to continue as a test for the rest of us. When we judge their words righteously, we begin to see how they mix the fears into the word into the prophetic word. Does the word spoken sound like God? Do we follow the person blindly? Balaam thought God ordained his folly, but found an angel in the road about to take his head off. A donkey judged Balaam by speaking as a prophet. There are times when God will send a jackass to judge the jackass prophet. It’s far better for the prophet to make sure it’s truly “so saith the Lord”, then submit to the check and balance of the others judging. A sure sign of someone who makes up their own prophecy, is their reluctance to have the other prophets judge.

If the others Judge, it means we must be open to correction. There are some when questioned about their “prophetic word” they retort with, “You calling God a liar?”. A very manipulative statement, said as if one did question, they were calling God a liar, but not so, they are merely determining the source, or if they have crossed the line and introduced “soul prophecy” into the realm of the “Spirituals”. Any of us can hear ourselves and think, “oh man it’s good, you know what, I will add…..”, or any of us can have some lust, or fear, or soulish prideful desire enter into the prophetic word. We could have 85 percent God, 15 percent soul, or 15 percent God, and 85 percent soul. Having the others Judge keeps us honest.

In Ezekiel God says, “Woe unto the foolish prophets, who follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing” (Ezek 13:3). What were they doing? They were giving “vanity and lying divination” (Ezek 13:6), in this case they heard nothing, it was 100 percent soul, they were attempting to speak in order to make God bring it to pass, it’s divination, it ended with the people believing in a false hope (Ezek 13:6). Generally they were speaking from a fear to a fear, or from a lust to a lust, defining “soul prophecy”, a danger leading to being a false prophet. They were saying, “The Lord says”, but the Lord had not said, so who did? Their own souls, yet they assumed the word was from the Lord, the people liked it, they liked it, it made them feel important; however, it was not of God. Rather than edify the person in God, they were feeding a lust, giving a false direction, or presenting false doctrine. Rather than bring comfort to the soul, they were bringing comfort to the flesh. Rather than exhorting the person toward Jesus, they were exhorting the lust of the flesh. Everyone is led away by their own lust, when a lust gives words to a lust, the result is an empowered lust. Not good, not good at all.

This area is the concern of Paul, he saw how Ezekiel was a priest who was taken captive, then called of God to be a prophet against the prophets. In our case we are suppose to be motivated by the Spirit with God’s Wisdom, which means we should be teachable and open to Godly correction. After all Peter received the Godly correction from Paul, shouldn’t we be as open? (Gal 2:11-14).

In Acts 15:32 the prophets went out to deliver doctrine, but in Acts 16:16 a certain damsel possessed with a “spirit of divination” also gave a “word”. We know this damsel followed Paul and Silas around, but what was Silas? A confirmed prophet (Acts 15:32), as was Paul. The prophets judged, finding the words of the damsel wanton. What did she say? “These men are the servants of God, which show us the way to salvation” (Acts 16:17). Were Paul and Silas servants of God? Yes, was their mission to show the way of Salvation? Yes, yet there was something wrong with the “intent” of the damsel. If we judged the words alone, we would say, “man it’s God, Praise the Lord”, but what was behind the words was not of God. She was fishing for the egos of Paul and Silas, searching for a lust, seeking some bait in which she could put in her hook and capture their minds, causing them to give her honor, then she could then preach her god as the one bringing salvation; which in her case would have been the god Apollo (not to be confused with Apollos).

Our hope is of course it didn’t work, because Paul and Silas were servants of the most high God. However, if we have a lust or ungodly desire seeking superiority, and someone begins to prophesy to the lust we will be enticed and led away. In most cases we can examine the words to determine the source, but in other cases, like the damsel we must listen to the Spirit discern the spirit.

This is not to scare us, or cause us to reject prophecy, rather it’s to show how we must be open for correction, especially thinking, “I am the only one who hears from God”. If we’re not sure of the words spoken over us, seek out a confirmed prophet, or an Elder who has the evidence of God’s Wisdom, ask them to judge the words. In some bodies the person is told to write down the words, but it’s not easy at times. It takes the mind and soul to write the words, but it’s the Spirit doing the talking. Tape the words, or have another write them down, whichever is easier at the moment. The prophets of old didn’t write down their own words, they had scribes do the writing. If the prophet refuses to be judged, or goes about saying “You calling God a liar?”, every time someone wonders about the validity of their words, they are in grave danger.

Can corrupt theology be a hindering factor to the prophet? Yes, how many times have we heard “the whore of Babylon” in some phrase which is attached to “so saith the Lord”? There is no whore of Babylon, the City is the Whore, who is also Babylon. Corrupt theology sneaking into the message shows how the spirits of the prophets are still subject to the prophets. The Spirit speaks, the words travel through a wanton theology, or traditions, then the prophets who judge have to sort through the words to fine the prophetic words God is speaking.

Since any of us in the Body who are in Grace have the capability to prophesy in the context noted here in Corinthians, it stands even the carnal minded can get into the act. Before Peter was Born Again he had a word from the Father about Jesus, but Peter didn’t understand it. It seems it’s the same situation in Corinth, Paul wants them to benefit, but if they remain carnal they will have no idea what the prophecy or tongues is bringing forth, or what God is doing.

The Manifestation of the Spirit is the New Man operating, yet we find there are some who give a Word of Wisdom, or even a personal prophecy, then they thought they were a Prophet, they become self-ordained, self-appointed, and begin a self-involved ministry, using what God did in their life as a means of validity. God works in all our lives, it doesn’t mean we’re all Prophets or Apostles. This very issue is addressed by Paul, he desires we all prophesy, but he also notes not all are Prophets.

If we’re the prophetic voice, we must be open to the judging, in fact we should seek  the judged openly. However, never allow a carnal mind to judge Spiritual words. A true judge of prophecy brings the Sword of Truth, coupled with the Wisdom of God, which is always able to remove the Vile while saving the Precious.

Whatever Word is given it’s to bring Peace among the brethren, not war. God doesn’t Author confusion, man does. Confusion is the result of the soul fighting the Spirit, or the spirit of man bringing strife and division against the Truth. When the prophet allows his lusts, anger, opinion, political prejudice, personal feelings, or some other non-Spiritual element to interject into the prophecy we end with a mixed word holding some God, some soul, or worse a little God, with a great deal of personal opinion.

How does, “let your women remain silent” fit with “let the others judge” and “God is not the Author of confusion”? Perfect, if we understand how Verse 34 is not by itself, it links to the teaching in chapter 11, as well as the prior verses it becomes a rebuke to the leaders, showing it has nothing to do with gender. Prior the congregation was to remain silent (vs. 11:5), here it’s the same thing, yet Paul just finished saying he wished they all prophesy, as he also explained the proper order for tongues in the assembly. After telling them all the wonders of the Spiritual things of God, he then tells them their present state is to remain silent, and learn at home, the gathering was a wreck waiting to happen.

The context has to relate, “to Prophecy” drawing this to “every woman praying or giving prophesy, having her head (husband or leader) uncovered dishonors her head (husband or leader)”. This also shows the spirits of the prophets, and how carnal minds introduce faulty interpretation. As was the case with Caiaphas, who gave a prophecy because of his position, then he attempted self-interpretation missing the mark by miles (Jn 11:50-53).

To bring all this into the conceptual teaching Paul is giving, we find the word for “speak” is the Greek Laleo which means To talk at random, it doesn’t mean to remain completely silent, it means not to speak randomly, or without meaning. This connects to  the entire message, speak as an oracle, not as a carnal minded person who hasn’t a clue to Spiritual matters. Don’t remain carnal, yet think you are Spiritual just because you give a word, or speak in tongues. These are signs of having the Spirit, but left with a carnal mind to determine the purpose leaves us missing the importance of why we are speaking. In this case the rebuke stands, if they remain carnal, then remain silent in the gathering.

If Paul would have used the Greek Lego then some of those who desire to keep the female gender silent would have a point, but since Paul used Laleo we know this connects back to chapter 11, showing how the carnal congregation rambles much, but says nothing, we can see this has nothing to do with gender.

Only a carnal mind would see this warning by Paul as the wives causing disruption, it’s clearly asking the congregation who are subject to carnal leadership not to pray or prophecy until the leadership has repaired the Authority issue, since it would shame the leaders, as the leaders shame Christ. When the congregation is more Spiritual than the leadership, it’s not only a shame to the leaders, it’s a hindrance to the congregation. The carnal leader hears the word, interprets it by carnal means, misses the meaning, or twists it, then produces more carnal doctrinal thinking; thus many are sick, weak and dead.

We must see this is not a rebuke to the “wives”, it’s a rebuke to the leadership. This links prayers with speaking in unknown tongues, thus it wasn’t the doing, but the lack of covering producing the problems; therefore, Chapter 14 is the end of the teaching which began in Chapter 10. The entire teaching must be linked together or we will miss the importance, thus producing more bondage, or more carnal thinking from a teaching given so we could be void of carnal thinking. The evidence is clear, carnal leaders took the teaching, twisted it into carnal thinking, interpreted it by carnal means, introduced a carnal ordinance to “keep females silent”. The carnal mind still lacks understanding in reference to Spiritual matters, thus the Holy Ghost still teaches by comparing Spiritual to Spiritual.

Since the carnal minded were unable to enter Spiritual discernment it’s obvious the prophecy could be correct and right, but their interpretation faulty. Thereby the carnal interpretation would make the prophecy carnal in nature. Like the story of Ruth, it’s a great love story, but unless one interprets it to focus on the Redeemer they miss the entire point. It would be better for the women (congregation) to remain silent, since the leaders were in such carnal shape any Godly Word coming forth would be twisted into another carnal doctrine. Got it? Hope so, since in most cases Godly prophets are kept silent by carnal leadership, it’s a shame. The Godly prophet has a word to bring the leadership into Order, but the egos of the leadership reject it. Of course if we have a carnal prophet attempting to force Spiritual leadership to do things the carnal mind wants, then the carnal prophet needs to be corrected. How do we keep it straight? Let the others judge, a Godly manner of check and balances.

A key verse here is 34 in the phrase “saith the Law”, which means they were still under the Law, yet they had the Spirit and were called the Temple of God, and told they were baptized into the Body. Unless we walk with the Spirit, we must follow carnal ordinances. Did they think the Word (Logos) of God came from them? Did it not come unto them? What kind of ordinances does the Law of Moses have? Carnal, so it’s sent to the carnal minded. Who is the Law of the Spirit designed for? The Spiritually minded.

Verse 35 makes no sense at all if we are talking about gender, clearly if the head of the wife has to gain knowledge at home, then there is nothing to gain at the gathering. If she is to “learn” let her ask her husband at home? What is that? So widows can ask in church? Single woman must also be able too as well, since they have no husband at home. This is not gender, it goes right back to the congregation remaining silent in the congregation, but seeking the Lord at home. This relates to the individual, chapter 11 to the gathering, thus as individuals our covering is the Lord, but in the gathering the Operations show the leaders are our covering. We can we be correct and in order at home, but our gathering is a carnal mess.

Paul ends this area of the teaching with the test, if any are Spiritual or think they are a prophet, judge the prophecy (direction) he just gave; however, if any desire to remain ignorant, let them, we are not under bondage in such cases. Now we have another definition for carnal, remaining ignorant by choice. This goes to God’s people being destroyed for a lack of knowledge, God didn’t withhold it, rather they rejected it. Here for all of us is the written knowledge regarding tongues and prophecy in the gathering, if we make the choice to remain ignorant, so be it, no one can make us believe.

The evidence was clear, the escape was presented, the choice was now up to the Corinthians. These are not opinions, they are the commandments of the Lord. The  Corinthians didn’t lack the ability or the wherewithal to be Spiritual, they had the Spirit. They had the opportunity, but it called for Warfare, the old man was still ruling in their lives. They allowed the spirit of man to counter the Spiritual things of God (v. 2:11-12). They needed to see just how destructive the old man is, as he was preparing them to be destroyed. Once we figure out how nasty, mean and deadly the old man is, we’re ready to engage in Godly warfare, but as long as we think the lust is our friend, the old man a better companion than the New Man, or the carnal nature superior to the Spiritual nature we are headed for destruction.

The word Covet in this case means to seek after, but the command is never to forbid speaking in tongues. We may not speak in tongues, we may even dislike it, but we never forbid anyone from doing it. What would be the evidence of carnal leadership? Making the people remain silent, or forbidding them to speak in unknown tongues.

Since all these ordinances are directed at carnal bodies, what do you think would be the call to a Spiritual body? Pray and prophesy, speak as an oracle of the Lord, but let the others judge.

Then Paul really draws this together, telling us all these are Commandments of the Lord. The Apostle in his office was delivering Commandment, it’s up to us to follow the Commandment. If we love the Lord we will do His Commandments.

The wording Decently and in Order also goes back to chapter 11, the word Decently means In Honor, when the man has his head (Christ) covered, he dishonors his head (Christ). The word Order is not a command to cease, it’s really granting permission to engage, but to keep the matters in order so all could gain. Get Spiritual, enjoy the Spirituals, remain carnal and be a hindering force.

All this gives us the difference between the saying “there is neither male nor female in Christ Jesus” coupled with, “ye are under the Law”; therefore, the difference is either walking in the Spirit, or being carnal. If one is carnal, there is a difference between male and female. If our leaders are carnal, or have Yoked or veiled their Head they are withholding the anointing, we as the congregation remain silent. Let us learn at home, since we are not going to learn in the gathering.

I Cor 15:1-58

Since carnal leadership is void of any real effectiveness, it stands if they want to be partakers of the First Resurrection, they need to put off the carnal, to become Spiritual. This section is on the Resurrection, Paul doesn’t limit it to the last day alone, but makes a separation to show us the various types of Glory, as well as the Mystery at the Last Trump. Why put this here? If the leaders have separated themselves from the Head, they missed the entire purpose of their Hope. Our Hope is to be partakers in the First Resurrection, thus Acts are part of our Witness, but the Ways are our passport for entry through the Door. The real question Paul asks is here, if they don’t care about being Spiritual, why are they in this? What possible motive could they have to remain ignorant? If you were baptized to identify with the death and resurrection of Jesus, why did you stop at the death?

He begins again looking at the Gospel being preached to them, they received, but they had to stand. In verse 2 the word for Saved is the Greek Sozo showing they were saved from the world, making the spirit of man, or the spirit of the world ineffective in their lives. Like most who remain carnal, pride entered, causing them to think they were the Gospel, yet they should “keep in memory” what Paul preached and why they received, or they have believed in vain. What did they believe? The Gospel, the Process to gain the nature to make it in the First Resurrection.

Paul didn’t make up anything, he gave them what he received (v. 3). He preached on the Cross, Christ died for our sins, according to the Scriptures, which would mean he used the Old Testament to prove the Cross (v. 3). Then he adds the second step, “that He was buried, and He rose again the third day, according to the Scriptures (v. 4). From the Gospel study we know it was three days and nights, yet this is a basic teaching before water baptism, the belief of the person must be in the Cross and Resurrection of Jesus, or their water baptism was a bath, back stroke, or a short swim. This is Foundational, they received the premise of the Cross and the Resurrection, two things, the Cross imputes the old nature dead (ineffective), but the Resurrection is the Power of the Spirit of Holiness.

Verse 5 could be confusing, “seen of Cephas then of the twelve”, what twelve?  The name Cephas is found once in the Gospel, yet used five times by Paul, with four in the letters to the Corinthians. Cephas is identified as Peter in John 1:42, but if Peter was of the twelve, would it not be “Cephas and the eleven”? However, there was another Simon, not Simon Peter, but Cephas nonetheless. In Luke there were two men walking, one of them was named Cleopas, the other is not named until Luke 24:34, where we find “The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon”, then we find they begin to tell the twelve about the events on the road, and how the Lord broke bread with them (Luke 24:35). Cephas means Stone, the same as Peter; however, by Paul using the phrase “then of the twelve”, we must be talking about another Cephas, who is identified in Luke 24:34. However, the more plausible explanation would be Paul using the Quorum approach. Just after Peter denied the Lord until John chapter 21 he was referred to as Peter, but not among the disciples (Mark 16:7), the number of disciples would then be Ten, a Quorum, meaning it would be proper for Paul to use the number “twelve”. The point is the Proof of the Resurrection is found in the eye witnesses (v. 5).

After Jesus was seen of more than 500 brethren at one time, so when was that? When He walked with the disciples during the forty days after the Resurrection, yet before the Ascension (Acts 1:3). The upper room on Pentecost held the members who received the Ingress Aires, the rest joined later. Paul also shows the greater part of those who saw were still around, if the Corinthians didn’t believe Paul, go ask someone else, but at least make the effort to believe (v. 6).

After Jesus was seen of the five hundred, He was also seen of James (the less), then of All the apostles which would have been at the Ascension (Acts 1:6-11). Later Paul saw Him on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:1-12). Maybe none of the Corinthians saw the Resurrected Jesus, but they knew people who did. However, the evidence of the Resurrection is having the same Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead: unless of course you are carnal and ignore the evidence.

Paul isn’t “acting humble” in verse 9, rather he is showing his past didn’t keep him from accepting and believing. None of the other apostles persecuted the Body, true some ran and hid at the time of the Cross, even Judas betrayed Jesus, but none of the others had the background Paul did, yet God’s Grace by the Holy Ghost brought him to the Cross, then used him. What excuse could any of us hold? To whom much is forgiven, they love much, Paul proves the point. Whether it was John, the disciple Jesus loved, or Paul the one saved from the bondage of religion, it was the same Gospel, the same Hope the same Faith. The Gospel didn’t come by the will of men, although some use their will to present it, neither does it consist in word alone, it came by Power from on High, proved in the New Birth, backed up by the Holy Ghost with much assurance (v. 9-10).

How frustrating, he spent all this time with them, signs of the office, wonders of the Lord, then comes the carnal questions, opinions, with the disciple attempting to impress the apostle. His entire focus was to see them walking in the Spirit, they had the Spirit, they were of the Body, yet they were still carnal. Nonetheless, Grace is sufficient, it always is.

Verse 11 is somewhat bewildering to Paul, the Gospel centers on the Cross and Resurrection, yet some of the Corinthians said there was no Resurrection. This doesn’t mean the Resurrection of Jesus, but the Resurrection of our Hope. This is made clear in verses 12 and 13, “if there is no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: and if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain”. If they had no hope in being resurrected, what were they doing? What did they believe?

This also helps us see why Paul used the term “some sleep” when he was talking about those who saw Jesus. Why would he make the distinction between those who are Dead in Christ and those who Sleep in Jesus, if there was no distinction? The reasoning is found here, these people were carnal, the premise of them making the First Resurrection was slim at best, but for them to Sleep in Jesus was in hand. However, if there is no Resurrection, they would not “sleep”.

Verse 15 shows how carnal minds view Spiritual matters as foolishness, Paul’s life was centered on the death and resurrection of Jesus, he preached it to the Corinthians, they received and believed, now some doubt? If it’s not true, than Paul is a false witness, as well as James, Peter and the others. For if there is no Resurrection, then Christ cannot be raised. If Christ is not raised, we could not have the Spirit. If Christ is not raised who was walking with the disciples those forty days? Yet if we speak in unknown tongues we do have the Spirit, if we have the Spirit, then Christ is raised. How could a person speak in unknown tongues by the Spirit, yet deny the Resurrection? (v. 15-17 & 14:2).

If Christ is not raised, then the Cross is not real. If the Cross is not real, they are sill in sin, under bondage to the spirit of man and lost (v. 17). If it’s the case, then those who sleep are lost (v. 18). Now we see the connection, to teach these people the concept of Dead in Christ would be a waste, but teaching then some sleep makes the connection. Where is their Hope, wait, where is ours? If it’s not to be partakers of the Resurrection, then all this is one big mind game (v. 19).

Now the other side, there is Belief, If Christ is risen, He has become the Firstfruits of them “that slept” (past tense – v.20). Who are they who slept? The captivity Jesus took captive. They had the measure of faith, they didn’t have the Spirit, they didn’t have the Body, all their faith together couldn’t bring the Promise, but they believed to a hope, when Jesus preached they received.

The logic of the apostle, if death by sin came by one man, then life in the Resurrection of from the dead also came by one man. For in Adam all die, whether living soul or not, but so IN Christ shall all be “made alive” (vs. 21-22). This again shows why he speaks of those who sleep, rather than the Dead in Christ. He is back to the basics, the milk to the fetus. In verse 23 there is a division, every man in his own time in reference to the Resurrection, Christ the Firstfruits; afterward they are Christ’s at His coming. Clearly a division, those who are Christ the Firstfruits are those who have the same Spirit of Holiness who raised Jesus from the dead. Then on the last day those who belong to Christ as those who are resurrected unto life.

Verse 24 shows the sudden destruction, the “end”, when Jesus shall have delivered up the Kingdom “to God”, even the Father: He shall have put down all rule and all authority, and all power, with the only authority, rule and power in heaven. For Jesus must reign, till the Father had put all the enemies of Jesus under the feet of Jesus as the footstool (v. 25). The last enemy to be destroyed is the first death, the one Adam’s sin produced. Therefore, it’s still appointed for man once to die, then comes the judgment.

Verses 25 and 26 refer to a time yet to come, but if Christ is not raised from the dead, how can He reign? Verse 27 shows all things are under the feet of Jesus now, but if He is not raised how can anything be subject to Him? If Jesus is not raised, then nothing is under the feet of the Corinthians, they are not kings, nor priests, lacking any authority or power.

There remains the first death of all mankind, then the Judgment, thus when all things “shall be subdued unto Him” them shall the Son also Himself be subject unto Him who put all things under Him, then God may be all in all. During the Day the only Godly authority on earth is found in the Name of Jesus, after the Judgment Jesus will give the Kingdom to the Father, as it was promised in the Garden. One God all in all, for all time.

Verse 29 doesn’t mean we water baptize ourselves in the place of people who are dead, he asks, what about those who were water baptized who imputed death? This goes back to their carnal reasoning over water baptism, I was baptized by Paul, I was baptized by Apollos, but they didn’t receive the purpose for their baptism. If the dead do not raise at all, why did they become water baptized? Why did the disciples? Why did hundreds and hundreds of others? This is made clearer in verses 30 and 32, where he includes himself. Why do we stand in Jeopardy every hour if the dead do not raise? Paul “died” daily based on the Token of his baptism.

What beasts did Paul fight in Ephesus? When in Ephesus Paul spoke in the synagogue, not only did they fail to believe, they spoke evil of the Way (Acts 19:8-9). Then there was a riot in Ephesus, Paul faced the beasts of Demetruis the silversmith and Alexander (Acts 19:23-40), but why stand if his goal is not to be Resurrected? If it’s all for nothing, then eat, drink the cups of devils, who cares? However, it’s not all for nothing, he warns them to be careful, for evil communications corrupt good manners. They should Awake to Righteousness, rather than remain in the sin of unbelief, for their shame is in their deliberate ignorance of the Spiritual ways of God (vs. 31-34).

Verse 35 is still approaching the subject of “God’s knowledge”, how are the dead raised, and what type of body? Will it be the same body we have now? If so why do we impute the flesh dead? The Resurrection is based on the principle of death to life, the seed must die, before it can bring life. So, then is the Seed of God in us dead? No, Jesus died so the Seed could remain in Life based on the Resurrection.

The body we have now, is not the body we will have. The Rapture is not all these bodies floating away, our souls coupled with the Spirit meet Jesus in the air (vs. 36-37). The New Body is heavenly in nature, one pleasing to God. The one we have now is a reproduction of the forming of the earth, from the earth it came, to the earth it must go, ashes to ashes, and dust to dust (v. 38).

So if we watch a cow die, will it be resurrected? All flesh is not the same, but each has a glory since all things are created or formed by God. There is the flesh of fish, they were not formed of the earth, neither did God breath into them. The flesh of birds, the flesh of beasts, then there is the flesh of man, and man’s flesh was formed by the hand of God, but reproduced over they years (v. 39).

There are two realms of interest, the celestial which is the heavenly, and the terrestrial which is earthly, but there is no “celestrial”. The body we have now is designed for the terrestrial (terra-firma) since it’s earthly. The body for the celestial is also a product of the hand of God, it’s designed for the saved soul with the Spirit for heaven (v. 40). The phrase “white robes” is used three times in the Bible, all three in the Book of Revelation, all three refer to the resurrected bodies we will acquire (Rev 6:11, 7:9 & 7:13).

There are various glories, the sun (Israel) is one, the moon (Zion of the earth) is one, the stars by number are one (tribes of Israel), the stars without number (Church), the stars differ one from the other depending on Season (v. 42).

There is the resurrection of the dead, it is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption (v. 42). This explains Justification as a process, the corruption is death, the incorruption is void of death, or the position of being Glorified. In Philippians 3:10-11 Paul used two different words for the word Resurrection, in verse 10 the word means raised from a power within, denoting the First Resurrection, or the Resurrection of Jesus completed. In verse 3:11 of Philippians Paul used a word meaning to be stood up from a power without, referring to the last resurrection. Here in 15:42 he used the one showing a power from within, connecting it to the Resurrection of Jesus. This all links, some may deny the Resurrection, thus their concept was not “soul-sleep”, it was a ceasing of consciousness, or a nothing state. Paul not only shows a Resurrection, but there will be two, both with parts. The First Resurrection will complete the Resurrection of Jesus, some will sleep in Jesus, some will be the Dead in Christ, some will be the drunken who go into the Night (I Thess 5:7). The Last resurrection will see those resurrected unto Life, and those resurrected unto damnation, with the  damnation as the second death.

The flesh is sown in dishonor, it is raised in Glory, it is sown in weakness, because the flesh is weak, it is raised in Power (Dunamis), although this flesh is sown, the flesh awaiting is different (v. 43). Therefore it is sown a natural body, but raised a Spiritual one, there is the natural body (terrestrial) we have now, but there is also the Spiritual body (celestial) waiting for us (v. 44)

So it is written, the First Adam “was made” a living soul, the last Adam a Quickening Spirit. However, what was first is natural, what was second Spiritual, meaning there is a new body waiting. It also shows we were natural, the Spirit is forming us into a Spirit nature, since God is Spirit. The Second Adam is of course Jesus, but we fit the position as well. We were Adam like without life before the Cross, Adam like with Life by the Cross, but Christ Like by the Spirit based on the Power of the Resurrection making us quickening Spirits: that born of the Spirit is Spirit (v. 46-47).

The First Adam is earthly, they who are like him are also earthly. Those like the Second Adam are heavenly, like the Second Adam. We have all borne the image of the earthly, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly (v. 48-49). This is inclusive of those who fit the process to be the image, it doesn’t mean those who are not Spiritual. Becoming the point, the Corinthians had the Spirit, but they were not Spiritual, thus they were more like the earthly Adam; their ways seem to prove it.

However, the first Adam was flesh and blood, just as our natural terrestrial bodies are, but those bodies cannot inherit the Kingdom of God, neither does the corrupt body inherit the incorruptible (v. 50). Not all “will sleep”, some will discovery the mystery of why they fought the good fight by becoming Spiritual. They are the Dead in Christ, those who don’t sleep through the Night. There will be the drunken who go into the Night, yet they few indeed. We shall be changed in a “twinkling” of an eye, not the Blinking of an eye. The word Twinkling is the Greek Rhipe meaning a beat of time, or a moment of time so small it is faster than the speed of light. This split moment of time will come on the “Last Trump”, not the Great, or the First. The Last Trump will close the Day, to open the Night; however, the Great Trump announces the Judgment (v. 51-52).

For this corruption (soul coupled with earthly flesh and blood) must put on incorruption, and this mortal (subject to death) must put on Immortality (absent death, and not subject to time – v. 53). The moment the corruption becomes incorruption the Justification process will reach it’s purpose to become the Glorification. At the time death will no longer be the enemy, it will be defeated in our lives for all time (v. 54-56).

Is it possible by the carnal mind? Nay, by the works of the flesh? Nay, but Thanks be to God, which Gives us the Victory over death, hell and the grave Through our Lord Jesus Christ (v. 57). No one calls Jesus Lord, but by the Holy Ghost (12:3). Therefore, be steadfast in the conviction of faith, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, for those who cease from their works have entered the Rest of the Lord. Take the Yoke of the Lord as we cast off the yoke of carnal behavior. Our labor is not in vain, it is true, Jesus is raised, the same Spirit who raised Him is raising us daily (v. 58).

I Cor 16:1-24

The close of the letter takes care of the business matters, including the collection for the saints. The money was promised here, the next letter was written well over a year later, yet these people had not given their pledge. This is much different from Acts 5, but it does show the Corinthians were long on mouth and short on “do”. In Acts we find no one told Ananias to give, it was up to him as he made his vow to the Lord. Here Paul asked, thus they made their pledge to Paul, which was fortunate for them to say the least. If we vow, or say we’re going to do something “in the Name of the Lord”, we must. Why? A liar in the Lord is a covenant breaker, just as a vow broken separates us from the Lord’s Mercy and Grace. Until repentance takes hold; so why wasn’t Ananias restored? No repentance, Ananias heard the words of Peter, but never responded (Acts 5:5).

The “gathering” of funds will be done on the “first day of the week” (v. 2), this shows these people were gathering together on Sunday. The Sabbath according to the Commandment was Saturday, as the last day of the week. Even back in the very early days they went to temple on sabbath to preach to the Jews, but it didn’t mean they kept the sabbath day. They gathered together on Sunday, the day of discovery, which should have answered the question regarding the resurrection. Why gather ye on Sunday the day of the discovery of the Resurrection, if you don’t believe in it?

The word “Store” in verse 2 is the Greek Thesaurizo which means The treasury, or to reserve, it was a common word for what we call an Offering, this is the first place where we find such a request. This was not giving to the local body, or to a specific ministry, this was a request to help the body in Jerusalem who were going through some very difficult times. What? Wasn’t James, the pastor in Jerusalem a man of faith? Yes, but opportunity comes in various forms, as do tests.

Paul’s comments about coming to them through Macedonia, will come back at him later, but he also shows Timothy would come to them as well, thus one was the same as the other.

Paul ends by telling them to quit like men, the word Quit means to be Strong, thus it means to act as true Men of God, Be Strong in the Lord, keep things in order, hold to the Love of the Lord, which describes what a true person in God is like (v 13-14). This is a continuing rebuke, the leadership is failing at being the “husband” of the congregation, division was their trademark, strife was their motivation, bitterness will soon follow, leading to destruction. They must start acting like “men of God”, rather then the carnal minded.

SECOND CORINTHIANS – WRITTEN 60 AD

Second Corinthians was written about one year after First Corinthians, the letter itself was penned by Titus and Lucas for good reason, since at this time in history Paul was under arrest in Jerusalem. The news of his arrest traveled fast, the Corinthians had the excuse they wanted: “Could this Paul really be a man of God? He’s in jail and God hasn’t delivered him, God must be punishing him. Remember how the Spirit told him not to go, and he went anyway? Is God really speaking through him? Should we believe what he told us? After all we’re free, we must be doing things right, we have money, we’re blessed, and since he won’t listen to the Holy Ghost, why should we listen to him?”. Of course they were still in division, still carnal, still in a congregational mess. This Letter also changes tone in role of the Apostle, we find the thorns in our flesh are the result of so-called “friendly fire”, which is hardly “friendly”, but it comes from a “friend”. It’s sad, but nonetheless true, friendly fire hurts the most, we expect slander from the outside, but from within?

II Cor 1:1-24

First Corinthians began by Paul saying he was “called to be an apostle”, now it’s “an apostle of Jesus Christ”; prior it was “to them who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints”, now it’s “the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia”. Paul didn’t address the saints in Corinth, nor did he address Corinth alone, rather this letter reaches out to all the saints in Achaia, thus he is bringing Corinth before the Body. If we compare the greetings between First and Second Corinthians we can see  this second letter is more to the point, has less doctrine, and tends to be firmer than the first letter.

I Cor: 1: 1-2 + II Cor 1:1-2

Paul called to be an apostle of Jesus + Paul an apostle of Jesus Christ

Christ through the will of God + by the will of God and Timothy

and Sosthenes our brother, unto + our brother, unto the church of

the church of God which is at + God which is at Corinth, with all

Corinth, to them that are sanctified + the saints which are in all Achaia:

in Christ Jesus, called to be saints + Grace be to you and peace from

with all that in every place call upon + God our Father, and from the

the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, + Lord Jesus Christ.

both theirs and ours:

Prior Paul told the Corinthians to judge their own selves lest they be judged, now the Body in all of Achaia will judge them. The concept was already talked about in the Gospel accounts, Paul was doing what Jesus commanded, prior Paul made a visit to set things in order, then his first letter (not to be confused with the general letter in Acts 15), now the second letter, which becomes the Third Witness.

Paul gave Commandment before, from the context of this letter we find some agreed to repent, but the leadership continued to play their carnal mind game. Now Paul presents the Correcting, Rebuking Apostle position to deliver those who desire to be delivered. This would be the third time, seems to be a number appearing often in these matters. Peter was warned three times, denied the Lord three times, was asked the question of Jesus three times. Jesus prayed three times in the Garden, now the three times for the Corinthians, Paul didn’t write them another letter. The prior letter held the metaphors, the allegories, the things making the inquisitive student to dig, hunt out  and find, but here it’s blunt, to the point, yet he is still reaching out to them, but this time it’s for the sake of the Lord by the Grace of the Lord.

The dilemma is something some of us have seen, the leadership is out of order, meaning the congregation is either frustrated, or simply weary of being quiet. God sends the prophet, the Word comes forth, the Congregation knows to remain silent, but they nonetheless apply wisdom to knowledge by repenting, getting right with God, then seek the Spirituals. Here in Corinth it’s what the Congregation did, the leadership did not. The Congregation wanted to be free, but were under carnal leadership. Could they now leave? In this case the position Paul as Apostle started the church in Corinth, he remained it’s “father”, but the father was about to spank the rebellious son. This is not Paul being a dominating leader, it means they began based on God sending Paul to them so they could be saved. They heard and accepted the Gospel, were water baptized, had the Spirit, but they remained carnal even after the intensive teaching on the benefits of being Spiritual.

Paul doesn’t address himself in the Second letter as “called to be”, rather it’s “an apostle”. So, what happened? Did the boys give Paul his papers? No, this letter is one of Authority and Commandment, this is not a request. For the most part carnal Christians have a difficult time with order and government. They fail to respect the leaders over them, or they tend to usurp authority. They want to impress everyone, including themselves. There are even times when they enter witchcraft attempting to “pray down” or “pray out” leadership, so they can have their own way. Thank God Grace overlooks foolish babes, while giving honor to those who stand in faith. The Holy Ghost said, “separate unto Me”,  He never gave any of us the authority to remove a leader He has established.

Paul uses the word Comfort several times, which points back to his first letter indicating the purpose of prophecy is to learn, be corrected, then find Comfort in the restoration, but it only works if we receive the words of the prophet. We also find the word “consolation” used several times. The word Comforted is the Greek Parakaleo meaning to call to ones side, it was used to define the Comforter. The word Consolation is the Greek Paraklesis meaning an act of exhortation or encouragement toward virtue, including admonition for the purpose of strengthening a believer’s position. Both words connect to the word “Comforter”, all this goes right back to the First letter.

Paul will define the Ministry and the duties; today we hear terms such as, “ministry of healing”, or “ministry of prophetic words”, but in truth there is no mention in the Bible of a “ministry of healing”, every Born Again believer should be able to lay hands on the sick. The Ministry we all are called to is the Ministry of Reconciliation, healing, prophetic, and many other facets fit into the Ministry of Reconciliation with a focus on restoring mankind to God, the other matters are facets within the Ministry.

Paul was in the midst of a suffering, one brought about by others, yet he doesn’t say, “I was framed”; rather he counted it a joy, a means to learn more of the Lord as he gained through adverse events. The hope for Corinth was for them to learn, rather than remain ignorant (v 8). Wasn’t it the theme of the first letter? Yes, as the old saying goes, “if only they would have..”, but the evidence shows they didn’t. Does it mean they will end up in hell? Paul doesn’t think so, or he wouldn’t be writing them, rather he would send then black roses.

Paul draws back to the teaching on the Resurrection, showing it’s God Who raises the dead. Any suffering Paul did, he counted it an opportunity to apply Mercy, thereby granting him more confidence in being in the Resurrection. When God comforted him in the peril, he was able to comfort others. Like Paul we find when we seek the Precious we will also find God has delivered us, is delivering us, and will deliver us, this hope we have in Him.

The rejoicing is found in the comfort coming from Grace, not the suffering. It stands, look for the Precious to find the purpose. Counting the stripes and forgetting there are victory metals causes self-pity, holding the victory brings joy. Often we forget “we came through it’, yes we were in it, but now we are through it, God delivered us again.

We don’t want to miss the premise, it’s one thing to suffer for a wrong done, another for one not done. Paul was accused of bringing a Greek into the temple, yet we know he didn’t. It’s important to know the charge against him was in the eyes of man, thus Paul was falsely accused of one thing by man (bringing the Greek into the temple), but another by these Corinthians, not only them, but others in the various bodies as well. We already know Paul was told not to go to Jerusalem by the prophetic word, but he went anyway. His goal was not self-importance, but to see the Jews were given the opportunity to be saved. Paul could see no event left for the Rapture to take place, thus he was willing to give his place in the First Resurrection to see his Jewish brothers had opportunity. Of course we know the out come, we also know no one came to the Lord as a result of his preaching there. The problem was of course the Spirit told him not to go, and he went. Paul was a man of God, but nonetheless a man. His mistake only proves we can make mistakes, but it doesn’t mean Jesus will reject us because of them. The Corinthians did however reject Paul because of the mistake, yet he was still their father in the Lord.

The Corinthians had the first letter, now they were looking for fault to escape the responsibility. Even if they found fault, does it mean they are free of the Words of the Prophet? Not hardly, Paul never said, “”these are my commandments”, but he did say, “these are the Commandments of the Lord” (I Cor 14:37). They were so carnal they couldn’t see the test being applied. Although the main purpose may or may not have been the test, the test was nonetheless there. Are the words true? Then believe them, or reject them, regardless of the man who delivered them. We must be aware and listen, God can use the carnal to give us a word, just as He can use the Spiritual. Of course it’s somewhat harder to find the Truth in the words of the carnal, but the hunt can be exciting.

What has all this to do with the subject at hand? In reading the verses we see how God is the Comforter to Paul, thus because Paul was comforted, he was now able to comfort others. From the mistake he gained in the Lord, why then can’t the Corinthians?  Paul isn’t excusing what happened, he looked for the lesson, so he can benefit others. If the sufferings abound, then the Consolation abounds. If they think faith is mountain top to mountain top, they are mistaken. We endure sufferings by the Comfort of God in us, we learn by seeking the Precious in the event, thereby gaining in order to help others. This experience Paul went through made him a better Christian, some of his best letters came after the event in Jerusalem. Being Comforted by God will be the central theme of this letter; whether it’s taking down Strongholds, facing the self-transformed, the attacks of the carnal minded, or any number of perils, the Comfort found in the Grace of God is always sufficient.

In verse 11 we find the prayers of the Corinthians helped Paul, but why would he even consider their prayers? They are carnal, for all he knows they could be praying against him. The word “gifts” is Charis, or Grace, this has to do with the ability of Grace as the Charisma. The Grace bestowed on others is a result of the anointing, in verse 12 it’s made plain. Verse 12 shows for “conscience sake”, Paul knows what he has done, where he is at, but he also knows how the Grace of God was with him, just as God was with Joseph.

Since they presumed they found fault, they went on a “fault hunt”, thinking they came up with another. In verse 15 Paul talks about a “second benefit”, the word Benefit is the Greek Charis, which we know means Grace. This connects with verse 11, and with the verses to follow. Back in First Corinthians 4:19 Paul said, “but I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will, and will know, not the speech of them which are puffed up, but the power”. So? He said “I will come to you shortly”, thus since he didn’t, he must not be in touch with God, becoming their excuse to attack. Paul is about to address the issue, showing they forgot the wording, “if the Lord will”. Back in Acts the disciples understood, when Paul was determined to go to Jerusalem, they simply said, “the Will of the Lord be done”. It’s not only a wise saying, but it means those who say it are willing to submit and accept the will of the Lord. For all they know the will of the Lord was for Paul to go regardless of what the warnings. Like Peter gaining from the sifting of Satan, Paul gained from his experience.

Of course Paul was in custody, meaning he couldn’t visit Corinth, but to the Corinthians it didn’t matter. To them if the man was a prophet, then he would have known he would end in jail, thus his yeas were not yeas. This attack is calling Paul a hypocrite, yet Jesus said hypocrites are not to be followed. Paul then shows how his yeas were yeas when he preached before them, thus Timothy and Silas (Silvanus) were there in Paul’s place. The principal shows how Jesus may not appear before us personally, but the anointed preaching of Him being crucified places Him before us. Therefore, Paul wasn’t personally there, but he was there in the form of his representative Timothy, just as Paul in the past appeared before them as the representative of Jesus.

The Corinthians were merely seeking some excuse to reject the teachings Paul delivered to them in his last letter. After all if we reject the teacher, we can reject the teaching, right? Wrong, if God sent a person to us, even if we reject them, refuse to hear them, or run them out of our church just because we don’t like them, or like what they say, it doesn’t change the responsibility. We prayed for God to send us someone with the Truth, He did. However, we didn’t want Truth, we wanted someone to enforce our strongholds, or to exalt us. The responsibility of the Word spoken remains, even if we attempt to ignore it. The promises of God are always Yes and Amen (so be it in the faithfulness of God), from this we know God’s yeas are always yeas, although from time to time ours are not.

Verses 21 through 24 speaks of how God established Paul with the Corinthians and anointed both, thus Paul is not separated from the Body, the Corinthians can’t say, “we think he is no longer of the Body”. God Sealed the Corinthians and Paul in the same Body, they are one family in the Lord. Verse 23 connects with 13:10, here Paul calls God for a “record”, not a witness, the reason Paul didn’t come to them was to spare them, it’s not saying Paul had dominion over their faith, rather whatever he says to them is by the Spirit, designed to strengthen their faith. Even a rebuke is sent to strengthen our faith, by Paul using the plural “we”, he included Timothy. This is an area where the carnal mind views discipleship as control, or domination. They feel because Paul is instructing them, he is attempting to control them, but he assures them his instruction is to build their Faith, not control it.

II Cor 2:1-17

Although Paul wanted to come to them, it was far better to send Timothy. Paul determined not to come to them with heaviness, which means a sadness on the condition of their position. Paul then asks a rhetorical question; if the truth makes them sad, do they think the rebuke made Paul glad? No, it makes him sad as well, if they hold their Joy in the Lord, then he would hold joy as well. A carnal mind seems to get some pleasure in rebuking others, a Spiritual mind does not take pleasure in delivering a rebuke. This goes right back to 1:24, they may have been chastened, but the purpose was to save them, thus bringing Joy by the end result of their faith being strengthened.

Clearly Paul didn’t want to bring the rebuke, but it was based in love for their good (v 4). Really no leader enjoys rebuking others, but they do what the Lord tells them to. There are times we misconstrue love as pity, yet real love is concerned about the condition of the person, even if it takes a rebuke. The rebuke was not over the limit, nor did Paul dream up charges, nor did he go about looking for fault. The information came to him, he didn’t go looking for it, they were the ones who asked him questions. This is important since the heart of a Pharisee is to look for fault, much different from what we have here. The Truth can be presented, Faith can come, yet we can reject it. The righteous man and the prophet can be before us giving us Truth after Truth, yet if we don’t respect them, we will reject what they say. Neither do we wan to confuse respect with being impressed by their appearance, or personality.

Paul now talks about the man who was turned over to Satan, yet in this we find the Corinthians were attempting to set a trap. The last thing Paul wanted to do was turn this man over to Satan, but the Corinthians claimed it was the first thing. However, Paul shows the punishment was sufficient, so they forgave him, making it appear as if they had more love and compassion than Paul. We can see the carnal mind working, the Corinthians assuming “you see, Paul turned this guy over, and got turned over himself, I told you we didn’t have to listen to him”. They forgot the first letter also laid out the method of recovery for the man, it was up to them to be obedient. They may have forgiving him, but did they help him? Verse 10 shows they assumed Paul hadn’t forgiven the man, when in fact Paul forgave him before he was turned over to Satan, which is the main key element before the act can take place.

The device or scheme of Satan noted here is unforgiveness, one method would be turning someone over to Satan to seek revenge, rather than stop the leaven from entering the Body. The trap was seen by Paul through the Spirit, “let’s forgive this guy, and Paul will be stuck with his unforgiveness and we can be free of the rebuke”. The best laid plans of mice and carnal minds oft times go astray. Their thinking was carnal, still attempting to “out God” Paul. “We forgave this man, and you turned him over to Satan, we’re so much more holier than you”. By their carnal thinking they assumed they could reject all Paul told them. Typical of carnal minds, wanting to be the better than the best, more special than the special, the one and only “true church” of God.

The carnal mind works to avoid, the Spiritual mind seeks to do. The same is true today, some spend their entire life looking for fault in other members of the Body, then claim they are “defending the faith”. They are defending their thinking, not The Faith. “Well, they said Adam had wings, so we know they are false”. Perhaps they did, we know Adam didn’t, but do we toss away everything they said based one error? Hardly, but the Corinthians were. Ahh the ways of the carnal mind, find fault in one area, to avoid the call of the Holy Ghost in another. It’s exactly what we are seeing here, some of the Corinthians wanted to reject what Paul said, so they looked for error or fault in another area. As they attack Paul, he seems to find more Grace in Jesus, Grace is sufficient.

In verse 7 we again find the word Comfort, we also see forgiveness and comfort run hand in hand. Verse 8 shows the entire matter was a test for the Corinthians. If they truly loved the man whom Paul turned over to Satan they would work to see him restored. If not, they would leave him turned over for the destruction of his flesh, or use him to attack Paul’s words. Paul showed more love for the man and the Body by turning the man over to Satan, then the Corinthians did condoning the man’s fornication.

Here in verse 8 the Lord turns the tables, as He often does. The Corinthian leaders felt, “we got Paul now, he says he has forgiven, but we did it first”, but then they found Paul forgave the man before the man was turned over, thus the forgiveness was mandatory before the act could take place, something the Corinthians failed to discern. The carnal mind sees the act of turning the man over as punishment, Paul saw it as a means of exposure, unto correction to gain restoration.

This is all very interesting, it shows failure is not always the fault of the leader. Paul began this church, he lived among them for a considerable amount of time, he gave them many things, yet now they attack and reject all he told them. How did they gain the knowledge of Christ? By Paul, they had many teachers, but not many fathers.

The question now is, Did they want Truth? Or did they want to keep the old nature so could play at religion? Ahh, the mystery, Faith came, but carnal thinking rejected it. Was it Paul’s fault? Hardly, we can’t blame our covering for our own unbelief.

Obstacles happen, things happen, Paul reminds them how he found the door open for him to go to Troas, yet he couldn’t find Titus, but it didn’t stop him from preaching the Gospel. Just because Titus wasn’t there, when Paul expected him, didn’t mean God didn’t know where Titus was, thus Paul did as he was suppose to, yet he didn’t accuse Titus for not being there. He is not saying forget your yeas, rather he is saying Hear God and obey, even if you have to discount a yea or a nay. James tells us we don’t know what lays ahead, it’s best to say “if the Lord wills”, rather than make promises we can’t determine to keep (James was also written around 60 AD).

Regardless of the mistake, if we obey the Lord, we will Triumph in Christ. Whether the people we are sent to receive us or not, we know to them who are saved by the Gospel it’s unto life, to them who reject it, it’s unto death, but at least we obeyed and preached the Gospel in love. We didn’t corrupt the Word of God, we brought it sincerity, we spoke it as if God Himself was watching every word and deed.

Paul ends this chapter with a Mizpah; may God watch over you when I can’t (Gen 31:45-49). How easy it would have been to react with “hello you carnal jerks, this is Paul, you’re toast, may God give unto you, the same trash you’re trying to put on me, see ya, Paul”; however, when God’s Grace moves, His love also abides as Mercy flows. The Corinthians, regardless of how carnal, were still members of the Body, Paul couldn’t say because they were not the Hand, they were not of the Body. The approach for Paul has to speak by the living waters in the face of adversity. If not he might find himself striking the Rock, something he truly doesn’t want to do. The carnal mind is bent on destruction to exalt itself, the Spiritual is determined to see restoration.

The last four verses not only reflect the victory in Paul’s life, it’s a promise to the Corinthians. First we find “thanks”, the word Thanks in verse 14 is Charis, which we know as Grace. Whether we like the words of Truth or not, let Grace be unto God, but wait, Paul made a mistake here. Poor Paul, doesn’t he know God is a personage, why would he say “which always causes us to triumph in Christ”? Because the subject is Grace, centered “In Christ” (v. 14). Grace then connects to “making manifest the savor of His knowledge by us in every place”. By Us? Oh the rebuke again. Further we find the “we” again in verse 15, if we are in Grace several things are firm, we will triumph in Christ regardless of the event; the knowledge of God will manifest, we are unto God a sweet savor “of” Christ, “in them” who are saved (Sozo), as well as in those who perish. Both groups? How can this be? To the one we are a Savor of death, unto death, to the other the Savor of Life unto Life. The Cross has two sides, Salvation is first presented in the Day, then judgment in the Night. The division is between those who are saved (Sozo), and those who are not. Which group did the Corinthians belong? Which did they act like they belonged to?

The word Savor in verse 14 is the Greek Osme meaning a smell, as in a sacrifice, but the word Savor in verse 15 is the Greek Euodia meaning a Sweet smell, or one pleasing to God. The smell of his Knowledge is good, but the smell of the servant who walks in knowledge better. In verse 16 the word Savor in both cases is the Greek Osme, pointing back to Knowledge. To those who are saved the Knowledge is received, to those who perish it is not, yet it’s presented through the Gospel to all.

The Few and the Many are evident again, there were some who corrupted the Word of God, this doesn’t mean they misused the Bible, it means they misused the preaching regarding Jesus. The Few, of whom Paul included himself know they are in the Sight of God and in Christ, so they speak the Truth in Love.

II Cor 3:1-18

This chapter begins by talking about “other” letters, not all sent by Paul, rather they were letters of “condemnation” sent by others to the Corinthians, as well as some from them. Did Paul write letters? Yes, this is one of them, yet he tells them they are the epistle (v. 2). If the epistle is written on the heart, then the heart will determine what type of epistle they hold. If the heart is hard, then the epistle will reflect the hardness, if the heart is soft, then it will reflect the softness.

Verse 4 brings the confidence of Paul together, showing his confidence is not in the Corinthians, but in God. The Corinthians are in the Body, they belong to God, they moved from darkness to the Light, but were keeping the Ways of darkness as their guide.

Later Paul will say Grace is Sufficient, here he uses the words Sufficient and Sufficiency, do they connect? We’ll have to see, we saw the word Sufficient in 2:6, 2:16, and here in 3:5, in all three cases it’s the Greek Hikanos meaning Enough, or more than is required to complete the task at hand. We also see the word Sufficiency in verse 5 which is the Greek Kikanotes relating to Hidanos, it means Able, as in able to stand. We could  read verse 5 as, “Not that we are enough of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves, but our Ability is of God”. Now we move to 12:9 to the phrase “Grace is Sufficient”, where we find a different Greek word, Arkeo meaning To satisfy, or to be strong, able to assist someone, it carries with it the thought of Comfort or Contentment. This all connects, we will find God’s Comfort is found in His Grace, which is the protector keeping the intent of the adversity from invading our souls. The attack may strike our flesh, but there is no reason for it to hit our souls.

In the last letter Paul talked about the glory of the earthly and the glory of the heavenly, now he will expand the premise for the Corinthians. One can think a correction is condemnation and miss the point; others assume it’s condemnation as they retaliate, missing the point, by placing their selves deeper into despair. The Corinthians sent letters of condemnation to Paul in response to his letter of correction, one could make the mistake of assuming since everything produces after is own kind they were right in so doing. However, the facts for their condemnation were produced from their own envy and carnal minds, but Paul’s letter was by the Holy Ghost. Instead of edifying they entered self-justification, or retaliation unto destruction, much different.

The real answer is found in the epistle written on our heart. Ahh, Paul wrote from the heart, the Corinthians from their carnal minds. There is a Godly epistle written on our souls by the New Man, but the Corinthians were the Epistle, thus as they projected the source of their Epistle by their actions as if they were reading the Epistle out loud.

Verse 3 doesn’t avoid the Corinthian problem, but it does show they have all it takes to correct the situation. They are “manifestly declared” which is the Greek Pheneroo meaning to make known what was unknown. One could say, “yeah it’s right, they had a mask of holiness, but they were carnal, and it shows”: however, it’s not what Paul is saying. He continues with “to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us”, which changes the concept. It was not “you are the epistle of Christ”, rather it was “to be the epistle”, showing the hope of Paul for a change to take place in the Corinthians from their carnal Epistle, to the Epistle of Christ by the Spirit in them. They had two Epistles, one of the Spirit, which they were ignoring, and one based on their carnal nature, which they were using.

In the last letter Paul gave Commandment, here he is showing it was not some human endeavor, rather than written on stones, they are written on their hearts by the Spirit (v. 3). It’s the Epistle he desired to see, rather than the one he did see. Verse 4 shows the trust Paul has in God; knowing God is fully able to bring to pass in the Corinthians what the Gospel promises. Paul does not assume for a second he is able to bring it to pass, but rather his confidence and sufficiency is of God (v. 5).

Verse 6 is often quoted, for the Letter kills, the Spirit gives Life, but it must be taken in the context with the rest of this letter. Rather than write letters in pen and ink, or on stone as Commandments, the Corinthians are Sealed by the Holy Spirit, the purpose of the Spirit is Life. What then is the Letter? The Letter of the Law is unto judgment, the Spirit unto Life. Paul desired for them to turn toward the Spirit, their New Heart, rather than force others to write letters. Paul’s last letter laid the pathway to the Spiritual, did they walk it? Or reject it? Their words will tell the tale.

The Law of Moses pointed out sin, condemned the doer, invoked death as the penalty, the Corinthians were forcing God to impose a Law based on carnal ordinances. How do we know he is speaking of the Law of Moses? Soon Paul talks about the “veil” which hid the glory from the children in the wilderness, the same veil is still in place when the Law of Moses is read. Is the Law of Moses evil? No, not at all, but it’s designed to point out sin, thus it became the law of sin and death by definition. Remember, it’s not who wrote the law, but to whom the law was written.

Verses 6 and 7 also display how we are free of the Law of Moses by the Spirit, not by simply saying we are Christian. It’s the entire point, they had the Spirit, but they were carnal. Being carnal put them under the Law, yet it was unto death. Walking with the Spirit was unto Life.

God made Paul and the others with him “able” ministers of the New Testament, yet we know he was a scholar of the Old. Wait, being a scholar, doesn’t mean one is a minister. The word Able is the Greek Hikanoo meaning To make sufficient. The word Ministers is the Greek Diakonos often translated as Deacon, or a Servant. What happened? Isn’t Paul an Apostle anymore? Yes he is, it’s not the context here, rather we find Paul is a Servant or Helper (Deacon) of the New Testament, but he is also an Apostle of Jesus Christ. Paul, or any Spirit filled leader isn’t going to minister the Letter of the Law, they minister by the Spirit.

The “ministration” of the Law of Moses was death, it’s foundation was written on stones, yet because it was from God it was “glorious” (v. 7). When Moses received the Law his face did shine as a result of the glory, but the children could not “steadfastly behold” the face of Moses, “which glory was to be done away with”. The face of Moses did shine, but only for a period of time, it soon returned back to flesh. Did it mean the glory of God vanished? No, it means the Letter of the Law fades, it was never intended to save, or produce Life, but it was intended to point out, and define sin.

The New Testament is much different, it gives us the Glory of God within, it doesn’t fade (Rom 8:18). If the ministration of the condemnation is a glory, how much more is the glory of the Righteousness of God? In these verses we see the word Ministration several times, so do we find different Greek words? No, they are all the Greek Diakonia, meaning a service, or better executing the commands of others. Therein lays the difference, the Corinthians being carnal looking at the “letter”, they could never see behind the visible. The Spirit gives leeway, the Letter does not.

Verses 10 and 12 show how a Greater Glory replaces a lesser Glory, even if both came from God. If what Remains is a Glory, then it must be greater than the faded Glory. With Moses the glory was external, it was a covering obtained by the experience, but the Glory of the Righteousness of God is internal. The Children couldn’t bear the lesser glory on the face of Moses, because of their unbelief. They put a “veil” over the glory because it frightened them. They could not see the purpose, or source of the glory.

The Law of Moses is good, it came from God, how could it not be good? However, the Law of the Spirit is far better, it removes Veils, it never places them before us. We know of the Veil between the holy place and the holy of holies was a separating element, but here the Veil points to the one Moses wore. As we found, the glory was kept from the people, because the people desired it. Clearly the Holy Ghost had Paul use this allegory of the veil to connect back to verse 2:16, thus when the people are veiled it’s unto death, yet by the Spirit they are free, holding the Glory within.

Each time the Old is read by the children of Moses, the Veil is placed in force hiding the glory, each time we use carnal thinking, the veil of self becomes enforced; however, if they, or we, turn to the Lord the Veil can be removed, for the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Lord is, so is Liberty. The Liberty of the Lord is found in the Spirit giving us the Way to enter the Most Holy Place by the Blood of Jesus (v. 17). Therein lays the difference between the Letter and the Spirit, the Letter doesn’t bring Liberty, it brings condemnation, then death, but the Spirit brings Liberty. What one element binds us to the Letter? Unbelief, for the unbelief of the children kept them from the glory. A legalist uses the Letter on others, not their self, making them a hypocrite. In this area it depends on which one they attach themselves to by their thinking and attitudes. They may claim to be New Testament, but they are using the same letter of condemnation unto death the Law does,  thereby placing themselves under the Law by association.

This chapter concludes with a growth process, from glory to glory, meaning the Law had a glory which frightened the people, but the Spirit has a Glory saving us. Verse 18 has several words of importance, the wording “are changed” is the Greek Metamorphoo which we found in reference to the Mount of Transfiguration. This change brings the Glory from within to the surface, Paul assures us this Change is by the Spirit of the Lord. What hinders the change? Carnal thinking, based in unbelief, or natural reasoning.

The phrase “we all, with open face beholding” goes right back to the veil. If we don’t have the Veil then we are Open faced, we’re ready to see the glory of the Lord. However, if we hold to the veil then we won’t be able to look upon the Glory, we would then fit the “could not steadfastly look to the end” group (v. 3:13). Since our Glory is within, it stands if we retain the Letter and the Veil, we make ourselves unable to hold to the Spirit.

Sounds bad for the Corinthians doesn’t it? Not so, the next chapter is the primer, it takes us into an area where we never give up. There is a Comfort in Sufficiently.

II Cor 4:1-18

Paul begins by saying “seeing” we have this ministry, we are not centered on condemnation, what are we centered in? Mercy? Wait, what happened to “Grace unto God”? It’s still there, but Mercy unto Restoration is the issue here. All this still connects to the man being forgiven, as the Corinthians were saying, “See Paul, we forgave him”, which was good, but did they also forgive Paul? Ah, it’s the point, isn’t it? Even if Paul made a mistake, why do they forgive one of their own, but not Paul? Especially if both are in the same Body? They were attempting to prove Paul a hypocrite, but in the process they proved they were. The Ministry here is one Ministry, which Paul will soon define.

The Ministry in this case is based in Mercy as it refuses to impute sin on others, it seeks to forgive and restore. Paul is not imputing sin on the Corinthians, why are they attempting to impute sin on him?

The Ministry and Mercy don’t ignore sin, rather they deal with it in the hope of the person being free. Paul didn’t hide from the exposure, he renounced the hidden things of “dishonesty”. Now the exposure for the Corinthians, he didn’t walk in “craftiness”, or handle the Word of God “deceitfully”, giving us words of importance as clues to how the Corinthian carnal mind operates. Dishonesty, Craftiness, and Deceitfully, the three sisters of deception based in carnal thinking. Dishonesty is the Greek Aischune meaning the confusion of one who is ashamed. This would mean someone who is exposed, yet they allow the shame to overcome them, rather than Rejoice. If shame rules, they will retaliate with dishonesty, which usually includes falsely accusing the person who brought the exposure. Craftiness is the Greek Panourgia meaning false wisdom, or cunning, or better subtlety (difficult to detect, a hidden agenda, a hidden plan or trap). Deceitfully is the Greek Doloo meaning to ensnare, it would connect to “those who lie in wait to deceive” (Eph 4:14). The carnal mind still thinks along the lines of the spirit of man, the evidence is the Corinthian carnal mindset.

Verse 4 could be taken out of context, the phrase “god of this world” in the original text reads, “God of this world”, the Greek word “god” is Theos meaning a deity, or power, but between verse 3 and 4 we find two groups. In verse 3 it’s the lost, but the Gospel is “hid” from them, yet it’s God Who puts them in a type of slumber, but in verse 4 it’s the blinded minds of those who believe not. However, the key is found in the little words, in verse 3 Paul does not say the Gospel is hid, only “if” it is, which changes the context. The word Lost is the root word meaning Death, or Destruction as in Perdition. This would mean the vessels of dishonor being formed as such, if God hid the Gospel, it’s because they didn’t want to face it.

There are more groups fitting the “slumber” area, the Remnant yet to come is one, we know of some who hear the Gospel over and over, yet show no interest, but then one day the Cross lays on them, they are no longer blinded. Also back in verse 3:16 even if they are blinded, they can turn to the Lord, having the veil removed. There are some things to consider to narrow this “god” down, the veil was the result of something. The Gospel accounts showed us how the devil can’t stop a devil possessed person from running to Jesus. If the “god of this world” is the devil, it would mean the devil on his own can stop anyone from gaining the Gospel, which would negate the “whosoever”, as well as negate the Power of the Gospel. The context in verse 4 shows the “god of this world” has blinded minds, but back in 3:14 it was the Veil blinding the people, the Veil was something the children desired to separate them from the glory on Moses, yet Moses is the namesake for the Law. The Veil as Paul shows is established every time there is a reading of the Old Covenant; therefore, the Veil separated the people from the Glory, and still does. The Law of Moses is good, but the Law of the Spirit is the place where Liberty and Salvation are found. This has to give us a clue, the Law of Moses is a Power, it has Authority to bless or curse, it’s a principality, yet it’s from God. The Law becomes the very “books” opened at Judgment for those who use the Law. If the Law can Judge, if the principality for the Law is the world, then this “god” represents God, yet it’s the representation pointing to sin and death. The “god” of this world is not the God of heaven, but it nonetheless came from God. Therefore, the “god of this world” is the Law of Moses, Paul just said the Veil is in place when the Law is read, thus it blinds the self-righteous from the Righteousness of God. Could God do that? Nay, it’s based on the people. The Corinthians received the Gospel, they are not blinded, they have no excuse.

This also relates to the other references, such as Romans 11:7 and 11:25, which shows there is a blindness to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles is complete. in John 12:38-42 Jesus quoted Isaiah by saying, “the saying of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke, Lord who has believed our report: and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? Therefore they could not believe, because Isaiah said again, He has blinded their eyes, and hardened their hearts; so they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted and I should heal them”. Here it’s God who blinded them for a purpose, but how? The Law, the people placed the Law between them and God, by their own request and desire. The Night has the Law and Prophets as Witnesses dressed in sackclothe (repentance), rather than shinning as the Glory.

In verse 6 we see, “for God, who commanded the Light”, the word God there is the same Greek word for god in verse 4.The Law of Moses is from God, the Law is a power, it does judge in God’s place. The Law of Moses represents God to the people of God, yet it also separates them from God, but nonetheless it represents God. Anyone who represents God is termed a “god”, as Moses was a god to Pharaoh, of course there is Psalm 82 proving the point. The entire matter is how Paul separated these groups, yet left no means to tell one from the other. The purpose tells us we don’t know who is blinded by God, blinded by their own unbelief, blinded by the veil, or has refused to hear the Gospel. We cast the net, we don’t pick through it.

The context for the Corinthians, and us refers to the failure to continue to believe after we enter the Body. The person has power over the veil, they can turn to the Lord, thus the veil isn’t a god, it’s the result of not being able to look upon the Glory. The Law itself is a god, it holds the Letter, not the Spirit. To the Corinthians the Gospel is not hid, even “if” it was, it’s because they made the choice to ignore it, not God’s fault.

Verse 5 points back to the “servants”, showing how Paul didn’t preach himself, or talk about his great faith, rather he pointed to the Lord Christ Jesus. He also made himself a servant of the Corinthians for the sake of Jesus, not theirs. This connects to the prior statements, Paul didn’t attempt to establish another veil, yet the Corinthians placed a Yoke and Veil between their Head and God. Paul was a servant to the Corinthians for the sake of Jesus, not for their sake. They didn’t own him, he was not their employee, he served the Lord, part of the service was to serve the Corinthians.

The word “God” in verse 6 is the same Greek word found in verse 4, we know the devil can do nothing unless he is given place, either by God or us. The Glory and the Light are connected here, the Glory and Light are found in the heart of the one who is Born Again, they are the ones with the Epistle of Christ written on their hearts, they are the ones who follow the Spirit, rather than having to have the “letter” guide them. The “letter” is for those who lack a Godly conscience, they must be told not to steal, or not to trip a blind person, but one who has the Spirit has the conscience of God, they follow the Spirit.

Verses 7 and following enforce the calling on Paul, he has a confidence, he has sufficiency in his earthen vessel, by the Excellency of the Dunamis is of God, not of man. By having the Spirit which is of God in him he faced trouble, yet was not distressed; he even became perplexed, but not in despair; was persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; always bearing about the Body in dying toward the Lord Jesus, as he died daily, so the Life which is also of Jesus might be made manifest.

Verse 12 might seem strange in light of Galatians 2:20, but in context with this letter it makes sense, the Corinthians claimed Paul was no longer of life, but even if it was the case, he carried the Death of Jesus, so they could have Life. Paul believed in the Gospel, as he believed he spoke; on the same note the Corinthians failed to believe, as they spoke from their unbelief. Yet, since they are in the Body, Paul shows they may not accept Paul now, but he and they will nonetheless be presented to the throne of God.

Verse 16 shows the “dying” of Paul doesn’t mean he lacked life, rather the process is the death of the flesh, yet day by day the Inward Man is “renewed”. The word renewed is the Greek Anakinoo in this context it points to a New vigor, it doesn’t mean Paul was Born Again, and Again, and Again, or saved everyday. Paul imputed the flesh dead daily, so he could be renewed daily, the reward was the daily Vigor coming from the New Man, glory to glory, growth to growth.

The Corinthians were looking at the things seen, they could not see the unknown, yet Paul was looking forward to the things which are not seen, things eternal, which is the Vigor of “inward man”. The things seen are temporal, including the flesh (v. 18). How can Paul deal with this? God’s Wisdom, an attribute of God’s Wisdom is “full of Mercy” (James 3:17).

II Cor 5:1-21

The context changes slightly from the earthen vessel of the body of flesh, to the earthly house of this Tabernacle, yet both mean what houses the real us. Paul wasn’t the Temple, but the Corinthians were.

The phrase “not made with hands” in verse one is a direct reference to Genesis, as God “formed” the flesh of man of the earth, but it wasn’t the real person, it was merely a tent to hold the real person. Our souls are created, they are the result of the breath of God, the soul is the real us. Our Resurrected Body is not formed, it’s created as well, washed in the Blood of the Lamb. Wait, hold it, stand fast isn’t the New Man a creation as well? Yes, sort of, the Greek word can mean Formed or Created, but in the sense of a New Creature it would mean the New Man has made us the New Creature. The New Man is the Spirit, thus once the Spirit enters we are in the Birthing Process, bringing to pass that Born of the Spirit is Spirit. Our souls joined to the flesh becoming natural, carnal or fleshly, but joined to the Spirit they become Spirit in nature. The New Man is the Glory within, when we accepted the Seed we also agreed to submit to the New Man so we could become Spiritual. Another aspect of the Communion Table, are we holding to our part of the agreement? If not the Table is a great place to repent and get it right.

Carnal minded people have a tendency to demand control, even control over the Spiritual aspects of God. So it was with the Corinthians, instead of joining the soul to the New Man, they wanted the New Man to become carnal.

In verse 6 we find the context begins to take on a new course, instead of talking about the body of flesh, the context shifts to the Body of Christ. We must keep the two separate, or we will assume Paul was at home in his flesh. The Groaning is the same as noted in Romans 8, it can’t be uttered, it’s purposed toward growth by the travailing, which brings the promise of Glory revealed. We are burdened with the flesh, but thanks be to God we don’t war after the flesh, rather we join with the Spirit by imputing the flesh dead. If we walk by the Spirit we will win, but if we attempt to us the soul alone to war against the flesh, we will end a legalist, or become twice the sinner we were.

God has given us His Spirit to complete the effort, rather than trusting in our works to complete the effort. To be At Home In The Body is not at home in the flesh, it’s at Home in the Body of Christ. We are the Bread, we gave up our “earthly” position by imputing death on the Cross, to obtain the Body of Christ. We are the Tabernacle, not the Temple of God: to assume our flesh is the Tabernacle is error, to desire to remain the Temple is a greater error, the Spirit imputes the flesh dead based on our vow to impute the flesh dead, thus if we assume our flesh is the Tabernacle we have become the Temple of death.

When we leave this earth as the Church, we will enter heaven as the Bride, the Bride made Herself ready by allowing the Spirit to clean her through the Blood. As God gave the first Adam an Eve from Adam’s body, so it is with the Second Adam. The time will come when we put off this tabernacle to put on the Glory of the Lord as His Bride.

How do we know this has changed context? Paul included the “we”, rather than “me”, we are Confident in the Body of Christ, yet more than willing to be absent from the Body, and to be present with the Lord. This verse was a hammer to the stronghold of the Corinthians. Not only is Paul saying he will make it, but he is also saying Grace is sufficient. If we are absent from the Body, it would be either we are dead in Christ or the Body is Broken, which means we are caught away, thus the day will come when Paul and we will be with the Lord forever more.

We walk by faith, those who do the Law of Moses walk by the flesh, since the Law of Moses concentrated on the flesh by the Letter; whereas faith is by the Spirit. Whether we are present in the Body of Christ, or face to face with the Lord, the intent is the same, to be accepted of Him.

Anyone who doesn’t know the Terror of the Lord lacks a Godly fear of God, thus God can take the same lump and make it a vessel of dishonor or a vessel of honor, we work out our own salvation by fear and trembling. The “judgment seat of God” is found in two places, the Table of the Lord, and on the last day, which one we end up in front of depends on us. If we Judge ourselves, we Shall not be condemned (judged) with the world. Ahh, back to the Communion Table. The Corinthians rejected Paul’s first letter, yet the letter held all the hope they needed to gain a Spiritual confidence in their calling.

Paul was in jail, yet he asked the Corinthians to take joy in his tribulation, by giving God the glory. This is warfare as Paul knew it, the Corinthians were seeking to place blame, Paul tells them give God the glory. What does it sound like? If I cast out devils by the finger of God, give God the glory, if Satan does, give God the glory. The carnal mind gives everything and everyone the glory, yet often fails to give God the glory.

The Love of God keeps us from taking the Glory for something God has done, or turn it into a bragging session. If we in fact have the Life of Christ, then we no longer live for ourselves, but for Him who gave us Life. This is an area some ignore, it’s the area the Corinthians were ignoring. Jesus died for us, we are expected to die for Him. Why? A Bride gives all for her husband, a slave knows who the master is, yet a self-based, in it for the self-pleasure person doesn’t care about the needs of others. Judas could care less what they did to Jesus, as long as it provided him what he wanted.

There was a time when we were Babes where we wanted the flesh under control, just to have the outward sign to show others we were Christian. The time changed when we found the change begins on the inside, as the change metamorphose to the outside. There are times of growing, a time to know flesh and blood will not inherit the Kingdom. Verse 15 lays it out as plain as it gets, when we came to the Lord we were still listening to the old man, but the time came when we turned our ears to Rhema hearing to gain Faith. We began to see Jesus more clearly, anyone who has Seen Jesus is no longer impressed by humans, rather they have a deep, unmovable love for the Lord.

A New Creature is not a recreation, but New, the Creature is the result of the New Man forming our souls into the image of Christ. There comes a time when we make the Stand and simply said “no”, we have imputed the flesh dead, we refuse to use the deeds of self, we will not allow anger to speak or act for us; above all, we decided to allow the New Man to make our souls Spirit. We knew to die for Jesus was far better than to seek gain. There are some who will kill over their traditions, but they won’t die for Jesus.

Paul now opens the context of the Ministry of Reconciliation: it’s our job to reconcile people to God, but the means is not accusing them of sin, but like God did for us, we do not impute sins on others. The second we accuse someone of sin, we ourselves are accused and found guilty. If it’s the case what about the man who was living with his father’s wife? Paul forgive the man, before he was turned over, thus the Ministry did apply. However, the Corinthians imputed sin on Paul.

We are Ambassadors, an Ambassador must act like the government who sent us.  A spy looks like the people in the land they are spying on, an Ambassador appears like the people in the land they represent. Jesus was made sin for us, so we might be made the Righteousness of God in Jesus, thus while in the Body of Christ we have no right to accuse anyone of sin, regardless of who they are, if there is any accusing to be done, Jesus will do it with prophecy, not with carnal tongues of condemnation. Pointing out sin, and accusing someone is different. Jesus told the Pharisees they would die in their sins, but He also provided a means of escape. Mercy and Reconciliation see the sin, but the intent is still Reconciliation, not condemnation. As long as we know there is an escape, we must provide the escape.

The word Reconciliation is the Greek Katallage meaning a change in positions, which causes a change in conditions. The change is provided by Kata (from a higher place to a lower one), it involves Allasso meaning To change. Since this is process, Paul also knows growth is involved, each step is another one closer to seeing the Glory in us being revealed. The wording “faint not” means Not unfortunate, usually it points to one who will not lose heart, or have a shaky heart, meaning one is steadfast in the faith.

We already know what the word Reconcile means, but look at the word “impute”, didn’t we see it in Romans? Yes, in Romans it was to impute the old man dead, as well as God not imputing sin on us. Here it’s the same, if we impute sins on others, then our sins are imputed back on us. It doesn’t mean “go ahead and sin I won’t impute it on you”, rather it means there is a method of reconciliation unto God, one wherein Jesus paid the price. A means wherein we can enter into the Body in order to be a Born Again child of the Living God, to be made free of sin. God in Christ reconciled the world unto Himself, we are the Body of Christ. Whether the world receives it or not is up to them. The Plan is for all to come to the saving knowledge of the Gospel. One element we can hold to during those times when the enemy brings up our past is the Truth of ALL things are New in the New Man. God is not going to impute sin on us, how can He if He has forgiven us?

Paul reached out to reconcile the Corinthians, now they were attempting to impute sin on him. Where is their reconciliation? Where is their hand? Is it reaching out? Where is there Mercy? Carnal minded people seldom think about Mercy unless it benefits them. They seldom think about anything unless they can get something in return, glory, honor,  something to enhance their self, if they don’t get something in return, it’s not worth the effort; of course it’s the way of the self nature isn’t it?

II Cor 6:1-18

This chapter shows the Comforter stood with Paul, as well as explaining why it was important for the Corinthians to come to the Table of the Lord to be healed. They were attacking Paul, but he shows they and he were workers together, yet there is an interesting statement, “you receive not the Grace of God in vain” (v. 1). Jude tells us some twist the Grace of our God into Lasciviousness (Jude 4). The word Vain is the Greek Kenos meaning Without a gift, or empty handed. Grace is the means, yet here he shows in their present state they are in danger of losing Grace. The same context as we find in Hebrews 12:15 as well as in Galatians 5:4. So where is our confidence? In the Spirit, not in our abilities or lack thereof. As long as we are at least attempting to walk in the Spirit, we’re in good shape. The Corinthians were failing to make an attempt to walk in the Spirit, yet they had the Spirit.

Did they have to Remain carnal? Of course not, Now is the Acceptable Day of Salvation (v. 2). This is again a “we” and “them” situation, Paul wasn’t going to put forth anything causing the Ministry of Reconciliation to be blamed. What blame? A failure to reconcile; Paul being a fellow worker with God in the Ministry of Reconciliation, begs them to walk in the Liberty of the Spirit, not the Letter of the Law. The connection between Mercy and Grace is being established, the Corinthians were unequal, they wanted all the Acts, but rejected walking in Mercy.

The phrase “in a time accepted” points to the Jubilee, a time when the wrongs were forgiven, and things were restored. In our case we surely don’t want the old nature restored, but we do want to be forgiven (v. 2). The Jubilee was a two-edged sword, it sounds great to have your goods restored, but the other side is restoring all you received as well. It best to be Restored unto God through the ministry of Reconciliation.

Verses 3 and 4 are joined by a conjunction, thus walking in the Grace of God will keep the ministry of Reconciliation from having an offense laid against it. Rather in all things approving us as the ministers of God in Grace, with much patience. The word Approving is the Greek Sunistao meaning To put together, linking it to the Ministry of Reconciliation.

The affliction, necessities and distresses were all marks of Paul’s sufferings, but he didn’t count them as his glory, rather it was By knowledge, longsuffering, kindness, the Holy Ghost, love unfeigned, the Word of Truth, the Power of God, the Armor of Righteousness on the right and on the left, all things found in Grace (vs. 5-7).

Then he shows the division of those who received, and those who didn’t, as he speaks of honor and dishonor, by evil report, as deceivers, yet true (which was the accusation of Corinth), as unknown to some, but well known to others, as dying, yet living, as chastened and not killed, as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing, as poor, but making many rich, as having nothing, yet possessing all things, it all depends if one is looking for the Precious or the vile. All these things did happen, but between them and Paul stood the Comfort of God. Did the Corinthians have Comfort? No, they were yet carnal.

We have a series of things “in”, then some “by” then some “as”, each shows the power of the Comforter (Holy Ghost – Jn 14:26). When the Comforter is with us we will stand by faith in the adverse situation, He will be By us in pureness, knowledge, kindness, and longsuffering. By love unfeigned, by the Word of Truth, by the Power of God, and the armor of righteousness. We have a report with God, but man’s report is always mixed. So it was with Paul, on one hand it was by honor, on the other dishonor, and so on. All these show how natural fallen man views the people of God, yet for those in Life they see us as Life, to those in death, they see us as a threat.

This also shows the Corinthians may have had the Spirit, they may have been water baptized into the Body, but they had yet to die for Jesus in order to Live for Him. Who brought them into the Body? Paul’s intellect? No, great preaching? No, the Spirit  of God drew them by the words Paul spoke, but it was nonetheless God. They accepted the call by receiving the Spirit which is of God, but they were failing to fulfill their commitment to become Spiritual.

We tend to think once someone accepts Jesus they are automatically Born Again, or crucified with Christ, this letter proves it’s a process not some automatic one prayer, one day venture. The Corinthians had the Spirit, but they were not Born Again. They couldn’t see, nor could they enter into the things of God (I Cor 2:7-3:3).

Paul now reaches out to the Corinthians the more, yet not Paul alone, rather all the saints reach out. They all have an open heart, one of forgiveness, in which they refuse to lay any fault against the Corinthians. The word Straitened in verse 12 means To crowd, or To be constrained, or Unable to express oneself, thus the context shows Paul wants them to be open, but open in love, whereas he would reserve his feelings. They sent words of condemnation, but Paul is not about to allow his mouth to speak beyond the Unction of the Lord. It’s one thing to say what we want at the moment, another to wait on the Lord to determine if it should be said. Neither is Paul going to allow his personal feelings to interfere with the Ministry of Reconciliation, it’s more important to receive a brother, than end in some form of self-justification, or camel swallowing contest.

They had many teachers, but not many fathers, Paul will speak as a father to a child. Prior in First Corinthians Paul noted how he had to speak to them as if they were Babes, here it’s children. The word for Children in verse 13 is the Greek Teknon which refers more to a teen, often this word was used to describe a disciple in the first forms of training.

The evidence indicated to Paul not all the Corinthians were rebellious, rather there were those who received his words. Titus visited Corinth prior to this letter, later in 8:17 we find Titus was exhorted toward the Corinthians as Paul was.

Back in First Corinthians we found if the unbelieving mate goes, let them, we are not under bondage in such cases. Here it’s close association with unbelievers, as Paul uses the word “Yoke”. There are different types of Yokes, but they all have the same premise of joining one to another. The term Unbeliever is not limited to the heathen, it means anyone who fails to believe. The term “unequally yoked together” is the one Greek word Heterozugeo meaning to join to one who is unequal. In this case it goes further than simply making friends with unbelievers, this will connect to, “For such are false apostles” (v 11:13-15). An uneven Yoke would be a mouse on one side, and a bull on the other.

In verse 14 we find the word Fellowship, which is the Greek Metoche meaning close companionship. This is different from the word Communion used in this verse, which is the Greek word Koinonia a word used for the English word Communion. This goes right back to mixing cups, but in this case it’s not at the table, it’s fellowshipping with those who are unrighteous, or still walk in darkness. Verses 14 through 16 give us the opposites, if we have Christ in us, why would we want to mix with Belial? What agreement could they have? Or better what do the two have in common? What common ground allows them to communicate? What does Light have in common with darkness? What does the Spirit of God have in common with the spirit of man? Or what does the Spirit which is of God have in common with the spirit of the world? There is no common ground, no place of communication, no place for fellowship. If one likes to fellowship with those in darkness, they lack the Light.

In the Book of Revelation God tells His children “come out of her, be not a partaker of her sins” (Rev 18:4), here Paul tells the Corinthians “come out from among them, and be you separate says the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing, and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and you shall be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty”. Paul quotes several Old Testament areas to make the point; don’t play in the devil’s sandbox, you may find yourself in quicksand. This is more than a causal association one would have in the workplace, or even with unbelievers in their own family, this is the attempt to make the unbeliever a companion in fellowship. Being kind, and having fellowship are different.

II Cor 7:1-16

Paul is not out to justify himself, he is making a plea for the Corinthians to think about what they are saying and doing. The Corinthian mindset is a dangerous one, they felt since they were water baptized and had the Spirit, it was all they required, yet they were falling into the iniquity.

The reference here to “spirit” takes us back to “the spirit of man”, in this case it means to disassociate from the use of the deeds of the spirit of man. This doesn’t mean to Clean the New Man, he doesn’t need cleaning, we do. Putting their mind on the flesh was polluting the soul, causing the soul to bring unrighteousness against the Spirit.

They had the Righteousness of God by the Spirit; they were making Righteousness Unrighteous, but the escape was also present, “let us clean ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh, and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God”. This connects the flesh to the spirit of man, taking them back to First Corinthians 2:11-12. James tells us to lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness and receive with meekness the Engrafted Word which is able to save our souls (James 1:21). If the Seed of God is of God, based in God’s True Holiness and Righteousness, surely we’re not going to find any “filthiness” in the New Man!

How were they to do this? Another work of the flesh? No, continue to use the deeds of the spirit of man? No, submit to the Spirit which is of God by placing their minds on the things of the Spirit. This is not a case of lacking the Spirit, they had the Spirit, but refused to put their minds on Spiritual matters. Prior Paul showed the Manifestation of the Spirit was one Spirit, but here we find a mystery, as the spirit of man, as the spirit lusting to envy are one evil entity, later identified as the spirit of disobedience, or the product of the Fall, yet set against different elements.

Here is the area of Knowledge without Love, if anyone thinks they know anything, they really know nothing (v. 2). There is one revelation to the disciple, the more we study, the more we find we don’t know. The day we think we have all the knowledge there is in the Bible, is the day we have deceived ourselves. Intellect is not evil, but it will be a hindrance if it lacks the Spirit. Real knowledge comes when we know ourselves, as we are known by the Spirit.

Verse 2 might seem strange, especially knowing Paul’s background when he was still Saul. Oh wait, behold all things are new. Evidence is the key, has Paul defrauded them? Has he condemned them? Not at all, even when he corrected them, he spent a great deal of time teaching them about the Spirituals. Condemnation goes further than seeing fault, it makes a determination of guilt, without recourse. Paul saw the fault, it was presented to him, but he dwelt with it in a Godly manner.

Back in 3:2 he told them they were his epistle written on his heart, he is still not condemning them, but they were condemning him. The difference? The intent and whether or not Mercy is applied. Paul was reaching out to them, they were pushing Paul away. Paul wanted them to experience the greatness of Christ, they wanted to see a sign of Christ in Paul.

Verse 4 goes right back to “comfort”, although they were attacking Paul, he found comfort. What comfort? He will tell us how these carnal attacks keep him from being exalted above measure. It’s not saying he shouldn’t be exalted, only he shouldn’t be exalted above measure. When they were saying, “I am of Paul”, it was exalting the man above measure.

The word Comfort in verse 4 is the Greek Paraklesis meaning to exhort with the intent to encourage. A prophet can be blunt, really blunt, but the exhortation is to get us out of our pit, then back to the path of Faith. The paradox is seeing how Paul is telling the Corinthians they are carnal, the Corinthians are telling Paul he has fallen, yet Paul is encouraging the Corinthians, they are condemning him. When the Corinthians spoke it was obvious they removed the path of escape. If someone is speaking to us and there is no route of escape, or path to righteousness. Then it’s condemnation, not restoration.

Paul wasn’t looking for a pat on the back, but neither was he looking for a slap in the face. In any regard he knew seeking the Precious would bring a gain, it not only kept him humble, but it kept others from making an idol out of him. It easy for the nature of man to exalt someone above measure, but a Spirit filled Christian knows better.

The Corinthians needed some reconciling within, the “fruit” of their carnal thinking was still based in their envy, strife and division, rather than the Spiritual fruit of faith, hope and love. Now they were attempting to separate Paul from them, they were using strife as a weapon, but it was still based in their envy. Envy? Yes, they had the Spirit, but were using the ways of the spirit of man. The evidence? Verses 2 through 4, didn’t he answer this question in his last letter? Yes, but they didn’t like the answer, so here comes the same question again.

Paul was in Macedonia before he went to Corinth the first time (Acts 16:5 & Acts 18:1), it was in Macedonia where he and Silas were imprisoned (Acts 16:16). It was also there where Paul ran into the damsel who was possessed with a spirit of divination (Acts 16:16). The damsel would have been trained in the temple in Delphi, the same area where the Corinthians had their treasury. Paul was a man of faith, yet he shows there were fightings on the outside, fears on the inside; however, he also shows God “comforted” him, and is comforting him, thus God hasn’t left him, and he hasn’t left the Corinthians.

In verse 7 we find Titus came to Corinth in Paul’s place not to condemn, or make a “got you” report, but to comfort them. Then Titus reported to Paul how the Corinthians mourned for Paul, were concerned for his behalf. So, did Titus lie? Or did the Corinthians put on a show for Titus? If Titus is so Spiritual, why didn’t he see the mask? Perhaps not all the Corinthians are involved in this rejection of Paul, perhaps many did learn at home. Often the loud negative voice is not the heart of the majority.

Paul doesn’t repent (feel sorry) now, but when the Lord moved him to write the last letter. He loved them, but knew if he said nothing, their blood was on his head. He obeyed the Lord, it made him sad, but it was a sorrow in a Godly manner both for him and them. Paul like the rest of us probably prayed “What could I have done different” or “where did I go wrong” but he found Grace did it’s work, it was the receivers who failed to do theirs. Zeal without compassion often runs amuck, Paul had a Zeal with compassion to see the Corinthians become victors, the Corinthians had a zeal without any compassion to see Paul rejected. The letter was sent with the intent of reconciliation, not condemnation (v.9).

As we know Godly sorrow always works repentance, if there is no sorrow in the exposure, then self-deception will work iniquity. Carefulness is a fear of God, being careful not to miss God, injure Him, or disappoint Him, plus our fear, or awareness of how any of us could end on the wrong end of one the rebuke.

There are times when we are disappointed, but we have to ask if we have disappointed God before we make any claim of God disappointing us. This is clear when we see how the repentance brought Comfort, Paul was Comforted in their Comfort (v. 10-13). This also shows some, if not many of the Corinthians did repent, their repentance produced a fear of God, a desire to be pure before God, a zeal for God, a revenge against the iniquity which caused the problem to begin with. Exposure removed the self-deception, bringing repentance, thus repentance produced an approval before God.

Verse 12 separates the two groups in Corinth as the Isaac, Ishmael principle was at work, there were those who sought after God for God’s sake, those who sought after God for their sake, the latter group were causing the problems, unfortunately they were also the leaders.

Titus was an Overseer, when he visited Corinth to determine if the first letter was received and understood, he found some who received, repented and entered the change. It was the good news, thus Paul heard part of the report and joy came. Giving a Word, and having it received are different, the joy comes when the Word is acted upon. When Titus came on the scene the fear and trembling of the Corinthians who received also came, the fear and trembling was a sign of the New Man as a Godly conscience convicting them, not a fear of punishment or destruction, rather it was the fruit of exposure having her perfect work. They also saw the love of Titus assuring them the purpose was not to condemn, but restore. By Titus showing up it would appear as if Paul sent the “big guns” to clean up Corinth, but Titus as an overseer would also place things in order, Corinth needed some Order (Titus 1:5).

II Cor 8:1-24

Chapters 8 and 9 go back to the time when the Corinthians said they would give to help out the church in Jerusalem. Paul reminds them of the churches in Macedonia, who were afflicted and poor, but were very rich in Joy and Liberty, thus they gave out of their need, just as the widow woman (Mark 12:41-44). How did their Joy and Liberty become rich? By their giving, some of us limit God to money alone, but giving includes many areas. We assume the hundred fold return pertains to money alone, here we find it includes Mercy, Joy and Liberty. Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is Liberty.

The churches in Macedonia were willing of themselves to give when they found there was a need, the Corinthians were quick with lip service, but slow on the doing. They wanted a sign of Christ speaking in Paul, but all they had to do was examine their own selves to determine if they were in Christ.

The churches in Macedonia didn’t have much, but what they did have, they freely gave to help others. Titus was sent to collect as well as determine if Paul’s first letter produced fruit. The question will be “is your check book as open as your mouth was?”. Blunt? Well, it’s the context, sorry, but one of the biggest problems for the Christian is giving quick vows, with slow, or no response.  Our giving is individual, but once we say we will, we must. The Corinthians were telling Paul, “Your yeas, are not yeas”; hello? Where the Corinthians yeas, yeas? No, they were quick to say they would give, yet they were not giving. This area has nothing to do with the offering we give our local body, it has to do with two areas, saying one thing, and doing another, or accusing someone of something, when we ourselves are doing the same.

The key is the importance the other churches acted on their commitment, Paul explains the people in those churches were not rich, in fact many were in poverty, but they were filled with Joy when they saw the opportunity to give unto the need of the saints. All this is still saint giving to saint, as we found in Romans. In Romans Paul said giving was an attribute of the Charisma of Charis, it was also a sign showing some of the Corinthians were still listening to the spirit of man, they were looking for an excuse not to give. Paul told them to make the collection when they came together on Sunday, perhaps they did, but the leadership was holding back. Corinth was one of the richest, if not the richest church in the region, yet they had carnal problems. Their material possessions were not a sign of holiness, the Joy in the other churches show what Blessed really means (v. 2-3). It doesn’t mean their money made them carnal, it means a sign of their carnal behavior was how they handled money.

The Joy if the other churches was so full they insisted Paul take the Gift, so those in need could be ministered to (v. 4). The word Gift in verse 4 is the Greek Charis, which we know as Grace. It’s an interesting choice of words for Paul, since there are many Greek words which would fit better in the context. The Greek Doma would have fit better, since it means a Present. However, by him using Charis we are given a clue to the Nature of the giver, connecting right back to Romans 12 in the phrase, “distributing to the necessity of the saints” (Rom 12:8 & 12:13). It’s the purpose of the connection, the carnal Corinthians produced their own paradox, on one side there were those who could just make ends meet, but their Grace Nature drove them to give to the necessity of the saints; however, on the other side were the carnal natured Corinthians who had more than enough, who said they would give, but when it came to the action, they balked.

Verse 6 shows the reason Titus was sent was to receive the “gift”, to see the same Joy of Grace in the Corinthians. Wait, didn’t Paul already give to Jerusalem? Yes did, but the gift lacked the promised gift from the Corinthians. Here Paul is in custody, but he was the one who made the request, when the Corinthians said they would give, Paul was then responsible to see the gift delivered. He is completing his part of the bargain, would they theirs?

The main difference between a tither under the Law and a cheerful giver who tithes under the New is found in how a tither under the Law will ask how much should they give, but a cheerful giver asks how much can they give. A tither is willing to give ten percent, yet keep ninety, but a cheerful giver is willing to give a hundred percent. Jesus told the rich man to sell all he had, give it to the poor, then follow Jesus. It wasn’t a “tithe”, it was “all”. Under the Law the priests were required to take tithes to keep the people from being cursed, under the new the priests Receive the tithes of the cheerful giver, knowing the cheerful giver is not only blessed, they are a blessing. Since all of us are kings and priests under the New, it stands we as kings can receive tithes from a priest, but as priests we can also give tithes to other kings in the Kingdom. The amount of tithes is determined by commandment, but without the command as to percentage, the amount is left open to the giver. The Tithe under the law was directed toward one storehouse, for the work of the Levitcial priestly order, yet we are all priests under Jesus our High Priest.

One year prior, or when the First letter was written the Commitment went forth from Corinth to help in the ministering of the saints, now it was well past time to pay. We also have to keep in mind the situation in Acts 5 regarding a vow is different than this event, and should not be mixed one into the other; however, the Corinthians had to be aware of what happened. Ananias made a vow to the Holy Ghost, the Corinthians made a pledge to Paul. Ananias lied to the Holy Ghost, the Corinthians had yet to either pay, or refuse to, or hold back part. They had not yet entered the same area as Ananias who held back.

When Paul was among the Corinthians he was very careful from whom he took money, he worked with his hands in order to give. He didn’t want a dime from them, lest they think they own Paul, yet in other places he gave himself to reading and praying and took the gifts of the saints. So, why even ask here? The money wasn’t for Paul, it was for the brethren in Jerusalem. The Corinthians knew Paul was supported by other bodies when he was in Corinth, the problem was, they missed the opportunity, because they felt there was no need. Why give money to Paul, he seems to be doing okay, he seems to have money coming in, the tent business is going well. Wrong attitude from the wrong nature produced by the wrong spirit. The Cheerful Giver is not concerned about those issues, they are looking for opportunity

The Ishmael minded always say “the money is mine, I worked hard for it, I tell you it’s mine, mine, mine”. Most people never ask God what to do with their money, they give the leftovers, then wonder why they get God’s leftovers. Before any giving is beneficial it must start with a willing heart. The discovery of the heart is at issue, if we say “my heart says the money is mine”, we need a circumcision of heart. If God gives seed to the sower,  the test is on the sower. If we have the New Heart (New Man), we give as the New Man directs.

In verse 8 Paul is not commanding them to give, it’s because others were talking about the Corinthians, “Yeah, they were quick with the mouth, but the Corinth people are all mouth”. Paul was in a tight spot, he couldn’t take the offering, since it would be taking tithes, yet they made the commitment to Paul, he told others, making him as responsible. Perhaps they felt by not giving it would make Paul look bad among the others, thus supporting their false concepts. Carnal minded people think by taking poison the other person will die.

Verse 9 connects to Grace, this will also connect to a “sign of Christ speaking” in Paul. Some get real upset with verse 9, but it’s really a hope. The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ shows us something, just as James shows the Faith of Jesus shows us something (James 2:1-3). Jesus though He was Rich, yet for our sakes He became poor, so we through His poverty might be rich. James defines the Rich and Poor not by classes of money, or material wealth, but by to whom was the Promise made. To a Jew a Rich man is the one to whom God has granted the Promise, the Poor is the one left out of the Promise. The same is true here, the Corinthians were rich before they came to the Lord, thus this has to mean something beyond money. The Corinthians were Gentiles, without hope, or God; however, Jesus who was Rich with the Promise and being a Jew, went to the Cross so Jew or Gentile could be Rich in the Promise. Adding to this, to whom was the collection for? Jerusalem, the Jewish aspect, now the Gentile is able to bless the Jew, yet both fit “neither Jew nor Gentile in Christ”. Although Paul doesn’t say it, we know James was the leader in Jerusalem, Jude shows James is the brother of Jesus. The Corinthians have a great opportunity in hand, but they were failing at it.

Verse 10 connects to “not of commandment”, showing Paul is giving them Advice, he is not taking the tithes, he has no commandment allowing him to, rather he is only reminding them of their words. The word Advice is the Greek Gnome meaning Knowledge, or Suggestion. In classic Greek it also pertained to ones opinion, but we know Paul isn’t one to give opinions. This is an opportunity for them to act Expedient, the wording “Is Expedient” is the Greek Sumphero meaning To be profitable, or Help, as in Helping others. Verse 11 continues the thought, “now therefore perform the doing of it”. There was a “readiness” when they made the commitment, where is it now? The word Readiness means a willing mind, it was a matter of putting an action to the words.

The time will come when the shoe will be on the other foot, how they give now, will determine how God moves to meet their need later. Even the test of the Manna proved some gained more, some less, but none went without. Titus didn’t come to them to gain money for himself, or Paul, the requirement was for another body based on their word to give (V. 12:18).

History tells us the other brother is Lucas, thus Titus and Lucas were given the responsibility to gather the funds promised for the need in Jerusalem, yet it was Paul who took the first gathering to Jerusalem; it was the delivering of the first gathering which placed Paul in Jerusalem where he was arrested. The collection had nothing to do with his arrest, only the delivery of the collection placed him there.

One area we want to keep in mind, in order to keep all this in the right order. Back in First Corinthians 16:1 Paul gave “order”, or commanded for this collection be taken.  Now he is saying the taking is not by Commandment, what gives? Wait, he gave order to the churches to take up a collection, it still doesn’t mean he commanded them to give any certain amount, only for a collection to be taken by all, thus giving all the opportunity, it was not to placed on one body alone.

Titus being a partner and fellowhelper doesn’t mean he was an Apostle, rather it means he was co-helper in the gathering of the funds. The “proof of love” points to the giving of the Corinthians, they made the commitment, but was it backed up in love? The proof of their giving will tell if their words were boasting, or sincere.

II Cor 9:1-15

Chapter nine continues the thought from chapter eight. The ministering of the saints was prophesied around 43 AD when Agabus the prophet signified by the Spirit of the great dearth which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar (Acts 11:28-30). The subject was covered in First Corinthians (I Cor 16:1-2), Paul shouldn’t have to cover old ground, but he will invoke some knowledge regarding the Nature of the giver.

The Commitment was published about in Macedonia nearly a year ago, showing the length of time. Now it was past time to perform, it was time for their minds and mouths to join. Their words provoked (encouraged) others to give, but if they fail to add the performance to the vow their witness will be corrupt.

Paul sent the brothers before the time, so the Corinthians could be ready, and not made to look the liar. We covered the differences between the tithe under the Law, and the giving of a cheerful giver, but for the sake of review we will look at the wording used here.

The word Necessity means Based on the return: the word Grudgingly means Twisting the arm, or using manipulation, neither Necessity or Grudgingly are required to motivate the Cheerful Giver. Verse 8 gives us the promise of God’s Love to the Cheerful Giver, they will abound in Grace, they will have all their sufficiency as their good works abound.  Because of the giving? Or the nature behind the giving? It has to be the nature, since cheerful is an attitude. There is no reason for anyone to twist our arm or promise us a return for us to give, an element of our Righteousness is seen in our giving (v. 10).

Paul asks the most obvious question: Where did the money come from to begin with? He who ministered the seed to us, expects us to sow it, when sown it will multiply to increase the Fruits and Righteousness. This adds to the giving by the Grace centered saint, they do receive a return, it’s obvious by the word “increase”, but it’s not the motivation, rather it’s by nature. They receive much more than money, their Grace abounds, the Love of God toward them abounds, their Joy abounds. The tither under the Law also gains, but the Law itself is a veil separating them from God, thus the Law rewards them, but it doesn’t love them. However, the cheerful giver is loved directly by God, there is no veil of separation.

The “riches of His Glory” are the saints, it’s through us God will produce the thanksgiving to others (v 11). Here it’s the seed sown, prior in 8:15 it was what one takes. Those who had gathered much, had nothing left over. Those who gathered little had no lack, but the premise shows it was given. If it’s the case how come Jerusalem was in trouble? God providing opportunity, a test and a means to develop the nature of the cheerful giver. The paradox shows God supplied, some more than others, but they had more to give. The Corinthians fit the category, God gave them the Seed, it was up to them to Sow it.

A Cheerful Giver is one who enters “liberal distribution”, Paul shows this was a test, an event purposed by God to determine if they would put an action to their words to Prove their own selves. If they truly Confess Jesus, they will also walk in the Love of God. There are times when needs arise to test those who have, to determine if their hearts are really centered on God for God’s sake, or centered on what they can get from God for their sake. The Cheerful Giver listens to the New Man, then gives accordingly. There are times when the New Man tells us not go give, since there are times when giving money only makes the situation worse. Rather the New Man may have a word of wisdom, or knowledge, or have us sit silent. Whatever, we do as our “heart” leads, in the case of a Christian, they are circumcised of heart, thus they have a New Heart (New Man).

Now if God gave the seed to the sower, what did they do with the seed? Did they use it as God intended? Like the Quail, did they consume the gift on their own lust? Paul then tells them, plant sparingly, reap sparingly, plant bountifully, reap bountifully, but was is incentive? The word Bountifully means one who has a nature of being a blessing, or a desire to bless, regardless of the return.

It almost appears as if Paul is giving conflicting statements, “be a cheerful giver, who doesn’t require incentive of return, but here is the incentive”. However, look at who he is talking to, they are carnal, they don’t understand Spiritual matters; however, one of the attributes of being Spiritual is a desire to Give (Rom 12:8), but if the only reason they are giving is for the return, they are not giving Bountifully. It’s important we understand the word Bountifully means one is a blessing, to provide a blessing, it’s much different from the premise behind the Tither under the Law of Moses.

II Cor 10:1-18

The point of division is found in this chapter, the time of conflict, a time for clarity, a time to reflect on our own hearts. Paul linked the giving with this chapter since both relate to the heart. For some when it comes to giving it’s World War Six and a Half, for others it’s no war at all. For the Corinthians it was a major battle, they said, but would they? Paul is giving them the Key to determining their own heart, to ascertain if by chance some of the them held strongholds in this area.

Really, one can tell the heart of a person in several ways, the evidence regarding the Corinthians was slander, envy and strife, showing Paul some of them were still using the spirit of man, the result was allowing false apostles who are guided by the spirit of the world into their midst. On the other hand Paul also sees some afraid to speak out, assuming they were coming against the anointing. Paul was standing for the Anointing, he wasn’t coming against it. It was time for the Isaac’s to make themselves known, in so doing they would expose the Ishmaels.

The term “Spiritual warfare” is not found in the Bible, but we find six different Greek words relating to Warfare. Only one of the six is used by Paul in reference to our Warfare, which is the Greek Strateia meaning Military service, the other Greek words show various types of battles, or groupings for battle. To find the method Paul used we have to view the complete text. First Timothy 1:18-19 give us method, we find Holding to the Faith is an  aspect of warfare. Second Timothy 2:4-10 tells us Enduring is another. First Peter 2:11 shows a war going on against our souls, whereas, Paul will define the battlefield, the method we use, and the methods we don’t use. We don’t fight flesh and blood, either our own or others, often we fight  to remain Spiritual, if of course we are Spiritual to begin with.

There is a warfare against the Spiritual, which we don’t do, there is a battle to reach the Spiritual, which we find is Paul’s encouragement to the babes, there is a battle (conflict) to remain Spiritual, which Paul is doing here. Paul’s Love in this matter is obvious, but how did he maintain, how did he face this event and fall to the flesh? What power did he have? Who is this man? Where did he get this power? How could Paul stand in the face of these personal attacks, yet say, “I love you”, “come back”, “God is good”. The Corinthians held to their carnal thinking, they were moving deeper into darkness, they were self-deceived, they allowed false teachers and false apostles to control and guide them, yet Paul reaches the more.

There must have been some mystery Paul held to keep his mind free of heresy, yet walk the walk, knowing he was talking the talk. Some of us assume because our thoughts are based on Scripture it’s not heresy, but heresy can use a verse, yet still be heresy. Carnal minds, even intellectual carnal minds still produce heresy. Heresy is based on natural reasoning and opinion; obvious heresy is discoverable in a second, the not so obvious is not. The Galatians were zealous for the things of God, they heard another Gospel, not different in the result, but different in obtaining the result. All heresy is self-based, self-centered, or places the person above the Body in some manner. Heresy can reach back to a Law God gave a different people, attempting to incorporate it into the New Covenant, which was the “other Gospel” presented to the Galatians. Here it’s using the natural mind of man, to replace the Knowledge of God. The result in Paul’s view was obvious, he discerned the carnal activities, but the Corinthians didn’t see how carnal they were, rather they felt they were more Spiritual than Paul.

The war we fight is not against the people in the world, Paul makes it clear, the war pertains to the things within (v 2). The Weapons are noted in II Corinthians 6:6-8, the Greek word for Weapons is Hoplon referring to an instrument, or means; Paul said he overcame afflictions, necessities, labors, watchings, By holding pureness, knowledge, longsuffering, kindness, the Holy Ghost, armor of righteousness (which explains the Armor of God is in based in God’s Righteousness), disproved the dishonor by honor, disproved the evil report, by giving a Good Report, called a deceiver, but nonetheless held the Truth, unknown by men, yet well Known to God, dying, yet holding life, chastened of God, but not killed, having reason to be sorrowful, but always rejoicing, being poor, yet making others rich, having nothing, yet possessing all the things of Christ. The context shows “wherewith I think to be bold against some which think of us as if we walked according to the flesh” with “we do not war after the flesh”; the trap was for Paul to use flesh to defend, or prove himself, yet he held to the Spiritual, even with a thorn in his flesh from the carnal.

Did the carnal have what they considered evidence? Did they have Scripture? Did they have what they assumed to be cause? Yes in each area, but in each area they either twisted, or misconstrued the events, used carnal reasoning and imaginations to define what they thought was going on, they were wrong.

What did they have? The same old “Paul was in jail, thus he didn’t listen to the Holy Ghost, so we don’t have to listen to him”. Simply because something may appear factual, doesn’t mean we discerned the Truth. Paul was under arrest, it appeared he violated the Temple law, yet the truth showed Paul was a victim. He was arrested before, but this time the “Holy Ghost said”, to them if Paul didn’t have to obey, neither did they. It sounds right, but it doesn’t take into consideration the motives. For the Corinthians it was to avoid the Word, for Paul it was to deliver it. Paul viewed it as “God Is” the Corinthians as “God Isn’t”, producing error, whereas Paul’s motivation produced faith. Our weapons are not carnal, yet Paul told these people they were carnal; what then were their weapons? (I Cor 3:1-3 & v. 4). It doesn’t excuse what Paul did, only shows he sought restoration, and found it.

Flesh and blood means people, or their personalities, thus people are not the problem, even the Corinthians were not the problem, it was what held the mind of the Corinthians in bondage becoming the problem. Although Paul addresses the people, he also desires for them to be set free. Often the event is not our problem, it’s our carnal approach to the event becoming the problem. Carnal minds use carnal weapons, although most of the time they don’t know it; we find the carnal mind is attempting to pull the Spiritual mind into the carnal. The old man knows which battlefield will give him the advantage, the spirit of the world uses the fears, or cares of the world to bring fear into the Body, robbing us of our faith. The carnal minded are uncomfortable around the Spiritual, the Spiritual are extremely uncomfortable around the carnal. In the last letter Paul defined the Spirituals, here he will define what is keeping these Corinthians in bondage.

The Greek word for Strongholds only appears here, as the plural. The Greek word means Trusting in an argument, but the word Argument means An angry discussion, or forming reasonings against a person, thing or event, hardly the concept of disputing the Gospel, or speaking words of Grace. If we use carnal reasoning regarding people or events we will form a fable, the fable will develop into a stronghold; protected by the strongman, a hidden place where the wiles of the old man are found. We think we know what happened, but we didn’t know, the proof is what the Corinthians assumed.

The Corinthians are the only ones to hear this teaching on strongholds, yet the Letter to the Ephesians is known as the “warfare letter”. In Ephesians we find “Spiritual wickedness”, which we know is the failure (iniquity) to be Spiritual, which would seem the case with the Corinthians. Why then bring up strongholds? Because the strongholds were preventing them from being Spiritual. Wild imaginations, reasonings, natural intellect used to define Spiritual matters, none of which are conducive to the Mind of Christ. They were “thinking” all sorts of things, many based on what appeared to be fact, some based on fact, but lacking Truth. Spiritual things to the carnal mind are still foolishness, they reject the Spiritual for the carnal.

A high thing comes against the Knowledge of God, it doesn’t come against God. A high thing is a prideful opinion one holds regarding the Bible, person, or event. An imagination is a fable, perhaps an extended metaphor, a tradition lacking clear concise verses, making verses say something they don’t, or failure to define an event probably. In other areas an imagination is what we think is going on, it would include out of control emotions telling us something is happening when it’s not. In any regard neither a high thing or an imagination is a “devil”. An imagination would be the thought of strongholds being devils. An imagination would include twisting forgiveness into validation by making people say they are sorry. An imagination would be an assumed event which never took place,  thus one takes an event, adds opinion, takes some of the words from another, forces them to fit the fable, then they presume the fable is Truth. Strongholds use carnal weapons to defend themselves, or to project their fables. Anger, manipulation, dominating words are all carnal weapons using the spirit of man as a guardian.

A phrase in Parentheses is either defining the subject matter in the paragraph, or the subject matter in the paragraph is defining the words in Parentheses. We could write, “I  went to the store (downtown) to buy candy”, the word downtown in Parentheses tells us where the store was. We could also write, “I went (downtown to the store) to buy candy”, the phrase in Parentheses tells us we went to the store, which was downtown, keeping someone from thinking we went to a car lot around the corner to buy candy. Verse 4 is in Parentheses, it points to Strongholds, but they are defined by the wording around the Parentheses. A Stronghold is an imagination (reasoning), or high thing exalting itself against the knowledge of God. A Stronghold cannot go beyond the defined area, or it becomes a Stronghold about strongholds. We could say strongholds are places where devils remain, but it’s not the defined area, thus we took the word “stronghold” added a reasoning, and made a stronghold regarding strongholds.

Although Strongholds cover all sorts of areas, they are nonetheless defined for us. Here in Corinthians it points to the reasoning the Corinthians were using: however, we can have a stronghold about some event in the past, or an event we’re in at the moment. A high thing is based in natural knowledge lacking Spiritual discernment. Paul used the Anointed Truth as a hammer against the strongholds of the Corinthians; they are not the enemy, he refuses to war against flesh and blood, since flesh and blood will never take the Kingdom. They are using flesh and blood to attack the flesh and blood of Paul in their personal attacks. Yet, he is bringing truth and knowledge regarding their condition.

If our weapons are through God, what then are they? Or better where are they? We find the Armor and Weapons in the New Man, those Spiritual things of God within. The word Readiness means ceasing the opportunity, before the imagination takes on a life of its own, thus it must be “bound”, but how? Obedience? Yes, the word Obedience is the Greek Hupakoe meaning Submission. Wait, we take the thought, then submit? Close, we submit the thought to the Word in us. Discernment begins at home, if we have no idea what we’re saying, how are we going to discern what others are saying?

Verse 7 gives us some insight, the Corinthians were looking at the outward appearance, to them it seemed to be the fact, but they missed the event by miles. Paul will show in a few verses how the error carried over, as they accepted some who appeared on the outside as Apostles of Righteousness, but inside Satan was still reigning.

The strongholds the Corinthians formed are defined for us in the following verses, they said Paul’s letters are weighty, but the man weak, his speech contemptible (v. 10). In other words they said when he writes he is tough, but he doesn’t show up to tell us to our face because he is weak. Paul’s answer is simple, what you see in the letters, is the Power of God, the same Power would be in Paul if he were present (v. 11).

Verse 12 shows how Paul was not justifying himself, or saying he is a great and powerful apostle, rather he will not exalt himself above measure, nor will he allow anyone else to exalt him above measure (v.13-14).

Verses 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18 center around “there was given me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure” (12:7). The word Measure appears several times, but it’s not always the same Greek word. The word measure in 12:7 is the Greek Huperairomai meaning to exalt the self, or to be haughty, or someone thinking they are superior. This doesn’t say Paul shouldn’t be honored or exalted, it was not to be above measure. The word Measuring in verse 12 of this chapter is the Greek Metreo meaning a standard or a rule. It’s the same word used in “measure of faith”, indicating a limit. The limit is set by God into the position of the person.

Where is the references Paul uses? Joshua 23:13 and Judges 2:3 referring to the heathens as thorns. Judges 2:3 is condensed, but it also shows idols shall be a snare. The Corinthians were carnal, yet carnal minds form idols, whether made of money, or flesh. The Corinthians proved the point with, “I am baptized of Paul”, “I am baptized of Apollos”. They allowed false apostles to enter, they needed to run out the heathen thinking by becoming Spiritual in nature.

The first word Measure in verse 13 is the Greek Ametros meaning things without measure, or immense. The second word Measure is the Greek Metron (not the same as Metreo above) meaning a measuring rod, or a staff to regulate judgment. All this still relates to the Stronghold, the Corinthians used the Amertros when comparing themselves, but the Metron when viewing Paul, they were not unequal. When Paul measured, he placed the restricted side toward himself, giving the Corinthians the broad leeway. Which is defined for us in verse 14, and following. On Paul’s part it’s not unequal, but the heart of reconciliation as he refuses to allow the flesh to rule.

Verses 14, 15, 16, 17 & 18 are all pointed at the stronghold, Paul did not come boasting in his great faith, but he did tell them they could have great faith. He did not remove Hope, he pointed to it. Verse 15 shows the “measure” was Increased toward the Corinthians, even Enlarged. Not saying Paul was so special, only Christ in him was. If a man is to glory, let him glory in the Lord. Verse 18 could read, “He tells us how great he is, is not approved, only those whom the Lord commends (approve or stand with)”.

Once we see it’s not the event becoming our problem, it was our soulish reaction to the event producing our problem we will see strongholds fall. This is perfect example of the spirit of man inducing fear, forming strongholds, attacking the work of the Spirit of God.

We can take assurance in the Gospel, adding a Spiritual confidence void of demanding, arrogant statements. We can know we are not ashamed of the Gospel, or His Name, neither are we ashamed of the Authority granted us, but we must know the Authority is for Edification, not destruction. It would include being not ashamed of the things of the Spirit as well. As carnal as Corinth was, Paul encouraged them to engage in Spiritual matters, the obvious result would have been a Spiritual body, rather than a carnal one.

II Cor 11:1-33

Paul will now speak to those who received the correction; however, in so doing he is giving a third person account, thus he is speaking to them, as if he isn’t. Huh? He is speaking to them, by speaking about them to those who held the Strongholds. It’s in this section we find what happens when we fail to see the Stronghold in us. In the same house there are vessels of honor and vessels of dishonor, discerning the stronghold and strongman will determine which we become.

Paul “espoused” or promised the Corinthians to God as a chaste virgin, his prayers  centered on the premise. He didn’t want them to end as vessels of dishonor, yet whether they receive the Truth or not was still in their hands, not Paul’s. Ahh the mystery, the Imputing of the Bride, we are Espoused, or Imputed to be the Bride, it’s the Spirit making us the Bride, thus the Bride makes herself ready by submitting to the Spirit.

The fear Paul holds is based on their minds deceiving them as the serpent beguiled Eve, thus his teaching on the conflict was a battle between the Truth of God and the natural works of the spirit of man ruling their carnal minds. Here he is teaching them about warfare, yet he is in warfare because of what they were doing. Why? To get them to stop picking on Paul? No, to save them from their own folly.

The false ones made entry based on the carnal leadership, rather than take down the strongholds, they were reinforcing them. The invitation to the wicked was granted by the strongholds, take down the strongholds; remove the welcome mat for the Wicked. Paul was exposing them by bringing Truth as a Hammer to the Wall. When the exposure came, the false ones attacked Paul. Their attack was Slander based, they were using events without knowing the Truth of the event.

In verse 4 the Three areas of another Jesus, another spirit, or another Gospel are all covered in the points noted prior. The Wicked preach another Jesus, use another spirit, to bring another Gospel; all three are based in strongholds and high things coming against the Knowledge of God.

In the first letter Paul took great pains to show it was “The Same Spirit” not many spirits or minds producing the Acts, thus they should be of One Mind if they have the One Spirit; however, they would be of different minds if they allow the spirits (minds) of men to rule. What other “spirit” could they receive? We have the evidence, be not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what Fellowship has Righteousness (Spirit of Christ) with unrighteousness (spirit of man), what Communion has Light (Spirit of Christ) with darkness (spirit of man)? What Concord has Christ (Spirit of Christ) with Belial (spirit lusting to envy)? Or what Part has he who believes (Spirit of Christ) with an infidel (spirit of man). The spirit of man comes against the Spirit of God, the spirit of the world against the Spirit which is of God (I Cor 2:11-12).

Paul refers to his “speech” again, showing knowledge is more important than the manner of speech, but didn’t he say prior knowledge puffed up? Yes, but it was a specific knowledge of Grace being misused because of a lack of Love and Mercy. Here he is telling them to gain knowledge regarding where they were mentally.

When Paul was with them he had needs, he had things required, but the Corinthians were so self-based they couldn’t see it, yet those from Macedonia heard the voice of the Lord, as the Lord took care of the needs of Paul by the riches in Glory (saints); therefore, even if we are stuck in the midst of carnal junction, God will care for us. It may not seem so at times, but nonetheless God is able.

Paul speaks of those in Macedonia, the very place where he had fightings without, and fears within, yet the Christians heard, obeyed, then put an action to their faith. If Paul has not defrauded anyone, how can he rob other churches? (v. 8). Paul knew and understood how he couldn’t ask for money, when he was with the Corinthians he had need, God knew and sent brethren from Macedonia to care for Paul. In the Letter to the Philippians Paul shows it was the Philippians who brought the need (Ph’l 4:15-16 et al).

Corinth was invaded by those who came with another Jesus, not in content, but in purpose; another spirit, not in content but in deed; another gospel, not in content but void of Spiritual ability. The Corinthians were carnal, but intellectual, they looked for “wisdom”, so along came those who were naturally intellectual who held the wisdom of man. The Corinthians liked what they heard, since it matched the spirit of man they were using. How can this be? They had the Cross and Spirit, they had authority and power over the spirit of man, but desired the feelings the spirit of man gave them through the flesh. They made the choice to use the deeds of the spirit of man; the Wicked use the spirit of the world, but both have a tendency to set themselves against the things of God, one out of ignorance (spirit of man), the other out of pride and envy (spirit of the world).

We are not seeing Satan transformed, rather the wicked transformed themselves to hide the Satan nature. The Satan inside is wearing a mask, which is the meaning of the word Transformed used here. We are Transformed by God’s Mercy, Transfigured by His Grace. Here the false ones put on a mask of righteousness, but true Righteousness is in one’s heart. It’s a difference, the carnal mind looks to the outward appearance; if they dress like the other church folks, then they must be righteous. If they can jump and shoot like the other church folk, then they must be holy. If they can become emotional and cry on the pulpit, they must be Godly. Not so, those are outward signs, they may or may not be real, but outward appearances tell us nothing about the heart (v. 13-14). Words are not outward appearances, they are expressions from an inward source, they become signs to detect the heart.

Paul was very careful in this area, lest it appear as if he was justifying himself, causing him to lose the battle at the very point of victory. He made sure they understood this part was from him, not the Lord, yet it was in jest to make a point comparing himself to those they considered so wise. Paul covers three areas, Hebrew, Israelite and the seed of Abraham as it refers to the Jew, thus we find these attacks are surely from within, the so-called friendly fire comes from within. The title “Hebrew” is a generic name referring to those with a promise, but are still sojourning to find it. The title “Israelite” refers to a person who lives in Israel. The term, seed of Abraham refers to the Abrahamic Covenant, the promise for the sands of the sea.

To the Galatians Paul noted the seed of Abraham was One, as Christ, but here we must recall he is making a comparison to the false teachings, as he points out “seeing that many glory after the flesh, I will glory also”, thus the context points to the seed of Abraham as pertaining to the flesh, or the sand of the sea, not the Spiritual seed as One. The false claimed to be Ministers of Christ, but lacked the Fruit to prove it, thus Paul called them self-transformed. Just because they “appear” as ministers of Christ, doesn’t mean they were, judge the fruit not the acts.

Things were not as the Corinthians saw them, some were blinded by their own strongholds. What opening did the self-transformed see? Carnal minded people with  strongholds. If they would have listened to the first letter, they would have been in a position to “discern the spirit”, rather than invite it in.

Paul lists the various attacks from without, then notes he had attacks from within as well. The Corinthians would fall within the realm of those who fight Paul from within, a man’s enemies are still in his own household. However, his position and calling wasn’t limited to Corinth, although the Corinthians thought it was, rather it covered all the churches. The only way he could do the calling was to be weak in the flesh, but Strong in the Spirit. The things of God came because Paul knew his limits and weaknesses, he was able to trust in God without self-deception, or a self-imposed greatness. Not only did he face trouble, he shows there are times when God plans a route of escape through a window, yet one must have ears to hear: God is fully able to deliver the righteous out of temptation and trouble.

II Cor 12:1-21

His wording is still giving a third person view of himself, to avoid being accusation of self-justification. Paul talked about the things he faced in the physical and natural, now he will shown visions and revelations. The man in Christ noted here is Paul, going back to the time when Paul was stoned, then presumed dead (Acts 14:19). Some claim this supports out of body experiences, but we find Paul couldn’t tell if he was in the Body or not. The Third Heaven is under the Altar of God, the First heaven is the physical heaven, the second is the natural, or the old Abraham’s Bosom until Jesus took captivity captive, then it closed, but the third is where the Dead in Christ wait, thus his reference points to him being In Christ among the Firstfruits, can the false make the same claim, do they have the proof of being among the Firstfruits? Fourteen years prior would have been around 46 AD, which was the time Paul was stoned, indicating he is referring to himself, but in the third person. Paradise today is for the Christian who has the Spirit, walks by the Spirit, is crucified with Christ, by being Born Again, the one who can leave this earth moving through the Door to the altar of God. Paradise could not be described in an earthly language, lest one would blaspheme. Interesting, it means it was so great, any attempt to use an earthly language to describe it would be blasphemy against it. Heavy words, yet true. Even if we are taken as Paul, we as Paul could not describe it without giving it just credit. This Paradise was under the altar of God, a place beyond our thoughts, yet it’s not the Throne of God, the place where our Hope lays. What a glorious future we have, If we hold to the Faith.

From all these experiences Paul knows there lays a danger of appreciation turning to pride, thus he knew the Corinthian attacks may have been generated from their carnal minds, but there was still a Precious for Paul. Instead of getting mad, he got glad by thanking the Lord for the experience. Although some in Corinth were not in the will of the Lord for them, Paul knew he loved God, he was called of God, thus his confidence knew God would use what appeared as a horrid event in the eyes of man as something Good for Paul, so Paul could gain in the Lord, thereby being beneficial for others.

Paul also knew there remained those in Corinth who did love the Lord, he had to make a plea to save them from the clutches of the false apostles who crept in with their self-transformed, self-based forms of righteousness, but inside were full of dead man’s bones. They enticed the carnal minded, planted tares of slander against Paul, then sat back as the carnal minded acted as “the messengers of Satan”. This goes back to Matthew when Jesus told Peter, “get you behind Me Satan”. It was the “message” not the man Peter, yet Peter spoke it. At the time Peter was not Born again, not privy to the Spirit, but these Corinthians were privy to the Spirit, so much so Paul said they had the Spirit, but they remained carnal, subject to the enticing words of the false apostles.

How was Paul going to deal with this? He couldn’t justify himself, he found the result of the error at his arrest. What could he do, to whom would he go? Ah, the answer, don’t curse the darkness, but come boldly to the throne of Grace to obtain Mercy and find Grace in the time of need. Grace is sufficient, it always is, thus on the way to Grace we obtain Mercy giving us the ability to stand in a Godly manner in the face of adversity, before the darts (thorns) could take their toll.

Paul used the word Satan five times in the two letters, we recall how he turned the man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh in First Corinthians, then noted how he forgave the man in this Letter. Paul just finished saying we don’t war against flesh and blood, but where did the thorn land? In the flesh, it was designed to get Paul to put his mind on the flesh, to react in the same manner as he was being attacked.

Around AD 64 he told the Thessalonians “Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us” (I Thess 2:18). At the point in time Paul was in jail in Rome, it was the Jews who hindered him through the arrest. Nero was taking advantage of the event, but nonetheless the cause was one Greek man from Ephesus, a Trophimus by name who was left at Miltetum sick. The Jews had information how this man was taken into the Temple by Paul, the violation? An uncircumcised Greek (Christian) in a place where only the circumcised could be, but why didn’t Trophimus come to the aid of Paul? Why indeed, there was a deed afoot, one which caused Paul to be jailed, but caused a sickness on Trophimus, could it be Trophimus was turned over to Satan for the destruction of his flesh? Looks that way.

The Jews believed a lie, they attacked Paul, yet they knew Paul was born a Jew. The nation of the man attacked the man, would the Corinthians take the hint? Paul found the Lord could turn any event to Good for those called according to His purpose, and to them who Love Him. Paul fit both areas, thus the event did turn out for Good, since most of Paul’s letters came after his arrest, not before. Not only did Paul believe in his prayer life, but added his belief in Jesus, thus his faith became stronger and proven, if the Corinthians wanted to see, all they had to do was look.

The word Buffet in verse 7 means to strike with the open hand, or better in this context to mistreat one, or their office. This is a “slap in the face” done with words. This wasn’t a one time thing, it happened three times, each time Paul knew where the Power to overcome rested. Some tend to assume this was a sickness, in one respect it was, it was the sickness of the carnal minds in Corinth. The first time would be when Paul was with them, the second is the First letter, now the third is the Second letter, each as result of some carnal attitude sent as a thorn at Paul.

A messenger carries a message, this thorn wasn’t a thousand people, fifty people, or people in general, it was a message, “who is this Paul to tell us what God says, this weak man who has such contemptible speech, who is he to tell us what to do?”. The title Satan means One who slanders, was Paul being slandered? Yes, he isn’t saying the people are Satan, rather he points out they are being used to carry the message. Where did the message begin? With Satan, but where was it? “And no wonder: for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed” (vs. 11:13-14). The false apostles produced the message, some of the Corinthians delivered it.

To the Ephesians Paul talked about the “rulers of darkness of this world” (Eph 6:12), for some reason we always want to put a face on the word “ruler”, whether it’s the face of a human, angel or devil. The word Rulers is the Greek Kosmokrator meaning an “order of the world”, or something causing people to react, or causing them to make decisions. Anger ruling us is a ruler of darkness, wrath another, greed yet another,  stubbornness another, strife, envy, deception, and division are rulers if they cause us to make decisions, form our words for us, or motivate us. The Corinthians were allowing envy and strife to guide their decisions, their carnal minds formed imaginations, yet they were brethren, thus Paul could forgive the people, while coming against the source by showing them what the Spiritual nature consists of. True warfare begins by not using a like weapon to retaliate with, rather we find and use the weapon through God representing God’s interests. Paul will go to the throne of Grace to obtain Mercy and find Grace, in the process he will find Grace is sufficient, not only to handle the hurts he suffered in this, but allow him to respond in a Godly manner. So then, what “weapon” did he use? Grace, he centered his mind on reconciliation, not retaliation. In essence he was seeking the solution, rather than promoting the pollution. Paul will pin point this matter in the next few verses, removing any doubt of the danger of having the Spirit, yet remaining carnal.

Where did Paul go for Strength? Did he curse the darkness? Did he form a plan of attack? Did he use the Name of Jesus over the city of Corinth to call down Satan? No, he went boldly to the throne of Grace to obtain Mercy and find Grace in the time of need, therein he found Grace is sufficient, it always is. He turned the other cheek, he was not about to use the same “slap in the face” to retaliate with.

The people who lie in wait to deceive formed the attack, they were the bad fish, vessels of dishonor, those who had the outward appearance of righteousness, but inside Satan reigned. Their purpose was to destroy the Gospel Paul preached so they could bring another, to make it appear as if Paul was preaching the wrong Jesus, so they could introduce the wrong spirit.

Look at all he had been through, all God delivered him out of, here this little bunch of carnal minded people cause him so many problems he had write more words than he did to any other church in the kingdom of heaven. However, he accepted the position, with it came many things, but Grace is sufficient, it always is (or did we say that?).

Does Paul want to be austere? No, but they compelled him, they forced the issue, by Grace he was able to walk the thin line between exposure and self-justification. Was he an apostle, did the Holy Ghost prove it? Surely they saw the signs, wonders and mighty deeds, where did those things come from? What did they prove?

This is the Third Time he is coming to them, to make the three times regarding the thorn. It seems the more Paul loves them, the less they love him, but nonetheless he will not allow it to defer his love for them. He caught them in a lie, the carnal false ones are always caught in a lie, yet they will claim we lie, as they did Paul, but they lack proof, yet they have twisted statements, or concepts taken out of context, but Truth? Nay they have none.

How many lies does it take to make a liar? It’s a sad note, but there are some who hear lies, yet fall in love with a personality rejecting the lies as some “little thing” when in fact it’s the sign of an evil lurking therein. Deception is another sign post, using one set of words to set the trap, then saying “no it’s not what I said” to slam the trap shut. We’ve seen how everything they accused Paul of doing, they were doing. They were looking at their own selves, thus what God showed them of their selves, they said Paul was doing. Paul saw opportunity, not only for Corinth, but for others. What others? You and I for two.

These attackers had a love for those who agreed with them, but they lacked the True Love of God, yet Paul displayed his Love in all points. The Living Water was flowing out of him like a cup overflowing, but the carnal mind couldn’t see it, all they saw was what they wanted to see, yet their view was based in a stronghold. The warning to us is, beware lest we be snared by the enemy and his tricks, never judge the outward appearance, discern the ways; judge the Fruit. One of the nine areas of the Manifestation of the Spirit is discerning spirits, they lacked, but Paul didn’t. The false apostles were able to invade Corinth shows how some ignored the last letter Paul sent.

In the mouth of two or three witnesses a fact is affirmed, Paul, Titus and Lucas as the humans, Truth, Love and Faith from God, the Corinthians were judged inept. The phrase, “excuse ourselves unto you” means “should we have to justify ourselves?”, which was the trap set by the Corinthians. The one thing Paul didn’t want to get into was self-justification, it would cause the entire house to fall on his head.

The sins of debate, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings (pride) and tumults (causing the agitation, or confusion, the message from Satan) were all signs displayed by the carnal words, then used as weapons by the carnal minded.

With the ways of the carnal mind listed, he now goes to those who refused to repent of their uncleanness, fornication (referring to the man from First Corinthians who was turned over to Satan and those who joined the effort by “forgiving” the man, yet condoning his behavior at the same time). They forgave, but according to what we read here, the man didn’t change, thus their forgiveness was moot, it was done so they would look holy, rather than based on the man being free. Paul forgave the man before turning him over, but the Corinthians didn’t know it, but they made sure Paul knew they forgave. They are telling Paul, they reversed the turning over by forgiving the man, yet the man has not changed, so what good did they do? None.

In all this, Paul was also forgiving the Corinthians, but he was also rebuking them through love, by not condoning their behavior. Two completely different intents, yet both Paul and the Corinthians forgave. Paul shows it’s not a matter of condoning the activity and forgiving, but forgiving while not condoning the activity, to allow Mercy to work in changing the person. This is proven here, since he tells them, he forgave at the time the man was turned over, long before they did, but his purpose was still to save the man. Since they condoned the activity, they were just as lasciviousness as the man (sensual or carnal), thus Paul will bewail many. However, there is always hope, and some did repent.

II Cor 13:1-14

In this last chapter of Second Corinthians we will find the confirmed truth of the thorn in the flesh as the carnal minded who rejected the correction of God for the message of Satan, they were about to reap what they sowed. Not only did Paul, Titus and Lucas form two or three witnesses, but now we find a third area having two or three witnesses became the times they sent the thorn, in each case Paul responded, but will they now receive? He told them before, First time, first thorn; he told them a second time in his first letter which was in response to the second thorn; now he tells them again the Third time, his second letter in response to the third thorn, If he comes again he will not spare them who continue to sin. The use of the word “If” means he didn’t know one way or the other, thus he wasn’t about to fall into the same trap of “his yeas are not yeas”.

In verse 2 we read, “I write to them which heretofore have sinned, and to all other, if I come again, I will not spare”; so much for the Ministry of Reconciliation, or is this really overlooking the transgressions while going to the source? It’s going to the source, they need to look inside to find they are sowing their own judgment.

They saw the signs and wonders, it didn’t bother them, they liked the signs and wonders, they heard the Good News, it didn’t bother them, they liked it, but then it came down to hearing the Truth about themselves, they didn’t like it, thus they rejected the signs and wonders to say, “we want some proof (a sign) of Christ speaking through you”. Exposure is how God deals with those hidden things we ignore, once they are there, we can ignore them, ignore the exposure, attack the person God used to bring the exposure, or deal with the exposure in a Godly manner. This is a prime example of a carnal mind reacting to exposure, they assume they are going to punish Paul, but they can’t.

The weakness Jesus was crucified through, is His Flesh, the Body, the Bread, yet the Corinthians said Paul was weak. If he is weak as they say, then he is also in the Body, but if they are as strong as they say, they are not in the Body. The truth remains we are His Body, we can either be Sarx (flesh) or Soma (body), the flesh is always weak, but the Spirit is always ready to save our souls.

Instead of accusing Paul, they should check their own hearts to determine if they are in The Faith, is not the measure of faith, but the Faith of Jesus. Surely they had some God isn’t thinking, for they said “God isn’t speaking through Paul” thus their words were not in conjunction with Belief unto Faith.

In verse 5 we see how they were to Examine their own selves, going right back to the Communion Table. Back in First Corinthians 11:28 the word Examine is the Greek Dokimazo meaning Tested, Proved or Examine, it comes from the Greek Dokimos meaning To receive as proven. It relates to being examined by a professional who knows what to look for, allowing them to find whatever they find. Here in Second Corinthians 13:5 the Greek word for Examine is Perazo meaning To experience a trial, or to prove anything in a good or bad sense. Prior the use of Dokimazo meant to allow the examining party to find the Precious, while discarding, or removing the vile. However, here we find it has changed, there is now more Vile than Precious, the evidence shows there is No Christ in the speech of the Corinthian leaders.

Paul believes his prayers are heard and acted upon, he prays they do no evil, yet they were up to their necks in evil. Nonetheless, the groundwork is laid, the seed for restoration given. Ah, but if God would allow the man of God to use his gift in a different way, but the man of God knows, use it in a different way, you enter Spiritual wickedness becoming what you hate the most. Nay, the Power is unto edification, not destruction. Was he tempted? Yes, look at his words, he would not use “sharpness”, but he knew he could. The sharpness of tongue was an old comfortable manner, but it didn’t fit the Born Again nature of Paul the Christian. If he would have allowed the old nature to venture forth, meaning the thorn took effect, something Paul fought against.

Right after he talks about the battles, he shows how the Power and Authority are to be applied in love. His weapons were not carnal, since we don’t fight flesh and blood with flesh, it makes little sense to fight the carnal, with the carnal.

Finally, Be perfect? Be of good comfort? Be of one Mind? Live in Peace? could they? The ability was in hand, but was the performance? Correction from God is purposed to bring us into perfection, but we must receive it in order to reach the manifestation.

Paul then ends with three areas, the Grace of the Lord, the Love of the Father (Otheos), and the Communion of the Holy Ghost, the Trinity at work to bring us into the perfect place in Christ. Here Paul ends with the same method for the Corinthians to obtain the victory they needed. Get to the Lord’s Table quickly, be examined, Commune with the Holy Ghost by allowing the Holy Spirit to find, expose and correct those things hidden from their own minds. What Confidence did Paul have? He was open to the Lord, he found to obey is far better than doing.

How many of us think the Corinthians felt the two letters from Paul were Scriptural? They looked at them as letters from a man named “Paul”, they lacked respect for the office of the man, thus they lacked respect for the man. They never considered the Author of those words to be the Holy Ghost. The same is true today, some refuse to hear the Words spoken from the anointing, since they presume the Words come from a human, rather than through one.

Did the Corinthians attack Paul? Yes, they wanted to see a sign of Christ speaking in him. Were they divided? Yes, fighting over baptism proves it. Were they carnal? Yes, were they in the Body? Yes, were they called to the Body by the Spirit of God? Yes, did they have the Spirit that is of God? Yes. Paul being Spiritual wanted to remain Spiritual, he could not treat them in the same manner they were treating him. He found walking in the Spirit a far better means to deal with events and people, than getting mad, or allowing anger to speak for him.

Corinth was carnal, they had yet to reach up to the Spiritual nature by taking the New Nature in the New Man as their source. In their case it was reach to obtain, but what about those who have obtained the Spiritual nature? Are they also in danger? Yes, next we will learn how to put away fables as we continue to walk in the Spirit. The Letter to the Galatians will tell us what can happen when we drift back to the flesh after acquiring the Spiritual nature, as well as how to recover in order to win the race.

---

By Rev. G. E. Newmyer – s.b.i.les23rev9/© 2003