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Daily Devotions

2 Corinthians

2 Corinthians 
Day 
Day 93

"Open your hearts to us."

Text: 2 Corinthians 7:2

FOUNDING OF THE CORINTHIAN CHURCH

Paul was the founder of the Corinthian Church. The ministry in Corinth had been difficult right from the start (Acts 18).

1. Paul ministered in Corinth with Silas and Timothy (Acts 18:5).

2. The Spirit of God was there to move and to guide Paul (Acts 18:5).

3. The Lord Jesus ministered to Paul in a vision. Assuring him of His personal presence (Acts 18:9-10).

THE DETERIORATION OF RELATIONSHIP

After Paul left Corinth to return to the home Church in Antioch, Syria (Acts 18:18), there was a lapse of some time. The Corinthian church was infiltrated by false teachers. Paul had to write stern warning letters to the church (1 and 2 Corinthians, and a missing epistle).

AN APPEAL TO A RESTORED RELATIONSHIP

Paul was conscious that he had a ministry of reconciliation. Thus, he made this appeal to the Church.

“Open your hearts to us. We have wronged no one,
we have corrupted no one, we have cheated no one.
I do not say this to condemn; for I have said before that
you are in our hearts, to die together and to live together.”
2 Corinthians 7:2-3

1. “Open your hearts to us”

a) Paul could not coerce the Corinthians.
b) He sought to appeal to them instead.

2. Three strong statements that needed to be declared

These were self-explanatory statements:

a) They had wronged no one.
b) They had corrupted no one.
c) They had cheated no one.

3. “I do not say this to condemn”

a) These words were not written to condemn anyone.
b) Paul did not want to be misunderstood further.

4. Recalling a previous word

a) Paul indeed loved the Corinthians dearly.
b) The Corinthians were engraved upon his heart (2 Corinthians 3:1-3).
c) They were “one”. They were intertwined.
d) “To die together and to live together!” This was a beautiful expression of tender love for the Church.