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Daily Devotions

2 Corinthians

2 Corinthians 
Day 
Day 135

"The meekness and gentleness of Christ-"

Text: 2 Corinthians 10:1

UNRESOLVED PROBLEMS

There were some problems in the Corinthian Church that remain unresolved. On the one hand, there were some who would still respond to teaching. On the other hand, there were some who resisted any corrective teaching.

“Now I, Paul, myself am pleading with you
by the meekness and gentleness of Christ-
who in presence am lowly among you,
but being absent am bold toward you.”
2 Corinthians 10:1

1. “Now I, Paul, myself am pleading with you”

a) Seldom, would Paul use this approach in his writing.
b) The emphasis on himself was very clear.
c) Paul pleaded for understanding from the Corinthian Church.
d) This was a humble and personal plea.

2. “By the meekness and gentleness of Christ”

a) Paul invoked the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
b) He appealed to two attributes of Christ:
i) His meekness (humility)
ii) His gentleness (considerate)
c) This was how Paul had sought to practise in life and ministry
d) This was what every believer should seek to practise, including the Corinthian believers
e) These should characterise the life of all true believers and followers of Christ!

3. Paul’s presence in the Corinthian Church

a) He was seen as adopting a lowly attitude.
b) The word “lowly” is the outward expression of (“meekness” and “gentleness”).
c) Paul sought to be humble as he ministered in Corinth.

4. Paul’s absence from the Corinthian Church

a) His letters reflected much “boldness”.
b) Great strength and courage are to be noted in his two epistles to the Corinthians.

5. Paul’s critical detractors

a) They were quick to criticise Paul.
b) They pointed out the two different ways in which Paul related to the Corinthian Church.
c) To the critics, Paul was inconsistent! They jumped at every opportunity to criticise and condemn.