his week my Everyday Christianity class has been reading through the book of Second Corinthians.

It’s an amazing read, especially if you don’t invest too much effort trying to figure out exactly how the various fragments fit together to form what we understand as chapters 1-13.

BEYOND NIT-PICKING: I acknowledge that the critical/analytical stuff is interesting, and I’m as curious as the next guy when it comes to “Paul’s missing first letter,” the one that makes our First Corinthians really his second transAegean correspondence. And I really am intrigued regarding the possibility that what we know as Second Corinthians may well be bits and pieces from several missives Paul “mailed” to Corinth.

BUT… when it came time to sit down in an easy chair and simply read, it was the richness of the text that just washed over me. God spoke to me through Paul’s words in one beautiful uninterrupted sweep of engaging language and life-charged faith.

I opened my Bible, turned to the first page of 2 Corinthians, and tried to imagine opening an actual letter from Paul. In my mind’s eye, I could see the courageous apostle laboring over his scroll. I could almost hear his voice: “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, to the church of God that is in Corinth, including all the saints throughout Achaia: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ…” (2 Corinth 1:1-2)

“And grace to you, Derek, and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

JESUS is GOD’s YES! The chapters that follow after the initial greeting contain some amazing concepts, not least among them these inspirational and encouraging words from the very first chapter. Listen: “For in [Jesus] every one of God’s promises is a ‘YES!’ For this reason it is through him that we say the ‘Amen’ to the glory of God.”

The enormity, the hugeness, the bodacious audacity of what Paul suggests is almost too much to take in, and yet he goes on, continually, to literally blow my mind time and again through the balance of the thirteen chapters. The following bullet points summarize just one such idea from each chapter:

• For in [Jesus] every one of God’s promises is a ‘YES!’ For this reason it is through him that we say the ‘Amen’ to the glory of God (1:20)
• For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing (2:15)
• All of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord as though reflected in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another (3:18)
• So we do not lose heart. Even though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day. For this slight momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure (4:16-17)
• So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! (5:17)
• As servants of God we have commended ourselves in every way: through great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, holiness of spirit, genuine love, truthful speech, and the power of God (6:4-6)
• For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation and brings no regret, but worldly grief produces death (7:10)
• Now as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in utmost eagerness, and in our love for you—so we want you to excel also in generosity (8:7)
• Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver (9:7)
• Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord (10:17)
• If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness (11:30)
• He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.” So, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me (12:9)
• Examine yourselves to see whether you are living in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not realize that Jesus Christ is in you? (13:5)

I trust that the above phrases have served as an invitation for you. Especially if you haven’t read the Bible in big chunks like this before. I highly recommend it; God’s word is dramatic, exciting, and always transformational!

– DEREK