The text for Aug. 10 is a good example of what happens when we read other people’s mail. We can barely figure out what is going on — except that Paul is falling all over himself to reconcile with his fractious Corinthian churches. There has clearly been a big blow-up, but what was it? Why can’t Paul be more specific?

2 Corinthians is composed of several Pauline letters to the churches of Corinth, but not in chronological order. 2 Cor. 1:1-2:13 must be part of the latest letter, when some of the problems have been solved. What has preceded such reconciliation?

In my last column I noted that Paul had sent Timothy to Cor­inth (1 Cor. 16:10), probably carrying his sizzling letter we call 1 Corinthians. But in the meantime, some outsiders have come to town with letters of reference (2 Cor. 3:1) and may be sucking up to the church leaders rather than criticizing them as Paul had done in 1 Corinthians (these may be the “false apostles” Paul opposes in 2 Cor. 11:1-15). So Paul pays a brief visit to Corinth, where he finds open rebellion and insult (2 Cor. 2:5 and 7:12). He leaves, writes a “letter of tears” (2 Cor. 2:4; 7:12) and then sends his other companion Titus to check up on the house churches. Titus is apparently successful, so Paul sends a letter of rejoicing and reconciliation (2 Cor. 1:1-2:13; 7:5-16).

Our text for Aug. 10 is part of that final letter. We’d like to know who had insulted Paul and why. Was it the man living with his father’s wife whom Paul had asked to be shunned (1 Cor. 5:1-8)? Was it a patron who kept on visiting prostitutes (1 Cor. 6:12-20)? Or a host who ate his own supper before the others could come to the common meal (1 Cor. 11:17-34)? Or someone who thought he or she was more spiritual than other church members (1 Cor. 12:1-31)? We’ll never know. All we see is a passionate missionary emotionally involved with his converts who have a hard time leaving their pagan values behind.

How do you put up with members of your church who do not share values that are important to you?
In 2 Cor. 4:2-15, Paul expresses his passion through vivid poetry. This text is probably part of the “letter of tears” he wrote before the letter we read in the last two lessons. In simple prose, the text goes something like this: God’s light has come to earth through Jesus Christ, who reflects his image. But this good news is veiled from those who are unbelievers; the “god of this world” has blinded their eyes (4:4).

But even we who hold this treasure of light and truth are far from perfect. We are like fragile ceramic pots or lamps who hold valuable treasures. We are cracked and broken so that people can see the contrast between God’s power and our limited humanity. Yet Jesus himself identified with our weakness, becoming, as it were, a clay pot himself, so that “his life might be made visible in us” (4:11).

A friend of mine is troubled because one of her brothers is dying of bone cancer and suffers much. She asks how God can allow this to happen when he is such a kind person and always ate right and never smoked or drank. I’ve never met him, but he sounds like one of the clay pots that the light of God is shining through. Are there similar clay pots in your experience?

In your own life, can you identify with some of the hardships Paul endures (4:8-9)? Though most of us are not directly persecuted because of Christ’s light in our clay pots, remaining faithful under stress is not easy. National Public Radio recently began a series on stress in our contemporary lives. The top two issues are worries over health and money. Discuss how you deal with stress. Is the life of Jesus visible in your mortal flesh (4:11)?

Reta Halteman Finger is retired from teaching Bible at Messiah College. She co-authored Creating a Scene in Corinth: A Simulation (Herald, 2013), a study of 1 Corin­thians for individuals and groups.