The Life of Apostle PaulDevotion Time1
bible text
1 Corinthians 9:1-27
Am I not free?Am I not an apostle?Have I not seen Jesus our Lord?Are not you my workmanship in the Lord?2If to others I am not an apostle, at least I am to you, for you arethe seal of my apostleship in the Lord.
3This is my defense to those who would examine me.4Do we not have the right to eat and drink?5Do we not have the right to take along a believing wife,as do the other apostles andthe brothers of the Lord andCephas?6Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working for a living?7Who serves as a soldier at his own expense?Who plants a vineyard without eating any of its fruit? Or who tends a flock without getting some of the milk?
8Do I say these things on human authority? Does not the Law say the same?9For it is written in the Law of Moses,“You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain.” Is it for oxen that God is concerned?10Does he not certainly speak for our sake? It was writtenfor our sake, becausethe plowman should plow in hope and the thresher thresh in hope of sharing in the crop.11If we have sown spiritual things among you, is it too much if we reap material things from you?12If others share this rightful claim on you, do not we even more?
Nevertheless,we have not made use of this right, but we endure anythingrather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ.13Do you not know thatthose who are employed in the temple service get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in the sacrificial offerings?14In the same way, the Lord commanded thatthose who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel.
15ButI have made no use of any of these rights, nor am I writing these things to secure any such provision. For I would rather die than have anyonedeprive me of my ground for boasting.16For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. Fornecessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!17For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward, but if not of my own will, I am still entrusted witha stewardship.18What then is my reward? That in my preachingI may present the gospel free of charge, so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel.
19Forthough I am free from all,I have made myself a servant to all, that I mightwin more of them.20To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law.21Tothose outside the law I becameas one outside the law (not being outside the law of God butunder the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law.22To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak.I have become all things to all people, thatby all means I might save some.23I do it all for the sake of the gospel,that I may share with them in its blessings.
24Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receivesthe prize? Sorun that you may obtain it.25Everyathlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but wean imperishable.26So I do not run aimlessly; Ido not box as onebeating the air.27But I discipline my body andkeep it under control,lest after preaching to othersI myself should bedisqualified.
ANALYSIS
1 Corinthians 9:1-27
- Note the frequent occurrence of the words “free,” “right(s),” and “win.” How are these worked out in Apostle Paul’s life?
1 Corinthians 9:19-27
- Apostle Paul twice mentions the fact that he is free (vv. 1, 19) but also talks about his efforts to make himself a servant to all. How do these two seemingly mutually exclusive ideas co-exist in Apostle Paul’s—and in every believer’s—life?
- What does it mean to “discipline my body andkeep it under control?” Why is this kind of discipline necessary in Christian life (cf. Heb 12:3-4)?
1 Corinthians 9:12, 22-23
- Describe what it must have been like for Apostle Paul to live as depicted here. What do these verses show about Apostle Paul’s character and his life priority?
application
How does today’s text apply to you?
Personal prayer
Please write out a prayer of commitment or confession either based on today’s text, or upon reflection over recent events in your life.
bible text
2 Corinthians 4:1-18
Therefore, havingthis ministryby the mercy of God,we do not lose heart.2But we have renounceddisgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practicecunning orto tamper with God's word, butby the open statement of the truthwe would commend ourselves to everyone's conscience in the sight of God.3And evenif our gospel is veiled,it is veiled tothose who are perishing.4In their casethe god of this worldhas blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeingthe light ofthe gospel of the glory of Christ,who is the image of God.5For whatwe proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, withourselves as your servantsfor Jesus' sake.6For God, who said,“Let light shine out of darkness,”has shone in our hearts to givethe light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
7But we have this treasure injars of clay,to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.8We areafflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair;9persecuted, butnot forsaken;struck down, but not destroyed;10always carrying in the body the death of Jesus,so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.11For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.12Sodeath is at work in us, but life in you.
13Since we havethe same spirit of faith according to what has been written,“I believed, and so I spoke,” we also believe, and so we also speak,14knowing thathe who raised the Lord Jesuswill raise us also with Jesus andbring us with you into his presence.15Forit is all for your sake, so that asgrace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving,to the glory of God.
16So we do not lose heart.Though our outer selfis wasting away,our inner selfis being renewed day by day.17Forthis light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,18as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
analysis & Application
2 Corinthians 4:6-12
- Reflect on the words Apostle Paul uses to describe his life: “afflicted,” “perplexed,” “persecuted,” and “struck down” but, ultimately not “crushed,” “driven to despair,” “forsaken,” nor “destroyed.” What is the link between Apostle Paul’s paradoxical experience—“struck down, but not destroyed”—and “the life of Jesus”?
- What is the relationship between my frailty (“jars of clay”) and God’s “surpassing power” being revealed through my life? Think about the things that cause me to feel “afflicted,” “perplexed,” “persecuted,” or “struck down.” What should be my response to these things?
2 Corinthians 4:13-18
- Twice in this chapter Apostle Paul asserts that he “does not lose heart” (vv. 1, 16). Why does Apostle Paul “not lose heart” according to this passage?
- Reflect on the two contrasting themes in vv. 16-18, and arrange the contrasting pairs of wordsin two columns.
- How does one’s life focus shift from one column to the other? What does that process look like?
Personal prayer
Please write out a prayer of commitment or confession either based on today’s text, or upon reflection over recent events in your life.
bible text
2 Corinthians 6:1-10
Working together with him, then,we appeal to younot to receive the grace of God in vain.2For he says,
“In a favorable time I listened to you,
and in a day of salvation I have helped you.”
Behold,now is thefavorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.3Weput no obstacle in anyone's way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry,4butas servants of God we commend ourselves in every way:by great endurance,in afflictions,hardships, calamities,5beatings, imprisonments,riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger;6by purity,knowledge, patience, kindness,the Holy Spirit,genuine love;7bytruthful speech, andthe power of God; withthe weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left;8through honor and dishonor,through slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true;9as unknown, andyet well known;as dying, and behold, we live;as punished, and yet not killed;10as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing;as poor, yet making many rich;as having nothing,yet possessing everything.
ANALYSIS & APPLICATION
2 Corinthians 6:4-5
“The focus of Paul’s commendation . . . is once again on his divinely enabled endurance in the midst of adversity. . . . This endurance ‘commends’ Paul as a servant of God. . . . Those who lack such a divine recommendation can only engage in self-commendation.”[1]
- In what ways do Apostle Paul and his companions’ many sufferings “commend” them as servants of God?
- Do I have such “commendations” to back up my identity and message as a Christian?
2 Corinthians 6:8-10
- Reflect on the real difficulties, the actual pain and struggle that must lie behind the contrasting pairs of words listed here describing the life of ministry. Reflect also on the fact that all believers are called to be ministers.
- Think of the paradoxes in v. 10, and what they say about the glory and dignity of being servants of God. To what extent can I affirm these words as aptly describing my view of the Christian life, my actual experience as a Christian, and my personal vision for my life?
Personal prayer
Please write out a prayer of commitment or confession either based on today’s text, or upon reflection over recent events in your life.
bible text
2 Corinthians 11:16–29
16I repeat,let no one think me foolish. But even if you do, accept me as a fool, so that I too may boast a little.17What I am sayingwith this boastful confidence,I say not as the Lord wouldbut as a fool.18Sincemany boast according to the flesh, I too will boast.19For you gladly bear with fools,being wise yourselves!20For you bear it if someonemakes slaves of you, ordevours you, or takes advantage of you, or puts on airs, orstrikes you in the face.21To my shame, I must say,we were too weak for that!
But whatever anyone else dares to boast of—I am speaking as a fool—I also dare to boast of that.22Are they Hebrews?So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they offspring of Abraham? So am I.23Are theyservants of Christ?I am a better one—I am talking like a madman—with far greater labors,far more imprisonments,with countless beatings, andoften near death.24Five times I received at the hands of the Jews theforty lashes less one.25Three times I wasbeaten with rods.Once I was stoned. Three times Iwas shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea;26on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers,danger from my own people,danger from Gentiles,danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers;27in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night,in hunger and thirst, often without food,in cold and exposure.28And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety forall the churches.29Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to fall, and I am not indignant?
ANALYSIS
- This description of Apostle Paul’s life would become the measure of every subsequent generation of Christians who received the gospel through his life of obedience, intensity and love. What are some pictures, expectations, and norms of Christian life today that Apostle Paul’s life challenges and corrects? Or, to put in another way, what criticisms might contemporary Christians have toward someone who, today, pursued a similar life of zeal, sacrifice and suffering in ministering to others?
2 Corinthians 11:23-29
- Reflect on all the ways in which Apostle Paul suffered in carrying out his ministry.
- In the midst of all his troubles, Apostle Paul says “apart from other things,” he faces “daily pressure.” What was the source of his “daily pressure”?
- What might be the relationship between Apostle Paul’s amazing ability to endure hardships and what he says in vv. 28-29?
application
How does today’s text apply to you?
Personal prayer
Please write out a prayer of commitment or confession either based on today’s text, or upon reflection over recent events in your life.
bible text
2 Corinthians 7:2-16
2Make room in your heartsfor us.We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have taken advantage of no one.3I do not say this to condemn you, for I said before thatyou are in our hearts, to die together and to live together.4I am acting withgreat boldness toward you;I have great pride in you;I am filled with comfort. In all our affliction, I am overflowing with joy.
5For evenwhen we came into Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were afflicted at every turn—fighting without and fear within.6ButGod, who comforts the downcast,comforted us by the coming of Titus,7and not only by his coming but also by the comfort with which he was comforted by you, as he told us of your longing, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced still more.8Foreven if I made you grieve with my letter, I do not regret it—thoughI did regret it, for I see that that letter grieved you, though only for a while.9As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, butbecause you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief, so that you suffered no loss through us.
10Forgodly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereasworldly grief produces death.11For see what earnestness this godly grief has produced in you, but also what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing,what zeal, what punishment! At every point you have proved yourselves innocent in the matter.12So although I wrote to you, it was not for the sake of the onewho did the wrong, nor for the sake of the one who suffered the wrong, but in order that your earnestness for us might be revealed to you in the sight of God.13Thereforewe are comforted.
And besides our own comfort, we rejoiced still more at the joy of Titus, because his spirithas been refreshed by you all.14Forwhatever boasts I made to him about you, I was not put to shame. But just as everything we said to youwas true, so also our boasting before Titus has proved true.15And his affection for you is even greater, as he remembersthe obedience of you all, how you received him with fear and trembling.16I rejoice, because I have completeconfidence in you.
1 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 17-20
For you yourselves know, brothers,that ourcoming to youwas not in vain.2But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treatedat Philippi, as you know,we had boldness in our Godto declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of muchconflict.3Forour appeal does not spring fromerror orimpurity orany attempt to deceive,4but just as we have been approved by Godto be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, notto please man, but to please Godwho tests our hearts.5For we never came with words of flattery,as you know, nor with a pretext for greed—God is witness.
. . .
17But since we were torn away from you, brothers, for a short time,in person not in heart, we endeavored the more eagerly and with great desireto see you face to face,18because we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, again and again—but Satanhindered us.19For what is our hope orjoy or crown of boastingbefore our Lord Jesus at hiscoming? Is it not you?20For you are our glory and joy.
1 Thessalonians 3:1-13
Therefore when we could bear it no longer, we were willingto be left behind at Athens alone,2and wesent Timothy,our brother and God's coworkerin the gospel of Christ, to establish and exhort you in your faith,3that no one be moved by these afflictions. For you yourselves know thatwe are destined for this.4For when we were with you, we kept telling you beforehand that we were to suffer affliction,just as it has come to pass, and just as you know.5For this reason,when I could bear it no longer,I sent to learn about your faith,for fear that somehowthe tempter had tempted you andour labor would be in vain.
6Butnow that Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us the good news ofyour faith and love and reportedthat you always remember us kindly andlong to see us, as we long to see you—7for this reason, brothers,in all our distress and afflictionwe have been comforted about you through your faith.8For now we live, if youare standing fast in the Lord.9Forwhat thanksgiving can we return to God for you, for all the joy that we feel for your sake before our God,10as we pray most earnestlynight and daythat we may see you face to face andsupply what is lacking in your faith?
11Now mayour God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus,direct our way to you,12and may the Lordmake you increase and abound in lovefor one another and for all, as we do for you,13so that he mayestablish your hearts blameless in holiness beforeour God and Father, atthe coming of our Lord Jesuswith all his saints.
ANALYSIS
- What words in the text reveal Apostle Paul’s heart?
- What do these passages reveal about Apostle Paul’s source of sorrow, stress, gladness, and joy?
- What would it look like for today’s Christians, and today’s churches, to imitate Apostle Paul in these ways?
application