Postscript of Paul
Notes
Transcript
Letters, one of the oldest forms of communication, that still exists today. Many letters have been written. Letters for updates and news, letters for warm wishes, letters of rebuke and concern, letters of business. Letter’s are a part of our history. Now, it is true that with the advancement of technology, fewer and fewer people are actually writing letters. It’s so easy now for us to whip up a quick text or email or message on our social media platforms that letters simply aren’t convenient anymore. There certainly comes some great good out of having these instant forms of communication. But what is one thing that these forms of communication usually lack that is typically gained when writing a letter. There are probably several things to be fair but one specific thing that comes to mind is forethought that goes into a letter before it’s letter. People actually taking time to think through what they are going to say and say meaningful things before it’s put on paper. Even our emails that resemble letters better that chat or text don’t fully get the forethought that writing on paper does, because with a quick click of a few buttons, we can quickly edit and change our important email without a sweat. The beauty of writing a letter does rest in the great care and consideration of the person writing the letter. But what happens if in the midst of your writing, you suddenly forgot to add a very important concern or update or task or whatever. Let’s where the old P.S. came in real handy.
Anyone know what P.S. stands for.
PS means “postscript”. This acronym comes from the Latin term post scriptum, literally meaning “after text”. Back when people used to handwrite or typewrite letters (and trusted they’d reach their intended audience), PS allowed the writer to include an additional thought, after the letter has been crafted and signed.
P.S. Make sure you wash your cloths everyday. P.S. Your cousin got engage. P.S. Wouldn’t you love to see Lanny bald. P.S. are used in alot of ways to add one more additional comment, instruction, fun thought, or just make your letter more personal.
With all the editing software we have available to us, is that making the P.S. no longer needed and becoming obsolete. The answer is actually no. P.S. has come to invade our current culture. Instead of using it to insert thoughts that were forgotten, today it’s used much more to grab people’s attention. We live in a world where many people will skim read through a larger text but will always gravitate to what is first said and what is last said. Often times, people will even look at P.S. even before reading the actual message. So the postscript has become now a tool for people for add final thoughts that may not have been related to a previous topic, but also to add emphasis to some important truths.
Now how does that relate to Paul’s letter to the Corinthians. As we approach Paul’s final chapter in this wonderful letter, I want you to sort of think of it like a postscript. It’s not identical because he does close his letter with the typical “from Paul” kind of thing and the things he wrote about in chapter 16 probably weren’t all just random thoughts that came to his mind at the end. But it is true that they share resemblance to a P.S. in the same way that they are short in comments, instructions, updates, and reminders. And as usual Paul wanted them to know as see the personal side of his writing as well.
So with that we are gonna look at the Postscript of Paul- Final Instructions and Greetings as we wrap up this wonderful and deep letter to this church who had yet still much to work on.
His first “P.S” is an answer to a question that may have been briefly posed about giving to which Paul says...
P.S. Make Sure You Give (v.1-4)
P.S. Make Sure You Give (v.1-4)
Now concerning the collection for the saints: as I directed the churches of Galatia, so you also are to do. On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come. And when I arrive, I will send those whom you accredit by letter to carry your gift to Jerusalem. If it seems advisable that I should go also, they will accompany me.
A few things we should make note about this instruction. First we notice a familiar phrase. “Now concerning…” This was phrase Paul used before, not just once, but at least 4 times. Now concerning marriage, singles, food offered to idols (Christian liberty), spiritual gifts, and now giving. As we talked about this before, what was Paul likely doing with these topics. He was answering questions they had about them. Now if we were to go back, most of these chapters he answered in lengthy sections. Some three whole chapters were given. Here about giving, it’s only a given a short look (four verses in our Bibles) much like a P.S. statement.
Something else we should notice about this command and this question the Corinthians posed. Where did this thought come from? Somehow, it would seem, that the Corinthians got word that Paul was collecting money for the saints (fellow believers) in Jerusalem and was instructing churches in Galatia to do so. So here Paul points out that these believers ought also to give to these saints in Jerusalem.
The question may be why where they giving to the people (saints of Jerusalem).
At present, however, I am going to Jerusalem bringing aid to the saints. For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make some contribution for the poor among the saints at Jerusalem.
Couple of things surface here… Jerusalem the mother church, where the church first started, had a large number of people in it’s congregation who were poor and needing aid. Couple different explanations surface about the reason of the poverty. Famines had occured all over Israel during some of that time. Two, I think I read this from Warren Wiersbe, the poverty may have had to do with so many of them being travels and not residents of Jerusalem when the Gospel went out on the day of Pentecost and some 3000 people, mostly Jews, became followers of Christ. They would have traveled from far away to take part in the feasts that were celebrated and while their Peter and the other disciples were suddenly speaking in many different tongues, recognizable languages, that those who heard marveled at it. Regardless, as they received Christ and becoming followers of him, these new disciples were not afraid to leave home and possessions behind to make being part of the church their priority. Once moved to the new city, it was difficult to find work and keep a steady income.
So there is a big hint here for us today as to why churches are failing. The reason we see so much fallout is Christians today don’t prioritize their church family like the first church and first disciples did. And so with so many making the “Sacrifice” to forsake wealth and follow Christ, the church took it upon themselves to meet their needs. Thus we have the passage in Acts 2 where the church was said to have shared all the possessions so no one had need. Well, it was apparent that their wasn’t enough wealth to meet the needs of the people so when Paul and Barnabas were commissioned to go to the gentiles as Paul recounts in Galatians 2, Peter and the other leaders of the church had only one directive that they wanted Paul still to fulfill.
and when James and Cephas and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given to me, they gave the right hand of fellowship to Barnabas and me, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. Only, they asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.
Remember the poor in Jerusalem and make sure that the other people and churches meet the needs of people they have never met. And yet, Paul says, it shouldn’t be difficult for these gentiles to give material possessions to these needy Jews they never met. Returning to Romans 15, we see why.
For they were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have come to share in their spiritual blessings, they ought also to be of service to them in material blessings.
The gentiles got the blessing of sharing in the inheritance of being called God’s children. Not that the Jews had any say in that really. God knew the special nation of Israel would fail to wholly devote themselves to God even though He was actively engaging with them as their God and giving them special treatment. So their rebellion opened up the door for salvation to come to the gentiles. A gift far more valuable then any material thing the Gentiles could have held on to.
So what were then Paul’s instructions from this quick command of giving.
Paul’s Instructions Concerning Giving
Paul’s Instructions Concerning Giving
- Giving should be regular and weekly.
- Giving should be regular and weekly.
“On the first day of the week”....
Giving should not be sporatic or completely spontaneous. There are certainly times for the that as the Holy Spirit leads, but for the most part, giving is a regularly thing. Giving is just as much a part of our worship as is our singing, our fellowship, our making in the Word of God.
Our giving should not be based on periodic emotional appeals or feelings, or on bonus income, but on regular, willing, and grateful commitment of our possessions to the Lord, to His people, and to His work
- Giving should include every person
- Giving should include every person
“Each of you....”
No Christian rich or poor is excluded from this command because each of us have things we can give and things we can live without. Just ask yourselves this. Why would I not give money each week to the church? Why am I not willing to part ways with it? Where would it be spent otherwise?
For us, we probably generalize and say bills, food, cost of living stuff right. But how many of us are being wise stewards of the possessions God has given us. How many of you actually make budgets and have a firm grasp on what you are actually spending your money of. A quick $5 purchase here and a quick snack from the gas station there and a little there. That all adds up.
I have a friend who I grew up with on the farm that everyday purchased an energy drink from the gas station. On some days, he would purchase 2 or 3. As many of you know, these energy drinks aren’t often very cheap. So on average, $10 a day wasn’t out of the question. That makes $70 a week, about $300 a month, and $3,650 a year on these snacks. He would talk to me about how we didn’t have alot of money but yet we never even considered how much money he was spending weekly.
The point of this is that we too may have really no clue on how much we are spending and how well we are at being stewards of what God has given us. So it’s important that obedience follows this command and we don’t rationalize how we need the money and don’t have the money to give to the church. We’ve heard it said before, it’s all God’s money anyways. He doesn’t need our money but does want our obedience, faithfulness, our trust, and our willing sacrificial hearts like He modeled for us.
how believers handle their money is inextricably related to the depth of their worship. Whether we put money in the offering plate every Sunday or not, weekly worship should remind us of our continual stewardship of the possessions the Lord has entrusted to us. If we do not give properly we cannot worship properly.
“One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches?
- Giving should be done privately.
- Giving should be done privately.
“To put aside and store it up...”
A more literal translation of each one of you put aside and save would be “each one of you by himself lay up, or store up.”
This is not a indication that people should have a “safe treasury” at home or some other place. That storehouse was the church. That is why Paul made that statement, “that no collections be made when I come.” He wanted the church to have a safe place to keep the funds collected. But as indicated in the literal translation, each one of you by himself lay up and store… indicates that this is to be a very personal, very private kind of giving. Consider what Jesus says in Matthew 6:1-4
“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.
“Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
- Giving should proportionate to how much God has given you.
- Giving should proportionate to how much God has given you.
“As he may prosper”/ “according to how God has given them”
It’s a joy that God gives us the opportunity to reflect our love for Him in a gift freely of our own choosing. There isn’t a set amount that all of us have to give, nor is there a set percentage we are called to give. Nowhere in the New Testament will you find a percentage we need to give. We find a percentage, a tithe, a tenth of everything you possess found commanded in the Old Testament. We are not going to deeply dig into that today, but understand that Israelites had more than one tithe to give. They have 3 tithes. Not all where done every year, some where every third year, or only on certain years. But rarely did the Israelites only give just 10 percent.
In the New Testament, we are commanded only to give as God has prospered you. Though 10 percent may be a good place to start, our giving should only increase honestly as God gives to us.
From the wisdom of the Proverbs, we are told...
Honor the Lord with your wealth
and with the firstfruits of all your produce;
then your barns will be filled with plenty,
and your vats will be bursting with wine.
The truth is that we give to the first and we give to Him generously.
One gives freely, yet grows all the richer;
another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.
God rewards the giver is the wisdom set out before us in this verse.
- Giving should be done with the proper heart/not pressured.
- Giving should be done with the proper heart/not pressured.
“No collecting when I come”
What does “no collecting when I come” refer to… I believe we could say that Paul was not desiring the church to do some massive fundraiser Sunday. And perhaps, why would he not want that. Most likely, because he wanted them to give not under pressure and not thought through, he wanted them to give with absolute fore thought and with a right heart that characterizes their continued willing sacrifice.
This follows with what Paul said to them in 2 Corinthians 9:7
Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
Through studying this passage, I’ve wondered why the order of the letter of Corinthians was written this way. Why spend so much time in the mid to latter sections answering their questions, to then get to what is probably one of the primary reasons he wrote to them, the Resurrection, which in my mind is the most excellent way to finish is letter. But to go from that massive truth to then one more quick answer to a question and then some final instructions. It seems kinda odd. Of course, it is exactly how God moved Paul to write. And what makes this order so interesting now is that the instruction to giving comes after the most essential truth that we should celebrate, give praise for, and be motivated to serve… The Resurrection. So this command to give has all the more intensity. Therefore, be steadfast immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord. What work should we abound in? Now concerning the the collection for the saints. You should abound in your giving. As the Lord has given us much, we should continue to abound more and more in our giving.
Unfortunately, it seems quite the opposite. The more wealthier we become the less proportionate we give. Sure it might be more money than other’s give, but less proportionate to what we actually have. We might say, well we can’t we have all these bills to pay. And these bills they pay are for all these fancy things that we get. New trucks, new boats, new homes, new toys, new household amenities that we’ve went in debt to buy and now we give far less to the Lord then we should. Don’t be unwise stewards of the money the Lord has entrusted to you.
We know that the love of money is the root of all evil. That’s why it is hard for a rich man to serve the Lord. He is often tempted to be overly selfish with his things which cause him to be not faithful to the Lord.
- Giving should be done with accountability.
- Giving should be done with accountability.
“Those whom you accredit by letter to carry your gift to Jerusalem”
This instruction falls mainly on the church and those who handle funds in the church, but notice how above board Paul handled the money issue.
And when I arrive, I will send those whom you accredit by letter to carry your gift to Jerusalem. If it seems advisable that I should go also, they will accompany me.
Paul was determined to not even touch the money or be apart of it’s delivery process unless the church elected someone to deliver it on their behalf. Only then would Paul accompany them to deliver it. And why was Paul so particular in how the money was handled. He wanted nothing to be done which would give his adversaries areas to claim actual evil against him, nor did he want nothing to exclude him from the race of living for Jesus. It is a sad truth that many in churches today are excluded from serving because they never set up accountability in this area. Paul put it on the church to make sure they elected their people for this cause. He placed it upon them to have safeguards in this area. So too should our church take serious this thought. We have good practices but it’s always a good idea to continue to revisit and ensure that this is the best practice. All to easy is it to fall prey to the temptation of money.
- Giving should be primarily through the church /not individually.
- Giving should be primarily through the church /not individually.
We further notice that collections were always instructed to be given through the church. Independent giving is also important and should be done but as we have instructions in not just this letter to Corinth but in other Pauline letters, regular giving was always mandated through the church, making it the priority of giving if we are to be a Biblical people.
P.P.S Make Sure You Treat Your Leaders Well (v.5-18)
P.P.S Make Sure You Treat Your Leaders Well (v.5-18)
I will visit you after passing through Macedonia, for I intend to pass through Macedonia, and perhaps I will stay with you or even spend the winter, so that you may help me on my journey, wherever I go. For I do not want to see you now just in passing. I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord permits. But I will stay in Ephesus until Pentecost, for a wide door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.
When Timothy comes, see that you put him at ease among you, for he is doing the work of the Lord, as I am. So let no one despise him. Help him on his way in peace, that he may return to me, for I am expecting him with the brothers.
Now concerning our brother Apollos, I strongly urged him to visit you with the other brothers, but it was not at all his will to come now. He will come when he has opportunity.
Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love.
Now I urge you, brothers—you know that the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints— be subject to such as these, and to every fellow worker and laborer. I rejoice at the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus, because they have made up for your absence, for they refreshed my spirit as well as yours. Give recognition to such people.
The Corinthians really had been blessed by so many godly men and women who have given their very lives in service of the Lord and in service of these people, and Paul’s desire was for them to recognize these people and give them honor and treat them well.
How can they treat them well. There are a few things we pick up on from Paul’s final thoughts in his letter to the Corinthians.
- Be Patient and Understanding of Them
- Be Patient and Understanding of Them
Paul wrote of both himself and Apollos who would not be joining them as early as they the Corinthians had hoped. They wanted them their now. They wanted them to minister to them because they had urgent needs. And Paul wanted to be there to help and encouraged Apollos to be there to. Notice though what Paul said of his plans to travel back there. I will visit you.... and words that follow… “perhaps I will stay” “you may help me on my journey”, “I hope to spend some time with you” “if the Lord permits.” Paul’s desire was to go to them and spend much time with them but Paul recognized He doesn’t determine fully what is to happen with his life.
Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.”
Paul practiced this much in his life. Perhaps even more having had God change his direction from going northward to instead go to Macedonia. Paul would have even left right away but God opened the door of opportunity for the Gospel in Ephesus so he stayed. Still hoping though to go to them soon. Do you know, it is recorded that his plans changed not once, but twice. He never spent that lengthy winter with them. His second plan was to visit them going up through Macedonia then would pass back down on the way through to Jerusalem, but that never happened either. He only visited them once, for a short time, and for a disciplinary reason.
It would be easy for us to think that the Corinthian believers grumbled about this… complaining about this… making accusations of Paul and show little grace because honestly that happens all the time in today’s world. We live in such a me first mentality and have it your way right now, why aren’t they meeting my needs now, rather than truly living with a mentality, a biblical mentality, to think about others and understanding others more than themselves. We can be critical of our leaders in this way. We are not omnipresent and we strive to do the best we can, and we go where the Spirit and the needs are most. So be patient with your leaders and understanding. If you don’t understand, talk to them before you start bearing negative feelings and see how what they are up to. That’s what love does… hopes all things, believes all things, bear all things.
And when they cannot be there to help you. Paul has some words to say about that. In verse 12, Paul just said to them that in essence don’t count on Apollos coming for awhile and right after that what does he say.
Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.
Yes, godly leaders are important and part of God’s plan. They are essential in equipping the church. But God has given you also what you need to live uprightly through His Holy Spirit and the Word of God so that you can be watchful, and stand firm. Even when their leader wasn’t there, they were to act like men… be strong.
A church shouldn’t try to survive without a shepherd but it can when it’s needed to if God’s people would act like men and be strong. Growth can take place even if a pastor isn’t present. But the best thing is growth is for them to have that shepherd.
- Be Gracious & Encouraging
- Be Gracious & Encouraging
Now if Timothy comes, see that he is with you without cause to be afraid, for he is doing the Lord’s work, as I also am.
For what reason would Timothy have to be afraid. Well, the people of the church can be some of the most cruel and demeaning that a pastor will have to face. Not just the constant pressure of trying to live up to everyone expectations (which isn’t entirely biblical- we aren’t told to meet your expectations only the expectations of God and His Word whether you like that or not) and also meet the needs of everyone. An exhausting job as we live your burdens and work through your pains with you. We invest time and energy in equipping you to only see some to many of you guys not show up to things and unconcerned. That’s really disheartening. Really discouraging. But even worse than that. People in the church can be overly critical of their pastors. Looking for every single weakness and flaw and making sure everyone in the church knows it. We are people, and we are a work in progress. That’s the truth, there’s no arguing with that. And what Paul is saying is stop doing that.
Stop discouraging and ruining our leaders. Man, I’m not saying Pastors should do this, but it’s alarming at how many Pastors quite ministry because the very people that they are serving, investing time into, and loving and caring about, turn their backs on them and are cruel to them.
Paul knew that experience and it was very painful for him.
You are aware that all who are in Asia turned away from me, among whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes.
At my first defense no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me. May it not be charged against them!
We too can do this to our pastors. Discouragement is a really big thing. One that we find ourselves constantly begging the Lord to strengthen our resolves because our own people our own families have hurt us time and time again. May we not be people like this. May we never speak a word against our leaders. Or how are we any different then the carnal Christians at Corinth.
- Be Subject to Them
- Be Subject to Them
Finally, Paul says that as good followers of our Lord, we need to be subject to such people as these. That doesn’t just mean our pastors and leaders. But look at what is said here in verse. 15. The house of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia and they devoted themselves to the service of the saints. We are fortunate that God gives us many examples and leaders to follow. Men who speak the Word of God and men who live the Word of God also. These men may not have title, but they are to be honored and revered.
Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.
We’ve addressed this verse often here at the church, one that we by this time recognize well. But one thing we don’t often address about his verse is the later part of it. This verse reminds us what happens when you don’t submit to and follow your leader with joy, but instead grumble, groan, and complain about them. There is no advantage to you. There is no spiritual help, growth, joy, peace, etc. You will be just as stuck in sin as you were before. So ask your yourself why you are so negative about the leaders. Is it Biblical? Is it wrong? Well, even if it is wrong with what they are doing, your response to their unbiblical practice should be sinful. Complaining, gossiping, bickering, negativity are all sinful responses to your leaders. If it is truly unbiblical and you believe it is wrong, then if you are godly you will respond in biblical and godly ways to the problem which include speaking with them directly. Using scripture. Listening first and listening well. Discerning the issues and above all else still wanting to love the church and it’s people and leaders.
I trust that all of us will do as these in Corinth were told to do.... be subject to such as these and to every fellow worker and laborer… Why
because they
-devoted themselves to the service of the saints
-labored to refresh your spirits
-loved you more than you could possibly know. “My love be with you all in Christ Jesus.”