1. Context (BKC)
I. Introduction (1:1–11)
II. Apostolic Ministry (1:12–7:16)
A. Changed plans defended (1:12–2:11)
B. Glorious ministry described (2:12–7:16)
1. Triumphant in Christ (2:12–3:6)
2. Glory from the Spirit (3:7–18)
3. Power from God (4:1–15)
4. Eternal perspective (4:16b–5:10)
The ministry triumphed in Christ (2:12–3:6), was glorious because of the ministry of the Spirit (3:7–18), and received its power from God (4:1–15). Now Paul turned to another aspect of this ministry, its eternal perspective.
2. Content
v.16b but even if our physical body is wearing away, our inner person is being renewed day by day
(WBC) Paul now faces the inevitable result of wear and tear on his human frame
i. comparison in v.16-18
outer wearing away vs inner being renewed day by day
temporary light suffering vs eternal burden of glory (far beyond all comparison)
do not look at temporary things that is seen vs the unseen eternal thing
It is obvious that which one Paul wants us to put our emphasize on without denying the existence of the other. From the comparison of the physical vs non-physical, Paul changed the topic to the temporary vs eternal in ch 5.
(WBC) “day by day"...gives us a clue when we read it in the light of 1 Cor 15:31: “I die every day”...Paul’s physical existence was wasting away and the death sentence was already in process. Yet his “inmost self” (Rom 7:22, RSV) is undergoing renewal—...by the hope of resurrection which entails a future for the outward person in his bodily existence (σῶμα)
ii. comparison in 5:1-4
our earthly house, the tent we live in : when it is dismantled we will have the building from God, when in this earthly house we groan because we desire to put on our heavenly dwelling, when we are in this we are weighed down because we do not want to be unclothed, but clothed
vs
a building from God: not built by human hands, eternal, in heavens, after we have put on, we will not be found naked
*The word for naked ( (BDAG, Of the soul, whose covering is the body) is not the same for unclothed (BDAG Fig., of the body as a garment...we do not want to strip ourselves). The word for put on v.2 is the same as clothed v.4.
Our inner being, or our spirit will be put on with an eternal building prepared by God. Our soul will have an covering and being protected and secure. This secure, intimate dwelling with God is what we desire and what we cannot achieved while we are living on earth.
Another suffering in this earthly live is that we are being stripped or being humiliated which is not what we want, but we longed for the day that we can be with God in heaven.
3. Conclusion and reflection
Compared with the earthly thing, our spiritual satisfaction from God is much more. However, am I too satisfy with the present stage or am I longing for the eternal, ultimate, secure, intimate relationship with God in the eternal stage? How attractive is the eternal stage to me?
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