And in this confidence I was minded to come unto you before, that ye might have a second benefit;
Paul had purposed to come to Corinth first before passing on into Macedonia, that the believers there might receive a second benefit from his visit. God turned him aside from carrying out that immediate plan, because to have come then would have forced a crisis in which rebuke of the church could hardly have been avoided, and resistance to that rebuke might have imperiled souls. A letter was sent beforehand instead, laying open the wrongs existing among them and calling them to repentance and to deal faithfully with those who were bringing disgrace upon the cause, in order that when he should come afterward it might be in love and meekness and not with correction.
The verse stands as part of a lesson for all believers that God would have His ministers occupy a high and holy position, and that practical godliness does more to advance the work than mere preaching with words. Those who open the Word to others are to be self-denying in diet, taking only simple food which the stomach can digest without clouding the brain, and are to keep the body in the best condition of health that they may commend the truth to those for whom they labor. When called to meet together in assembly they are to know that they are prepared to go, having no right to go if their state of health will lead them to speak hastily and to view matters in a false light, but placing themselves where they can judge righteously and speak the words of God. In every such assembly Christ is present, angels ascend and descend the heavenly ladder, a living connection is formed between earth and heaven, and the glory of God rests upon the congregation. For this reason God requires those who stand before the people as His mouthpiece to possess clear discernment and to speak under the influence of His Spirit, with minds unclouded by indigestion, guarding the door of the lips and allowing nothing to enter that would create disturbance.
Paul had purposed to come to Corinth first before passing on into Macedonia, that the believers there might receive a second benefit from his visit. God turned him aside from carrying out that immediate plan, because to have come then would have forced a crisis in which rebuke of the church could hardly have been avoided, and resistance to that rebuke might have imperiled souls. A letter was sent beforehand instead, laying open the wrongs existing among them and calling them to repentance and to deal faithfully with those who were bringing disgrace upon the cause, in order that when he should come afterward it might be in love and meekness and not with correction.
The verse stands as part of a lesson for all believers that God would have His ministers occupy a high and holy position, and that practical godliness does more to advance the work than mere preaching with words. Those who open the Word to others are to be self-denying in diet, taking only simple food which the stomach can digest without clouding the brain, and are to keep the body in the best condition of health that they may commend the truth to those for whom they labor. When called to meet together in assembly they are to know that they are prepared to go, having no right to go if their state of health will lead them to speak hastily and to view matters in a false light, but placing themselves where they can judge righteously and speak the words of God. In every such assembly Christ is present, angels ascend and descend the heavenly ladder, a living connection is formed between earth and heaven, and the glory of God rests upon the congregation. For this reason God requires those who stand before the people as His mouthpiece to possess clear discernment and to speak under the influence of His Spirit, with minds unclouded by indigestion, guarding the door of the lips and allowing nothing to enter that would create disturbance.