2 Coríntios 3
John Piper · Citado em PreceptAustin
2 Coríntios 3:5-6
Piper puts it bluntly: As far as moral capacities are concerned, man without Christ can only say one thing honestly: I am nothing; God be merciful to me, a sinner. SAVIOR SUFFICIENCY NOT SELF SUFFICIENCY But (alla) introduces a distinct contrast (see discussion regarding the value of recognizing contrasts). Contrasts generally show a "change of direction" and in this case the change is from our adequacy in the spiritual realm and God's adequacy. In other words Paul presents describes man's inadequacy for spiritual work which then is the preparation for God's supernatural sufficiency. THOUGHT - Dearly beloved, do you have flaws, imperfections, blind spots, weaknesses, etc? Do not let these thoughts discourage or deter you from joining Him in His work! We do well to recall that if God had to depend on perfect people to accomplish His perfect work, He would never ever get anything done. On the other hand, our limitations and imperfections should motivate us to depend all the more on the always sufficient supply of God's grace and power. Later in this same epistle Paul prayed to have the "thorn" in his side removed which prompted Jesus to explain the paradoxical spiritual principle of the exchange of His strength for our weakness... "My grace is (present tense = continually, always) sufficient (arkeo) for you, for power is (present tense = an ongoing process [cp progressive sanctification], continually being) perfected in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may dwell in me (may rest upon me even as God's Shekinah glory cloud resided on the OT tabernacle). Therefore I am (present tense = continually, always) well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong. (2Co 12:9+, 2Co 12:10+) (See Spiritual Paradox in the Christian Life) Our adequacy is from God - From God is literally "out of" God. In defending His calling as an apostle Paul wants the Corinthians to understand that he is not sufficient in himself to fulfill his calling as a preacher, a teacher (2Ti 1:11+), an apostle of Christ Jesus (2Ti 1:1+) and a minister of Christ Jesus (Ro 15:16+)! And beloved neither are we! Paul is saying that in his ministry anything and everything (without exception) of eternal value is from God and through God which recalls his great doxology (expression of praise) in Romans... Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, OR WHO BECAME HIS COUNSELOR? Or WHO HAS FIRST GIVEN TO HIM THAT IT MIGHT BE PAID BACK TO HIM AGAIN? For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen. (Ro 11:33-36+) Adequacy (2426) (hikanotes from hikanos = able, sufficient) is used only here in Scripture (no uses in Septuagint) and means sufficiency, competency, ability, capacity. In short, hikanotes describes a state of being qualified for ministry. Possessing enough to meet the needs of ministry. Fitness and capability for ministry. In first Corinthians Paul emphasizes his dependence on God declaring that we (1Co 3:6) are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building. According to the grace of God which was given to me (cp "God's adequacy" to accomplish God's Work), as a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building upon it. But let each man be careful how he builds upon it. For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. (1Co 3:9-11) Paul amplifies this idea of "fellow workers" with God writing that... by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me. (1Co 15:9+, 1Co 15:10+) In Romans 8 Paul reminds his readers that "If God is for us (cp His adequacy for our inadequacy), who is against us?" (Ro 8:31+) so that "in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him (cp through His adequacy) Who loved us." (Ro 8:37+). Warren
2 Coríntios 3:18
Piper - We are changed by seeing the glory of God in the Word of God. (Wonderful Things from Your Word) Beholding as in a mirror (2734) (katoptrizomai from kata = down, intensifier + optanomai = see, perceive w eyes, look at) means to look in a mirror (cp Katoptron = the most common term in secular Greek writings for mirror, looking glass). To see indirectly or by reflection as in a mirror. In middle voice as discussed below means to look at as in a mirror or to contemplate. In the active voice it conveys the idea of to produce a reflection. The present tense pictures this action or effect as continual - either beholding or reflecting the glory of the Lord. The middle voice signifies a reflexive sense (yourself) and could be rendered "you yourself look in the mirror". The Pulpit Commentary in fact feels the middle voice favors the interpretation of beholding as in a mirror rather than reflecting as a mirror writing "No other instance occurs in which the verb in the middle voice has the meaning of “reflecting,” and the words, “with unveiled face,” imply the image of “beholding.” (2 Corinthians 3) Marvin
2 Coríntios 3:18
Piper - Being changed into the likeness of Jesus happens by seeing the beauty and worth and excellence of God and his Son and their words and ways. In 2 Corinthians 3:18 Paul says, “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.” Beholding is becoming. This is the only Christian way to change behavior so that it honors God. We change because we have seen a superior beauty and worth and excellence. If you look into the face of Christ and then look into Sports Illustrated or Glamour and are not moved by the superior beauty and worth and excellence and desirability of Christ, then you are still hard and blind and futile in your thinking. You need to cry out, “Open my eyes to see wonderful things out of your Word!” (Ps 119:18) And your life will show it. Where your treasure is—your desire, your delight, your beauty—there will your heart be also (Mt 6:21)—and your evenings and your Saturdays and your money. We are changed by seeing the glory of God in the Word of God. If God is not more glorious to you and more compelling to you than the luster and glory of the world, you haven’t seen him. 3 John 1:11 says, “The one who does evil has not seen God” (see also 1 John 3:6). So all this is important because all true life-change that honors God and has a spiritual worth to it comes from seeing the glory of God, not from making religious lists of behaviors and trying to copy them. (Wonderful Things from Your Word) Robert