Motives For Service
MOTIVES FOR SERVICE
2 CORINTHIANS 5:11-15
Paul suggests two motives for ministry in these verses.
Two motives of Paul’s ministry are suggested in these verses. What are they (5:11,14)? Is there any conflict between them?
The apostle exercises his God-entrusted tasks of preaching and teaching in no offhand manner. He marvels at the high dignity and privilege of the work committed to him (5:11). The term “persuade” has a double flavor; we try to win people for Christ (as Luke 5:10), and we try to convince them of our own purity of motives. The second view—complementary to the first—is the point of the appeal in 5:12-13.
He is turning to the allegations which had been brought against him that his intentions were insincere—and, indeed, that he was out of his mind! The apostle’s response to this insinuation, which was brought against Christ also (Mark 3:21), is to admit that he has known times and experiences of spiritual elation and ecstasy (see chapter 12) but he has never sought his own glory in these things, and all that has happened to him has ever been “for God,” ie to lead to his glory. Can you think of Jesus’ teaching which follows the same line (John 7:18f.)? Equally, in calm and “ordinary” moments of life he has always had the pastoral welfare of the Corinthians in view (5:13).
The basis of Paul’s teaching on reconciliation is laid in 5:14. Its foundation is the conviction which places the highest value on the death of Jesus Christ. This conviction may be spelled out in certain propositions: “One died for all, ie his people; and in him they all died—to sin and self; now they must all live for him.” The key terms are substitution, representation and renewal. “Christ’s death was the death of all, in the sense that he died the death they should have died; the penalty of their sins was borne by him; he died in their place; and that is why his love has such a compelling power over the believer, and engenders in him such undying gratitude” (Tasker). This sense of obligation leads to a new life in which self is dethroned and Christ becomes the new focal point (5:15).