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Scripture Text (NRSV)
4:3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are
perishing.
4:4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the
unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the
glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
4:5 For we do not proclaim ourselves; we proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord
and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus' sake.
4:6 For it is the God who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," who
has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the
glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
Comments:
What does it mean to be a slave for Jesus" sake? All of this about
the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ seems to go with the
Gospel text on the Transfiguration. Any comments on being a slave
would be appreciated. JOy
I'm reminded of one of the first questions I was asked in seminary:
"How do you KNOW what you know?" It seems that this passage has
something to say about that deep certain knowing; even though this
knowledge is veiled to some, I KNOW some unexplainable things about
God, some things about resurrection,about baptism, about
communion,about grace, that don't necessarily make sense in a
scientific rational world. Yet in my heart and soul they are true.
Being a slave (to the Corinthians, or to our parishioners) for Jesus
sake??? My feeling about it is that our hearts, in relationship to
Christ, in the knowledge of God's grace, have no will of their own;
that with Christ being the "Lord" or the Owner of our hearts and
lives, that precedes and defines everything else we say or do. The
wording is a little confusing - are we slaves to Christ or to the
Corinthians (or others to whom the gospel is veiled or hidden, to
those who are "perishing"). Verse 6 answers with the certainty that
"It is God who has shone...who gives the knowledge..."
JGentle, Ks
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