Exploring the Scripture

Paul has written to the church in Corinth several times. While this letter is called Second Corinthians, some Bible scholars suggest it is comprised of parts of several letters edited together. The consensus is that Paul had several communications with the church in Corinth as he offered guidance, instruction, and sometimes correction.

The church in Corinth existed amid an ethnically diverse trading center. The city hosted well-known athletic competitions that valued strength and power. And it was known as a hub of unfettered excess and immorality. Social and political hierarchies governed the everyday lives of the members in Corinth. Such ways of defining people by riches, status, and power continued to find expression in the Christian community.

In this part of Paul’s letter, we see cracks forming in the church community and relationships weakening. Even the community’s relationship with Paul is suffering. Paul writes to remind people the old ways of judging others by outside appearances or social status no longer are valid. People have been made new in Christ. Being newly created means putting aside the human lens that governed decisions, behaviors, and judgments. As transformed persons, they instead view themselves, others, and the world through a lens of oneness and unity in Christ.

This is what it means to be reconciled to God through the life, death, and resurrection of Christ. Christians express this when they reconcile with others. The ministry of reconciliation is the message carried by members of the body of Christ into the world. This is the “ambassadorship” of the Christian community.

During Lent, we reflect and confess. We can hear Paul anew as an individual disciple and as a faith community. We confess to judging others by status, giftedness, or appearance. The riches of the world have tempted us. We have allowed divisions to fracture relationships in families and communities.

We repent and turn from this worldly behavior and much-too-human view. We reclaim ourselves as new creations in Christ and recalibrate our journey on the path of the disciple.

Project Zion Podcast

Hosts Karin Peter and Blake Smith consider how this week's scripture connects to our lives today.

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Central Ideas

1. The human or worldly view is discarded, and we see others with a new perspective when we are made new creations in Christ.
2. God’s purpose is for all creation to be reconciled to God. We are called to heal broken relationships.
3. Disciples take Christ-like ministry and the message of reconciliation into the world.
4. Disciples and Christian communities model healthy relationships with God, others, and Earth.

Questions to Consider

1. When have I judged someone by their appearance, possessions, or status?
2. When have I avoided reconciliation? With whom am I called to reconcile?
3. How am I an ambassador for Christ in a world dominated by religious judgment, conflict, nationalism, and division?