The Sincerity of Ministry and Divine Knowledge

God stands helping us, so that we may be bold to remain under his providence through and in him; having slightly withdrawn from his help, he persuaded that it is necessary always to trust in him. For such trust not only guards those living in life, but also brings back those having cast it off, raising them again from the dead. Therefore we rouse ourselves, and we enjoin upon you not to have trust based on a familiar power, so that we do not fall away from life, but let us hope in God, who will vivify us even if we become in death.

And know that, although we had trouble and struggle from the seizing, most heavy affliction, yet the branches stood even unto the heart; for we had the response of death, having judged our own death even unto the thoughts. Having done nothing reckless... whence also we had a good concept about the necessity of trusting in the one raising from the dead and rescuing from death. To these matters, it is fitting the fact that I was troubled and did not speak, and that concerning Job, how he did not sin with his lips against the Lord, despite bitter and fearful things having happened to him.

But it is manifest that these matters are not written concerning common living and death; for he says: 'He who rescued from such a great death, and rescues, and will yet rescue, is the one in whom we have hoped' (2 Cor 1:10). For if these things were being said concerning common death, those saying these things would never not die, becoming outside of it according to time, but rather those confirming these things would have died the common death; for they say concerning death that it tears the soul away from eternal life.

In these matters, he teaches how truly great and divine gifts are given, of many prayers being sent up for one person receiving (2 Cor 1:11). Therefore also he says that he is rousing us toward goodwill and disposition toward him: 'I was rescued from such a great death by God, being joined with you in your prayer on my behalf, so that the grace coming to us, the ones being afflicted, from many representing peoplemight be thanked by many' (2 Cor 1:11). For if many were co-workers with the prayer toward the gift that has come to pass, it is following that these same should thank the God who provided (2 Cor 1:12). Our boasting toward God is witnessed by the conscience; and it has been said concerning the conscience that the one not receiving...

This boasting, which serves as a witness of our conscience, prepared us to conduct ourselves in holiness and sincerity, not by human instruction, but throughout the whole world, and especially toward you. For the one teaching according to the Gospel does not promise a human instruction, but that which comes from the holy writings, which is sincere because it is an external key. He called the wisdom concerning sensible things 'fleshly,' which the one possessing it does not contain the wisdom of the Spirit, regarding it as folly. It is the custom of the Scripture to call the lessons concerning cosmic and material things 'fleshly'; likewise, the mindset of the flesh is so called, and in the works of the flesh, heresies, sorceries, and idolatries are included. For these things are no longer to be explicitly called 'fleshly' by being named from the sensible flesh; for it has been said concerning the material state, by which the one acting according to the flesh is said to walk, and becomes fleshly having been overcome by sin. Nevertheless, even if we have conducted ourselves in holiness and sincerity in the whole inhabited world, we have nonetheless accomplished this more and more toward you.

You have received to read the Gospels and the Law and the Prophets; we write nothing other than what you read (2 Cor 1:13-14). For just as those are God-breathed, which we engrave in the epistles, so are they. Therefore, you also recognize this very thing, having a partial discussion until the end. But we hope with God to find that you come to full knowledge until the end, that is, perfectly and without fail; for having known us in part, and always receiving an increase in the knowledge of the things known and other theorems by that knowledge which surpasses, you will have a perfect vision, just as we write the same things to Moses and the prophets and the evangelists; for the God who came to them as the Word speaks in us, being no other than Christ. And I am confident that with your disposition being thus, that you boast in us; for you yourselves are our boasting in the day of the Lord, in which he will judge those who are made manifest at his judgment seat. And it is possible for the illumination occurring in the souls by the true light to be a day of the Lord Jesus Christ (2 Cor 1:15-16). By this word I demonstrate that the Corinthians, being benefited, had joy in improving themselves. Therefore, by this, intending again with this purpose...