I CAN READ YOU LIKE A LETTER

My first vicar taught me that in the event of a dispute it is far better to see the person involved rather than write a letter. We can be grateful that on this occasion Paul didn’t follow that advice; otherwise, we would never have had this marvelous letter! Hovering in the background is the issue of the false teachers at Corinth who were trying to undermine Paul’s ministry. They followed the customary practice of providing letters written by other churches (or possibly by themselves!) commending their work (v 1).

Paul did not need such testimony to authenticate his ministry: no character references, no framed qualifications on his office wall – just lives transformed by Jesus and indwelt by the Spirit of God (vs 2,3). He dispenses with pen and ink, instead pointing to flesh and blood people whose lives are an open letter able to be read by anyone. This approach puts the church on the right course. Would people visiting Corinth ‘read’ them? Perhaps this bit of the letter challenged them to ‘get a grip’ and mend their ways.

We too have care and responsibility for others – whether a child, partner, friend or colleague. Are their lives, as the result of our influence, a book that others would delight to read?!