Bethesda Chapel
2001
SG Bible Study #11
Fragile Bodies in Pain (2 Cor 4:7-18)
Warm up songs (12
min)
Select songs with words: jars of clay, glory, death, life, eternity/eternal, Jesus’
resurrection, pain/affliction, grace.
Quiet Contemplation
(3 minutes)
Allow a short time of quiet contemplation before the penetrating light of the Holy Spirit
and the Word of God for private confession of known sins.
Prepare to be quick to listen, slow to speak, and be gracious in speech.
Warm
up (10 min)
List types of affliction and suffering, and categorize them:
Physical, Mental (see CS Lewis’ definition of Pain below)
Which is more difficult to endure?
Prayers (5 min)
Talk about a person you know who is suffering and pray for that person, during/after the
warm up session.
Read and notes key
words in the selected passage (10 min)
Text: 2 Cor 4:7-18
7
But we have this treasure (s) in earthen vessels,
in order that
this
all-surpassing power may be of God and not from us
8 in every (way)
we
are being afflicted but not crushed,
we
are at a loss but not despairing,
9
we are being persecuted but not deserted
we
are being cast down but not perishing
10 always
we
are bearing about the death of Jesus in the body
in
order that the life of Jesus in this body of ours may be manifested
11 for constantly
we the living ones being delivered to death through Jesus,
in
order that
even the life of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh.
12 So then as death operates in us
but life
operates in you.
13 And having
the
same spirit of
(the) faith according to what has been written,
“I
believed, therefore I spoke,”
thus
we believe, therefore we speak”
14 knowing that
the
one having raised the Lord Jesus and us with Jesus,
He
will also raise and present (us) with you (pl).
15 For all (the) things (are) for you (pl),
in
order that
as grace increased through more and more people,
the
thanksgiving may cause to abound to the glory of God.
16 Therefore
we
do not become discouraged,
on
the contrary
if
indeed our outer man is wasting away (pre pass),
yet
our inner (man) is being renewed (pres pass) day by day
17 For our momentary light affliction (s) prepares for us
an
eternal weight of glory that far outweighs it.
18 So we do not pay attention to the things that are seen,
but
(to) the things that are not seen,
or
the things that are not seen
are eternal.
Key words
In order that (vv7, 11, 15)
In every way (v8), always (v10), constantly (v11)
Paradoxes
v7
treasure in earthen vessels
vv8,9
“down but not out”
vv10-12 by
bearing death of Jesus, the life of Jesus is manifested
vv13-14 principle
of faith and God’s promise
v15 all
for God’s glory
v16 the
outer man is wasting away, the inner man is being renewed
v17 the
light temporary affliction versus the eternal weight of glory
v18 what
is seen is temporary, what is not seen is eternal
Structure
Vv 1-15
The glory of God demonstrated in weakness and by faith (cf 2 Cor 12:9)
Vv 16-18 The
eternal weight of glory and light momentary affliction (cf Eph 1:18)
Discussion
questions (40 min)
Q1 Read and
observe the literary style in 2 Cor 4:7-18.
a) See the paradoxes
b) Select one of the paradoxes and share an
insight or an experience.
Q2 How can the death of Jesus and the life of Jesus be manifested at the same time? (cf 2 Cor 2:15-16)
Q3 If the invisible things are eternal and the visible things are temporal, why should we as Christians still pay attention to the things that are seen? (cf Mt 25:35-42; 1 Tim 4:8; 1 Jn 3:17,8; 1 Jn 4:12,20).
Personal Challenge and Application (10 min)
1. Consider the present troubles or afflictions that
you are enduring through faith for the sake of Christ.
Do you experience His power and grace, and do you give thanks to God through Jesus?
2. Consider what pain and agony, Jesus endured so that He
might save you and through you,
as living letters of God,
grace can spread to others, and He can save others.
Pray for those who are
not saved, act on the next step to share your faith and the truth of the Gospel.
Additional
Reading
The Problem of Pain by C.S. Lewis
Pain below a certain level of intensity may not be resented and may even be liked.
“The
truth is that the word Pain has two senses that must be distinguished: A.
A particular kind of sensation, probably conveyed by specialized nerve fibres, and B.
Any experience, whether physical or mental, which the patient dislikes. It will be noticed that all Pains in sense A
become Pains in sense B if they are raised above a certain level of intensity, but that
Pains in the B sense need not be Pains in the A sense.
Pain in the B sense, in fact, is synonymous with “suffering’,
‘anguish’, tribulation’, ‘adversity’, or ‘trouble’, and
it is about it that the problem of pain arises” (p71).
“.. the pain which alone could rouse the bad man to a knowledge that all was not well, might also lead to a final and unrepented rebellion.”(p98).