LIVING WATERS
For the proclamation of the Gospel and the edification of the Body of Christ
I Believed, For Which I Spoke
Paul's experience – what is behind the inspired letters, the man Paul, the apostle, with his struggles and pains – is richly contained in the Second Epistle to the Corinthians. There are the dangers of him as he exercises his ministry, the agony of him as he wrote the First Epistle - even the intimate confessions of him kept for fourteen years. But we would like to focus our attention on the passage of chapter 4, from verse 7 to 13, to review his attitude in the midst of suffering.
"But we have this treasure in earthen vessels (the treasure is Christ; the earthen vessel is Paul), so that the excellence of the power may be from God, and not from us (in the believer there is no excellence, but what he has of God), that we are (here comes a breakdown of Paul's experience) troubled in everything, but not distressed; in trouble, but not desperate; persecuted, but not helpless; knocked down, but not destroyed (that is, always living limit-experiences, as if on the brink of catastrophe); always carrying in the body everywhere the death of Jesus (first mention of death), so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies".
"Because we who live are always delivered to death (second mention of death) because of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our mortal flesh. So that death acts in us (third mention of death), and life in you" (After this – after experiencing death so much – one might think that Paul has nothing more to do, however, this is not the case).
"But having the same spirit of faith (this is the spirit, the attitude that encourages him; this is the key to his victory), according to what is written (Scripture determines Paul's experience, not his adversities): I believed, for which I spoke (this is a quote from Psalm 116:10; Paul quotes only half of it; the other half says, "Being greatly afflicted"; that is, Paul's experience had also been that of the psalmist who inspired him), we also believe, therefore we also speak" (in the midst of the death that surrounds him, Paul believes and speaks).
Will Paul be detained in the difficult circumstances? Will he reflect deeply on why he is being broken like this? Will he figure out whether or not he will continue to fight? No. What he does is believe and speak. That is, ignoring what he gives against, he attends to the word – his food, his guide – and believes it. Then, in accordance with his call, he announces his message.
That is why, over and over again, Paul asks the churches to pray for him to have boldness in the proclamation of the message. Nothing shall silence the mouth of a heart that has believed. "I believed, for which reason I spoke", says the psalmist. "We also believe, for which reason we also speak", adds Pablo, joining the caravan of faith of so many believers who in another time gave up the hard battle. What will we say? If we also believe, we will also speak.