We Are Your Rejoicing (11 Co 1--2:4)

The theme of this section is found in verse 1:14: "...we are your rejoicing even as you also are ours...." Paul rejoiced that God had empowered his ministry team to witness to the Corinthians that Jesus was the Son of God, with the result that they had believed and had become brothers and sisters in Christ with Paul.

Paul explained that the persecution his ministry endured caused them to trust not in themselves, but in God, and enabled them to share God's comfort with the Corinthians when they went through times of similar suffering.

Paul assured them of his love and explained his delay in returning to them: he was waiting to see if they had accepted his previous chastisement and if they had followed his instruction, so that when he came again, he would not have to chastise them further. He wanted their next meeting together to be a joyous one.

Chastisement by Paul is a form of accountability for the Corinthians and a means of instruction. In 1 Corinthians 5 he had chastised the church for tolerating incest by a member. He had instructed the church to chastise the member who was in sin. Paul's love for the Corinthians was evidenced by his willingness to rebuke them and help them to grow in their understanding of the Christian life.

It is clear that the Lord Jesus enables His followers to rejoice and to be joyful as each believer contemplates the love of Jesus (seen through salvation) and the love of the brethren. This joy is not diminished by persecution or suffering. Being a part of the family of the Lord Jesus, whether or not in times of trouble, is reason to rejoice.