Only God Qualifies a Man for Ministering His Word. (2 Corinthians 3-4)

Heart of a Shepherd

Jun 02, 2023

Translations

Chinese (Simplified)

只有神才能使人有资格传道他的道。 (2哥林多前书3-4)

Arabic

الله وحده يؤهل الإنسان لخدمة كلمته. (كورنثوس الثانية 3-4)

Chinese (Traditional)

只有神才能使人有資格傳道他的道。 (2哥林多前書3-4)

Italian

Solo Dio qualifica un uomo per ministrare la Sua Parola. (2 Corinzi 3-4)

Thai

พระเจ้าเท่านั้นที่มีคุณสมบัติเหมาะสมที่จะปฏิบัติศาสนกิจตามพระวจนะของพระองค์ (2 โครินธ์ 3-4)

Hebrew

רק אלוהים מכשיר אדם לשרת את דברו. (2 לקורינתים 3-4)

Vietlabelse

Chỉ có Đức Chúa Trời mới đủ tư cách để một người tuân theo Lời Ngài. (2 Cô-rinh-tô 3-4)

Swahili

Ni Mungu Pekee Anayemstahilisha Mwanadamu kwa Kuhudumu Neno Lake. ( 2 Wakorintho 3-4 )

Malay

Hanya Tuhan yang Melayakkan Seorang Lelaki Melayani Firman-Nya. (2 Korintus 3-4)

Portuguese

Somente Deus qualifica um homem para ministrar Sua Palavra. (2 Coríntios 3-4)

Swedish

Endast Gud kvalificerar en man för att betjäna hans ord. (2 Korintierbrevet 3-4)

Dutch

Alleen God kwalificeert een man om Zijn Woord te dienen. (2 Korintiërs 3-4)

Danish

Kun Gud kvalificerer en mand til at forkynde hans ord. (2 Korintherbrev 3-4)

Romanian

Numai Dumnezeu califică un om pentru a-și sluji Cuvântul. (2 Corinteni 3-4)

Hindi

केवल परमेश्वर ही मनुष्य को अपने वचन की सेवा करने के योग्य बनाता है। (2 कुरिन्थियों 3-4)

Haitian Creole

Se sèl Bondye ki kalifye yon moun pou minis Pawòl li. (2 Korentyen 3-4)

Russian

Только Бог делает человека пригодным для служения Его Слову. (2 Коринфянам 3-4)

Spanish

Solo Dios Califica a un Hombre para Ministrar Su Palabra. (2 Corintios 3-4)

Ukrainian

Лише Бог дає людині право служити Його Слову. (2 Коринтян 3-4)

Korean

오직 하나님만이 하나님의 말씀을 섬길 자격이 있는 사람입니다. (고린도후서 3-4장)

Urdu

صرف خُدا ہی ایک آدمی کو اپنے کلام کی خدمت کرنے کا اہل بناتا ہے۔ (2 کرنتھیوں 3-4)

Croatian

Samo Bog osposobljava čovjeka za služenje Njegovoj Riječi. (2. Korinćanima 3-4)

Japanese

神の言葉を奉仕する資格を人に与えるのは神だけです。 (2 コリント 3-4)

Tagalog

Ang Diyos Lamang ang Nagiging Kwalipikado ng Tao para sa Pagmiministeryo ng Kanyang Salita. (2 Corinto 3-4)

German

Nur Gott befähigt einen Menschen, seinem Wort zu dienen. (2 Korinther 3-4)

French

Seul Dieu qualifie un homme pour administrer sa parole. (2 Corinthiens 3-4)

French (Canada)

Seul Dieu qualifie un homme pour administrer sa parole. (2 Corinthiens 3-4)

Persian

فقط خدا یک مرد را برای خدمت به کلامش واجد شرایط می کند. (دوم قرنتیان 3-4)

Greek

Μόνο ο Θεός έχει τα προσόντα για έναν άνθρωπο να διακονεί τον Λόγο Του. (2 Κορινθίους 3-4)

Only God Qualifies a Man for Ministering His Word.  (2 Corinthians 3-4)

 

Scripture reading - 2 Corinthians; 2 Corinthians 4



The previous chapter closed on a note of thanksgiving and praise, when Paul declared victory in Christ, as he had opportunity to proclaim the Gospel “in every place” (2:14). As God’s messenger, he had known the privilege of proclaiming the sweet fragrance of the knowledge of Christ “in them that are saved, and in them that perish” (2:15).

 

The apostle’s privilege was to be used as God’s minister (2:17. Though many men corrupted the Word of God with their false doctrines (2:17a), Paul was committed to teach the sincere, unadulterated Word of God (2:17b). His motive was pure, untainted by any purpose that was not of the Lord. As God’s man (2:17c), he was conscious everything he did was “in the sight of God” (2:17d), and he had one message, “Christ” (2:17e).



2 Corinthians 3



Paul’s letter was not meant to “commend” or praise himself, nor did he come with letters of commendation from others to laud his ministry (3:1). In fact, he needed no other commendation for his life and ministry than the believers in Corinth (3:2). Paul wrote, “Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men: Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart” (3:2-3).

 

Essentially, Paul suggested, look at the believers in the church at Corinth, and judge him by their lives and testimonies. Though, in his first letter he had admonished them for their sins; in his second letter he commended them. They had humbled themselves, repented, and obeyed God’s Word.

 

Yet, Paul realized the work that was accomplished in the hearts of the believers in Corinth was the work of God (3:4-5). He was not able to change the hearts of men. He confessed he was not “sufficient [or qualified]…to think any thing as of [himself]; but [his] sufficiency,” his power “ [was] of God” (3:5).

 

Closing thoughts – The calling of those who teach God’s Word is to point men to Jesus Christ. Yet, a faithful minister and teacher knows it is God who equips, and makes “us able ministers of the new testament (renewed covenant)” (3:6). It does not matter how many degreed letters follow your name, or the references others might give you (3:1). Like Paul, a pastor and teacher’s ministry should be judged by examining the lives of those to whom he has ministered (3:2-3).

 

No one who ministers the Word of God should think he is sufficient or able to minister apart from God’s power (3:5-6).

 

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Copyright © 2022 – Travis D. Smith

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