SUMMARY
PaulThe Apostle Paul, originally known as Saul of Tarsus, was the author of several New Testament letters and the founder of many Christian communities. More depicts how the proclamation of JesusJesus is the Messiah whose life, death, and resurrection are God's saving act for humanity. More as MessiahThe Messiah was the one who, it was believed, would come to free the people of Israel from bondage and exile. In Jewish thought the Messiah is the anticipated one who will come, as prophesied by Isaiah. In Christian thought Jesus of Nazareth is identified... More and Lord—if it is to be genuine and not simply subtle self-promotion—cannot be divorced from serving one another through Jesus. Such proclamation, and its corresponding service, can take place in our lives because the Messiah’s light, which is the very light of God’s creative WisdomWisdom encompasses the qualities of experience, knowledge, and good judgment. The Old Testament book of Proverbs, which sometimes invokes a Woman as the personification of Wisdom, is a collection of aphorisms and moral teachings. Along with other biblical passages, it teaches, "The fear of the... More, shines forth in our hearts with the presence of the Messiah to those around us.
ANALYSIS
Because he relies solely on God’s mercyMercy is a term used to describe leniency or compassion. God's mercy is frequently referred to or invoked in both the Old and New Testaments. More, Paul does not lose heart in his ministry. He has renounced the shameful things one might hide and refuses to be engaged in the kind of cleverness that would deceive others or falsify God’s word—things he will accuse his rival apostles of doing (2 Corinthians 11:3-4). Rather, by an open manifestation of the truth he commends himself to everyone’s conscience before God (2 Corinthians 4:1-2; cf. 2 Corinthians 2:14).
And, he goes on, if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing (cf. 2 Corinthians 2:15; 1 Corinthians 1:18). Why? Because they have been blinded by the “god of this age,” the demonic power that seduces even the faithful with worldly wisdom—that is, ways of interpreting and responding to the world that value only power and wealth at the expense of mercy, righteousness, and justice (JeremiahProphet who condemned Judah's infidelity to God, warned of Babylonian conquest, and promised a new covenant. More 9:23-24; cf. 2 Corinthians 10:17-18; 1 Corinthians 1:31). Such blinding keeps them from—as the Greek word augazō indicates—both seeing and shining forth with the Messiah’s glory (cf. Leviticus 13:24-28). As Paul has already alluded to in 2 Corinthians 3:18, the Messiah’s glory lies in his being the very Wisdom by which God created the world—and thus “a reflection of eternal light, a spotless mirror of the working of God, and an image of his goodness” (Wisdom 7:26). Through participation in the Messiah’s life and death we too can see in one another and shine forth with ourselves “the light of the gospel of the glory of the Messiah, who is God’s image” (2 Corinthians 4:4; cf. 2 Corinthians 3:18; Romans 8:29).
Such seeing and shining forth with the Messiah’s glory takes place because our proclamation of Jesus as Messiah and Lord—if it is to be genuine and sincere, and not just a subtle form of self-promotion—cannot be divorced from serving those around us through Jesus (2 Corinthians 4:5; cf. Philippians 2:5-11). Indeed, the light of the Messiah, who is the very Wisdom through whom God created the world, is now shining in our hearts (IsaiahIsaiah, son of Amoz, who prophesied in Jerusalem, is included among the prophets of the eighth century BCE (along with Amos, Hosea, and Micah)--preachers who boldly proclaimed God's word of judgment against the economic, social, and religious disorders of their time. More 9:2-7; Genesis 1:3; Proverbs 8:25-31). This light empowers us to receive and embody the mercy, compassion, and righteousness the Lord demonstrated after the golden calf incident (PsalmA psalm is a song of praise. In the Old Testament 150 psalms comprise the psalter, although some of the psalms are laments and thanksgivings. In the New Testament early Christians gathered to sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs. More 112:4; cf. Exodus 34:36). As we do this, we become the Messiah’s face to one another, enlightening the world around us with, as Paul puts it, “the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus the Messiah” (2 Corinthians 4:6).
RELATED PASSAGES
Genesis 1:1-5 — The Creation of Light
Leviticus 13:24-28 — The Shining Forth and Healing of Leprosy Spots
Isaiah 9:2-7 — Hope for the Coming of the Messiah
Jeremiah 9:23-24 — Boasting in the Lord
Psalm 112:1-9 — The Generosity of the RighteousA righteous person is one who is ethical and faithful to God's covenant. Righteousness in the Old Testament is an attitude of God; in the New Testament it is a gift of God through grace. In the New Testament righteousness is a relationship with God... More
Sirach 24:1-33 — God’s Wisdom as God’s Torah
Wisdom 7:22a-30 — The Wisdom of God Personified
Mark 8:29-36 — Proclaiming Jesus as the Messiah
Mark 10:32-45 — The Son of Man Came to Serve
Romans 8:29-30 — Being Conformed to the Image of God’s Son