Parental Guidance – 2 Corinthians 12:11-21

The Motion Picture Association relates that the film rating system was created in 1968 to provide parents with the information needed to determine if a film is appropriate for their children. The rating PG, for example, means parental guidance is suggested because the movie contains material that might not be suited for children.

Parental guidance. That’s what Paul is giving to the Corinthian congregation.

I have been a fool! You forced me to it, for I ought to have been commended by you. For I was not at all inferior to these super-apostles, even though I am nothing. The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with utmost patience, with signs and wonders and mighty works. For in what were you less favored than the rest of the churches, except that I myself did not burden you? Forgive me this wrong!

Here for the third time I am ready to come to you. And I will not be a burden, for I seek not what is yours but you. For children are not obligated to save up for their parents, but parents for their children. I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If I love you more, am I to be loved less? But granting that I myself did not burden you, I was crafty, you say, and got the better of you by deceit. Did I take advantage of you through any of those whom I sent to you? I urged Titus to go, and sent the brother with him. Did Titus take advantage of you? Did we not act in the same spirit? Did we not take the same steps?

Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves to you? It is in the sight of God that we have been speaking in Christ, and all for your upbuilding, beloved. For I fear that perhaps when I come I may find you not as I wish, and that you may find me not as you wish—that perhaps there may be quarreling, jealousy, anger, hostility, slander, gossip, conceit, and disorder. I fear that when I come again my God may humble me before you, and I may have to mourn over many of those who sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual immorality, and sensuality that they have practiced. (2 Corinthians 12:11-21 ESV)

Even though Paul has “boasted” so as to demonstrate that he is not inferior to the super-apostles, he is ultimately nothing but the vessel God used to perform signs and wonders among them at the preaching of the gospel and to become their parent in the faith.  The super-apostles assert that Paul only chose not to receive an income from the Corinthians in order to trick them into enriching him later, but none of the delegates he sent them took money either.  Everything he has done was to build them up.

Now, as he plans to come to them he is concerned that there will be some harsh interactions stemming from impure motives and that as a loving parent he will have to mourn over many of them because of their refusal to repent of various sexual sins.  False teaching often is a cloak for immoral activity and a justification for it.  Sensuality is a powerful drive but one that must be subjected to the purpose of God and lived out in the His love.

Paul is also concerned that the relational sins he mentions, like quarreling and slander, are rife within the congregation. These and the sexual sins were things he was confronting in his first letter, our 1 Corinthians. As the Corinthians’ spiritual parent Paul is deeply concerned about their well-being. No parent wants to have to correct their children but they know they must.

Would our spiritual parents need to correct us?

Discussion Questions for Small Groups

1. What are some of your favorite movies?
2. Were you ever introduced to a movie that wasn’t suitable for your age and development stage? What impact did it have on you?
3. How can you identify with Paul’s parental concerns?
4. Who acts with parental concern in your life today?
5. Are you guilty of any of the sins Paul mentions to the Corinthians?
6. How would you like to conduct your life? What character traits would you want to be true of you?