Will Vaus

Before we read from 2 Corinthians 10, I would like to remind you of what some scholars think is the  chronology of Paul’s correspondence with Corinth... Paul’s connection with Corinth began with his first visit there sometime in AD 51 or 52. Scholars believe this first visit was followed by two letters. The first letter, some scholars think, is contained in 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1. Paul’s second letter is 1 Corinthians. After writing these two letters, Paul made a second painful visit to Corinth, painful because he had to correct some problems in the church. This painful visit was followed by a painful letter, which some scholars believe is contained in 2 Corinthians 10-13. This painful letter was probably delivered by Paul’s protégé, Titus, whom Paul dispatched to Corinth with the letter. When Titus did not return right away, Paul got worried. So much so that he left Ephesus for Macedonia. But before he could get to Corinth himself, Paul met Titus in Macedonia. Finally, Paul wrote ...

I have a confession to make… I am not much of a gardener. In fact, I am not a gardener at all. One of the only times I have ever done any kind of extensive planting of seeds is when we had a house built in a new neighborhood in South Carolina. Part of the package in purchasing the house was landscaping for the front of the house, including beautiful green sod. However, no landscaping for the back yard came with the package. Thus, we had to do it all ourselves. When we moved in, the back yard was perfectly raked and graded. It was a beautiful patch of level dirt. My plan was to plant grass seed. I thought, “How hard can it be?” Unfortunately, I waited a while before I got to work, and the rains came, and that beautiful, level lot that was our back yard, started to slope downhill. I thought, “I better get to work soon.” So as soon as the rains stopped, I bought some grass seed and got to work. I followed all the directions, scattering the seed, and then covering it all with straw. But th...

Thanks be to God, who put into the heart of Titus the same concern I have for you.  For Titus not only welcomed our appeal, but he is coming to you with much enthusiasm and on his own initiative.  And we are sending along with him the brother who is praised by all the churches for his service to the gospel.   What is more, he was chosen by the churches to accompany us as we carry the offering, which we administer in order to honor the Lord himself and to show our eagerness to help.  We want to avoid any criticism of the way we administer this liberal gift.  For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of man. In addition, we are sending with them our brother who has often proved to us in many ways that he is zealous, and now even more so because of his great confidence in you. As for Titus, he is my partner and co-worker among you; as for our brothers, th...