“Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the church of God that is at Corinth, with all the saints who are in the whole of Achaia: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” 2 Corinthians 1:1-2 (ESV)
It is fitting for pastors to take a look at Paul for an example of faithful ministry, whose inspired words call for imitation of him as he imitates Christ (1 Corinthians 11:1 and 4:16). Imitation does not call for explicit instruction necessarily, though Paul gives plenty of that as well. As much as his explicit instruction on how to faithfully minister, Paul’s example in his conduct and manner of life provides insight into how the minister of the gospel goes about walking in a manner worthy of the calling through widely varied circumstances, sufferings, and hardships.
2 Corinthians is one place where the pastoral conduct of Paul and the heart behind much of his action shines through in beautiful and sometimes piercing rays. Just a cursory reading of 1 and 2 Corinthians quickly reveals that the Corinthians were a pretty unruly flock for Paul to shepherd. They would not have been a first choice for most pastoral candidates if they knew what they were getting into. One of those moments of “Lord, please don’t call me to (the slums, Africa, my hometown, insert other place that comes to your mind of great challenge/difficulty here).”
At the same time, when considering the moral state of the culture around them – with its idolatry, sexual perversion, and many other forms of ungodliness – the work of God’s hand shows the greatness of its strength in calling them out of this and into Christ. The example we have of Paul’s steady hand and corrective instruction yields much wisdom for pastors to glean from today (not to mention for sheep that could, by God’s grace, become more gracious followers of their shepherd – but that focus is for another time).
Paul’s greeting in the opening verses of 2 Corinthians establishes his authority as an apostle, that he is a representative of Jesus Christ, the one who sent him and gave him the calling to minister to the Corinthians and speak to them His Word. He references Timothy as well, one whom we know from elsewhere in Scripture that Paul has been investing in to raise him up as a fellow minister of the gospel to serve. Don’t fail to miss this example: raise up others that can be faithful ministers as well!
As a representative of God’s own authority, Paul endeavors to accurately reflect that authority in word and deed; to be a faithful image of it in his conduct and speech. As an ambassador to those with whom God has made peace through the death and resurrection of Christ, he brings a message of grace and peace from the Father and the Lord Jesus. At the same time, as we will see later in the book, he also brings corrections and warnings for their good. This is not a contradiction to the message of grace and peace, but consistent with it. God did not rescue his people through the high price of Christ’s blood to simply declare them righteous and then leave them unchanged, not conformed to the image of Christ. It is through the corrective warnings coming from the Word of God through the mouth of the preacher by the power of the Holy Spirit at work in hearts that God has ordained to accomplish the beautification of His bride.
Consider the authority the Lord has given you as a pastor, perhaps also as a father, husband, boss, etc. Do you represent the one who has sent you accurately, bringing blood-bought grace and peace to the ones our Lord has died for? Have you been a picture of the Shepherd and Overseer of our souls to those you have been entrusted with the care of? He is gentle, lowly, humble, while also being strong and courageous to do the will of the Father who sent Him. Do you reflect his wisdom of when to turn tables and when to weep at the death of a beloved friend, when to call out the brood of vipers and when to marvel at and commend the confident faith in resurrection of a centurion whose daughter just died? Have you misused your authority, bringing dishonor to the name of the Lord and displaying an inaccurate reflection of the character of the One you represent? Remember who you are. Remember your calling.