The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

2 Corinthians 11:1-6, “I wish that you would bear with me in a little foolishness; but indeed you are bearing with me.

2 For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I betrothed you to one husband, that to Christ I might present you

as a pure virgin.

3 But I am afraid, lest as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds should be led astray from the simplicity

and purity of devotion to Christ.

4 For if one comes and preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or you receive a different spirit which you

have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted, you bear this beautifully.

5 For I consider myself not in the least inferior to the most eminent apostles.

6 But even if I am unskilled in speech, yet I am not so in knowledge; in fact, in every way we have made this evident to

you in all things.”

In our last Letter, we established that the Corinthian Church was a difficult group. They would never have had the Gospel of Jesus Christ, had it not been for the Apostle Paul. Paul introduced the Corinthians to Jesus! But, they have grasped every conceivable opportunity to criticize him! (Know anybody like that?) The Greeks were a sophisticated lot! They prided themselves on their correct usage of the Greek language. And despite Paul’s knowledge of Christ, and his willingness to share His message with them, they delighted in criticizing and demeaning him.

Paul shuns defense of himself somewhat, but he gives a strong defence of the Gospel and of Jesus Christ. He warns them of listening to “ministers,” who preach a “different” Gospel. That introduces another fault of the Corinthians: they loved to hear of “new things.” Thus, a new preacher with a “new thought,” was an open invitation for false instruction.

Maybe I am unskilled in speaking, Paul said; but I am not unskilled in knowledge!”

Some of you readers, who know me personally, know how I hate to hear people misuse the English language. Yet, I have to say that I’d rather hear language misused than to hear the Message of Christ distorted. Tomorrow is the LORD’s Day.

Listen carefully to your pastor. He may misuse the language, as we preachers often do. Just be sure he doesn’t distort the Gospel. You’ll never know if you don’t listen carefully. God bless you! Pray for your pastor, even as he preaches.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”