Dominion Over Your Faith 2 Corinthians 1:24

Paul the apostle told the church members in Corinth he called upon, “God for a record upon” his “soul, that to spare you I came not as yet unto Corinth”, and in chapter one and verse twenty-four of Second Corinthians, Paul declared to the church members how he and his companions would not have, “dominion over” their“faith”, where we read:

Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith you stand.

The verse begins, “Not for that we have dominion over your faith, ...” Paul began with the word, “not for that” which means “in no way, nor even as, indeed, verily or therefore” “we have dominion over” or “does Paul and his companions have rule, force or power over” “your faith” which refers to “the church members' conviction, belief and trust”. Paul did not have “rule and power” over the church members' “faith” or “trust” in God.

The verse goes on to say, “... but are helpers of your joy: for by faith you stand.” Paul continued with the word, “but” which is a disassociation conjunction that means what is about to be written takes precedence over what was previously stated “are helpers” or “companions and fellow workers” “of your joy” or “of the church members' gladness, calm, delight and happiness”: “for” which means “even as, indeed, no doubt, verily and therefore” “by faith” or “through conviction, belief and trust” “you stand” which means “the church members' fixed and established position”. Paul believed he and his companions were “fellow workers and companions” of the church members “joy” because by their “faith” they were “fixed and established” in Christ.

When we think through these words of Paul, we see his concern for the church members in Corinth, and his emphasis that he did not “rule over” their “faith”. He considered he and his companions as “fellow workers” among the “joy” of the Corinthian church members', and he knew because they believed, they would “be fixed and established”. Jesus Christ desires this type of relationship with anyone who will, and when they submit themselves to “belief in Him”, they shall not only receive His “joy” but also be able by “faith” to “stand”.

Next time we begin a new chapter and see how Paul, “determined this with” himself, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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