The Same Spirit of Faith 2 Corinthians 4:13

Paul the apostle shared with the church members in Corinth how, “death works in” he and his companions, “but life in” them, and in chapter four and verse thirteen of Second Corinthians, Paul told the church members what he and his companions did because they were, “having the same spirit of faith”, where we read:

We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed,

and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;

The verse begins, “We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed,...” Paul began with the words, “we having” which means “Paul and his companions holding, possessing and keeping” “the same spirit” or “the like simple essence, devoid of all or at least all grosser matter, and possessed of the power of knowing, desiring, deciding, and acting” “of faith” which means “the conviction that God exists and is the creator and ruler of all things, the provider and bestower of eternal salvation through Christ”, “according as” or “down from, through out, toward and along” “it is written” which means “expressed in written characters”, “I believed” or “Paul thought to be true, was persuaded of, credited and placed confidence in”. Paul and his companions truly “believed” in the “good news” of Jesus Christ, and because they did, they shared their “faith” with others.

The verse continues, “... and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;” Paul added the words, “and therefore” which means “wherefore and on account of” “have I spoken” or “Paul uttered, proclaimed and declared”: “we also believe” which refers to “Paul and his companions even so and indeed thought this to be true, were persuaded of, credited and place confidence in”, “and therefore” or “wherefore and on account of” “speak” which means “utter, proclaim and declare”. Paul and his companions were inspired to speak because they truly “believed” what they proclaimed about Jesus.

When we think through these words of Paul, we see how he and his companions we not only partakers of the “faith” of Jesus, but also “spoke” it so that others might “believe”. Death did not deter Paul and his companions from sharing their faith, and those who have come to a saving knowledge of Jesus do the same. God Almighty desires to have a relationship with all people, and though many shall not receive the “gospel”, it nonetheless should be lived and shared. Let us truly “believe” the “gospel of Jesus Christ” and share it with others as often as we are given occasion.

Next time Paul declares to the church members what, “all things are for your sakes”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then,

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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