Thursday: Triumph in Christ
Daily Lesson for Thursday 27th of August 2026
Read 2 Corinthians 2:12-13. Where did Paul go after writing “the severe letter” to them? What did he do there?
Paul’s heart was uneasy while waiting for Titus (2 Corinthians 7:5-6). Despite that uneasiness, he couldn’t stop talking about Jesus (2 Corinthians 2:12). He loved Jesus so much. At that point, he didn’t yet know the results of his letter. He was anxious to see Titus and hear about the reaction of the Corinthians.
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The work of Paul at Troas was successful, but “he could not remain there long. ‘The care of all the churches,’ and particularly of the church at Corinth, rested heavily on his heart. He had hoped to meet Titus at Troas and to learn from him how the words of counsel and reproof sent to the Corinthian brethren had been received, but in this he was disappointed. ‘I had no rest in my spirit,’ he wrote concerning this experience, ‘because I found not Titus my brother.’ He therefore left Troas and crossed over to Macedonia, where, at Philippi he met Timothy.”—Ellen G. White, The Acts of the Apostles, p. 323.
Read 2 Corinthians 2:14-17. What was Paul’s reaction upon meeting Titus in Macedonia and hearing about the positive response of the Corinthians?
In a burst of joy, Paul affirms that God “always leads us in triumph in Christ” (2 Corinthians 2:14, NKJV). What a marvelous statement! A heart filled with the presence of Christ spreads “the fragrance of His knowledge in every place” (2 Corinthians 2:14, NKJV).
Paul rejoices in Christ because the painful letter bore the fruit he intended to harvest (2 Corinthians 7:5-9). This is a great victory. Meanwhile, in 2 Corinthians 2:17, Paul reaffirms his sincerity as an apostle of Christ (2 Corinthians 2:17, 2 Corinthians 1:12). According to this passage, what distinguishes a faithful servant of Christ from a false minister is that while the latter peddles the gospel for self-interest, the former preaches the Word of God in wholehearted love for Christ.
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What motivates you in all that you do, especially when you do it in the name of Jesus? |
I mentioned https://bibleproject.com/videos/2-corinthians/ in a comment a couple of days ago, but thought it best to repeat it here so it is more visible. I think it helps give an overview and structure to the epistle that helps us understand what is going on. Paul’s writing is sometimes more multi-threaded than our brains like to handle, so it is useful to have a bit of outside help to sort things out.
Paul never strays far from the primacy of Jesus in his epistles. And, in a Christ-like manner continues to affirm his readers in the changes they have made in their lives. The verses in today’s study also highlight the importance of supporting one another. He found support in Titus’s ministry, both for himself and for the Corinthians. It is a reminder that when we love and support one another, we are effectively spreading the Gospel.
Paul gave all credit, praise and thanks to God for any success achieved in his missionary and evangelistic journeys. He also acknowledged the support he received from the believers – financial, material, moral and emotional. I wish to highlight how important it is to support those who sincerely work with undivided devotion in God’s vineyard. Besides divine help, Paul needed human support. “His presence was a joy, but so was the news he brought of the encouragement he received from you. When he told us how much you long to see me, and how sorry you are for what happened, and how loyal you are to me, I was filled with joy!” (2 Corinthians 7:7, NLT).
Those who labour faithfully in God’s vineyard need not only God’s grace but also the wholehearted support of the believers. At times, this aspect seems to be neglected. God is the source of every success, but He uses believers as a means by which frontline workers are sustained. Ordinarily, God will take care of those whom He has appointed to spearhead the Great Commission through us. We cannot casually say that “God will take care of them”. That would grossly misunderstand how God operates. We are tools in God’s hands.
Paul greatly needed the emotional encouragement from the Corinthian believers (2 Corinthians 7:7). We need to acknowledge that those who work in God’s vineyards are humans too. They need to hear someone telling them, “We see what you are doing. We appreciate you. We are praying for you. We are grateful for your sacrifice. Thanks, keep it up”. Emotional investment is very spiritual and is equally essential as financial support in the Great Commission.
Next time we feel inclined to criticise those who are working in God’s vineyard, let us instead choose to offer them a word of encouragement.
Triumph in Christ means approaching every challenge and battle of life with the mindset, attitude, and confidence that Christ has already secured the victory for us. Paul wants us to know that we do not fight for victory as though the outcome depends entirely on our strength; we stand in the victory Christ has accomplished. As Paul declares, “In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us” (Romans 8:37). Therefore, Christ’s victory is ours to receive, celebrate, appropriate, and demonstrate to the world—not because life is without battles, but because Christ is greater than every battle we face.
Sometimes the feeling of failure becomes so common in our thinking that we feel trapped and conquered. We may feel that we are not getting ahead or making progress. The demands of life can weigh us down until we feel like the tail instead of the head. When the pressure becomes overwhelming, we often try to accomplish everything in our own strength, taking control of our lives and relegating Christ to the corner. Yet Scripture reminds us, “But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ” (2 Corinthians 2:14).
Hi people.. I’m sure that you have all noted Paul’s inspired counterbalancing in his defense to the Corinthians. Positive and negative juxtaposed throughout both epistles. As sophisticated Greco Romans they understood the pagan debating method. It seems heavy handed but he functions as two people on a podium.
Still used in political debates today.
We need to understand ourselves and the audience before weighing in. Correct weights for the scales of justice.
I was just wondering if I’d understand Paul better if I was familiar with the Greek debating methods. Thanks for your comment above.
There is nothing I can do without the breath of life I’m given (Job 33:4). Other than killing oneself, can anyone be sure how much longer they will live? (James 4:14) Because of what Christ did for humanity, is doing, and will do, death may not be such an assurance after all. When I face this reality, how thankful must I be? (1 Corinthians 15:55-57)
One of the lessons I see in 2 Corinthians 2:12–14 is the balance between caring deeply about how our correction is received and ultimately leaving the outcome in God’s hands.
Paul was so concerned about the Corinthians that when he could not find Titus, he had “no rest in [his] spirit.” His concern shows that confronting sin was not merely about proving someone wrong. He loved the people and cared about their restoration. Thankfully, the Corinthians eventually responded positively.
But Scripture reminds us that this will not always be the case. Elijah confronted Jezebel, but she responded with hostility. Jesus confronted Jerusalem, yet many rejected His appeal. Jesus’ words, “How often would I have gathered thy children together… and ye would not,” reveal that even perfect love and perfect truth do not guarantee a positive response.
Therefore, we must neither become indifferent nor assume responsibility for another person’s response. We are called to confront sin faithfully, lovingly, and prayerfully; God alone can change the heart.
Sometimes we will rejoice like Paul when correction produces repentance. Other times, like Elijah and Jesus, we will grieve because our appeals are rejected. Our responsibility is faithfulness, not results. We must care enough to confront, love enough to grieve, and trust God enough to leave the outcome in His hands.
I watched the video that Maurice posted and it helped me to understand the Corinthians epistle. I think of all the preachers who are money hungry and I am not going to name them. It makes a good point that Paul who was poor, did not need money to make a point. Thank you God for creating Paul.