The Masterpiece

II Corinthians 3:1-6

Today, many pieces of art are called masterpieces that are not. A person was apprenticed to a master in a trade, whether blacksmithing, furniture making, sculpture or painting. When he had completed his apprenticeship, he made his masterpiece, to demonstrate his skill. This was presented to the guild for his trade to be judged. If the masterpiece met the standards for the guild, he was awarded a master certificate. Most kept their masterpiece to demonstrate their skill to future employers or clients. Later pieces might be even better, but the masterpiece was the one which earned the master certificate.

Letters of commendation could easily be faked, but a master piece could not. Paul brings this up to the Corinthians at this point. Others were coming in to teach and being accepted on the basis of those recommendations. After a pastor had an evangelist come to his church, he stated that he was sure the pastor who recommended the evangelist had never listened to him teach. Too many recommendations are based on a personality, rather than the doctrine or spirituality of the person. It is why I Timothy 3 demands proof of qualifications before a man is put into a leadership position.

Others had gone to Corinth and challenged Paul’s authority. Paul questions their rejecting him, as they are his workmanship themselves. A letter of commendation from some one else should not override the demonstration of one’s work. The Corinthian’s salvation and spiritual development was proof of Paul’s ministry and authority. He , Timothy, and Silvanus should not need the recommendation of the others. Their credentials were better. Their workmanship was demonstrable. Their challengers needed to prove their own authority.

“Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or need we, as some others, epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you? Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men: Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshly tables of the heart. And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward: Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.” (II Corinthians 3:1-6)

The working of the Holy Spirit in the Christian’s hearts was the proof that they were from God, and they could trust God to make that clear. It was not Paul and the others who caused the results, but God. God had equipped them to do the ministry, not in a mechanical keeping of a set of rules, but led by the Spirit. A carnal mind would focus on the rules and produce death. A Spiritual mind focuses on the attitude and gives life. “For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.” (Romans 8:5-6)