What did Paul believe the carnal church at Corinth could become?
Paul was confident that the carnal congregation at Corinth could grow and become real trophies of God’s grace, despite the pressure they faced. He expected them to mature in faith, so that his joy and their joy would be shared, rather than his coming bringing sorrow.
Les explains that Paul’s whole mental concept concerning this carnal church at Corinth was that they could grow and become real trophies of God’s grace, in spite of all the pressure. These early Christians were under pressure from the Jewish element and the pagan element, and only a precious few were able to come into the liberty of Christianity. Paul wrote out of much affliction and anguish of heart, with many tears, because of what he was hearing from the congregation at Corinth. He had confidence in them, wanting his joy to be their joy, not to come and find things that would make him sorrowful.
And I wrote this same unto you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy is the joy of you all.
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