Apostolic Emotionalism?
2:4 "For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you with many tears; not so that you would be made sorrowful, but that you might know the love which I have especially for you."
Paul describes here how he intensely agonized over “the severe letter” he wrote to them. It provides a good opportunity to reflect upon the profound emotional life of the apostle Paul, especially since 2Corinthians is the apostle’s most agonizing and emotional letter.
Tears and intense emotion were regular features of Paul’s ministry:
"I am telling the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience testifies with me in the Holy Spirit, that I HAVE GREAT SORROW AND UNCEASING GRIEF IN MY HEART. For I could wish that I myself were accursed, separated from Christ for the sake of my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh." (Rom.9:1-3)
"For many walk, of whom I often told you, AND NOW TELL YOU EVEN WEEPING, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ..." (Phil.3:18)
As he was leaving them, Paul said to the Ephesian elders, "‘You yourselves know, from the first day that I set foot in Asia, how I was with you the whole time, serving the Lord with all humility AND WITH TEARS and with trials which came upon me...Therefore be on the alert, remembering that night and day FOR A PERIOD OF THREE YEARS I DID NOT CEASE TO ADMONISH EACH ONE OF YOU WITH TEARS.’ When he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all. And they began to weep aloud and embraced Paul, and repeatedly kissed him." (Acts 20:18-19, 31, 36-37)
As with the other churches, Paul was able to pen intense emotional expressions of affection to the Corinthians because he loved them so much, because he had not hardened his heart toward them in any way. His mouth (speaking words of love) and his heart were wide open to them:
"Our mouth has spoken freely to you, O Corinthians, our heart is opened wide." (2Cor.6:9)
He was emotional not because he was unmanly, but because he was like Christ, because he really cared about people.
"Who is weak without my being weak? Who is led into sin without my intense concern?" (2Cor.11:29)
Dear Father, I praise You for this man, so gripped by Your Spirit, so strong in the Savior’s love, so free in his expression of that love. Help me to care for people like he cared for them. Help me to care enough that I am deeply affected emotionally by how they’re doing. And also wash away my pride and free me up to express emotion and affection as Jesus and Paul did. I know You can do it, Lord.