It is such a powerful statement Paul is making. He and death seem to be walking together, with Paul being victorious over it, and yet he is almost always near it. Literally. As in he is almost being killed for his faithfulness to the gospel. The book of Acts bears witness to this. Death was never far from Paul’s reality.
Paul then gives a powerful piece of Scripture.
“But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our bodies. For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death is at work in us, but life in you.
Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, “I believed, and so I spoke,” we also believe, and so we also speak, knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God” (2 Cor 4:7-15).
Here is his great moment. Paul is not crushed, though in every circumstance of his life it would seem like this is the case. All he would need to do to stop the suffering would be to stop speaking, stop preaching, and stop proclaiming Jesus as Lord.
Paul’s answer?
“I believed, and so I spoke.”
He is quoting Psalm 116 here which is a psalm of affliction.
I love the Lord, because he has heard
my voice and my pleas for mercy.
Because he inclined his ear to me,
therefore I will call on him as long as I live.
The snares of death encompassed me;
the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me;
I suffered distress and anguish.
Then I called on the name of the Lord:
“O Lord, I pray, deliver my soul!”
Gracious is the Lord, and righteous;
our God is merciful.
The Lord preserves the simple;
when I was brought low, he saved me.
Return, O my soul, to your rest;
for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you.
For you have delivered my soul from death,
my eyes from tears,
my feet from stumbling;
I will walk before the Lord
in the land of the living.
I believed, even when I spoke:
“I am greatly afflicted”;
Psalm 116 is about David persisting in belief even when he is greatly afflicted. David calls out to the Lord, and the Lord saves him.
This Psalm would have been familiar to the people of Corinth. Paul quoted this verse in a way that they would remember.
Paul interprets this as a basis for his speaking:
“Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, “I believed, and so I spoke,” we also believe, and so we also speak, knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence” (v. 13-14).
Why speak? Because it gives the ability for grace to extend to more and more people. In doing so, that gives greater honor and thanksgiving and glory to God.
“…as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God”
Why do we evangelize? Why do we speak? Why do we share the gospel?
Because through it, not only will his children come home, but there are more people to thank God and give Him the glory he rightfully deserves.