13 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, 14 knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. 15 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 corinthians 4: 13-15]
the same spirit of faith
in this verse paul is quoting something when he writes “i believed and so i spoke”. but what is he quoting, and why?
the quote is from psalm 116:10, and the second half of that verse says that the author (possibly king david) believed and spoke although he was “greatly afflicted”.
paul is speaking as one who has endured suffering for the sake of the gospel. yet, surely, someone blessed by God would not suffer to such a great extent for merely preaching the truth, would they?
paul draws this line of faith under affliction back to the psalmist, who was also willing to endure affliction for the sake of what is true. when we are persecuted for our faith, we do not suffer alone. as written in hebrews 12:1, “we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses” who have run the race of faith for thousands of years, generation before us who also endured because of their belief in a messiah who would conquer death and make all things new.
the resurrection is what gives us this hope. we can endure anything that comes our way because we can know with confidence that because Jesus was raised from the dead, so shall we be. we will ultimately stand in the presence of God, who knows us and loves us more than we could ever imagine.
there is nothing that can defeat our God, and therefore nothing that can defeat our faith. although we suffer momentary afflictions, we face them knowing that we are not alone, that Jesus himself knows our sufferings, and that nothing, nothing, can take away the glory that awaits us in Christ!
~ jason soroski