Reading
2 Cor 4:5-6 For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus' sake. For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
The light that shone upon Paul resulted in the loss of his sight. This was a loss for which he would be eternally grateful. Why? Because Paul was about to see like he had never seen before. The Historical account (Acts 9) states the light came suddenly and it occurred while he was on the way to Damascus. Before his brethren, the Jews, (Acts 22) he again relates the suddenness of the light, adding that it was from heaven. The same is uttered to the Gentile king, Agrippa (Acts 26), with a further observation that the light was brighter than the sun. Paul would later describe the light that shone upon him that day as the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. He was very familiar with the Old Testament account of this light of the glory of God and its connection with Yahweh. Paul identified it as the same light that shone on Abraham when the God of glory appeared to him in Mesopotamia and called him to leave his country, kindred and fathers house (Acts 7:2). Paul recognised this light as the glory of God that filled the tabernacle of meeting in the wilderness (Ex 40:34). He recognised this light as the same glory of God that came upon and dwelt in the temple of the Lord in Jerusalem (1 Kings 8:11). He would also have known that it was the same light of the glory of God that departed from the temple in the days of Ezekiel (Ezek 10:18). Paul saw, as never before, that the light of Gods glory had returned, but now the temple of Gods glory is with men and the light of the glory of God is in meeting Christ face to face in the Body of Christ.
2 Cor 4:5-6 For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus' sake. For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
The light that shone upon Paul resulted in the loss of his sight. This was a loss for which he would be eternally grateful. Why? Because Paul was about to see like he had never seen before. The Historical account (Acts 9) states the light came suddenly and it occurred while he was on the way to Damascus. Before his brethren, the Jews, (Acts 22) he again relates the suddenness of the light, adding that it was from heaven. The same is uttered to the Gentile king, Agrippa (Acts 26), with a further observation that the light was brighter than the sun. Paul would later describe the light that shone upon him that day as the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. He was very familiar with the Old Testament account of this light of the glory of God and its connection with Yahweh. Paul identified it as the same light that shone on Abraham when the God of glory appeared to him in Mesopotamia and called him to leave his country, kindred and fathers house (Acts 7:2). Paul recognised this light as the glory of God that filled the tabernacle of meeting in the wilderness (Ex 40:34). He recognised this light as the same glory of God that came upon and dwelt in the temple of the Lord in Jerusalem (1 Kings 8:11). He would also have known that it was the same light of the glory of God that departed from the temple in the days of Ezekiel (Ezek 10:18). Paul saw, as never before, that the light of Gods glory had returned, but now the temple of Gods glory is with men and the light of the glory of God is in meeting Christ face to face in the Body of Christ.
