As an apostle Paul had great authority in the church. He proclaimed God’s word as God’s word because the Bible was not yet finished. The things he wrote to them were part the scriptures. His apostolic authority.
However, he says here that the things he wrote were not written because he had the power and authority to say them but because he wanted to help them be joyful.
This can be a tough thing to grasp. How do we fined joy in trials? This whole section is all about struggles and finding comfort in them.
We read in the Old Testament that the joy of the Lord is our strength. James would write ‘count it as all joy when you fall into testings.’
But how?
There is great joy in the assurance that we are fully in the will of God. This is the only joy that will carry us through struggles and which is not dependent on circumstances. If our joy is based on circumstances it is going to be tough to find consistent joy. That only comes in the unchanging God.
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