And we are sending along with him the brother who is praised by all the churches for his service to the gospel. – 2 Corinthians 8:18

Today’s Scripture Reading (February 15, 2018): 2 Corinthians 8 & 9

Some years ago I went as a sponsor to a youth event held in Toronto, Canada. Teens from all over the world gathered in the largest Canadian city to have a party (okay, that is probably not the way the promoters would have phrased it, but it was going to be a time of fun.) Advertised, well ahead of time, were a number of musicians and bands that would be playing in the evenings of the event. And then, very late in the preparation stage for the event, an extra act was added. However, we were not told who the act was, just that there would be an added late-night concert on the very first night.

And so the guessing game began. Who was it that was added so late in the planning stage? Everyone seemed to have an opinion. The mystery guest happened to be the Christian crossover band Delirious? at about the height of their popularity. I was pumped for the late night concert, and a little amazed at how many decided to skip the concert because it had been “a long travel day.” That actually worked out pretty good for us. We were able to slip out of our seats, high in the corner of the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, in favor of some newly vacated seats at the front of the first balcony just over the front corner of the stage area where Delirious? was about to play.

Apparently, Paul liked the idea of the mysterious surprise. We have no idea who this mysterious brother was that Paul had decided to send along with Titus. Paul wanted to keep the Corinthians in suspense until the moment when the pair would arrive, but he was sure that the Corinthians were going to be delighted. But that hasn’t stopped readers over the century from trying to solve the mystery. All we know for sure about this mysterious individual was that he was held in high regard, he was popular, he was chosen by the churches to travel with Paul carrying the gift that was bound for Jerusalem, and that Paul was sending him along with Titus as his substitutes on this leg of the journey. Some people have been suggested as being the possible identity of this mystery guest, a list that includes Luke, Barnabas, Silas, Timothy, among many others. But no one knows who he was. What we do know is that Paul expected the Corinthians to be excited about this brother’s arrival, maybe even excited enough to forgive Paul’s absence.

What we do know is that the identity of this person is ultimately unimportant to us, even if it was likely very important to the church at Corinth. If that were not so, then Paul would have made the identity of this mystery visitor clear for those who would read the letter beyond the city of Corinth, and beyond the era of Paul.

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: 2 Corinthians 10