""Paul, an Apostle of Christ Jesus,"" poetry

Introduction

Second Corinthians: Written by Paul, probably just a few months after he wrote First Corinthians, in which he directed the brothers and sisters how to deal with unrepentant congregation members who are guilty of gross wrongdoing. Now he explains that brothers and sisters must "kindly forgive and comfort" (2 Cor. 2:7) members who genuinely repent of their serious sins. How joyful he feels about the congregation's taking his first letter to heart, applying his counsel to keep it spiritually clean. He encourages the Corinthians to "abound in...kind giving" (2 Cor. 8:7). He concludes this second letter by saying, in part, "continue to rejoice, to be readjusted, to be comforted, to think in agreement, to live peaceably."-2 Cor. 13:11.

An excerpt, chapter one

"May you have...peace."-2 Corinthians 1:2.

1942 CE:

A chaplain bows his head
Before a sea of troops,

Many too young to vote,
And says,

"O sovereign Lord,
Please give us victory

Over our enemies."
And across the sea,

A pastor closes his eyes
Before men dressed

In uniform,
And says,

"O Father, protect
Our soldiers,

And may they overpower
Our adversary."

"Amen!"

"Amen!"

The author

Dan Lukiv, published in 19 countries, is a poet, novelist, columnist, short story and article writer, and independent education researcher (hermeneutic phenomenology). As a creative writer, he apprenticed with Canada's Professor Robert Harlow (recipient of the George Woodcock Achievement award for an outstanding literary career), the USA's Paul Bagdon (Spur Award finalist for Best Original Paperback), and England's D. M. Thomas (recipient of the Cheltenham Prize for Literature, Orwell Prize [biography], Los Angeles Fiction Prize, and Cholmondeley award for poetry). He attended The University of British Columbia (creative writing department), the acclaimed Humber School for Writers (poetry writing program), and Writer's Digest University (novel writing program).