Paul writes this letter to the church in Corinth, confirming the upside-down nature of God’s kingdom. We allow our flesh to dictate what is real and this leads us to chase pleasure (good) and to flee from pain (bad). We want people to see our strength and we do everything we can to hide our faults. In this, the message of Jesus is diluted or rejected altogether. 

Paul paints a picture of the gospel that flips everything around. Suffering is joy. Weakness is a matter for boasting. Mercy is strength. In this, Paul is showing the Corinthian church that they can not hold on to this life and live for Christ. They need to be transformed, or flipped right side up, if they are going to be able to see the world clearly.