Context of 2nd Corinthians
Author:
Paul
Date:
Mid-50s A.D.
Place of composition:
The “severe letter” was probably sent from Ephesus, and the letter of reconciliation from Macedonia.
Audience:
The congregation at Corinth, Greece
Structure of 2nd Corinthians
The Letter of Reconciliation (1:1–9:15)
I. Salutation (1:1-11)
A. Greeting (1:1-2)
B. Thanksgiving for the Comfort of God in Affliction (1:3-11)
II. Apologetic/Defense of Apostleship: Answering the Critics’ Charges (1:12–7:16)
A. The Defense of Paul’s Conduct (1:12–2:13)
B. The Nature of a True Apostleship (2:14–7:16)
III. Exhortation to Give: Collection for the Believers in Jerusalem (8:1–9:15)
A. The Necessity for Generosity (8:1-15)
B. The Mission of Titus to Corinth (8:16–9:5)
C. The Results of Generosity (9:6-15)
The “Severe” Letter: Paul’s Defense of His Apostolic Authority (10:1–13:14)
I. Polemics: Affirmation of Apostolic Authority (10:1–13:10)
A. In Spite of an Unimpressive Appearance (10:1-11)
B. Invasion of False Apostles into Paul’s Territory (10:12-18)
C. Vindication of Authenticity of Paul’s Apostleship (11:1–12:13)
D. The Planned Third Visit (12:14–13:10)
II. Final Exhortation and Greetings (13:11-14)
Themes of 2nd Corinthians
Whereas in 1 Corinthians Paul deals with ethical and doctrinal issues, in 2 Corinthians he struggles to define the qualities and motives that distinguish the Christian ministry.
Underlying the writing of 2 Corinthians is a dramatic conflict between Paul and the church he had founded.
After he had dispatched 1 Corinthians, several events took place that strained his relationship with the church almost to the breaking point.
New opponents, whom Paul satirizes as “super-apostles”, infiltrated the congregation and rapidly gained positions of influence.
Paul then made a brief “painful” visit to Corinth, only to suffer a public humiliation there.
His visit a failure, he returned to Ephesus, where he wrote the Corinthians a severe reprimand, part of which is preserved in chapters 10-13.
Having carried the “severe” letter to Corinth, Titus then rejoins Paul in Macedonia, bringing the good news that the Corinthians are sorry for their behavior and now support the apostle (7:5-7).
Paul subsequently writes a joyful letter of reconciliation, included in chapters 1-9.
The Letter of Reconciliation (1:1–9:15)
I. Salutation (1:1-11)
A. Greeting (1:1-2)
Claims to be written by Paul and Timothy
Greetings to the church at Corinth and the believers throughout the region of Achaia
Blessing of grace and peace given
B. Thanksgiving for the Comfort of God in Affliction (1:3-11)
1. The Comfort of God (1:3-7)
Praise the God who comforts us
He comforts us so that we may comfort others
As our suffering in Christ abounds, as does our comfort
Everything we are is for you:
Our distress for your comfort and salvation
Our comfort for your comfort
This produces perseverance in suffering for you
This produces hope for us in knowing that you share both our comfort and our suffering
2. Deliverance from Death (1:8-11)
We had many hardships in Asia:
We were under great pressure
We were unable to endure in our own strength
We despaired of life
We felt we had received a death-sentence
Why did we experience these things?
So we would rely on God who raises the dead, and not on ourselves
We have been delivered
We will be delivered again
Your prayers our helpful
Many will give thanks when God answers all your prayers for us
II. Apologetic/Defense of Apostleship: Answering the Critics’ Charges (1:12–7:16)
A. The Defense of Paul’s Conduct (1:12–2:13)
1. Explanation of Altered Plans (1:12–2:4)
a. A Clear Conscience Claimed (1:12-14)
We can boast that we have a clear conscience in the way we have lived in the world and in the way we have interacted with you in particular
This was all by God’s grace, and not by worldly wisdom
I hope that your partial understanding will grow to complete understanding, so that we can boast about each other in the Day of the Lord Jesus
b. A Planned Profitable Visit (1:15-22)
I wanted to visit you twice on my way to and from Macedonia
My intentions were not fickle – I did not say “yes” and “no” in the same breath as the fickle world does
The message of Jesus that I and Silas and Timothy have preached to you has never been “yes and no,” but always “yes!”
For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ.
And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God.
Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ.
He anointed us
He set his seal of ownership on us
He put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
c. A Canceled Painful Visit (1:23–2:4)
The reason I didn’t return to you at Corinth was to spare you
Visiting you again would have been too painful
For if I grieve you, who is left to make me glad but you whom I have grieved?
I wrote to you before in the way that I did so that when I came I would not be distressed by your conduct
I had confidence in you that you would have shared in my joy
When I wrote to you, I was in anguish and tears
I wasn’t trying to grieve you – I wanted you to know how much I love you!
2. The Forgiveness of the Offending Brother (2:5-11)
If any among you has caused me grief, he has caused you all the more grief
The punishment inflicted on him by the majority is sufficient.
Now instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow.
I urge you, therefore, to reaffirm your love for him.
Another reason I wrote you was to see if you would stand the test and be obedient in everything.
Anyone you forgive, I also forgive.
We must forgive everyone, so that we will not fall for Satan’s schemes against us
3. Missing Titus in Troas (2:12-13)
When Christ opened the door for me to preach at Troas, I still had no peace because I couldn’t find my brother Titus there
So I said goodbye to them and went on to Macedonia.
B. The Nature of a True Apostleship (2:14–7:16)
1. The Glory of the Ministry (2:14–4:6)
a. The Triumph of Christ (2:14-17)
We thank God for parading us in Christ’s triumphal procession and for making us the aroma of Christ that is spreading to all
Our aroma brings death to some, but life to others
We are the best for the task, because we are sincere and do not peddle the word of God for money like so many others do
b. The Product of the Ministry (3:1-3)
Can we speak on our own behalf, or do we need to present letters of recommendation?
You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone.
You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.
c. The Superiority of the New Covenant (3:4-18)
We are confident not in our own competence, but in the competence that God gives us
He has made us ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
The ministry of Moses was written on stone and brought death
But even that ministry was glorious – to the point that Moses frightened the Israelites with the radiance of his face
If even this temporary ministry was glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that lasts forever!
This hope we have makes us bold
We are not like Moses who put on veil to hide from the people the fact that the glory emanating from him was only temporary
They were dimwitted people – and even today they still live as though the covenant in which they read of and partake in is hidden behind a veil
Only Christ can remove this veil from a person’s heart
Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
And we all, who with unveiled faces reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
d. The Light of the Gospel (4:1-6)
Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart.
Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways
We do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God
On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God.
And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing.
The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.
For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.
2. The Frailty of the Ministers (4:7–5:10)
a. Vessels of Clay: The Trials of the Ministers (4:7-15)
But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.
We are…
Hard pressed on every side, but not crushed
Perplexed, but not in despair
Persecuted, but not abandoned
Struck down, but not destroyed.
We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.
For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body.
Since we have that same spirit of faith, we also believe and therefore speak, because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you to himself.
All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.
b. Unseen Glory: The Hope of the Ministers (4:16-18)
Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.
For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.
So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
c. Earthly Tent: Confidence in the Face of Death (5:1-10)
For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.
While we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.
Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
We know if we are at home the body, then we are far from the Lord – for we live by faith, not by sight
I would rather be with the Lord, than with my body, but whether we make our home in this body or away from it, our goal is to please God.
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.
3. The Message of Reconciliation (5:11–6:10)
a. Motivation: The Love of Christ (5:11-15)
We try to persuade others because we know what it is to fear God
God knows what we are – we hope you also know
We are not trying to show off to you, but you ought to take pride in who we are in Christ rather than being proud of surface details
If we are “out of our mind,” as some say, it is for God
If we are in our right mind, it is for you.
For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.
And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.
b. Message: Be Reconciled to God (5:16–6:2)
We all used to view Christ and other people from a worldly point of view – but no more!
If anyone is in Christ, they are a new creation – throw out the old, bring in the new!
All of this is from God
God gave us Christ who reconciled us to himself, so that he wouldn’t count our sins against us
And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.
We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us.
We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.
God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
As God’s co-workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain.
For he says,
“In the time of my favor I heard you,
and in the day of salvation I helped you.”
I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.
c. Commendation: The Hardship of the Apostleship (6:3-10)
We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path, so that our ministry will not be discredited.
Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way:
In great endurance
In troubles
In Hardships
In Distresses
In beatings
In Imprisonments
In Riots
In hard work
In sleepless nights
In Hunger
In purity
In Understanding
In Patience
In Kindness
In the Holy Spirit
In sincere love
In truthful speech
In the power of God
With weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left
Through glory and dishonor
Through bad report and good report
Genuine, yet regarded as impostors
Known, yet regarded as unknown
Dying, and yet we live on
Beaten, and yet not killed
Sorrowful, yet always rejoicing
Poor, yet making many rich
Having nothing, and yet possessing everything.
4. Paul’s Appeal to the Corinthians (6:11–7:4)
a. Mutual Affection Requested (6:11-13)
We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians, and opened wide our hearts to you.
We are not withholding our affection from you, but you are withholding yours from us.
As a fair exchange—I speak as to my children—open wide your hearts also.
b. Equal Yoke (6:14–7:1)
Do not be yoked together with unbelievers.
For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common?
Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?
What harmony is there between Christ and Belial?
Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?
What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols?
For we are the temple of the living God.
As God has said:
“I will live with them
and walk among them,
and I will be their God,
and they will be my people.”
and walk among them,
and I will be their God,
and they will be my people.”
Therefore,
“Come out from them
and be separate,
says the Lord.
Touch no unclean thing,
and I will receive you.”
and be separate,
says the Lord.
Touch no unclean thing,
and I will receive you.”
And,
“I will be a Father to you,
and you will be my sons and daughters,
says the Lord Almighty.”
and you will be my sons and daughters,
says the Lord Almighty.”
Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.
c. Mutual Affection Repeated (7:2-4)
Make room for us in your hearts.
We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have exploited no one.
I do not say this to condemn you; I have said before that you have such a place in our hearts that we would live or die with you.
I have been frank with you, but I am proud of you.
5. Meeting Titus in Macedonia (7:5-16)
We had no rest and were constantly harassed when we came to Macedonia.
Titus comforted us when he arrived, and he gave us great joy with his message of how you had repented and longed to see us again
I no longer regret sending you my previous letter, even though it caused you great sorrow, because I can now see that your sorrow led you to repentance.
Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.
This godly sorrow has produced in you:
Earnestness
Eagerness to clear yourselves
Indignation
Alarm
Longing
Concern
Readiness to see justice done.
We had boasted about you to Titus, and when we heard his report about you, we were glad that you hadn’t embarrassed us
III. Exhortation to Give: Collection for the Believers in Jerusalem (8:1–9:15)
A. The Necessity for Generosity (8:1-15)
1. The Example of the Macedonians (8:1-5)
God has given much grace to the Macedonian churches
Even in the midst of extreme trial and poverty, they have given beyond their ability
They begged us to allow them to participate in giving to the service of the Lord’s people
They gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us
2. The Exhortation to the Corinthians (8:6-15)
We urged to Titus to encourage you to be like the Macedonians - to give generously in addition to having all those spiritual gifts you excel in
I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others.
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.
My judgment is that you should finish the gift that you started to put together last year
An acceptable gift is one given willingly – it’s not about what you have or don’t have
The goal here is equality – not that you provide for everyone else to your own hurt, but that everyone provides for everyone
B. The Mission of Titus to Corinth (8:16–9:5)
1. The Commendation of Titus (8:16-24)
Titus was excited when we asked him to visit you again
We’re sending with him two brother who is praised by all the churches
These brothers were chosen by the churches to help us distribute the gifts of offerings among the churches
Please show these church representatives the proof of your love and the reason for our pride in you
2. The Need for Readiness (9:1-5)
I have boasted about your generous giving to the Macedonians
So please be ready to give when these brothers come to visit you so that you won’t embarrass me
I may bring some Macedonians with me when I visit, and I want them to see that you give generosity and not grudgingly
C. The Results of Generosity (9:6-15)
1. The Benefit to the Giver (9:6-11)
Remember this:
Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly.
Whoever sows generously will also reap generously.
Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.
You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.
2. The Praise to God (9:12-15)
Others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else.
The “Severe” Letter: Paul’s Defense of His Apostolic Authority (10:1–13:14)
I. Polemics: Affirmation of Apostolic Authority (10:1–13:10)
A. In Spite of an Unimpressive Appearance (10:1-11)
I appeal to you by the humility and gentleness of Christ
You claim that I’m timid when present but bold when far away
My hope is that I won’t have to be as “bold” with you when I come to visit as I expect to be
We live in the world, but we don’t fight the way the world fights
The world has the power to demolish strongholds, but we have the power to demolish arguments and ignorance, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ
We are ready to punish disobedience
You are judging by appearances.
If anyone is confident that they belong to Christ, they should consider again that we belong to Christ just as much as they do.
So even if I boast somewhat freely about the authority the Lord gave us for building you up rather than tearing you down, I will not be ashamed of it.
I do not want to seem to be trying to frighten you with my letters.
For some say, “His letters are weighty and forceful, but in person he is unimpressive and his speaking amounts to nothing.”
Such people should realize that what we are in our letters when we are absent, we will be in our actions when we are present.
B. Invasion of False Apostles into Paul’s Territory (10:12-18)
We do not classify or compare ourselves with those who foolishly compare themselves with themselves and measure themselves by themselves.
We will confine our boasting to the sphere of service God himself has assigned to us, a sphere that also includes you.
We’re not going too far when we boast about you, because we worked with you
We’re not going too far when we boast about the work of others either
We hope that as your faith grows we can spread to the regions beyond you
We don’t want to boast about work already done in someone else’s territory
All boasting should be in the Lord
People can’t approve of themselves, only God can.
C. Vindication of Authenticity of Paul’s Apostleship (11:1–12:13)
1. Justification of Paul’s Labors in Corinth (11:1-15)
Please put up with my foolishness
I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy
I promised you to Christ as a virgin bride
But I’m afraid you’ve more like an Eve than a bride, being tricked away from your God by a clever snake
You seem to easily put up with anybody who comes along preaching a different gospel than the one we presented to you
I don’t think I’m in any way inferior to these “super-apostles”
I may not be a trained speaker, but at least I have knowledge!
Was it a sin for me to lower myself in order to elevate you by preaching the gospel of God to you free of charge?
I robbed other churches by receiving support from them so as to serve you!
I was never a burden to you when I was with because the Macedonians supplied me with everything I needed!
I will never allow myself to be a burden to you! I love you too much!
I will continue to cut the ground out from under those who think they are equal to us in the things they boats about!
For such people are:
False apostles
Deceitful workers
Masquerading as apostles of Christ.
Just like their master Satan, they masquerade as angels of light
But their end will be what their actions deserve.
2. The Bragging Rights of a True Apostle (11:16–12:10)
a. Boasting about Paul’s Sufferings (11:16-33)
Don’t take me for a fool, but if you do, listen to me the way you listen to fools
I’m about to do a little boasting – but this is not how the Lord talks, but how a fool talks
Since so many are boasting as the world boasts, let me give it a shot
You think you’re being wise when you put up with these fools
But to your credit, you also put up with anyone who enslaves you, cheats you, or slaps you in the face
So all that stuff everybody’s boasting about – I can out-boast them all!
I am more Hebrew than they are
I am more Israelite than they are
I am more Abraham’s descendant than they are
I am more servant of Christ than they are
I have…
Worked much harder
Been in prison more frequently
Been flogged more severely
Been exposed to death again and again
Received from the Jews five times the forty lashes minus one
Been beaten with rods three times
Been pelted with stones once
Been shipwrecked three times
Spent a night and a day in the open sea
Been constantly on the move
Been in danger from rivers
Been in danger from bandits
Been in danger from my fellow Jews
Been in danger from Gentiles
Been in danger in the city
Been in danger in the country
Been in danger at sea
Been in danger from false believers
Labored and toiled
Often gone without sleep
Known hunger and thirst
Often gone without food
Been cold and naked.
Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.
Who is weak, and I do not feel weak?
Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn?
If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.
In Damascus the governor under King Aretas had the city of the Damascenes guarded in order to arrest me.
But I was lowered in a basket from a window in the wall and slipped through his hands.
b. Boasting about Paul’s Revelations (12:1-6)
Even though this is stupid, let me now boast about my visions and revelations from the Lord
I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven.
Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know—God knows.
He was caught up to paradise and heard inexpressible things, things that no one is permitted to tell.
I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses.
Even if I should choose to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth.
But I refrain, so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say, or because of these surpassingly great revelations.
c. Boasting about Paul’s Weaknesses (12:7-10)
Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.
Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in…
Weaknesses
Insults
Hardships
Persecutions
Difficulties
For when I am weak, then I am strong.
d. Summary: The Proof of a True Apostle (12:11-13)
I have made a fool of myself, but you drove me to it.
You ought to have commended me, for even though I am nothing, I am no less than these “super-apostles.”
I persevered in demonstrating among you the marks of a true apostle, including signs, wonders and miracles.
How were you inferior to the other churches, except that I was never a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong!
D. The Planned Third Visit (12:14–13:10)
1. Promise not to be a Burden (12:14-18)
Now I am ready to visit you for the third time, and I will not be a burden to you, because what I want is not your possessions but you.
After all, children should not have to save up for their parents, but parents for their children.
So I will very gladly spend for you everything I have and expend myself as well.
If I love you more, will you love me less?
Be that as it may, I have not been a burden to you.
Yet, crafty fellow that I am, I caught you by trickery!
Did I exploit you through any of the men I sent to you?
I urged Titus to go to you and I sent our brother with him.
Titus did not exploit you, did he?
Did we not walk in the same footsteps by the same Spirit?
2. Fears about the Unrepentant (12:19-21)
Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves to you?
We have been speaking in the sight of God as those in Christ
And everything we do, dear friends, is for your strengthening.
For I am afraid that…
When I come I may not find you as I want you to be
You may not find me as you want me to be.
There may be…
Discord
Jealousy
Fits of rage
Selfish ambition
Slander
Gossip
Arrogance
Disorder
When I come again my God will humble me before you
I will be grieved over many who have sinned earlier and have not repented of the…
Impurity
Sexual sin
Debauchery
3. Warning of Discipline from Paul (13:1-4)
This will be my third visit to you.
I gave you my warning the second time I visited you
Now I will warn you again while I am away that I will not spare anyone who has sinned
I do this because you demand proof that Christ is speaking through me
Christ…
Is not weak in dealing with you
Is powerful among you.
Was crucified in weakness
Lives by God’s power.
Likewise, we are weak in him, yet by God’s power we will live with him in our dealing with you.
4. Expectation of Self-Examination (13:5-10)
Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith
You should realize that Jesus Christ lives in you… unless of course you fail the test
You will discover that we have passed the test
We pray that you don’t mess up – not so that people will think we’re so good, but for your own benefit in spite of what anyone thinks of us
Why do I write these things to you?
Because we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth.
Because We are glad whenever we are weak but you are strong
Because our prayer is that you may be fully restored.
So that when I come I may not have to be harsh in my use of authority
Because God gave me authority over you to build you up, not tear you down.
II. Final Exhortation and Greetings (13:11-14)
Finally…
Rejoice!
Strive for full restoration
Encourage one another
Be of one mind
Live in peace
The God of love and peace will be with you.
Greet one another with a holy kiss.
All God’s people here send their greetings.
May these be with you all:
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ
The love of God
The fellowship of the Holy Spirit
No comments:
Post a Comment