2 Corinthians Paul's Care for the Corinthian Saints

Review

In foolishness, Since Many Boast in the Flesh, 2 Corinthians 11:16-21

The Boasting Paul Could Claim According to the Flesh, 2 Corinthians 11:22-33

Paul’s Visions and Revelations, 2 Corinthians 12:1-9

Taking Pleasure in Weakness on Behalf of the Christ, 2 Corinthians 12:10

In Weakness There is Strength, 2 Corinthians 12:10

2 Corinthians 12:10

Wherefore, I take pleasure in weakness, in insults, in necessities, in persecutions, in difficulties on behalf of Christ. For when I am weak, then I am inherently strong

His boast is in weakness because God’s grace is sufficient, 2 Corinthians 12:9

2 Corinthians 12:9

And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you. For My inherent ability in weakness is brought to maturity.” Therefore, I gladly boast in my weaknesses in order that the inherent ability of Christ should dwell upon me.

Paul’s Care for the Corinthians Saints, 2 Corinthians 12:11-13

Paul Should be Commended by Them; Rather He is Foolishly Boasting, 2 Corinthians 12:11

2 Corinthians 12:11

I have become a foolish boaster for you. Hear me. For I ought to be commended by you, for I did not lack in anything from the greatly superior apostles, since also I am nothing.

The Signs of an Apostle Were Worked Out Among Them, 2 Corinthians 12:12

2 Corinthians 12:12

Indeed the signs of the apostle it worked out among you in all patience and wonders and inherent abilities.

In patience - holding out under circumstances

in wonders - that which is astounding, surprising

Done with signs by the Apostles at the beginning of the Church, Acts 2:43

Acts 2:43 ESV

And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles.

Signs accompanied wonders, Romans 15:19

Romans 15:19 ESV

by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God—so that from Jerusalem and all the way around to Illyricum I have fulfilled the ministry of the gospel of Christ;

The Signs and Wonders Done Among the Gentiles by Paul and Barnabas, Acts 15:12

Acts 15:12 ESV

And all the assembly fell silent, and they listened to Barnabas and Paul as they related what signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles.

Signs are for the Jews, 1 Corinthians 1:22

1 Corinthians 1:22 ESV

For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom,

The Gentiles speaking in tongues, Acts 10:44-46

Acts 10:44–46 ESV

While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles. For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared,

In Inherent abilities - Miracles

Healing of the sick, Mark 6:5

Mark 6:5 ESV

And he could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them.

Casting out demons, Luke 6:17-19

Luke 6:17–19 ESV

And he came down with them and stood on a level place, with a great crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. And those who were troubled with unclean spirits were cured. And all the crowd sought to touch him, for power came out from him and healed them all.

They Were Only Inferior to Other Churches in Their Lack of Support for Paul, 2 Corinthians 12:13

2 Corinthians 12:13

For what is that which you are inferior concerning the remaining assemblies, except that I myself was not burdensome to you? You graciously give to me this unrighteousness.

Paul refused to be burdensome to them, 2 Corinthians 11:9

2 Corinthians 11:9

And being present facing you and lacking, I did not weigh heavy upon anyone, for the brethren supplied my lack, after coming from Macedonia and in all I kept myself not burdensome to you and will keep

Paul’s request they graciously give to him this unrighteousness - not providing for him

The Corinthian Assembly was a difficult one to deal with because they were often carnal (focused on the flesh), 1 Corinthians 3:1

1 Corinthians 3:1

But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people (πνευματικοῖς), but as people of the flesh (σαρκίνοις), as infants (νηπίοις) in Christ.

Apollos, their Pastor left for a while due to their stubbornness, 1 Corinthians 16:12

1 Corinthians 16:12 ESV

Now concerning our brother Apollos, I strongly urged him to visit you with the other brothers, but it was not at all his will to come now. He will come when he has opportunity.

Paul does not seek what they have, but them, 2 Corinthians 12:14-21

2 Corinthians 12:14

Look, with discernment, the third time I have prepared to come towards you and not be burdensome to you. For I do not seek your things, but you. For He is not obligating the children to store up for the parents, but the parents for the children.

Paul’s willingness to exhaust himself for them, 2 Corinthians 12:15

2 Corinthians 12:15

And I gladly will spend and will exhaust on behalf of your soul, since also abundantly I am loving you, the less I am loved.

Did Paul take them by baiting? 2 Corinthians 12:16

2 Corinthians 12:16

And let me not burden you, but cleverly existing I took you by baiting!

Did Paul take advantage of them by anyone he sent? 2 Corinthians 12:17

2 Corinthians 12:17

Did someone whom I sent towards you through him did I take advantage of you?

Did anyone he sent take advantage of them? 2 Corinthians 12:18

2 Corinthians 12:18

I implored Titus and together sent out brethren. Did Titus take advantage of you? Did we not walk by the same Spirit? Not by the same track?

Does Paul need to again defend himself before them? 2 Corinthians 12:19

2 Corinthians 12:19

Again do you deem that we defend ourselves to you? Before the presence of God in Christ we speak. And all the things, beloved, on behalf of your edification.

Paul restrained from coming, concerned he would find them carnal, 2 Corinthians 12:20

2 Corinthians 12:20

For I fear least after coming, such as I do not desire I will find you and also I should be found to you such as you do not desire. Lest somehow quarrelling, jealousies, angers (in burning), rivalries, slanders, gossips, arrogance, disturbances.

Paul’s concern about finding them in a state of not having changed their minds concerning their carnality, 2 Corinthians 12:21

2 Corinthians 12:21

Lest again, after coming, my God will humble me before you and I should mourn many of the ones before having sinned and have not changed their minds on the basis of the uncleanliness even fornication even licentiousness, which they did.

Paul Will Not Spare Those Who Continue in Carnality When He Comes, 2 Corinthians 13:1-4

By the witness of two or three, 2 Corinthians 13:1

2 Corinthians 13:1

This is the third time I am coming to you. On the basis of the mouth of two and three witnesses every utterance will stand.

Paul will not spare those continuing to be carnal, 2 Corinthians 13:2

2 Corinthians 13:2

I spoke before and I said before as present the second time and while being absent now I write to the ones before having sinned and to all the remaining, that if perhaps I should come because of this again, I will not spare.

Since they seek approval of Christ speaking by Paul, 2 Corinthians 13:3

2 Corinthians 13:3

Since you seek approval of the in me speaking Christ, Who is not weak unto you, but He is inherently able in you.

They seek a testing for approval that Christ speaks in Paul

Paul will not spare those who are living a life of blatant sin

Christ lives by the Inherent ability of God, 2 Corinthians 13:4

2 Corinthians 13:4

For also if He was crucified out from weakness, but He lives out from inherent ability of God. For also we are weak among you, but we will live with Him out from inherent ability of God unto you.

Paul instructed them to remove the sinning one from their midst, 1 Corinthians 5:1-5

1 Corinthians 5:1–5 ESV

It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not tolerated even among pagans, for a man has his father’s wife. And you are arrogant! Ought you not rather to mourn? Let him who has done this be removed from among you. For though absent in body, I am present in spirit; and as if present, I have already pronounced judgment on the one who did such a thing. When you are assembled in the name of the Lord Jesus and my spirit is present, with the power of our Lord Jesus, you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord.

Hymenaeus and Alexander delivered over to Satan by Paul, 1 Timothy 1:20

1 Timothy 1:20 ESV

among whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme.

Scripture Reading

Taken Pleasure in Weakness on Behalf of the Christ, 2 Corinthians 12:10

2 Corinthians 12:10

Wherefore, I take pleasure in weakness, in insults, in necessities, in persecutions, in difficulties on behalf of Christ. For when I am weak, then I am inherently strong.

Paul’s Care for the Corinthians Saints, 2 Corinthians 12:11-13

2 Corinthians 12:11–13

I have become a foolish boaster for you. Hear me. For I ought to be commended by you, for I did not lack in anything from the greatly superior apostles, since also I am nothing. Indeed the signs of the apostle it worked out among you in all patience and wonders and inherent abilities. For what is that which you are inferior concerning the remaining assemblies, except that I myself was not burdensome to you? You graciously give to me this unrighteousness.

Paul does not seek what they have, but them, 2 Corinthians 12:14-21

2 Corinthians 12:14–21

Look, with discernment, the third time I have prepared to come towards you and not be burdensome to you. For I do not seek your things, but you. For He is not obligating the children to store up for the parents, but the parents for the children. And I gladly will spend and will exhaust on behalf of your soul, since also abundantly I am loving you, the less I am loved. And let me not burden you, but cleverly existing I took you by baiting! Did someone whom I sent towards you through him did I take advantage of you? I implored Titus and together sent out brethren. Did Titus take advantage of you? Did we not walk by the same Spirit? Not by the same track? Again do you deem that we defend ourselves to you? Before the presence of God in Christ we speak. And all the things, beloved, on behalf of your edification. For I fear least after coming, such as I do not desire I will find you and also I should be found to you such as you do not desire. Lest somehow quarrelling, jealousies, angers (in burning), rivalries, slanders, gossips, arrogance, disturbances. Lest again, after coming, my God will humble me before you and I should mourn many of the ones before having sinned and have not changed their minds on the basis of the uncleanliness even fornication even licentiousness, which they did.

Paul Will Not Spare Those Who Continue in Carnality When He Comes, 2 Corinthians 13:1-4

2 Corinthians 13:1–4

This is the third time I am coming to you. On the basis of the mouth of two and three witnesses every utterance will stand. I spoke before and I said before as present the second time and while being absent now I write to the ones before having sinned and to all the remaining, that if perhaps I should come because of this again, I will not spare. Since you seek approval of the in me speaking Christ, Who is not weak unto you, but He is inherently able in you. For also if He was crucified out from weakness, but He lives out from inherent ability of God. For also we are weak among you, but we will live with Him out from an inherent ability of God unto you.