Bible Overview: 2 Corinthians
Notes
Transcript
Author: Paul
Author: Paul
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the church of God that is at Corinth, with all the saints who are in the whole of Achaia:
CSB Study Bible: Notes Chapter 1
Corinth was the capital of the Roman province of Achaia, the southern part of Greece. Paul recognized that an apostolic letter would be of interest to churches in neighboring cities.
See also 2 Corinthians 10:1.
Map
Date: A.D. 56
Date: A.D. 56
shortly after his first letter
Background / Timeline
Background / Timeline
The message of 1 Corinthians was not well received by the church in Corinth. Timothy reported this to Paul. It may have been in part because of the “false apostles” that Paul deals with in the last few chapters of 2 Cor. (These may have been Judaizers)
After receiving this report, Paul made a 2nd visit to Corinth. Paul was ministering in Ephesus at the time, but he took time away from there to settle matters in Corinth. According to 2 Cor. 2:1 this was a “painful visit” because of how strong Paul’s rebuke of the church was. (See also 2 Cor. 13:2). Much of this was due to the false apostles that were stirring up the church against Paul.
1 For I made up my mind not to make another painful visit to you.
2 I warned those who sinned before and all the others, and I warn them now while absent, as I did when present on my second visit, that if I come again I will not spare them—
Following this 2nd visit, Paul wrote another very severe letter of rebuke to the Corinthian church while he was still in Ephesus. He sent this now lost letter with Titus.
Titus returned to Paul with a good report: as a result of Paul’s preaching and letter, most of the Corinthian church had repented and now accepted Paul’s authority.
5 For even when we came into Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were afflicted at every turn—fighting without and fear within. 6 But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, 7 and not only by his coming but also by the comfort with which he was comforted by you, as he told us of your longing, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced still more.
In response to this report from Titus, Paul decided to write one more letter to the Corinthians (2 Corinthians) to express his joy over the repentance of the majority and also to plead with those who were still unrepentant and being swayed by false teachers.
He promised them that he would visit them a third time
14 Here for the third time I am ready to come to you. And I will not be a burden, for I seek not what is yours but you. For children are not obligated to save up for their parents, but parents for their children.
1 This is the third time I am coming to you. Every charge must be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses.
Paul made his third (and probably final) visit to Corinth on his way to Jerusalem while he was taking the financial collection there from the churches he had visited.
2 When he had gone through those regions and had given them much encouragement, he came to Greece. 3 There he spent three months, and when a plot was made against him by the Jews as he was about to set sail for Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia.
Purposes:
Purposes:
Express joy at the repentance and restoration of the majority
Ask for participation in the offering for poor believers in Jerusalem
Defend his apostolic ministry against false apostles and those in Corinth who followed them
Diverse Themes
Diverse Themes
The Nature of True Ministry
The Nature of True Ministry
(1) God himself is the first minister and the source and subject of our ministry. He reconciled us to himself through Christ and now tasks us with doing the same for others as His ambassadors.
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation;
19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.
20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
(2) true ministry in Christ’s name involves both suffering and victory;
16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.
(3) serving Christ means ministering in his name to every need of the people
We tend to focus most on people’s spiritual needs, which is the most important, but true gospel ministry doesn’t ignore any need of people. We all have spiritual needs, relational needs, emotional needs, and physical needs.
Spiritual needs: 2 Cor. 5:20.
Relational needs: 2 Cor 6:11-13
11 We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians; our heart is wide open.
12 You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted in your own affections.
13 In return (I speak as to children) widen your hearts also.
Emotional needs (this is one of Paul’s most emotionally charged letters; he expresses a wide range of emotions - despair, distress, anguish, tears, grief, love, hope, affection, longing, sorrow, concern, joy, stern anger); 2 Cor. 7:9
9 As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief, so that you suffered no loss through us.
Physical needs
14 your abundance at the present time should supply their need, so that their abundance may supply your need, that there may be fairness.
(4) leaders in ministry need support and trust from those to whom they minister.
Paul wanted to know that the Corinthians had his back, that they respected him and his spiritual authority instead of the false teachers.
10 For this reason I write these things while I am away from you, that when I come I may not have to be severe in my use of the authority that the Lord has given me for building up and not for tearing down.
God has given spiritual authority to every minister, but that authority can either lead to joyful building up or sadly the tearing down of the body of believers depending on (1) the faithfulness of the minister and (2) the response of those he ministers to. If a minister is faithful to God and his Word, those he ministers to must respond in love, trust, respect, and obedience.
7 Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.
17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.
The New Covenant (chapters 3-4)
The New Covenant (chapters 3-4)
14 But their minds were hardened. For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away.
The Intermediate State (5:1-10)
The Intermediate State (5:1-10)
6 So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord,
7 for we walk by faith, not by sight.
8 Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.
The Joy of Sacrificial Giving (chapters 8-9)
The Joy of Sacrificial Giving (chapters 8-9)
The offering for poor believers was mentioned in each of Paul’s 3 longest letters - Romans 15:28, 1 Corinthians 16:1-4, and 2 Corinthians 8-9.
This (2 Cor. 8-9) is the longest and most extensive treatment of this subject of Christian stewardship and generous giving.
9 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 by his poverty might become rich.
21 for we aim at what is honorable not only in the Lord’s sight but also in the sight of man.
6 The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.
Application
Application
Every believer is a participant in God’s ministry of reconciliation.
We must first draw near to God ourselves (and always keep drawing nearer), and then as we have opportunity, we must seek to help other people (both believers and non-believers) draw near in their relationship to God. We do this by speaking to them about Jesus Christ and demonstrating his character in our lives.
Practically we do this at home or in our family with our spouse or children or other family members.
We can do this at work or with our friends or even with strangers.