2 Corinthians 2:5-3:18

Introduction

Paul opens this letter reminding the Corinthians that God comforted him through extreme suffering so he could comfort others — he's writing from real pain not academic ideas.

False apostles in Corinth convincing them of false gospels and were attacking Paul's character, saying he wasn’t a true apostle and was a liar.

Part of their accusation was that Paul was unreliable — he said he'd visit but didn't — so Paul's defense is basically, "God's promises in Christ are always yes and amen — I'm not a man who says one thing and does another."

He explains the real reason he stayed away wasn't because he didn't care — it was to spare them from a harsh face-to-face confrontation, which actually proves he cared more, not less.

Instead of coming in person, he wrote them a tearful, painful letter telling them to deal with a man in the church who had sinned by standing against Paul, and by extension, the Gospel of Jesus and needed to be disciplined.

That letter worked — the church disciplined the guy — and now we pick up in 2:5 but I need to give a little lesson on church discipline so we get where Paul’s coming from.

Church Discipline

Matthew 18:15–18 “15 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. 16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. 17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican. 18 Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

The foundation of church discipline

Keep in mind, this comes after Jesus gives the parable of the lost sheep - leaving the 99 for the 1. Jesus tells them to go find the one wandering sheep, and then immediately tells them how to do it.

the whole context isn’t about punishment, it’s about restoring

it’s a progressive process:

you go to the offending brother privately, then take one or two witnesses, then tell it to the church, and if he still refuses to repent, treat him "as an heathen man and a publican." or as one who is outside the fellowship of the people of God. This is excommunication or kicked out.

seems harsh but the point was for the person to feel the weight of their sin in life and conviction by the Holy Spirit.

then by the grace given by God, they repent and are welcomed back into fellowship and family

Paul's about to say “good job” — the Corinthians actually did the discipline, it worked, the man repented, and now Paul has to tell them to stop and forgive.

The discipline process isn't complete until restoration happens.

Forgiveness of the offender

2 Corinthians 2:5–11 KJV

5 But if any have caused grief, he hath not grieved me, but in part: that I may not overcharge you all. 6 Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many. 7 So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow. 8 Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him. 9 For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things. 10 To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ; 11 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.

Paul says it doesn’t matter how he’s hurt by it, the sin of the man, the sin of the church not responding, all of it hurts the church

Now the whole body of the church together has disciplined, and it was enough…he repented

Now it’s time to forgive and comfort him to restore his joy.

I’m afraid this is the part that we as Christians and the church don’t do so well.

But we have to…they had to show him they did it all for him and not to him out of love.

It ought to be easy if we truly understand how much we sin against others and God and how much we’ve been forgiven. Unfortunately the flesh wars against the spirit (Gal. 5:17)

Verse 9: Paul says this was his purpose in writing all along and was also checking them, to see if they would obey.

he wanted to know if they'd obey him on the hard thing (discipline), and now he wants to know if they'll obey him on the harder thing (forgiveness).

And now they have, and whoever they forgive, he does as well (this is the “binding and loosing” in Matt. 18). Paul understands the wretch he was and how much Jesus forgave him

He finishes by telling them this is the right way to handle sin in the church because sin and the lack of forgiveness is the device Satan uses to divide the church

Why is Paul writing from Macedonia

2 Corinthians 2:12–13 KJV

12 Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ’s gospel, and a door was opened unto me of the Lord, 13 I had no rest in my spirit, because I found not Titus my brother: but taking my leave of them, I went from thence into Macedonia.

Paul explains why he didn’t come to them and is now writing from Macedonia

Paul will defend his harshness in response to their sin (2 Cor. 2:14-7:3)

What Real Apostolic Ministry Looks Like (2 Cor. 2:14–3:6)

Paul's Preaching Either Saves People or Condemns Them — and Only God Can Make a Man Sufficient for That (2 Cor. 2:14–17)

2 Corinthians 2:14–17 KJV

14 Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place. 15 For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: 16 To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things? 17 For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.

Paul breaks out praising God — he shifts his focus from all the hard stuff he's been dealing with to the blessings he has in Christ, and it completely changes his attitude. He’ll pick back up on Troas and Macedonia in chapter 7, but he now explains his praise

When he says God "causes us to triumph," he's painting a picture the Corinthians would have recognized — a Roman triumph, which was a huge victory parade through the streets of Rome where a winning general got honored like a hero.

He gives praise first that he’s led by a sovereign God

second victory is guaranteed because it’s in Jesus Christ

the “savour” is the fragrance, the smell goes out everywhere

Paul gives thanks for being used as an influence that gets the sweet smell of Christ and salvation out everywhere

this ties back to the triumph parade, where priests would swing incense burners and flowers would get crushed under the horses' hooves, filling the whole city with this powerful, sweet smell.

In the middle of the parade of the victors, the prisoners who had been defeated were marched along the streets of the city on their way to execution

His point is that every believer is like that fragrance — God uses us to spread the knowledge of the gospel wherever we go, and it's a privilege, not a burden.

And the gospel isn't neutral. When we carry it, some people smell life and some people smell death, and there's nothing in between.

Verse 16: Think about it, during the triumph parade that same smell, so sweet to the victorious, would smell completely different to the conquered. It would be a sickening smell, to the defeated

Naturally this leads to Paul’s question: “who is sufficient for these things?”

If your witnessing and the preaching of the gospel either saves people or hardens them further, that’s a hard weight to carry. How can we do it?

Paul says “We aren’t like the false apostles corrupting the word of God

Greek verb that means “to corrupt,” came to refer to corrupt hucksters, or con men who by their cleverness and deception were able to sell as genuine an inferior product that was only a cheap imitation.

They were giving a degraded, adulterated message that mixed paganism and Jewish tradition.

They were dishonest men seeking personal profit and prestige at the expense of gospel truth and people’s souls but Paul speaks with sincerity, from God, in the sight of God.

You Are the Proof That My Ministry Is Real (2 Cor. 3:1–3)

2 Corinthians 3:1–3 KJV

1 Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or need we, as some others, epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you? 2 Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men: 3 Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.

Verses 1-6 is Paul’s defense against the false apostle’s attack in claiming he’s inept or clumsy and not good enough a speaker as a minister of the Gospel

But he doesn’t want to give them ammo to call him proud either so he asks two questions

Paul was asking the Corinthians if he needed to reintroduce himself, as if they had never met, and prove himself once more. Of course not!

The false teachers also accused Paul of not possessing the appropriate documents to prove he was a real minister.

These letters were often used to introduce and authenticate someone to the first-century churches

The false teachers undoubtedly arrived in Corinth with such letters, which they may have forged or lied to get from prominent members of the Jerusalem church.

Pau’s saying he doesn’t need a letter from others when the Corinthians know his sincere and godly character, as well as the truth of his message that regenerated them.

The Corinthians are Paul’s proof, his “letters known by all men” and he holds them close to his heart

“letters” of changed lives as proof Christ had transformed them

“letters” written with the work of Christ and by the Spirit of the living God, not written with ink, that can never fade.

Paul is pulling from Jeremiah 31:31–33 and Ezekiel 36:26–27. The prophets promised a day when God would write His law on hearts instead of stone and replace stony hearts with hearts of flesh — Paul is saying that day is now, and the Corinthians are living proof of it.

The 10 commandments was the law written on two tablets of stone, but the law written in our hearts with the blood of Jesus

God Made Me Sufficient to Be a Minister of the New Covenant (2 Cor. 3:4–6)

2 Corinthians 3:4–6 KJV

4 And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward: 5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; 6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

The trust and victory Paul has comes from Christ not himself. Christ is our “all and in all” (Col. 3:11)

God has made us perfectly capable ministers of the new covenant of forgiveness through Jesus which fulfills the old covenant of the Law and sacrifices.

Jesus one, perfect sacrifice satisfies the need for sacrifices over and over, that was the spirit of the law, to show man’s need for forgiveness and mercy and drive him to the Cross

Paul isn't saying the Old Testament is bad or that we shouldn't care about the written word.

He's saying the law by itself, apart from the Spirit, can only expose sin and pronounce death.

It's like a mirror that shows you the dirt on your face but can't wash it off.

The new covenant doesn't throw away the mirror — it gives you the water. The Spirit does what the law never could: actually transform people from the inside.

The Old Covenant Was Glorious, but the New Covenant’s Better (2 Cor. 3:7–18)

2 Corinthians 3:7–9 KJV

7 But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away: 8 How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious? 9 For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.

The law only brings death by the knowledge of sin. No one can satisfy it on their own and so is condemned. But when God gave Moses the law at Sinai, God’s glory was on the mountain

Paul’s saying in that, the law was glorious because it reflected God’s nature, His will, and who God is.

When Moses came down, the Israelites were terrified to look at him because of God’s glory shined on the face of Moses and was too holy for them, but it faded.

The “ministry of the Spirit” is Paul’s descriptive term for the New Covenant

If that glory came with the giving of the law under the ministry that brought death, how much more glorious will be the ministry of the Spirit in the New Covenant which brings righteousness

2 Corinthians 3:10 KJV

10 For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth.

The glory of God that shined on Moses’ face faded. The glory of the new covenant in Christ is so much brighter it’s like the glory of the old never existed

2 Corinthians 3:11 KJV

11 For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious.

The old covenant wasn’t permanent because it wasn’t God’s ultimate purpose to save both Jew and Greek through faith (see Gal 3:19–25; Rom 10:4). From the outset, then,

Because of that it was always ordained by God to pass away. When Christ came, the old had served it’s purpose.

The gospel, with its forgiveness based on God given grace and direct access to the Father, is God’s last word and is permanent. The gospel, like God’s righteousness, abides forever (see 9:9, citing Ps 112:9).

2 Corinthians 3:12–13 KJV

12 Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech: 13 And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished:

“such hope”: The belief that all the promises of the New Covenant will occur. The hope of complete forgiveness of sins for those who believe the gospel (cf. Rom. 8:24, 25; Gal. 5:5; Eph. 1:18; 1 Pet. 1:3, 13, 21)

“plainness of speech means boldness or “courageously.” Because of his confidence, Paul preached the New Covenant fearlessly, without any hesitation or fear.

Moses did not have the confidence or boldness of Paul because the Old Covenant was veiled. It was made up of types and shadows, pictures, symbols, and mystery.

Moses didn't put the veil on because the glory was too bright — he put it on so the Israelites wouldn't see it fading. He was hiding the fact that it was temporary.

2 Corinthians 3:14–17 KJV

14 But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ. 15 But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart. 16 Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away. 17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

Without Christ, the OT is impossible to really understand. But when a person comes to Christ, the veil is lifted and they see clearly for the first time (Is. 25:6–8).

With the veil removed, believers are able to see the glory of God in Christ (John 1:14). “They understand that the law was never given to save them, but to lead them to the One who would.”

The God of the Old Testament — Yahweh — is the same Lord who is saving people right now through the Holy Spirit.

He didn't change or swap out — the same God of the Old Covenant is the same God of the New Covenant.

Freedom from sin and the impossible attempt to keep the demands of the law as a way to earn righteousness (cf. John 8:32–36; Rom. 3:19, 20). The believer is no longer in bondage to the law’s condemnation and Satan’s dominion.

2 Corinthians 3:18 KJV

18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

Not just Moses, prophets, Apostles, or preachers but all of us can clearly see Christ and His glory revealed in Scripture.

1st century mirrors were polished metal. They would distort the image and make it shadowy. Now we see the glory in Jesus like a mirror held right up to our face.

Back in verse 6 we talked about the Law like a mirror showing dirt but not washing it off,

Now the mirror is pure and we can see the spots of dirt and filth on our face from the flesh and the fall. But by grace and the Spirit of the Lord, we walk in faith, and pray, and hear preaching, and read and study and trust in Jesus; little by little those spots are wiped off…this is Paul’s picture of sanctification

The mirror shows us Christ's glory and the Spirit is actually cleaning us up

And that glory of Jesus in us shines brighter…from glory to glory…every day until we get to be with Him for eternity