Sermon Tone Analysis

Temple of Apollo- in Corinth

Intro- Paul’s background… Became a Christian and then...

Paul did not do anything by way of preaching or council for the first 3 years following becoming a Christian… Many speculate as to what he was doing.

I think it is likely that He was spending his time in study… The other apostles got to walk with Jesus for 3 years, he didn’t.

2 Corinthians is actually the 3rd or 4th letter that Paul sent to the church he founded in Corinth (), The letters are (1) the previous letter mentioned in ; (2) our 1 Corinthians; (3) the tearful, severe letter mentioned in ; and (4) our 2 Corinthians.

Paul wrote 2 Corinthians from Macedonia around a.d.

55/56, a year or so after writing 1 Corinthians and a year before he wrote his letter to the Romans from Corinth.

1 Corinthians dealt extensively with the concept of being unified with each other, 2 Corinthians deals with being unified with him in his ministry

THEME: The central theme of 2 Corinthians is the relationship between suffering and the power of the Spirit in Paul’s apostolic life, ministry, and message.

THEME: The central theme of 2 Corinthians is the relationship between suffering and the power of the Spirit in Paul’s apostolic life, ministry, and message

Paul’s motives for taking a collection had been called into question - His courage had been called into question , Paul’s opponents had argued that Paul suffered too much to be a Spirit-filled apostle of the risen Christ.

Paul argues that his weakness as an apostle is the very means by which believers are comforted 

Paul’s motives for taking a collection had been called into question - His courage had been called into question , Paul’s opponents had argued that Paul suffered too much to be a Spirit-filled apostle of the risen Christ.

Paul argues that his weakness as an apostle is the very means by which believers are comforted 

We would do well to set in context that before any suffering on Paul’s part, God said he had plans for his suffering.

We would do well to set in context that before any suffering on Paul’s part, God said he had plans for his suffering.

Greeting:

Paul begins this letter by defending his Apostleship.

(by the will of God)

He also clarifies that this letter is for the whole of Achaia

Which is different than 1 Corinthians which was addressed strictly to Corinth.

It is likely that those who did not receive Paul’s letter well, began criticizing him, and spreading their message throughout the region.

This is in part, Paul’s public defense of his ministry.

God’s comfort/ Paul’s suffering/deliverance.

Paul speaks here to his affliction, however he also addresses the fact that He was comforted by God in His affliction.

The affliction that he endured is detailed later in the letter, but the harder portion to identify is how exactly did he receive comfort from God?

We will look at that in a little bit.

I want to key in on something here in V.4- Paul says that he received comfort from God SO THAT he would be able to comfort others who are going through any affliction.

- A reference back to - Paul had to suffer… so that, he could help others who suffered.

While we are not the apostle Paul, we understand this principle, it is easier for us to be a comfort and a help to individuals, when we know what it means to hurt.

When God blesses us, it is incumbent on us to bless others.

Paul is doing several things here… He is addressing some of his criticism.

Many believed that because he suffered so much, God could not be with him.

and they questioned his teachings.

He is pointing out that his suffering had a purpose to it.

Actually two purposes

Their comfort

Their salvation (He was suffering because he preached, If he hadn’t preached, they wouldn’t have heard)

He also addresses that His comfort should be their comfort

Paul explains the severity of his suffering

He identifies yet another purpose in his suffering… Learning to rely on God more.

Paul felt as if he were going to die.

Which taught him to rely solely on the one who can raise him back up.

Paul describes that God delivered them from their trouble.

The, he turns his attention to the prayers of others.

Paul mentions that they needed to help by prayer--- Quick note here… Our society mocks this idea.

When there is a tragedy, and someone mentions that they are praying… someone readily attacks that person and says, “Yeah, well, when are you actually going to help?” --- We must NEVER have that mindset

of course, we need to physically assist when we have the ability to do so, but we have an obligation to pray, and if we ever allow ourselves to get into the mindset that it isn’t really helpful, we need to question very seriously, why in the world we live a Christian life.

God has promised to hear the prayers of His children, and stated that they have great power.

If we don’t believe so, then why do we follow him?

Paul also mentions that a great many blessings have come and will come through the prayers of others.

(perhaps including his escape from death)

One of the accusations against Paul was that he could not be relied upon because he changed his plans.

Paul began giving his defense to that

Read V.12-16

Paul had promised in the letter known as 1 corinthians in chapter 16 that he would visit them after going to Macedonia .

Here He explains that he wanted to give them a second experience of grace, or double pleasure… meaning he was going to come to them twice instead.

Paul was addressing a criticism that had been leveled against him.

That he couldn’t be trusted because he said one thing and then another.

Paul explains that he wasn’t making decisions according to the flesh (just whatever he felt) But that he was deciding based on what he felt best for them in accordance with the will of God.

Here Paul transitions from defending his travel plans to defending his preaching.

The accusations went like, “If we can’t trust Paul in his travel plans, how can we trust his preaching?”

Paul made clear that Jesus is the fulfillment of all of God’s promises.

(In Him it is always yes) there is no change in Jesus.

V.21-22- Paul affirms that it was God himself that established them together and gave them His spirit as a seal, as a guarantee.

Paul explains why he changed his travel plans.

It was to spare them… It would seem as though paul didn’t come to them because he didn’t want to be the policeman for their faith.

He preached to them what needed to be preached, and it was up to them to stand firm in their faith.

There is no standing firm before God if the faith we have isn’t our own.