Sermon Tone Analysis

1 Corinthians

Purpose

Paul’s letter was occasioned by at least two factors.

First, he had received word from two sources of divisions in the church (; ).Secondly, Paul had received a letter from the assembly requesting answers to a series of questions.

Paul felt obliged to respond.

Hindson, E. E., & Kroll, W. M. (Eds.).

(1994).

KJV Bible Commentary (p.

2277).

Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

1.

The first six chapters were an attempt to correct the contentions in the church brought to his attention by Chloe’s servants (1:11) and to bring about unity in perspective and practice.

2. Beginning in chapter 7, Paul addressed himself to certain questions (introduced by the phrase peri de, “now concerning”) about marital issues (7:1, 25), liberty and responsibility (8:1), spiritual gifts and church order (12:1), money for impoverished saints in Jerusalem (16:1), and the availability of Apollos (16:12).

3.

In chapter 15 he reaffirmed and defended the doctrine of the Resurrection, which some denied.

It is possible that Paul saw this as a fundamental ill affecting all the preceding discussion, so he placed it at the climax of his letter.

Standing above all the issues with which this letter deals is the very existence of a church in Corinth, a testimony to the power of God and the gospel.

Hindson, E. E., & Kroll, W. M. (Eds.).

(1994).

KJV Bible Commentary (p.

2277).

Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

Conclusion

Giving

Going

Growing Up

Greetings

2 Corinthians

These steps, in summary, are: (1) First visit to Corinth.

(2) First letter to Corinth (now lost).

(3) Second letter to Corinth (1 Cor.).

(4) Second visit to Corinth (a “painful visit,” 2 Cor.

2:1).

(5) Third letter to Corinth (now lost).

(6) Fourth letter to Corinth (2 Cor.).

(7) Third visit to Corinth.

All of Paul’s letters have sections which digress or are discontinuous, but in no letter is this tendency so evident as in 2 Corinthians.

The circumstances under which it was composed likely contributed to this but that has not satisfied the numerous advocates who find interpolations rife in 2 Corinthians.

Five proposed interpolations may be noted.

Greeting 1:1-2

2 cor1

2thess

2tim

1thess1.

phil

col1

phile1.

Thankfulness 3-8

Comfort (or Comfort Defined) 3-8

A. The Person of Comfort vs.3

B. The Promise of Comfort vs.4a

C. The Purpose of Comfort vs. 4b, 6-7

D. The Parameters of comfort vs. 5

1pet

Trouble (or comfort applied) 9-11

2cor1.9-11

E. The Power of Comfort vs.8-10a

F. The Perpetuity of Comfort vs.10b

G.

The Participation of Comfort vs.11