2 Corinthians
2Corinthians is a book from Paul’s heart. Some inside the church had
rejected Paul as being crude and unlearned. They further rejected
Paul’s teaching and his apostleship. Although \\#2Cor 7:5-16\\
reveal that the church at Corinth had largely repented of their sin
and of their rejection of him due to a harsh, lost, third letter that
he wrote to them, the aftermath still remained.
Paul was not typically one to worry about what people thought of him;
but the Corinthians rejection of him had a correlation in their
rejecting his message and vice-versa. Both to help them and to mend
fences, Paul was willing to spend more time helping them to
understand him. That is what this letter was about.
In this letter Paul shared more about himself than in any other
book. But being a book of the heart has its difficulties. Since Paul
was speaking more from the heart, the book has less order and logic
to it. Paul’s flow of though is much more difficult to outline and
even to perceive.
Outline:
I. \\#2Corinthians 1:1-5:21\\ Paul’s Explanations
A. \\#2Corinthians 1:1-2\\ Paul’s Introduction
B. \\#2Corinthians 1:3-11\\ Paul’s Suffering
1. \\#1:3-7\\ Truths about All Suffering
2. \\#1:8-11\\ Truths about Paul’s Suffering
C. \\#2Corinthians 1:12-14\\ Paul’s Rejoicing
D. \\#2Corinthians 1:15-2:17\\ Paul’s Itinerary
1. \\#1:15-16\\ Paul’s Purpose
2. \\#2:17\\ The Corinthians’ Charge
3. \\#1:18-2:13\\ Paul’s Answers
4. \\#2:13-17\\ Paul’s Praise
II. \\#2Corinthians 6:1-7:16\\ Paul’s Commands
III. \\#2Corintihains 8:1-9:15\\ The Collection for the Saints
IV. \\#2Corinthians 10:1-12:13\\ Weak in Presence, Bold in Absence
V. \\#2Cor 13:11-14\\ Closing
I. \\#2Cor 1:1-7:16\\ Paul’s Explanations - Although things were
better at the time of this writing, Paul had heard from Corinth
that some in the church felt he was unlearned, unsophisticated,
fickle, proud, and mean. In coming to those opinions, they had
decided that Paul was not an apostle and that they did not need to
obey his instruction. Paul spent a great deal of time in this book
dealing with what brought them to those false conclusions.
A. \\#2Corinthians 1:1-2\\ Paul’s Introduction
1. \\#1\\ Paul, an apostle"
a. This was part of Paul’s common salutation, probably
in part because he had to constantly contend with
those who rejected him as an apostle since he was
not one of the Twelve.
b. "by the will of God" - But Paul did not back down from
his calling. It was a calling by "the will of God"
and Paul would be faithful in carrying it out.
2. "and Timothy" - Paul had a team that worked with him in
his ministry. Timothy was one of the most regular
members on Paul’s team.
3. "unto the church… at Corinth" - Paul went to Corinth on
his second missionary.
a. It is recorded in Acts 18.
b. Paul stayed at Corinth for at least 18 months.
Acts 18:11 And he continued there a year and six
months, teaching the word of God among them.
c. It is believed that Paul wrote this letter from
Macedonia while on his third missionary journey.
(1) Based on the fact that he mentioned having passed
through Troas into Macedonia \\#2Cor 2:12-14\\,
it would seem he was already nearing Corinth.
(2) See a map of Paul’s Second Missionary Journey.
d. That would be around 57 to 58 AD.
e. The letter was written from Paul (with Timothy) to the
church at Corinth.
f. There were at least four letters written by Paul to
Corinth.
g. A summary of Paul and Corinth’s history.
(1) Paul visited Corinth for the first time
\\#Acts 18:1\\
(2) Paul wrote a letter that has since been lost.
1Cor 5:9 I wrote unto you in an epistle not to
company with fornicators:
(3) Paul wrote 1Corinthians.
(4) Paul made a "heavy" visit.
(a) After writing 1Corinthians, there was
another visit which Paul referred to as a
"heavy" visit, probably meaning that Paul
made that visit because of problems that
needed to be dealt with inside the church
or between Corinth and Paul.
(b) This visit is not documented in Acts, but it
clearly took place.
2Cor 2:1 But I determined this with myself, that
I would not come again to you in heaviness.
2Cor 12:14 Behold, the third time I am ready to
come to you; and I will not be burdensome to you:
for I seek not yours, but you: for the children
ought not to lay up for the parents, but the
parents for the children.
2Cor 13:1 This is the third time I am coming to
you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall
every word be established.
(5) Paul wrote a 3rd letter which has been lost.
2Cor 2:4 For out of much affliction and anguish
of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not
that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know
the love which I have more abundantly unto you.
(a) \\#2Cor 7:5-16\\ The letter, though harsh,
had resulted in a change in the church.
(b) Although Paul was probably nearing the
church’s location, he felt an immediate
overture on his part was necessary to keep
things moving in the right direction.
(6) Paul wrote 2Corinthians.
h. All of this means that a lot of dialogue had gone on
between Paul and this church that we do not know
about. Some of what Paul alluded to in this letter,
we may not understand.
i. Each of the previous contacts seem to have been for
the purposes of correcting and reproving the
Corinthians.
2Cor 2:9 For to this end also did I write, that
I might know the proof of you, whether ye be
obedient in all things.
j. This letter will still attempt to move the church in
a righteous direction but it will be the most
personal of all that Paul wrote.
(1) A main thought seems to be, "If I am an apostle,
follow me."
(2) In this book, Paul shared with the Corinthians
some of his sacrifices for the gospel.
(a) This was not to build himself up, but
another tool to bring them to the place of
repentance and obedience.
(b) In 1Corinthians, Paul used hard preaching in
an attempt to accomplish the same purpose.
4. \\#2\\ "Grace… and peace" - Again, part of Paul’s
common salutation. It reminds us that before peace can
come, God’s grace must first be accepted.
B. \\#2Corinthians 1:3-11\\ Paul’s Suffering - Paul moved from
his salutation directly into general teaching on suffering
and then specifically to the suffering he had endured to get
the gospel to the Corinthians. It is obvious from the onset
that Paul intended to share these with his audience. At the
first, only in part but he will share more details as the
letter progresses.
1. \\#1:3-7\\ Truths about All Suffering
a. \\#3\\ "Blessed be God"
(1) Paul started with a praise to the God who gives
mercy and comfort.
(2) Considering the topic which Paul was about to
discuss (suffering), it was appropriate to
remember God’s mercy.
b. \\#4\\ Two truths about comfort:
(1) "Who comforteth us in all our tribulation" - God
is our Comforter.
(a) This cannot be overstated.
(b) God comforts His people in ALL of their
troubles regardless of whether they are
brought about by serving Christ or life or
even our own foolishness!
(c) The Holy Spirit was sent specifically for
the purpose of being our comforter.
Joh 16:7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It
is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go
not away, the Comforter will not come unto you;
but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
(2) "that we may be able to comfort them" - We are
the comforters of others.
(a) Since the Holy Spirit comforts ALL
believers, it stands to reason that our
primary target is to comfort those who are
NOT believers.
(b) Of course Christians can and should and do
comfort one another, but the implication
seems to be that we are able to do in the
flesh what the Holy Spirit cannot do,
especially to the unsaved.
(c) We become a funnel to gather up the
kindness, gentleness, mercy, thoughtfulness
of the Holy Spirit and to pass it along to
others who are in need.
c. \\#5\\ A Principal - "As the sufferings of Christ
abound… so our consolation" from Christ abounds.
(1) Here, the suffering Paul spoke of does not seem
to be the common suffering of this world but
suffering for Christ.
(a) Paul moved from the "all our tribulation"
\\#4\\ to "the sufferings" specifically
associated with standing for Christ.
(b) That suffering is above and beyond the
suffering of what this world heaps upon
all.
(c) Does this negate our expectation of God’s
comfort in the "typical" trials of life?
NO, but Paul was already directing the
Corinthian readers to one of his arguments,
i.e. that he had suffered to get the gospel
to a lost world—including them.
(2) Paul stated a principal that as grief and trouble
abound so God will be there to comfort and
console.
(a) This is in keeping with other truths the
Bible gives to us.
1Co 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but
such as is common to man: but God is faithful,
who will not suffer you to be tempted above that
ye are able; but will with the temptation also
make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear
it.
1Pe 4:19 Wherefore let them that suffer
according to the will of God commit the keeping
of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a
faithful Creator.
Ro 8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more
than conquerors through him that loved us.
(b) This is not a promise of deliverance but
rather a promise of God’s presence and
grace.
d. \\#6\\ Paul subtly told the Corinthians that no
matter what happened to him, his work would
ultimately provide comfort to them.
Acts 1:6 And whether we be afflicted, it is for
your consolation and salvation….
(1) Paul become more narrow in his view in this
verse.
(a) Now Paul was not talking about the suffering
of the world, the saved, or even the
Corinthians.
(b) He was speaking of the suffering of himself
and Timothy and perhaps others who had
served in getting the gospel to the
Corinthians.
(c) Why did they endure that?
i. It was for the Corinthians "consolation
and salvation."
ii. Here Paul was not referring to what
Christ did for him but what he did for
the Corinthians.
(d) Paul added that this was made possible
(effectual) because of their "enduring" the
suffering instead of shrinking from it.
Acts 1:6 …or whether we be comforted, it is for
your consolation and salvation"
(2) I don’t know that Paul and his coworkers received
much comfort from the world, but whatever they
did receive, they had done that in the same
work, for the "consolation and salvation" of
Corinth and others.
e. \\#7\\ "And our hope of you is steadfast"
(1) Whether Paul was comforted or afflicted, he cared
not. What he did care about were the
Corinthians, and he was certain that God had and
would do a great work with them.
(2) What gave Paul that confidence? The principal
that he had already stated in verse 5, restated
here by saying "knowing that as ye are partakers
of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the
consolation."
(3) Paul and others had suffered to bring grace to
the Corinthians. Hence God would give them
their comfort in making the Corinthian church
"steadfast."
2. \\#1:8-11\\ Truths about Paul’s Suffering
a. \\#8-10\\ "For we would not… have you ignorant of
our trouble."
(1) From the onset, Paul desired to give to this
church an some explanation of what he and others
had gone through to get the gospel to them.
(2) Yet, he does not give all the details here, we
suppose, because they already knew the details
from his other encounters with them.
(3) In this text, he summarized it as:
(a) happening "in Asia."
(b) "we despaired even of life."
(c) \\#9\\ "we had the sentence of death."
(d) "we should trust… in God."
(e) \\#10\\ "Who delivered us from so great a
death."
(f) "in whom we trust."
(4) This would sound like a time when Paul, either by
earthly powers or perhaps disease, should have
died, but God brought deliverance.
(5) Many feel, myself included, that this was Paul’s
summary of what happened in Thessalonica
\\#Acts 17:1-9\\, when some "set all the city on
an uproar" \\#Acts 17:5\\. As this happened
shortly before Paul arrived at Corinth, the
Corinthians would likely know of it.
(6) But this could also be the many times that Paul
was arrested, beaten, and shipwrecked; or it
could be some other specific event that is not
detailed in the Bible at all.
(7) Paul will give more details of some of his
suffering later in this book.
b. \\#11\\ "Ye also helping together by prayer"
(1) But it was not just God’s goodness which had
delivered Paul and his team. It was also the
prayers from the Corinthians and others which
caused God to send the help.
(2) Indeed, this gift came from "many persons… on
our behalf."
C. \\#2Corinthians 1:12-14\\ Paul’s Rejoicing
1. \\#12\\ "for our rejoicing is this" - Paul began a
section to explain a joy that he had.
2. Perhaps the joy Paul had in knowing that the Corinthians
had prayed for him caused him to think of his other joy.
3. Paul began explaining this joy by referring to his
"conversation in the world… to you-ward;" that is, to the
life he lived while with the Corinthians.
a. "the testimony of our conscience" - Paul’s conscience
bore with the testimony he was about to share.
b. "in simplicity and godly sincerity" - Paul had lived
with a single and honest goal before the Corinthians,
namely to glorify Jesus.
c. "not with fleshly wisdom" - He had deliberately not
tried to use man’s wisdom and ways to influence them.
d. Here Paul seemed to be saying that he had always been
simple and straight-forward with the people.
(1) This is not his joy. Paul had not gotten to that
yet. Instead, he was leading up to it by
pointing out that his behavior had always been
simple and straightforward,
(2) Perhaps Paul started this way because some had
charged Paul with being "rude in speech.
2Co 11:6 But though I be rude in speech, yet not
in knowledge; but we have been throughly made
manifest among you in all things.
(3) …and lacking in wisdom and speaking skill.
2Co 10:10 For his letters, say they, are weighty
and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak,
and his speech contemptible.
1Co 1:17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but
to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words,
lest the cross of Christ should be made of none
effect.
(4) Paul never denied these things. Instead, his
defense was that he was this way on purpose.
1Co 2:2 For I determined not to know any thing
among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
(5) So Paul was saying that he had always been
this way.
4. \\#13\\ "For we write none other things unto you, than
what ye read or acknowledge."
a. Paul continued to by pointing out that he was not
writing anything with which the Corinthians would
disagree. In other words, they all knew he was
simple and straightforward in his conversation with
them.
b. "I trust ye shall acknowledge even to the end" - And
Paul hoped that they would see that to be true
through to the end, perhaps the end of the letter or
perhaps the end of their ministry together.
c. \\#14\\ "As also ye have acknowledged us in part"
(1) But at this point, Paul acknowledged there were
disagreements between the Corinthians and Paul.
(2) The Corinthians had only acknowledged part of
what Paul had taught them, and he hoped they
would acknowledge much more.
5. Then finally, Paul spoke of his joy.
a. "we are your rejoicing" - That as the Corinthians
had joy in Paul and his team enough to pray for
them.
b. "ye also are ours" - Paul and his team rejoiced
in the Corinthians.
c. Despite any disagreements, any bad things said by
them, any rebellion on their part, Paul still
had great joy when he thought of them.
D. \\#2Corinthians 1:15-2:17\\ Paul’s Traveling - It is apparent
from \\#17\\ that some thought Paul had made promises to come
to Corinth in the past and did not keep them because of some
lacking in his character. Paul addressed that in this
section.
1. \\#15-16\\ Paul’s Purpose
a. \\#15\\ "And in this confidence" - What confidence?
In the confidence that he might have joy in the
growth and lives of those at Corinth.
b. "I was minded to come unto you, that ye might have a
second benefit"
(1) Wanting to help the Corinthians to grow, Paul had
planned to come to Corinth for what would be his
second visit.
(a) At that time, he wanted to go so that he
could be a second blessing to them, to grow
them in the ways of Christ.
(b) Interestingly, Paul had already made a
second visit by the time he was writing
this letter for at that time, he was
planning to make his third visit to
Corinth.
2Cor 12:14 Behold, the third time I am ready to
come to you; and I will not be burdensome to you:
for I seek not yours, but you: for the children
ought not to lay up for the parents, but the
parents for the children.
2Cor 13:1 This is the third time I am coming to
you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall
every word be established.
(c) But some were still upset that Paul had not
made the second visit WHEN he said he was
going to come. Let it go, people.
(2) \\#16\\ The details of what Paul had wanted to do
are given.
(a) Paul had made his first journey to Corinth
on the end of his second missionary
journey, coming down from Macedonia and
going back to Israel.
(b) Apparently he had planned reverse the order
on his third missionary trip, coming to
Corinth first then going to Macedonia and
then again at the end of that journey as he
returned once again to Israel.
(c) The book of Acts reveals that Paul instead
went back to re-visit some of churches in
Asia Minor (his first missionary journey)
and came across to Macedonia again before
coming to Corinth. In fact, Corinth
proved to be his furthermost point in the
journey before retracing part of the trip
and going back to Israel.
(d) As of the moment Paul wrote this letter, he
had not made his "official" trip to Corinth
but had come in the undocumented visit
which he described as a "heavy" meeting.
2Cor 2:1 But I determined this with myself, that
I would not come again to you in heaviness.
(e) Perhaps Paul made that heavy visit during
the three years that he stayed at Ephesus
on the third missionary journey.
i. Look at \\#Acts 20:17\\ to see to whom
he was speaking.
Ac 20:31 Therefore watch, and remember, that by
the space of three years I ceased not to warn
every one night and day with tears.
ii. This would be the closest major city
that Paul visited on the third
missionary journey and would have
required little more than a boat
journey across Aegean Sea.
(e) Perhaps Paul made the heavy visit because he
had heard of their disappointment with him
in an attempt to make things right.
(f) So even though a visit was made, it was not
when Paul had thought to go and it did not
accomplish what Paul had wanted to
accomplish, to give them a second benefit.
(G) Hence, some of the Corinthians still though
ill of Paul
2. \\#17\\ The Corinthians’ Charge - Paul asked the questions
he knew those who were discontent were asking.
a. Was Paul using "lightness?" Was Paul being fickle?
Joking? Not serious?
b. Or was Paul being directed "according to the flesh?"
Was he promising things he thought the people wanted
to hear?
3. \\#2Cor 1:18-2:17\\ Paul’s Answers
a. \\#2Cor 2:18-22\\ Paul was not double minded.
(1) Paul plainly answered the charges.
2Cor 1:18 … our word toward you was not yea
and nay.
(2) \\#19\\ Paul reminded the Corinthians that he
never preached a double-minded Jesus.
2Cor 1:19 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ…
was not yea and nay.
(a) Using both "yea and nay" was an expression
that accused Paul of saying one thing to
one group and other to another group,
trying to please everyone.
(b) Paul had patterned his life after Jesus.
Jesus did not say things just to please
people and neither did Paul.
(3) \\#19-20\\ Paul used the opportunity to point out
that the gospel is about what can be
accomplished in Christ not what cannot be
accomplished.
2Cor 1:19 … but in him was yea.
20 For all the promises of God in him are yea,
and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.
(a) Paul was not advocating a "think-positive"
gospel but he was saying that the message
of the cross is a positive one.
(b) Christ and the cross did not make anything
worse! Adam and sin had already made man’s
plight as bad as it could be.
(4) \\#21-22\\ Some examples of the positive effects
of the cross.
(a) \\#21\\ God has "established us with you" -
Paul considered the relationship he had
with the Corinthians positive. That
relationship was produced by Christ.
(b) "hath anointed us" - The ministry that Paul
and the Corinthians had come by the cross.
(c) \\#22\\ "sealed us" - The seal that keeps
the believers in Christ came by the cross.
(d) "the earnest of the Spirit" - The gift of
the Holy Ghost came by Christ.
b. \\#2Cor 1:23-2:11\\ Paul did not come because he did
not want to hurt them. (See the notes in the next
chapter.)
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