2 CORINTHIANS - Bible Study Guide

[Pages:15]2 CORINTHIANS

"For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake." (2 Corinthians 4:5)

Lessons By: Rob Harbison



TABLE OF CONTENTS

Topic Table of Contents Introduction Chapter 1:1-11 Chapter 1:12-2:13 Chapter 2:14-3:18 Chapter 4:1-5:10 Chapter 5:11-6:10 Chapter 6:11-7:16 Chapter 8:1-24 Chapter 9:1-15 Chapter 10:1-18 Chapter 11:1-33 Chapter 12:1-13 Chapter 12:14-13:14

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INTRODUCTION

Lesson 1

AUTHOR--Paul (1:1; 10:1)

DATE--ca. 56 AD

PLACE--Written from Macedonia, possibly Philippi (2:13; 7:5). Paul writes to prepare the way for his third visit to Corinth (13:1). Titus and two companions, deliver the epistle to the church (2 Corinthians 8:6,16-24).

BACKGROUND-- The City Of Corinth. During Paul's time, Corinth was the most important city of Greece, probably the fourth largest city in the Roman Empire, according to Erdman. Athens was a greater center of culture, religion and philosophy, with the goddess Athena, the goddess of the mind, overshadowing the city (Acts 17:16-34). Whereas, Corinth was a greater center of greed, lust, and debauchery--with the goddess Aphrodite, goddess of the body-- underlying the corruption of the city (1 Corinthians 5:9-13; 6:9-11).

? Farrar says it was "...a city conspicuous for its depravity even amid the depraved cities of a dying heathenism."

? Gettys describes it as "a seaman's paradise, a drunkard's heaven, and a virtuous woman's hell." ? Barclay says Corinth "was a by-word for evil and immoral living. The very word korinthiazesthai (to live

like a Corinthian), has become a part of the Greek language; and it meant to live with drunken and immoral debauchery..."

Corinth was world-renowned for the temple of Aphrodite, which sat on the hill of the Acropolis, with her 1000 priestesses, who were nothing more than temple prostitutes. Yet, it was this ungodly city wherein God told Paul "I have many people in this city" (Acts 18:9-11).

History Of Church In Corinth. Established at the end of Paul's second missionary journey, about 50AD, the church was a mixture of Gentiles (Acts 18:7) and Jews (Acts 18:2,8,17) from the very beginning. Silas and Timothy joined Paul shortly after his arrival. After his conversion, Apollos preached and built up the church in Paul's absence (Acts 18:24-19:1). He evidently converted many of them (cf. 1 Corinthians 1:12; 3:4-6,22; 4:6). There is also the possibility that Peter ministered to the Corinthians (1 Corinthians 1:12; 3:22; 9:5), although his name may only be used to illustrate Paul's point regarding partyism (cf. 1 Corinthians 4:6).

Reconstruction Of Events And Dates. The following is taken from Survey Of First Corinthians, by Jimmy Allen, pp. 19-20. Paul mentions two additional epistles he wrote to the Corinthians which we do not have recorded.

50-52AD 52AD 53AD 54AD

54-55AD 54-55AD

Paul's first visit to Corinth. He remained for eighteen months. Apollos went to Corinth from Ephesus (Acts 19:1). Paul, from Ephesus, wrote Corinthians A which dealt with the matter of refusing fellowship to Christians involved in sexual immorality (1 Corinthians 5:9). Paul received a report from Chloe's house concerning division in the Corinthian church. He also received a letter from Corinth asking a number of questions (1 Corinthians 1:11; 7:1; 8:1; 12:1; 16:1). From Ephesus, Paul wrote Corinthians B (i.e. 1 Corinthians) in response to the report and letter he had received from Corinth. Paul then sent Timothy and Erastus into Macedonia (Acts 19:22). He intended to follow them (Acts 19:21; 1 Corinthians 16:5-6), however, it seems that his plan was not carried out since he stayed in Asia for a while (Acts 19:22).

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54-55AD 54-55AD

55AD

55-56AD 55-56AD 55-56AD 55-56AD

Paul learned of trouble in Corinth and crossed the Aegean Sea to deal with it. He then returned to Ephesus. When back in Ephesus, Paul wrote the severe letter or Corinthians C to the church at Corinth (2 Corinthians 2:3-4). Either the severe letter was carried by Titus or Paul sent him later to learn how the brethren had received it (2 Corinthians 2:12-13; 7:6-8). Apparently, Titus made his journey across the Aegean Sea to Corinth and was to return by land to meet Paul at Troas (2 Corinthians 2:12-13). This is implied from the fact that Paul, not finding Titus at Troas, went into Macedonia. Paul left Troas and went into Macedonia where he met Titus who comforted him with a favorable report about how the Corinthians had responded to his severe letter (2 Corinthians 7:5-7). Paul was united with Timothy in Macedonia (Acts 19:22; 2 Corinthians 1:1). Paul wrote Corinthians D (i.e. 2 Corinthians) in Macedonia (2 Corinthians 2:12-13; 7:5). Paul made his third visit to Corinth (Acts 20:1-3; 2 Corinthians 12:14).

CLUES-- Intensely Personal. Some could mistakenly consider the letter of 1 Corinthians to be cold and stern--not so with 2 Corinthians. Here the apostle pours out his heart to his brethren (2:4). His concern for them was so great, and his heart so restless, that he passed up a great opportunity to preach in Troas, to learn of the Corinthian's condition (2:12-13; 7:5-7,13). His concern continued daily (11:28). With his heart opened wide to them, he longed for them to open their hearts to him too (6:11-13; 7:2). He had boasted of them to Titus (7:14), to other churches (8:24), and to the Macedonians (9:2-4). Paul was jealous for them like a father for his children (11:2; 12:14), and gladly sacrificed himself for them (11:7-9; 12:14-15).

Ministry Of The Gospel. The ministry of the gospel is greater than any man who preaches it (2:16; 3:5). It is an aroma of life to those who accept it and death to those who reject it (2:14-16). It is a glorious ministry (3:6-18), demanding sincerity (2:17), and pointing men to Christ instead of self (4:1-6). Its effectiveness comes from God's power (4:7) and the minister's dogged perseverance (4:8-15). Knowing the terror of the Lord (5:11), and the love of Christ (5:13-15,18-21), he persuades men. Ministry demands commitment (6:3-10), in spite of conflicts without and fears within (7:5). There is no place for self-promotion (10:12-18), only for self-denial (12:14-15). The former are false ministers (11:13-15,23).

Contrasts. This epistle is full of contrasts--suffering and comfort (1:3-7), glory of old and new covenant (3:7-18), distressed but not defeated (4:8-12), affliction and glory (4:16-18), temporary and eternal (4:16-5:8), poverty and riches (8:1-15), boasting and humility (10:12-18), true ministers and false (11:2-4,13-15), proud boasting and reluctant boasting (11:16-12:6), strength and weakness (12:7-12), tenderness (10:1; 12:14-15,19) and biting irony (11:4,7,19-20). As ministers of the gospel, they were faithful in contrasting things (6:4-10).

Defense Of Apostleship. A new problem had arisen--the Judaizers who plagued the church in Antioch (Acts 15) and Galatia (Galatians 1:6-7), had finally arrived in Corinth. They had convinced some to challenge Paul's authority and motives. The leaders were arrogant domineering men (11:19-20), who boasted of their pedigree (11:22) and preached a perverted gospel (11:4). They attacked Paul as a second rate apostle (12:11-12), who was weak and vacillating (10:10), and who either did not think enough of himself to accept financial support from them (11:7), or was cunningly planning to defraud them later (12:16-18). Their empty boasting (5:12; 10:13,15; 11:12,16) made it necessary for Paul to respond (11:17-28; 12:1-6). This kind of personal defense is obviously distasteful to Paul (11:21,23; 12:11), but necessary because the attack on him was also an attack on the gospel. He would much rather boast in the strength of God (10:17; 11:30; 12:9).

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SUMMARY-- Evidently written under stress, this epistle explodes with the kind of emotion which we do not often associate with the apostle Paul. We catch a glimpse into the apostle's soul--his hopes and fears, his joys and anguish, his love and pain, his commitment and sacrifice.

He begins the epistle explaining his past actions. He accounts for the delay in his visit and the tone of his rebuke in the first letter (1:12-2:11). He then explains the nature of his gospel ministry by describing the glorious nature of the gospel (2:14-4:6), the frail nature of its ministers (4:7-5:10), and the effect it has on men's lives (5:11-7:16).

He continues the epistle turning to a present need. He encourages them to give to the poor saints in Jerusalem by appealing to the Macedonian's gift (8:1-8), Christ's gift (8:9), their own gift (8:10-9:14), and God's gift (9:15).

He concludes the epistle expressing his anxieties about a future confrontation with his critics. Unlike their boasting, his authority was from the Lord (10:1-18). He feared for those who followed these false ministers of the gospel rather than the true (11:1-15). He had to turn to foolish boasting to silence those who boasted in lesser things (11:1612:10; cf. Proverbs 26:4-5). He bore the signs of an apostle and would come to them with authority to challenge them and his critics (12:11-13:10).

OUTLINE-- I. Salutation (1:1-2) II. Principles Of Paul's Ministry (1:3-7:16)

A. Comfort In Suffering (1:3-11) B. Explanations For His Actions (1:12-2:13) C. Nature Of Paul's Ministry (2:14-7:3)

1. The Fragrance Of Christ (2:14-17) 2. Minister Of Glorious New Covenant (3:1-18) 3. Honesty (4:1-6) 4. Suffering (4:7-15) 5. Hopeful (4:16-5:10) 6. Reconciling (5:11-21) 7. Blameless (6:1-10) 8. Open-Hearted (6:11-7:3) D. The Corinthians' Repentance (7:4-16) III. Necessity For Corinthians' Ministry (8:1-9:15) A. The Macedonians' Gift (8:1-9) B. The Corinthians' Gift (8:10-9:15) 1. The Exhortation (8:10-15) 2. The Messengers (8:16-24) 3. Ministering To The Saints (9:1-15) IV. Vindication Of Paul's Ministry (10:1-13:10) A. Reality Of Paul's Authority (10:1-11) B. Measure Of True Authority (10:12-18) C. True And False Apostles (11:1-15) D. Paul's Reluctant Boasting (11:16-12:13) 1. Boasting In Suffering (11:16-33) 2. Boasting In Revelations (12:1-6) 3. Boasting In Christ (12:7-10) 4. Signs Of An Apostle (12:11-13) E. Warning Of Paul's Impending Visit (12:14-13:10) V. Closing Remarks And Greetings (13:11-14)

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QUESTIONS-- 1) After reading 2 Corinthians in one setting, what repeated words or phrases did you observe? What do these

words and phrases tell you about the message of the book?

2) Did you see any pattern developing as the book unfolded? What pattern(s) did you see, if any?

3) Describe Paul's feelings for the brethren at Corinth. Is that the same apostle Paul you have always pictured?

4) Why are there so many contrasts in this book? What do such contrasts do for our understanding of Paul's points?

5) What is Paul attempting to do with the Corinthians in regard to giving, other than just taking up money for needy saints?

6) Why was Paul compelled to offset the boasting of his critics, even though that placed him in danger of giving credibility to them and participating in their folly (cf. Proverbs 26:4-5)?

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CHAPTER 1:1-11

Lesson 2

KEY VERSE-- "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort" (1:3)

SUMMARY-- This second letter to the Corinthians is unique among Paul's writings, because it shows us the depth of his heart and emotions. It gives us insight into his motives, his struggles, and his yearnings. It shows us the impulses of his soul which are behind his actions. We see a side that many who think of Paul as a hard-nosed bulwark of faith seldom see--his tenderness and concern.

Paul begins with a greeting which affirms his apostleship from the very beginning (1:1-2). He then gives thanks to God for the comfort God gives us in our suffering--a comfort which we can share with others (1:3-7). He then gives thanks to God for delivering him in his own sufferings (1:8-11).

QUESTIONS-- 1) Why does Paul affirm his apostleship at the very beginning of this epistle (1:1)? What does he have to battle

throughout the entire epistle (12:11-12; 13:3)?

2) Who had elevated Paul to this position (1:1; Acts 26:12-18)?

3) What does the word "saint" mean (1:2)? How could Paul describe the Corinthians as "saints" in view of all the problems they had and sins they had committed?

4) How does Paul describe God?

1:3a-- 1:3b-- 1:3c--

5) What two reasons did Paul express for his thanksgiving?

1:3-7-- 1:8-11--

6) How many times do these verses mention "comfort" and "consolation" (1:3-7)? What does that tell us about the emphasis of this section?

7) Why do we receive comfort from God (1:4)? How does that make any difference?

8) What had Paul faced which God comforted him through (1:5)? Why had this suffering come upon him(1:5a)?

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9) Who else benefitted from the comfort Paul received (1:6)? What did comfort in Christ produce in the Corinthians (1:6)?

10) How bad were Paul's troubles (1:8-9)? What did he learn in difficulties (1:9b)?

11) Who else does Paul credit with his deliverance through such suffering (1:11)? What had they done for him?

ASSIGNMENT-- Read this passage every day before the upcoming class (check the box after each day that you read the passage)

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

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