8. Second Corinthians

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8. SECOND CORINTHIANS

I. OUTLINE

1. Introduction. 1:1-11.

2. Recent Relation with Church. 1:12-7:16.

A. Change of Travel Plans. 1:12-2:13.

B. Apostolic Ministry. 2:14-6:10.

C. The Bond Renewed. 6:11-7:16.

3. The Jerusalem Collection. 8:1-9:15.

A. Macedonian Liberality. 8:1-6.

B. Christ's Example. 8:7-15.

C. Titus and Other Leaders. 8:16-24.

D. Collection Appeal. 9:1-5.

E. The Liberal Giver. 9:6-15.

4. Rebuke of the Revolt. 10:1-13:10.

A. Defense against Slander. 10:1-11:15.

B. Paul Boasts of His Labors. 11:16-12:10.

C. Merits of Paul's Work. 12:11-18.

D. Appeal for Repentance. 12:19-13:10.

5. Conclusion. 13:11-14.

II. AUTHORSHIP

1. Second Corinthians is Paul's fourth letter. It was written in A.D. 55 from Macedonia.

2. This is the most personal of all of Paul's letters to the churches.

3. This 2 Corinthians-the fourth letter-has been called the "thankful" epistle.

4. Some have thought that 2 Cor. 6:14-7:1 is a fragment from the first letter.

5. Paul's third letter (largely lost) was a severe rebuke-and seems to have been effective.

6. This stern letter was probably written from Ephesus and sent by Titus.

7. Some believe that 2 Cor. Chapters 10-13 are a fragment of the stem third letter. This is hardly an appropriate way to end a "thankful" letter to a reunited church.

III. CENTRAL THEMES

1. We do not have a very clear picture of Just what Paul's detractors were preaching. One thing certain, they were hard at work to undermine Paul's influence and status.

2. They accused Paul of being "tricky and insincere," weak in voice and appearance, having "visions," and being "mentally unbalanced."

3. Paul denounced his adversaries as being "domineering, arrogant, greedy, and brutal." He would hardly admit that they were "Christians."

4. Paul's collection for the Jerusalem church was a strategic move to promote Jewish-gentile unity.

5. Major theme-God and Father of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort.

6. He did not belittle Satan-called him "God of this world."

7. He presents the Christ, who "was rich," but for our sake "became poor."

8. The new order of God, through Christ, is the gift of the Holy Spirit.

9. Paul recognizes the Old Testament as "scripture," but Christ is its fulfillment.

10. He portrays the "mission of suffering." His power is "made perfect in weakness."

11. Hope is the twin of true faith.

12. Prayer is the mainstay of religion.

13. Christian giving-charity.

14. He admits his own afflictions and his "thorn in the flesh."

15. He glories in his infirmities.

16. Paul does not hesitate to make a bold and courageous defense of himself.

17. God lives and works in man. The body is the temple of the Holy Spirit.

18. Jesus is a unique revelation of God.

IV. SELECTED TEXTS

1. God of all comfort. "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and God of all comfort." 1:3.

2. Spirit gives life. "The written code kills, but the Spirit gives life." 3:6.

3. Spiritual liberty. "Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom." 3:17.

4. Earthen vessels. "But we have this treasure in earthen vessels." 4:7.

5. The eternal reward. "For this slight momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison." 4:17.

6. The morontia body. "We know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens." 5:1.

7. The new creature. "Therefore, if any one is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, behold, the new has come." 5:17.

8. Divine reconciliation. "God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself." 5:19.

9. Unbeliever marriages. "Do not be mismated with unbelievers." 6:14.

10. Temples of God. "For we are the temple of the living God." 6:16.

11. Clean living. "Let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, and make holiness perfect in the fear of God." 7:1.

12. According to ability. "If the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what a man has, not according to what he has not." 8:12.

13. Satanic disguise. "And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light." 11:14.

14. Paul's revelation. "This man was caught up into Paradise...and he heard things that cannot be told." 12:3.4.

15. The thorn in the flesh. "And to keep me from being too elated by the abundance of revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan, to harass me, to keep me from being too elated," 12:7.

16. Power of grace. "'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.'" 12:9.

17. Spiritual strength. "When I am weak, then am I strong." 12:10.

18. Self-examination. "Examine yourselves, to see whether you are holding to your faith. Test yourselves." 13:5.