2 CORINTHIANS

After a painful conflict with the Corinthian church Paul writes this letter to reconcile further with them and to show them that his gospel and his apostleship are legitimate.

Paul, while in Ephesus, hears worrying reports about the Corinthian church (1 Cor 1:11, 16:17-18) and in response he writes the letter of 1 Corinthians. Being delayed himself, he sends Timothy to see how the letter is being received (1 Cor 16:10-11, Acts 19:22). Timothy seems to have come back with an even more worrying report, for Paul changes his plans and visits the Corinthians immediately (2 Cor 1:17). This visit does not go well. The church largely reject Paul’s correction and his leadership. Paul refers to it as the ”painful visit” (2 Cor 2:1). He leaves quickly.
The rejection of himself as a person would not have worried Paul so much, but he knows that by rejecting him the church is also in the process of rejecting basic gospel truths and inviting some very bad leadership onto themselves. So Paul will not let go: he sends a trusted long-term co-worker, Titus, to attempt a reconciliation with the church (2 Cor 7:6, 7:13-14, 8:23). Paul anxiously waits for Titus to report back to him (2 Cor 2:12-13) and is overjoyed when Titus brings the good news of the church’s repentance (2 Cor 7:6-16).
In answer Paul writes 2 Corinthians, in which he assures the Corinthians of his continued love for them and challenges them to repent even more fully (2 Cor 7:2-16). Paul sends 2 Corinthians ahead of himself (probably again by the hand of Titus) in order to give the church time heal, to repent even more deeply and to sort things out further.
Unlike 1 Corinthians, that was a more biting and ironic letter, 2 Corinthians is a highly emotional letter where Paul bares his heart. The major topics are the process of reconciliation with the Corinthians, a defense of Paul’s apostleship and gospel and a warning against some super-apostles who have preyed on the church, discredited Paul and caused division.
Paul again combats the Greek ideas of a successful teacher (eloquence, self-presentation, popularity, high honorariums) and shows them that true apostleship is a life of self-sacrificial service, risk-taking courage, often deprivation, persecution and always incarnational love. Paul affirms his own apostleship by affirming the Corinthians: they are his fruit, his honor, his letter of recommendation. He shows them that just as Jesus won the decisive battle by suffering and self-sacrifice, this is also the characteristic of a true apostle’s work. He puts this true leadership in contrast to the leadership of these flashy super-apostles, who are really self-serving and prey on existing churches they did not plant.
In chapter 8 and 9 Paul encourages the Corinthians to restart collecting a donation for the needy Jerusalem church. Paul refuses to handle any of these donations himself to prove to them his self-less motivation and his financial integrity.

Paul’s correspondence with the Corinthian church

Around three years after founding the Corinthian church in 50-52 AD, Paul is on his 3rd missionary journey, spending about two and a half years is Ephesus. When in Ephesus, maybe in late 54 AD, he hears worrying reports about the Corinthian church (1 Cor 1:11, 16:17-18). He writes 1 Corinthians in response to these reports. Being delayed himself, he sends Timothy to see how his letter is being received (1 Cor 16:10-11, Acts 19:22).
Timothy seems to have come back with an even more worrying report, so Paul changes his plans and visits the Corinthian church immediately (2 Cor 1:17). This visit does not go well. The Corinthian church largely reject Paul’s corrections and his leadership. Paul refers to this as the “painful visit” (2 Cor 2:1). He leaves quickly.
The rejection of himself as a person would not have worried Paul so much, but he knows that by rejecting him the church is also in the process of rejecting basic gospel truths and inviting some very bad leadership onto themselves. So Paul will not let go: he sends a trusted long-term co-worker, Titus, to attempt a reconciliation with the church (2 Cor 7:6, 7:13-14, 8:23). Titus probably carries with him a ‘severe letter’ of Paul, which has not been preserved in the Bible. He refers to in 2 Cor 2:4. It was a weighty, frightening, powerful rebuke (2 Cor 10:8-9), written to see if they would repent, obey and recognize his authority (2 Cor 2:2, 7:8).
Paul anxiously waits for Titus to report back to him (2 Cor 2:12-13) and is overjoyed when Titus brings the good news of the church’s repentance (2 Cor 7:6-16).
Paul assures them of his continued love for them and challenges them to repent even more fully (2 Cor 7:2-16). In order to heal things further and to prepare the church for his upcoming third visit he writes the letter of 2 Corinthians from Macedonia, which Titus delivers to Corinth when going there again. The total correspondence with the Corinthian church therefore runs like this:

Event
Description
1
1st Visit
Paul establishes the church in Corinth on his 2nd Missionary Journey 50-52 AD. He stays 1 ½ years, then leaves for Ephesus (Acts 18:1-18).
2
1st Letter
“PREVIOUS LETTER”
Paul warns them not to associate with immoral believers (probably linked to 1 Cor 5:9). The church misunderstands him (1 Co 5:10-11). This letter is lost. Some think that it is part of 2 Corinthians: 2 Cor 6:14 – 7:1.
3
Reports from Chloe’s people
Report about misunderstandings over his first letter, about divisions, disorder and contentions in the church (1 Cor 1:11), bad behaviour at the Lord’s Table (1 Cor 11:18) and rejection of Paul’s authority (1 Cor 4:3,18).
4
Letter from the Corinthians to Paul
They ask questions about marriage, food offered to idols, spiritual gifts (1 Cor 7:1 … “now concerning”). Probably carried by Stephanas, Fortunatus and Achaicus (1 Cor 16:17-18), who also brought news of continued immorality in the church.
5
Original plan
Paul plans to visit Corinth after staying in Ephesus until Pentecost, travelling through Macedonia (1 Cor 16:5-9).
6
2nd Letter = 1 CORINTHIANS
written AD 55 from Ephesus on his 3rd Missionary Journey, probably carried by Stephanas, Fortunatus and Achaicus (1 Cor 16:15-18).
7
additional probable plan
Paul plans to send Timothy to Ephesus before he himself is going, maybe to see how the Church is responding to “1 CORINTHIANS” (1 Cor 16:10-11, Acts 19:22).
8
Timothy’s bad report
Timothy seems to have gone to Corinth (Acts 19:22) around AD 55. The situation in the church had deteriorated, Paul’s authority had been undermined. Timothy brings a bad report about the state of the church to Paul in Ephesus.
9
1st change of plan
Paul decides to visit Corinth urgently, travelling directly from Ephesus to Corinth (an only then on to Macedonia and back again) to give them an additional visit (2 Cor 1:15-16)
10
Paul’s 2nd visit – PAINFUL VISIT
Paul urgently visits Corinth traveling directly from Ephesus (2 Cor 2:1, 13:1-2). This visit is not mentioned in Acts. It is a painful confrontation, his authority is rejected. He is criticised for many things, for example for changing his plans (2 Cor 1:17). Paul leaves quickly.
11
2nd change of plan
Paul wants to avoid another painful visit and postpones his plan to visit them again on the way back from Macedonia (2 Cor 1:23-2:1).
12
3rd Letter – SEVERE LETTER
Instead Paul sends Titus to Corinth with a SEVERE LETTER. He refers to it in 2 Cor 2:4. It is a weighty, frightening, powerful rebuke (2 Cor 10:8-9), written to see if they will repent, obey and recognize his authority (2 Cor 2:2, 7:8). This letter is also lost. Some think this refers to “1 CORINTHIANS”. Others think it was preserved as 2 Cor 10-13.
13
Waiting for Titus in Troas & Macedonia
Paul leaves Ephesus and anxiously waits for Titus at Troas to hear how his severe letter had been received (2 Cor 2:2). When Titus does not come, Paul moves on to Macedonia (2 Cor 2:13, 7:5), where he meets Titus and is comforted by his report that the Corinthian church has responded well to his letter (2 Cor 7:5-15). Titus mentions false teachers (“super-apostles”), who reject Paul’s authority and have turned the church against him (2 Cor 10-12).
14
4th Letter =
2 CORINTHIANS
In response Paul writes 2 CORINTHIANS to be sent by the hand of Titus ahead of himself visiting. It is written from Macedonia in AD 56. Paul expresses joy at the church’s response, defends his apostleship, tells the church to get ready for his third visit and to have the offering for Jerusalem ready (2 Cor chapters 8, 9).
15
3rd Visit
Still on his 3rd Missionary Journey, Paul visits Corinth again in AD 56. With the Corinthian problems solved, he writes the letter of ROMANS (Rom 15:23-28), collects the gift for Jerusalem and then returns to Judea (Acts 20:2).

Unlike 1 Corinthians, which was a more correcting, biting and ironic letter, 2 Corinthians is a highly emotional letter where Paul bares his heart and assures the Corinthians of his continued love and care for them. 2 Corinthians is therefore a less structured letter, more like Paul pouring out his heart.

Paul’s relationship with the Corinthian church

In chapters 1, 2, 6 and 7 Paul tells his part of the story, how he suffered and worried about the Corinthians and how relieved he is at their repentance.
Paul stresses that though the conflict with the Corinthians was very painful for him, he was also under pressure on the Ephesus side (2 Cor 1:8-11). He describes how God gave him great consolation, which can now be used to console the Corinthians and others (2 Cor 1:4). In this way Paul reduces the emotional pressure of guilt on the Corinthian church.
Paul also repeatedly expresses his confidence and even pride in the Corinthian church, showing them a father’s heart: “Our hope for you is unshaken” (2 Cor 1:7). “I rejoice, because I have compete confidence in you” (2 Cor 7:16).
But most of all he shares freely his utter relief at their repentance: “But God who consoled the downcast, consoled us by the arrival of Titus, not only by his coming, but also by the consolation with which he was consoled about you, as he told us of your longing, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced still more” (2 Cor 7:5-7). “I am sorry for the grief my letter caused, but more still rejoice at the repentance it produced” (2 Cor 7:8).
Paul also challenges them to further open up to him and keep responding positively: “See, now is the acceptable time, see now is the day of salvation. We are putting no obstacle in anyone’s way” (2 Cor 6:2-3). “We have spoken frankly to you Corinthians; our heart is wide open to you. There is no restriction in our affections, but only in yours. In return – I speak as to children – open wide your hearts also” (2 Cor 6:11-13). Paul is bare-hearted, vulnerable, pursuing.
There seems to have been quite an attack on Paul (probably by the super-apostles) for changing his travel plans. Paul asserts that he has “behaved with frankness and godly sincerity” (2 Cor 1:12) and that he did not arbitrarily or flippantly break his word (2 Cor 1:18), rather it was to spare them that he didn’t return immediately (2 Cor 1:23, 2:1).
In chapter 2 Paul also follows up on a man’s blatant immorality, an issue he addressed in 1 Cor 5, and concerning which he had challenged them to apply church discipline. It seems the Corinthians did exercise church discipline on him and it seems that the man responded with repentance, because in 2 Cor 2:5-11 Paul encourages the church to forgive him and reaffirm their love for him.

Paul’s apostleship and gospel

When Paul talks about true apostleship he talks about godly behavior (love, selfless service, faithfulness) and the underlying godly character and attitude, reflecting the fruit of the Spirit.
He does not talk about anything the Greek culture would have praised: intelligence, charisma, talents, appearance, eloquence or popularity. He doesn’t even talk about his calling, where he experienced the risen Christ first hand. Neither does he write about do’s and don’ts in the church.
He knows that the Corinthians, by valuing the wrong things, have sidelined some good leadership (Paul, Chloe, Stephanas, etc. 1 Cor 16:16) and brought on themselves some really bad leadership.
Paul shares some powerful metaphors about what apostleship is meant to be:

“But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads in every place the fragrance that comes from knowing him” (2 Cor 2:14). Victorious Roman generals and emperors would parade their captives before the crowds as sign of their military prowess and victory. Paul asserts his apostolic victory, but he balances it with the description of the continual sufferings of an apostle (2 Cor 6:4-7, 11:23-29).

“For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing; to the one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life” (2 Cor 2:15-16).

“We are not peddlers of God’s word like so many; but in Christ we speak as persons sent from God and standing in his presence” (2 Cor 2:16-17). Peddler are people who do business by false claims, cheating, ulterior motives, selling at any price, selling worthless things, saying anything to make the buyer take it. This is a description of what the false apostles and itinerant preachers are doing.

“We do not need letters, as some do, letters of recommendation… You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, to be known and read by all… you are a letter of Christ… written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts” (2 Cor 3:1-3). This is in stark contrast to the ideal Greek teachers, who heavily depended on letters of recommendation, placed great importance on physical appearance and strength, valued eloquence more than correct content, charged money for their teaching and boasted in spiritual experiences. Paul on the other hand makes his own reputation totally dependent on the church. If the church doesn’t do well, this will shed a negative light on Paul. The state of the Corinthian church is Paul’s loss of reputation. They have the power to prove Paul ineffective… and are almost doing so! Paul is vulnerable, not cold; intimately involved, not looking on from a safe distance.

Apostles are “ministers of a new covenant, not of letter but of spirit, for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life… a covenant of Spirit, a new covenant that is so much more glorious than the old” (2 Cor 3:4-6). The reason for this comment is that probably quite a few of those “super-apostles” are Jews (2 Cor 11:22). Presumably they bring back a teaching of legalism. Paul therefore contrasts the Old Covenant with the New:

Old Covenant                           New Covenant
3:6 of letter or written code          of spirit
3:6 letter kills                             3:6 Spirit gives life
3:7 ministry or death                3:7 ministry of the Spirit
3:3,7 chiseled on stone tablets 3:3 written on tablets of human
3:7 much glory or splendor    3:8-9 more glory, splendor, far exceeds
3:9 ministry of condemnation 3:9 ministry of justification
3:18 Israelites couldn’t look     3:18 can behold the glory of God
3:10 once splendor, no longer  3:10 splendor surpasses it
3:11 Moses hiding face                   Jesus                                                3:11 fading glory                        3:11 permanent
3:14 veiled, veil over mind        3:16 in Christ veil set aside, unveiled
law >sin >condemnation >death   grace >forgiveness >justification > life
temporal, set aside, fading glory  permanent, from now. eternal
law                                                    grace
no freedom from sin, guilt, law   3:16 Lord = Spirit = Freedom
law can’t change heart                  3:18 changed into Jesus’ likeness

Paul mentions the story of Moses, coming down from Sinai with a shining face, which he then covers (Exo 34:29-35). Paul explains this as Moses hiding the fact that the light was fading.
Paul reminds his readers: both covenants are from God, both have glory. The first prepared for the second, but fullness comes only with the second: Jesus is the fulfillment of all things in the Old Testament.
How then do I change? Paul explains that we do not change by increased effort but rather “all of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord as through reflected in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another, for this comes from the Lord, the Spirit” (2 Cor 3:18).
Paul asserts that it is by the mercy of God that he is engaged in this ministry, leading him to “renounce shameful things, refuse to use cunning or falsify God’s word; but by the open statement of truth we commend ourselves to the conscience of everyone in the sight of God” (2 Cor 4:1-6).
Paul uses another powerful metaphor describing himself and true apostleship (2 Cor 4:7-5:10): “But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us. We are…
◦ afflicted in every way but not crushed
◦ perplexed but not driven to despair
◦ persecuted but not forsaken
◦ struck down but not destroyed
◦ carrying in body death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus be made
visible in our mortal flesh
◦ so death is at work in us but life in you
because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus, bring us with you into his presence” (2 Cor 4:14).
Paul openly describes just how human, how weak, how limited humans are, and he deliberately casts eternal hope into this present mess: He doesn’t ignore the troublesome now, but he puts it into perspective by bringing eternity into the picture. Through God even the current situation has glory, not to speak of the reality of bodily resurrection and eternal restoration (as he described in 1 Cor 15).
This gives hope (2 Cor 4:16-18, 5:1-5): “So we do not lose heart
◦ though outer nature is wasting away our inner nature is being renewed day by day
◦ slight momentary affliction preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure
◦ we look not at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen
◦ what can be seen is temporary but what cannot be seen is eternal
◦ earthly tent > destroyed building from God, not made with hands, eternal in the heavens
◦ in this tent we groan longing to be further clothed
◦ mortal swallowed up by life”
Paul uses one more metaphor for apostles in 2 Cor 5:11-21: They are “ambassadors for Christ”, having a “ministry of reconciliation”. They are official representatives of God Most High in this country, fully endowed with authority to represent the Father. They are diplomats, bringing about reconciliation and peace. What a high picture of the believers!
Paul woos the Corinthians’ heart to respond further to him in the emotional passage of 2 Cor 6:1-13. It is followed by 2 Cor 6:14-19, (quoting or alluding to Eze 37:27, Isa 52:11, 43:6, Jer 51:45, 2 Sam 7:14, Hos 2:1), a passage that is commonly used to teach that a believer should only marry a believer. This can be argued from this passage, but in this context it refers not so much to marriage, but to the Corinthians yoking themselves to false apostles, who already have done much damage in the church.
It is noteworthy just how many very famous and frequently quoted Scripture verses come from 2 Corinthians: “we walk by faith, not by sight” or “if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away: see, everything has become new!” Isn’t it interesting to realize, that God uses Paul, even in this depressing situation, to write some of the most beautiful and comforting words in Scripture?

The money collection 2 Corinthians 8-9

Paul had been encouraging the churches of Macedonia and Achaia to donate generously to the church in Jerusalem, among them the Corinthians (1 Cor 16:1-4). The beginning of this money collection predates Paul’s conflict with the Corinthians.
Jerusalem was a troubled and troublesome spot even at Jesus’ time, but by the mid fifties of the first century AD it had gotten much worse: the Jews were involved in continual violent uprisings, lead by a steady stream of false Messiahs, rallying people together to overthrow Roman rule. The Romans hated the Jews for disturbing their beloved ‘Roman Peace’. They reacted by placing much military in the region, clamping down on trade routes (especially wheat supply) and ruling with an iron fist. On top of that there were regional famines. The church in Jerusalem would have been affected by all this turmoil going on.
Paul instructs regular giving, for each one to put aside and save what he can, a long-term offering with no emotional pressure. Corinth had started to collect money “last year” (2 Cor 8:10-11), but the conflict probably had an adverse effect on their generosity. Paul motivates them by telling them about the generosity of the Macedonian churches: “They gave themselves first to the Lord and by the will to God to us” (2 Cor 8:5). Giving is first to God. He also reminds them of Jesus “For you know the generous act of our Lord Jesus… though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich” (2 Cor 8:8-9).
Paul lays down some principles: The gift is acceptable according to what one has, do not give what you don’t have. Do not give to the point of one’s own poverty but share your abundance with those who don’t have (2 Cor 8:12). Giving is voluntary, not an extortion. If you feel pressured or under compulsion or if you have no joy in giving, then don’t give (2 Cor 8:13-15, 9:7). God is able to provide abundantly “so that you may share abundantly in every good work” (2 Cor 9:8-11). Paul asserts the need for integrity in administrating the money: “We intend that no one should blame us about this generous gift that we are administering, for we intend to do what is right not only in the Lord’s sight but also in the sight of others” (2 Cor 8:20-21). Paul will not handle the money: “I will send any whom you approve with letters” (1 Cor 16:3).
Paul sharply contrasts his behavior with that of the super apostles (2 Cor 11:20): “For you put up with it when someone makes slaves of you, or preys upon you”. Clearly, the super-apostles attacked Paul on the fact that he didn’t take money from the church (2 Cor 12:13)!

Paul and the super apostles

Who were these super-apostles? We don’t know much about them. In 2 Cor 2:17 Paul had called them “peddlers of God’s word”. In 2 Cor 3:1 he mentions that they ask for and depend on letters of recommendation. In 2 Cor 10:9-11 Paul actually quotes them “For they say “His letters are weighty and strong, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.” Let such people understand that what we say by letter when absent, we will also do when present”. It seems they intentionally undermined Paul and his gospel in the eyes of the church.
Paul further says with irony: “We do not dare to classify of compare ourselves with some of those who commend themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another, and compare themselves with one another, they do not show good sense. We however, will not boast beyond limits, but will keep within the field that God has assigned to us” (2 Cor 10:12-13). Paul adds “so that we may proclaim the good news in lands beyond you, without boasting of work already done in someone else’s sphere of action” (2 Cor 10:16). That is precisely what the super-apostles do, they usurp already planted churches, but do not do what an apostle does: courageous pioneer work into new areas.
Paul calls their doctrine preaching another Jesus, another spirit and a different gospel (2 Cor 11:3-6). They are claiming superiority over Paul, being better trained in speech. Paul says “You submit to it readily enough” (2 Cor 11:4). Paul is rightfully worried about loosing this church to deception. Paul did not take support money from the church, he worked to earn his living and received financial gifts from the churches in Macedonia (2 Cor 11:7-11). It seems that the super-apostles attack Paul even on not taking support!
Paul further calls these super-apostles who want to be recognized as Paul’s equal “false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ” (2 Cor 11:12-15). From this passage it becomes clear that the super-apostles were not misguided Corinthian church members, they are intentionally deceiving teachers coming from the outside. Paul rebukes the Corinthians for ever trusting such bad leadership: “For you gladly put up with fools, being wise yourselves! For you put up with it when someone makes a slave of you, or preys upon you, or takes advantage of you, or puts on airs, or gives you a slap in the face” (2 Cor 11:16-2). It is their Greek philosophy influenced thinking that has set them up for this deception.
Paul then in desperate irony contrasts himself with these super-apostles, trying to make the Corinthians understand that they are by no means superior to Paul, as they claim (2 Cor 11:22-23). These super-apostles impress people with their spectacular visions, dreams and revelations, proving themselves ‘very spiritual’. Paul goes on to mention extraordinary visions and revelations he has had, showing that he is in no way inferior to them. Paul hates to have to argue like this, he speaks only in irony, and takes on the role of a fool. Also he writes about himself as “I know a person” (2 Cor 12:1-13).
It seems the super-apostles attacked Paul’s very motives: “Nevertheless (you say) since I was crafty, I took you in by deceit. Did I take advantage of you through any of those whom I sent to you?” (2 Cor 12:16-17). This is probably a reference to Timothy and Titus. After so much unfounded attack and doubt, no wonder Paul says in a very emotional way: “If I love your more, am I to be loved less?” (2 Cor 12:15).
What then should the Corinthians do about these super-apostles, who seem to still be hanging around the church? “Therefore come out from them, and be separate from them, says the Lord” (2 Cor 6:14-7:1). This does not refer to fellow believers, neither to normal unbelievers around them, who are to be reached out to. Rather the Corinthians need to show these super-apostles the door. Paul says that when he will visit again (the third time, 2 Cor 13:1-4, 13:10) he will not be lenient with the super-apostles nor with those in the church who hang onto them. This is one reason he writes the letter of 2 Corinthians before he goes again himself, to give the church further time to sort itself out, and for the super-apostles to have time to leave.
Due to the influence and false teaching of these super-apostles, quite a bit of ungodliness is going on in the church. This shouldn’t come as a surprise, accepting flashy false teachers of corrupt character will definitely not improve the moral state of the church (2 Cor 12:19-21). But Paul addresses the sinning church members as believers: “Do you not realize that Jesus Christ is in you?” (2 Cor 13:5). Paul throws out the intentionally deceitful teachers, but to the confused, deceived believer he gives every reason and chance to repent. Paul models here how to deal with deception: no grace for intentional deception, grace yet challenge to the deceived.

Who wrote 2 Corinthians?

• 2 Cor 1:1, 10:1 indicates Paul: “I myself, Paul, appeal to you”.
• 2 Cor 1:1 mentions Timothy, described as “our brother”, probably a co-author or scribe. According to Acts 18:5, 2 Cor 1:19 the Corinthians knew Timothy, he was one of the co-founders of the church. It seems he visited Corinth ahead of Paul (1 Cor 16:10). Timothy was with Paul during most of the missionary journeys. Timothy is one of Paul’s closest friends and faithful co-workers, even though Paul and Timothy were probably very different in character. It might well be, that Paul in this very distressing time in his life really wanted and needed Timothy with him.

To whom was the book written?

• 2 Cor 1:2 says “To the church of God that is in Corinth, including all the saints throughout Achaia”, this is exactly parallel to 1 Corinthians.
• In 2 Cor 1:2, 1:23, 6:11 especially the Corinthians spoken to. Yet Achaia mentioned in 2 Cor 9:2, 11:10.
• Paul uses affirming words here: Yes, there is trouble right now, but you are the church of God.
• Corinth was not the only church in Achaia. Acts mentions Athens, Romans mentions Cenchrea and most likely there were more, founded during the 1½ years Corinth by Paul, or by converts.
• How would this fairly ugly conflict of Corinth with Paul have affected the region? Did the big church in Corinth pull the other ones into their doubts about Paul?
• Application? How do I and attitudes affect those around me? What effect do I have on others? weaker ones?

Corinthian Correspondence

TABLE

1
1st Visit
Paul established the church in Corinth on 2nd Missionary Journey 50-52 AD. He stayed 1 ½ years, then left for Ephesus (Acts 18:1-18).
2
1st Letter
“PREVIOUS LETTER”
Paul warns them not to associate with immoral believers (link to 1 Co 5:9), but it was misunderstood (1 Co 5:10-11). This letter is lost. Some think that it is part of 2 Corinthians: 2 Co 6:14 – 7:1.
3
Reports from Chloe’s people
About misunderstandings over his first letter and about divisions, disorder and contentions in the church (1 Co 1:11), bad behavior at the Lord’s Table (1 Co 11:18), and rejection of Paul’s authority (1 Co 4:3,18).
4
Letter from the Corinthians to Paul
asking questions about Marriage, Food offered to idols, Spiritual gifts (1 Co 7:1 … “now concerning”). Probably carried by Stephanas, Fortunatus and Achaicus (1 Co 16:17-18), who also brought news of immorality in the church.
5
Original plan
Was for Paul to visit Corinth after traveling through Macedonia, after staying in Ephesus until Pentecost (1 Co 16:5-9).
6
2nd Letter = 1 CORINTHIANS
written AD 55 from Ephesus on the 3rd Missionary Journey, probably carried by Stephanas, Fortunatus and Achaicus (1 Co 16:15-18).
7
additional probable plan
to send Timothy to Ephesus before Paul himself was going, maybe to see how the Church had responded to “1 CORINTHIANS” (1 Co 16:10-11, Acts 19:22).
8
Timothy’s bad report
Timothy seems to have gone to Corinth (Acts 19:22) around AD 55. The situation in the church had deteriorated, Paul’s authority had been undermined. Timothy brings a bad report about the state of the church to Paul in Ephesus.
9
1st change of plan
Paul decides to visit Corinth urgently, traveling directly from Ephesus to Corinth (before a trip through Macedonia) > giving them an additional visit (2 Co 1:15-16)
10
Paul’s 2nd visit – PAINFUL VISIT
Paul urgently visits Corinth traveling directly from Ephesus (2 Co 2:1, 13:1-2). This visit is not mentioned in Acts. It was a painful confrontation, his authority is rejected. He is criticized for many things, for example for changing his plans (2 Cor 1:17). Paul leaves quickly.
11
2nd change of plan
Paul wants to avoid another painful visit and postpones his plan to visit them again (2 Co 1:23-2:1).
12
3rd Letter – SEVERE LETTER
Instead Paul sends Titus to Corinth with a SEVERE LETTER. He refers to it in 2 Co 2:4. It was a weighty, frightening, powerful rebuke (2 Co 10:8-9), written to see if they would repent, obey him and recognize his authority (2 Co 2:2, 7:8). This letter is also lost. Some think this refers to “1 CORINTHIANS”. Others think it was preserved as 2 Co 10-13.
13
Waiting for Titus in Troas & Macedonia
Paul leaves Ephesus and anxiously waits for Titus at Troas to hear how his severe letter had been received (2 Co 2:2). When Titus did not come, Paul moved on to Macedonia (2 Co 2:13, 7:5), where he meets Titus and is comforted by his report that the Corinthian church had responded well to his letter (2 Co 7:5-15). Titus also mentions false teachers (“super-apostles”), who reject Paul’s authority and have turned the church against him (2 Co 10-12).
14
4th Letter =
2 CORINTHIANS
In response Paul writes: 2 CORINTHIANS to be sent by the hand of Titus ahead of himself visiting. It is written from Macedonia in AD 56. Paul expresses joy at the church’s response, defends his apostleship, tells the church to get ready for his 3rd visit and to have the offering for Jerusalem ready (2 Cor ch 8, 9).
15
3rd Visit
Still on his 3rd Missionary Journey, Paul visits Corinth again in AD 56. With the Corinthian problems solved, he writes the letter of ROMANS (Rom 15:23-28), collects the gift for Jerusalem and then returns to Judea (Acts 20:2).

From where was the book written?

• Macedonia mentioned in 2 Cor 1:16, 2:13, 7:5, 8:1, 9:2, 9:4, 11:9
• 2 Cor 7:5-6 … For even when we came into Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were afflicted in every way – disputes without and fears within. But God, who consoles the downcast, consoled us by the arrival of Titus …

When was the book written?

• Right after his 2½ years in Ephesus, about 56 AD, within only a month or two after his painful visit, maybe half a year after 1 Corinthians.

Historical Setting?

• see 1 Corinthians

Church founding? History of the church?

• see 1 Corinthians

Who made up the church?

• see 1 Corinthians

Strengths of the church?

• 2 Cor 7:6 Titus’ report of how the church had responded well to the severe letter
• 2 Cor 7:11 eagerness to clear themselves, indignation, alarm, longing, zeal, punishment
• 2 Cor 8:11 readiness and desire to give to church in Jerusalem, love
• 2 Cor 7:14 fulfilled and lived up to Paul’s boasting to Titus, his pride, confidence, joy over the Corinthians

Weaknesses of the church?

• 2 Cor 11:4 too easily accepting, swayed by, impressed with, taken advantage of by false teachers
• 2 Cor 6:14-7:1 mismatched with unbelievers
• 2 Cor 12:20 still quarreling, jealousy, anger, selfishness, slander, gossip, conceit, disorder
• 2 Cor 13:2 warning > still stuff to mend
• 2 Cor 13:5 challenge to examine, test themselves

Literary Category?

• Mostly prose > literal interpretation
• Some Old Testament quotes are poetry > figurative interpretation

Structure?

• Letter, Greek style

Composition?

• 24 Rhetorical questions in 19 verses: 2 Cor 3:1 “Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Surely we do not need, as some do, letters of recommendation to you or from you, do we?” 1 Cor 11:22-23 “Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I … 11:29 … Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I am not indignant?” Also: 2 Cor 1:17, 2:2, 2:16, 3:1, 3:7, 3:8, 6:14, 6:15, 6:16, 11:7, 11:11, 11:22, 11:29, 12:13, 12:15, 12:17, 12:18, 12:19, 13:5
• Irony, often linked to the rhetorical questions above. For example 2 Cor 12:14 “How have you been worse off than the other churches, except that I myself did not burden you? Forgive me this wrong!”
• Big contrasts
• Counter-boasting or Socratic defense (1 Cor 11:16-12:10). In the passage where he starts talking like a fool:  “Are they ministers of Christ? I am talking like a madman – I am a better one: with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless floggings, and often near death” (2 Cor 11:23-34). “I have been a fool! You forced me to it” (2 Cor 12:11).
• Emotion, Atmosphere, Emphatic Statements … this must be by far Paul’s most personal and most emotional letter, I think it’s the most emotional text of the whole entire New Testament.
• Metaphors like 2 Cor 2:15 “we are the aroma of Christ”, 2 Cor 3:2 “you are a letter of Christ”, 2 Cor 4:7 “But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that is may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us” … and many more
• Did you notice while reading, that this letter is not very chronological? Paul tells about what happened to him since his visit, but he is jumping back and forth with the story. Neither topical either. Actually rather unorganized … which is not very typical for him, if you think about the highly structured texts you have written of him, like Romans.
• Also there seems to be a different atmosphere in the first part ch 1-7 where Paul is relieved, emotional, overjoyed, thankful and the second part (ch10-13), where Paul is challenging, biting, warning). Or is he addressing different groups in the church?
• Some have suggested that 2 Corinthians is a piece meal collection of fragments: They say that 2 Cor 6:1-7:4 is the ‘previous letter’, that Paul refers to in 1 Cor 5:9 and that 2 Cor 10-13 is the severe letter that Paul wrote between 1 and 2 Corinthians. Some say the severe letter refers to 1 Corinthians. I’m not so sure.
• But maybe this non chronological, non-topical and unorganized really reflects the situation Paul is in. He is emotional, spilling his guts. Also strong themes run through all parts of the letter, like consolation, reconciliation, true apostleship.
• The first digression (2 Cor 2:14-7:4): It seems that 2 Cor 2:13 flows directly into 7:5 . So why the lengthy digression? Some say it’s a later addendum, but the topic of God’s consolation in affliction is all through it. Maybe Paul is describing theological basis for restoration of relationship with the Corinthians?
• 2nd digression (2 Cor 6:14-7:1) is about separation from idols. Some think this was the ‘previous letter’, calling them not to associate with immoral people mentioned in 1 Cor 5:9-10 … The problem with that is, that it’s not actually saying that, it’s saying to stay away from idols.
• Why then this digression? maybe because their unwillingness to renounce all compromise with paganism was part of the original problem and now a hindrance to restoration. Maybe some ‘false apostles’ preached a compromise with paganism

Main themes or topics of the book?

• showing the love, intention, acceptance, and care of Paul for Corinthians church, wanting restoration of relationship
• contrasting self-centered, greedy, fake apostleship (super-apostles) with Paul’s true, self-sacrificing apostleship
• combating Greek thinking: strength in weakness, victory in persecution, gain in self-sacrifice, invisible over visible, eternal over temporal
• continue money collection for Jerusalem

Main reasons / goals for writing the book?

• to defend Paul’s character, decisions and apostleship before the Corinthians … to re-establish good relationship and trust
• to teach them to accept true leadership and reject the fake leadership of the super-apostles … for them to mend further
• to combat Greek thinking
• to encourage and give instructions about the collection of the gift for Jerusalem

Color coding suggestions

• who, when, where as usual
• especially contrasts
• especially emotion, irony
• questions, metaphors

Repeated Themes

• strength, authority vs weakness
• suffering, affliction, trials, endurance, persecution
• comfort, consolation, relief, joy
• boasting, commending
• outer vs inner
• old vs new
• fake vs true

1st DIVISION – TEXT

IMMORAL MAN – FOLLOW UP

• 2 Cor 2:5 “if anyone has caused pain” (to me, which means also to you)
• 2 Cor 2:6-8 “this punishment by the majority is enough for such a person; so now instead you should forgive and console him, so that he may not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. So I urge you, reaffirm your love for him.”
• 2 Cor 2:9 “I wrote to test you, to know whether your are obedient in everything” (referring to 1 Cor 5:5, most likely)
• 2 Cor 2:10-11 “anyone whom you forgive, I also forgive” …
• Again: the goal was forgiveness and complete restoration, the only limit to forgiveness by God is the man’s repentance, and from Paul’s words it is clear that he did repent … this is a bad story ending well
• this should challenge us! How often do we see a good process with complete restoration?
• Bangladeshi Culture: nobody confesses, because that proves your guilt, and people won’t forgive or forget
• Stories of successful restoration are extremely powerful … let’s work to have the right attitude, but also the right principles … the job of the church is mercy, though not unprincipled mercy

REPEATED THEME – INTEGRITY OF PAUL, REASONS FOR DECISION CHANGES

• Greek philosophers (Stoics) considered decisiveness the defining virtue of a wise man. Changing one’s mind was a mark of a person who wavered in his beliefs, who had not good sense.
• It seems that Paul’s change of plans (to visit them on the way to Macedonia and back) was not seen with gracious eyes in Corinth. Maybe the anti-Paul faction (or the ‘super apostles’ influencing the church) stirred up the resentment around this point.
• Paul says that he is not ‘flimsy’ in his decisions, that there was a real (and caring) reason to change his plans
• Paul picks up these theme repeatedly:
• 2 Cor 1:12 “we have behaved in the world with frankness and godly sincerity by the grace of God”
• 2 Cor 1:15-16 original travel plan (go to Macedonia via Corinth, “double pleasure”)
• 2 Cor 1:17 “vacillating?… one day yes one day no? … plans by human standards?”
• 2 Cor 1:18 assurance: “our word has not been arbitrary, flippant, … we are anointed, given the seal of Holy Spirit”
• 2 Cor 1:23 “God as witness: it was to spare you that I did not come again to Corinth … not lord it over your faith.”
• 2 Cor 2:1 “so I made up my mind … not another painful visit”
• Paul carefully clarifies and lays open his reasons and motivation. > Need for good communication, for explanation
• Paul affirms, though, at the same time (very much in line with the Bible) the utter importance of words and word faithfulness.
• How important to you are the words you say?
• Think of a time when someone failed to keep promise to you … and of a time you failed to keep your word to someone
• Why didn’t you keep your word? Was it out of selfishness? Or did you lack commitment? Or carelessness?
• As Christians we want to be those who words can be trusted, reliable and people of integrity … no carelessness, no pretense, no show, no hypocrisy
• Mt 5:37 “Let your yes be a yes, your no be a no”. Do not lie. Do not bend corners. Work hard on true speech.
• But also: not legalistic, not till it becomes absurd: Lev 5;4 offering to take back rash oath, take-back-able, but sacrifice, serious, conscious, public process.
• If the situation truly changes, then you can truly and fairly change your mind. God also does. That’s what repentance is: if we repent, things change > God can change his mind
• Yet: explain carefully to people, lay open your reasoning, don’t be flippant about it, as far as possible: clear yourself

REPEATED THEME – CONSOLATION IN AFFLICTION

• 2 Cor 1:3 consolation is from “God the Father of mercies”
• 2 Cor 1:4 consolation “so we may console others in affliction”
• 2 Cor 1:5 “Christ suffered abundantly > consolation through Christ also abundant”
• 2 Cor 1:6 “our affliction > your salvation, our consolation > your consolation after enduring suffering like us”
• 2 Cor 1:7 “as you share in our suffering > you will also share in our consolation”
• 2 Cor 1:8-11 “affliction is Asia, utterly, unbearably crushed, despaired of life itself, felt like death sentence … so that we should not rely on ourselves but on God who raises the dead, he rescued us from deadly peril … hope he will rescue us again … by help of Corinthians’ and others’ prayers.”
• 2 Cor 7:5-8 “consoled by the arrival of Titus, by his consolation over Corinthians” (good response / good news)
• 2 Cor 7:13-15 “consoled still more at the joy of Titus, his mind at rest by Corinthians, his heart goes out to you, he remembers the obedience of all of you and how you welcomed him with fear and trembling. I rejoice, because I have complete confidence in you.”
• Paul is wide-open, heart baring, emotional, utterly vulnerable … he is not independent, aloof, distanced, not saying ‘well, if that’s how you want to behave’, … he is deeply involved, their fate is his fate, their choice is his reputation. He is not in any way distancing himself from them
• Paul here represents Christ … again: why should God even worry about creatures like us? Why should he care? Why should he be touched? Why should he give himself to save us? Why should he even allow us to touch his heart? … it’s God’s utter humility, his utter vulnerability … So: you can hurt God Almighty, you can bring joy to God Almighty … it’s his gift to you that you can.
• Did Paul have a depression? 2 Cor 1:8-11 “utterly, unbearably crushed, despaired of life itself, felt like death sentence” … 2 Cor 2:13 … “Troas > my mind could not rest” … 2 Cor 7:5 “Macedonia > no rest, but we were afflicted in every way – disputes without and fears within”
• This sounds like a very prolonged, very emotionally crushing time for Paul … depression? suicidal? … should he not be above this? behaving differently?
• no triumphalism here … no “this shouldn’t be so”-denial … no “if would go away if your just had faith” … no ‘straight attitude will make it go away’
• Times of extreme conflict, discouragement, emotional turmoil do come … and go away again. Stick with God in it, depend on him, throw it on him, hope in God.
• Careful with judging others who might find themselves in such a time.

REPEATED THEME – REPENTANCE

• 2 Cor 7:7 “consoled at Titus’ report about Corinthians’ repentance: their longing, their mourning, their zeal for Paul”
• 2 Cor 7:8-9 “I am sorry for the grief my letter caused, but more still rejoice at the repentance it produced … so you were not harmed”
• 2 Cor 7:10 “godly grief produced a repentance that leads to salvation and brings no regret but worldly grief produces death”
• 2 Cor 7:11 “godly grief > produced earnestness, eagerness to clear yourselves, indignation, alarm, longing, zeal, punishment … at every point you have proved yourselves guiltless.”
• 2 Cor 7:12-13 letter not for the wronged, not the wrongdoer, but to show the Corinthians their own zeal for what is right
• Paul is overjoyed at their repentance, there is not a trace of un-forgiveness, vindictiveness, of sulking, of hurt pride, of ‘letting them feel it’, just pure joy … and relief, and a renewed commitment to clear out the people who hurt this church so much
• Joy at repentance, full re-acceptance, no pouting, no sulking, no vengeance
• But also: regret is not the same as repentance … emotion is not the same as change … misery is not the same as willingness to accept help to change
• Repentance is change of mind, it is agreeing with God, it is taking the shame and the responsibility, it is coming to God, it is embracing change, it is walking the way God gives
• Shame – false shame versus true shame … accept true shame > leads to confession, repentance, restoration, freedom

CONFIDENCE – RELATIONSHIP THEME

Paul is again and again affirming his hope for the Corinthian church, his confidence, that they will do the right thing, his boasting to others about the quality of this church:

• 2 Cor 1:7 “our hope for you is unshaken”
•  2 Cor 2:3 “for I am confident about all of you, that my joy would be the joy of all of you.”
• 2 Cor 7:14 “if I have been somewhat boastful about you to Titus, I was not disgraced … our boasting has proved true”
• 2 Cor 7:16 “I rejoice, because I have complete confidence in you.”
• Paul is so warm, affirming, accepting, caring, – displaying a true father’s heart
• Expressing faith in someone is a powerful thing … law of expectancy … seeing the good in people … calling out the best in people … the trust of the trustworthy = very high thing

REPEATED THEME – CLOSE RELATIONSHIP, JOY & RELIEF AT CORINTH’S REPENTANCE

Along with the confidence theme goes a theme of “relationship” … Paul is in every way trying to establish relationship, to strengthen the bond between them, to befriend the Corinthians again. Paul doesn’t mind to make himself vulnerable to them again, to be again the one to reach out, even though he really deserved them to reach out to him …

• 2 Cor 2:2 “For if I cause you pain, who is there to make me glad but the one whom I have pained?|
• 2 Cor 2:12-13 “When I came to Troas … a door opened … but my mind could not rest, because no Titus > Macedonia”
• 2 Cor 7:5 “But even when we came into Macedonia … no rest, but were afflicted in every way – disputes without and fears within. 6 But God who consoled the downcast, consoled us by the arrival of Titus, 7 not only by his coming, but also by the consolation with which he was consoled about you, as he told us of your longing, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced still more”
• expressing emotion, relate to those you minister to, love them, enjoy them … a shared life, true care
• Paul is affected by them and shares that he is … when hurt > he doesn’t withdraw but is more bare-hearted still

METAPHORS – TRUE APOSTLESHIP

What does Paul talk about when he describes true apostleship? … actually, the way a true apostle should be is pretty much the way any true believer should be … Paul doesn’t really differentiate that much > which is a challenge to us all

• Paul talks about godly behavior, the outward expression of every true believer … love, selfless service, good works.
• Paul talks about the underlying godly character / attitude, reflecting the fruit of the Spirit.
• Paul talks about underlying thoughts / beliefs / the mind … aligned with God’s truth.
• Paul talks about our motivation / will … the core underneath, our commitment to God.
• How does he combat the Greek thinking, especially in the area of leadership, the wrong impressed-ness, the wrong disdain, the wrong pursuits … by which the Corinthians church has set itself up for bad leadership?
• Paul is not writing a long list of do’s and don’t’s , not a ‘fifty minimum requirements for the perfect apostle’, nor the ‘thirty dead give aways of false teachers’.
• Paul rather uses a string of several powerful metaphors, pictures to describe a relationship with God, and the life coming out of it:
• 2 Cor 2:14 “But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads in every place the fragrance that comes from knowing him”
• Victorious Roman generals and emperors would parade their captives as signs of their prowess and victory
• Always victory? … contrast this with his descriptions of the continual sufferings of an apostle like 2 Cor 6:4-7, 11:23-29
• 2 Cor 2:14-16 “aroma“ or “fragrance“ … incense was used for a lot of things including religious ceremonies, but also for military victory parades. To the captives it would remind them they are to die; to the victorious onlookers it would be a smell of joy.
• So: You are the aroma of Christ, you are a smell in people’s noses, an attractive one or an unattractive one, A taste in people’s mouth … you should smell like Jesus … how did people react to him? Did they feel at home with him? Were sinners attracted to him? What a taste do you leave with the people you meet?
• 2 Cor 2:16-17 … “we are not peddlers of God’s word like so many; but in Christ we speak as persons sent from God and standing in his presence”
• Peddler means: business by making money by cheating, ulterior motives, selling at any price, selling worthless things, saying anything to make the buyer take it. Paul uses this metaphor for the false apostles or itinerant preachers
• 2 Cor 3:1-3 … Letter … “We do not need letters, as some do, letters of recommendation … You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, to be known and read by all … you are a letter of Christ … written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.”
• What do you communicate to people about God? What message does your life speak? What can people read in you? Reading you, do people want to know more about God?
• In contrast to Greek itinerant teachers … Ideal Greek teacher:
  • carried letters of recommendation.
  • placed great importance on physical appearance and strength.
  • valued speaking ability more than correct content.
  • charged money for their teaching.
  • valued lineage
  • boasted in heroic exploits, and in being in touch with the Divine (dreams, visions).
• Another aspect of this ‘letter theme’: Paul makes his own reputation totally dependent on the church. If they don’t do well, this will shed negative light on Paul … Corinth’s state is Paul’s loss or reputation. They have the power to prove Paul ineffective! (and are almost doing so!)
• Again: vulnerability, engagement, not cold, safe distance on Paul’s side
• 2 Cor 3:4-6 … “ministers of a new covenant, not of letter but of spirit, for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life … a covenant of Spirit, a new covenant that is so much more glorious than the old”
• 2 Cor 3:4-18 is set up as an extended contrast:

Old Covenant                                           New Covenant
of letter / written code 3:6                     of spirit
letter kills 3:6                                            Spirit gives life 3:6
ministry / dispensation of death 3:7     ministry of the Spirit 3:7
chiseled on stone tablets 3:3, 3:7         written on human hearts 3:3
much glory / splendor 3:7                      more glory, splendor  3:8                                                               far exceeds 3:9
ministry of condemnation 3:9               ministry of justification 3:9
such splendor that Israelites couldn’t look can behold the glory of God 3:18, once had splendor, no splendor any more 3:10                                                                     splendor surpasses it 3:10
Moses … hiding face                               Jesus
faded away 3:11                                       permanent 3:11
veiled / veil over mind 3:14                     in Christ veil set aside 3:16
law > sin > condemnation > death         grace > forgiveness > justification > life
temporal, set aside, fading glory            permanent, eternal glory
law                                                               grace
no freedom (from sin, guilt, law)            Lord=Spirit=Freedom 3:16
law could not change                            changed into the likeness                                                                      of Jesus glory > glory 3:18

• Ex 34:29-35 Moses, coming down from Sinai after golden calf incedence and the re-making of 10 commandments > shining face > cover it. I always assumed because the Israelites couldn’t bear to look at his shining face … here Paul interprets it as hiding the fact that the light was fading.
• Powerful contrast, but also remember: both was from God, both had glory, the first prepared for the second, but fullness comes with the second: Jesus as fulfillment of all things OT
• Ministers of a new covenant … is in contrast to the Jews, possibly the Jewish super-apostles, who preach the trust in my own law-abiding ability
• 2 Cor 3:18 … How do I change? If not by increased effort then by what? …”And all of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord as through reflected in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another, for this comes from the Lord, the Spirit.” … all of us > no one excluded … mirror > a very Corinthian thing … what is my job? > open my face to God, invite him to come in, to change, to do what is needed, to work it in me
• 2 Cor 4:1-6 … “mercy of God > engaged in this ministry > renounce shameful things, refuse to use cunning or falsify world > open statement of truth > commend ourselves to the conscience of everyone in the sight of God” … Paul plays with open cards, the reader can evaluate and decide what to think
• 2 Cor 4:3-6 … Charge: Paul’s gospel is veiled … god of this world (Satan, as in Jn 12:31) has blinded unbelievers … We proclaim not ourselves, but Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your slaves …God, Creator of light, will shine light of knowledge.
• Paul: we are here for you, self-sacrificial commitment, true heart of the apostle … Assurance: God will give light of knowledge through humans, apostles …
• 2 Cor 4:7-5:10 … “But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us. We are …
  • afflicted in every way but not crushed
  • perplexed but not driven to despair
  • persecuted but not forsaken
  • struck down but not destroyed
  • carrying in body death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus be made visible in our mortal flesh
  • so death is at work in us but life in you
• 2 Cor 4:14 … “because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus . bring us with you into his presence …”
• Paul describes just how human, how weak, how limited we are … and the glory that God would put his riches into us
• The weakness, the difficult circumstances, the despair … all just shows even more strongly the power of God
• Paul deliberately casts eternal hope into his present mess … he doesn’t ignore the troublesome now, but he puts it into perspective by bringing eternity into the picture. Through God even the mess now has glory, not to speak of the eternal resurrection reality … a reminder also of 1 Cor 15: real, bodily resurrection
• Again no triumphalism … no hiding of difficulty … no claim that this should not be so … no bitterness that it is so
• Providing a different view on suffering … Suffering (though also due to human sin & demonic interference) is something God works with / through … God the redeemer … nothing he cannot turn for greater good
• Am I frustrated with the struggles in my life? Do I think them just a hindrance? Do you see your struggles as enemies of my faith?
• 2 Cor 4:16-18, 5:1-5 … “We do not lose heart” (because of this eternal, assured hope):
  • though outer nature is wasting away our inner nature is being renewed day by day
  • slight momentary affliction preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure
  • we look not at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen
  • what can be seen is temporary but what cannot be seen is eternal
  • earthly tent > destroyed building from God, not made with hands, eternal in the heavens
  • in this tent we groan longing to be further clothed
  • moral swallowed up by life
• 2 Cor 5:6 … “so we are always confident” (Inclusio)
• 2 Cor 5:1 … ‘outer nature’, literally ‘outer tent’, ‘temporary dwelling’ … When the Isthmian games were held near Corinth every 2 years many people would come and stay in tents … as opposed to the solid, large stone buildings of Greek & Roman architecture … So this ‘tent is again a very local metaphor about temporary dwelling, like the mirror and the athlete.
• 2 Cor 5:11-21 … “ambassadors for Christ, having a ministry of reconciliation“ … ambassadors, official representatives of God Most High in this country, fully endowed with authority to represent the fathers, diplomats, bringing about reconciliation and peace … What a high picture of us little Christians! .. But also: a life wholly given to God (not selfish concerns like false teachers)
• 2 Cor 5:19 Please also note, that the reconciliation talked about here is very wide: “… in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself …an all encompassing reconciliation.”
• So therefore … since reconciliation is our ministry: Corinthians, repent fully, be reconciled back to God and us:
• 2 Cor 6:1-13 Paul calling to repentance, wooing their hearts.
• Paul is really “on his knees” in this passage, calls and woos the Corinthians to come back … with what humility and what love is he reaching out to them … not minding humbling himself, being the pleader, the one rejectable and vulnerable
• 2 Cor 6:2 quoting Is 49:8
• 2 Cor 6:14-19 … quoting or alluding to Ez 37:27, Is 52:11, 43:6, Je 51:45, 2 Sa 7:14, Ho 2:1
• This passage is commonly used to teach that a believer should only marry a believer. Now this is Biblical advice. But this passage doesn’t primarily address the issue of marriage between believer and unbeliever, though that is an important further application. That teaching is better taken from 1 Cor 7:39 as well as the Bible a whole.
• What does this passage refer to then? It refers to what all this book refers to: bad influence ir leadership that the Corinthians got unto themselves …
• By implication, then, these super-apostles were not even, but conscious deceivers, probably from the Jewish flock, possibly also Greek
• This then is a desperate appeal to the Corinthian church to get rid of these people, to separate themselves, to refuse their influence. Maybe some were itinerant Greek philosopher types, that taught a compromise with pagan rituals
• Did you notice that many very famous and often quoted Scripture verses are actually from 2 Corinthians, like: “we walk by faith, not by sight” … or … “if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away: see, everything has become new”
• Isn’t it interesting to realize, that God uses Paul, even in this depressing situation, to write some of the most beautiful and comforting and famous Scriptures there are?
• Summary: Paul doesn’t draw up a list of “fifty requirements for the perfect apostle”, nor does he write a checklist of “thirty ways to tell a false apostle”. He does not draw up a harsh code of minimal qualifications, nor a detailed list of the false apostle’s sin. Instead he draws the Corinthians’ attention to beautiful pictures of how God sees us and into what he wants us to make … he teaches us to recognize the fake, by making us desire the true.

Application

• Make a list of what you consider as the major achievements in your life.
• What kind of things did you put on there? They are probably things the world would boast of. But what does Paul choose to boast of?
• Now make a list of the trials that God has sustained you through. Do you see how these are an even greater testimony?
• When your sin is revealed or correction comes to you how do you respond?
• Does it grieve you that God is grieved by your sin? But then what do you do next? Do you just get weighed down with guilt? Do you beat yourself inside?
• Sometimes we get into the mindset of thinking that God forgave us for our sins when we became Christians but now that we are saved we need to suffer for a while before repenting and receiving forgiveness (1 John 1:9), the concept of penance..

2nd DIVISION – TEXT – MONEY COLLECTION

PARAMETERS OF THE MONEY COLLECTION
A Collection for whom?

• 1 Cor 16:1-4 … the collection is for the saints in Jerusalem.

Why do they need help?

• Jerusalem, capital of the Roman province Judea, troubled spot already in Jesus’ time, deterioration from there
• Jews were a continual source of conflict, uprisings, violent rebellions.
• The Romans hated the Jews for it and reacted by placing much military in the region, clamping down & dominating
• More and more “false Messiahs”, rallying people together in attempts to overthrow the Roman rule
• More and more cruel procurators, punishment transfer, law and order deteriorated
• Instability, continual guerilla warfare, eventually Romans clamp down on wheat supply > famines, increasing poverty

How collected?

• 1 Cor 16:2 … On the first day of every week, each to put aside and save whatever extra you earn
• This has been a long-term offering … no emotional pressure at a meeting to empty your wallet … Paul is not there when it will be collected … leadership remains with the church … Application!

Who gives?

• 2 Cor 8:1-2 … churches in Macedonia are also generously and sacrificially giving towards the same offering
  Timeframe?
• 2 Cor 8:10-11 … they already started “last year” and are to continue and finish it now

Paul’s involvement?

• Ac 11:27-30 … Paul has had been involved in the famine relief from Antioch to Jerusalem in 47 AD
• Ga 2:10 …He has been committed to help the poor for years already and committed to do so
• 2 Cor 9:2 … The Corinthians had made a commitment to giving since ‘last year’ but were now stuttering. Maybe Titus also wasn’t sure how well the collection was advancing … Paul acts as encourager.
• Maybe they thought they could not give because they didn’t have much.
• Maybe the joy of giving went down with all the pride, conflict and hardened fronts. Division always kills joy.

Motivation?

• 2 Cor 8:1-4 “Paul motivates them by telling them the example of Macedonia, that is giving voluntarily, sacrificially, even beyond their ability in spite of great persecution, affliction, poverty … they are giving joyfully, eagerly, thinking it a privilege to share in this ministry to the saints” … an exemplary attitude
• 2 Cor 8:5 “They gave themselves first to the Lord and by the will fo God to us” > Titus … Giving is first to God
• 2 Cor 8:7 “Now as you excel in everything – in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in utmost eagerness, in our l ove for us … so we want you to excel also in this generous undertaking” … praise, affirmation, encouragement
• 2 Cor 8:8-9 “For you know the generous act of our Lord Jesus … though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich” … motivation by reminding us of Jesus’ example, what Jesus did for us
• 2 Cor 8:10-12 challenge to complete what they started … this is not a foreign thing, it is what they had chosen but now got sidetracked

Principles

• 2 Cor 8:12 the gift is acceptable according to what one has – not according to what one does not have. Do not give what you don’t have!
• 2 Cor 8:13-15 giving not to the point of my own poverty but to share my abundance with those who don’t have
• 2 Cor 9:2-4 Paul’s earlier boasting about them, now fulfill your earlier commitment, live up to it … friendly competition
• 2 Cor 9:5 it is a voluntary gift, not an extortion … if you feel pressured, have to give, no joy … don’t give.
• 2 Cor 9:6 “sowing sparingly > reaping sparingly … sowing bountifully > reaping bountifully”
• 2 Cor 9:7 “each must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” … do not give under compulsion or pressure or under emotional blackmailing … do not give against conscience to ease pressure or to cut the bad feeling … if you give, give as you have decided, with peace, with joy
• 2 Cor 9:8-11 Promise: “God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work” … provision > ability to give
• 2 Cor 9:12-14 generosity > sharing > thanksgiving to God and prayer for each other
• 2 Cor 9:15 “Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift” … looking back to Jesus, the ultimate model … maybe also an expression of the quality of life God called us to.

Handling? Deliverer?

• 2 Cor 8:20-21 … “We intend that no one should blame us about this generous gift that we are administering, for we intend to do what is right not only in the Lord’s sight but also in the sight of others” … Paul is very careful to do things right here! visible accountability … to do it right is essential, but there is also a need to let others know that you are handling it right
• 1 Cor 16:3 … “I will send any whom you approve with letters” … Paul especially will not touch the money, after all the attacks on his integrity and motives
• 2 Cor 8:18-19 … the famous brother (probably referring to Apollos) … appointed by the churches to travel with Paul … Titus will do the administration for Corinth is seems.
• Now contrast this generous giving with the actions of the super-apostles. They clearly lived off the Corinthians church’s money and hospitality …
• 2 Cor 11:20 … “For you put up with it when someone makes slaves of you, or preys upon you”
• 2 Cor 12:13 … They also clearly attack Paul on the fact, that he didn’t
• Difference in how true apostles and the super-apostles handle money … ones in openness, in responsability, in proper handling, in commending co-workers … the others in deceitfulness, competition, slandering others

Application

• true known need … responsibility with the giver …long-term, not emotional pressure now … accountability in transport & handover … Paul not touching it ….
• Do you feel you cannot give unless you are rich? Receiving and receiving but never thinking of ways to give? not even thankfulness? … if you think 10% is too much to ask for on your current income … how will you give when your income is more?
• Are you giving? How about in things other than money? are you helping? are you praying? are you encouraging? are you acknowledging? are you affirming? Are you willing to share your gifts/talents to bless others?
• Are you clutching to certain things? Remember 1 Co 4:7– what do you have that you did not receive?
• But also on the other side: Are you giving out of duty, pressure or emotional blackmail … are you agreeing to what you didn’t want to agree with? Are you giving with peace, integrity and joy?
• Are you thankful for provision, let God’s praise overflow? are you giving thanks?
• New Testament commands are generosity and hospitality, but no legalistic tithe of 10% … We are free from the law, but pastors love to quote Mal 3:10 … The problem is: if we take this law into the New Testament, how about the rest of the law?
• Yet again: why should we do less than in the Old Testament? I suggest 10% as a minimum starting point. Careful with the attitude of paying off God and: “The remaining 90% are really mine and I can do with it what I want!”
• Everything we have is from God so we need to see ourselves as stewards.

3rd DIVISION – TEXT – SOCRATIC DEFENSE

Character Study “Super apostles”

2 Cor 2:17 “For we are not peddlers of God’s word like so many; but in Christ we speak as persons of sincerity, as persons sent from God and standing in his presence” … Paul contrasts himself and his co-workers to these other guys. So how are they?

• > peddlers of God’s word, a persons coming door to door, trying to sell you something, trying to sell you cheap stuff for a little bit too much, eloquently telling you, why you absolutely need what they’ve got, and if you ever have a problem with what you bought, they are nowhere to be found
• > not persons of sincerity, so deceiving, dishonest, not sent from God
• 2 Cor 3:1 … surely we do not need, as some do, letters of recommendation to you or from you, do we? … These people seem to have made their way into the church and won the Corinthians’s trust by letters of recommendation.
• Maybe they had real letters of recommendation from some church somewhere, who might have been deceived themselves.
• Maybe they also had outrightly forged letters, possibly even with a fake version of Paul’s signature (2 Thess 2!).
• Either way, somehow they made it into the Corinthian church. Also they used the Corinthians to recommend them further.
• 2 Cor 4:2-3 … Paul is indirectly contrasting his way to minister and his way of life with those other:
• Why else would he have to defend himself before his own church … We have renounced the shameful things that one hides; we refuse to practice cunning or to falsify God’s word; but by the open statement of the truth we commend ourselves to the conscience of everyone in the sight of God. And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing.
• Paul for sure never called his own gospel veiled, he called it light and truth and preached so that people might understand. Where then does this veiled-thing come from? It seems here he is countering attacks by the super-apostles.
• > practice cunning, falsify God’s word, hiding shameful things, … there is a flavor of secrecy, special inner circle, manipulation, decrying Paul, undermining Paul’s gospel, …
• 2 Cor 5:11-12 … Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we try to persuade others; but we ourselves are well known to God, and I hope that we are also well known to your consciences. We are not commending ourselves to you again, but giving you and opportunity to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast in outward appearance and not in the heart.
• > they are boasting in outward appearance and not in the heart > it seems that these super-apostles really took advantage of the weakness in the Corinthians church for the limelight, the spectacular, the charismatic guy upfront and fed that wrong value. It seems they themselves were probably charismatic figures, probably eloquent, smooth talking, telling people things they wanted to hear, showy, popular teachers…
• 2 Cor 10:2 … I ask that when I am present I need not show boldness by daring to oppose those who think we are acting according to human standards.
• Let’s think about them some more: Were the super-apostles actual Corinthian church members? Or were they rather itinerant preachers, who moved from church to church, preaching eloquently but confusing them and taking advantage of them?
• 2 Cor 10:9-11 … I do not want to seem as though I am trying to frighten you with my letters. For they say “His letters are weighty and strong, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.” Let such people understand that what we say by letter when absent, we will also do when present.
• Direct quote of the super-apostles … it seems they planfully undermine Paul and with Paul, his gospel.
• > They say Paul has a weak presence … obviously not as charismatic and good-looking and stage-proof as they … Paul seems to have been a life-long problem … Galatians is talking of something similar: Gal 4:13-14 … You know that is was because of a physical infirmity that I first announced the gospel to you; though my condition put you to the test, you did not scorn me or despise me …the thorn in the flesh, remember?
• There is much speculation … something medical, something disfiguring …> hard for the beauty-oriented Greeks to accept. There was a Greek belief that in a disfigured body a inferior, bad, evil soul must live.
• Many think that this condition is also the “thorn in the flesh” Paul refers to in 2 Cor 12:9
• > they say his speech is contemptible … here foes the Greek eloquence. It is hard for us to imagine the Paul was a poor speaker, but it seems, that Paul’s speaking was indeed a lot less eloquent than his writing, at least to a Greek ear.
• > again please take note that the super-apostles cash in on a Corinthian weakness here … they do not talk about godly character nor about costly obedience, but about outward stuff.
• 2 Cor 10:12-13 … “We do not dare to classify of compare ourselves with some of those who commend themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another, and compare themselves with one another, they do not show good sense. We however, will not boast beyond limits, but will keep within the field that God has assigned to us, to reach our even as far as you”
• > they commend themselves, compare themselves, are more concerned about their own reputation then about the church they are to serve
• 2 Cor 10:16 … “so that we may proclaim the good news in lands beyond you, without boasting of work already done in someone else’s sphere of action”
• > the super-apostles are coming in on the apostles’ work and then influence the church in their favor … Paul says that if they are indeed apostles, let them do what apostles do … go into unreached places and start new churches?
• 2 Cor 11:3-6 “another Jesus, another spirit, a different gospel … claiming superiority over Paul, trained in speech … You submit to it readily enough”… Paul is rightfully worried about loosing this church to deception, to a false teaching.
• 2 Cor 11:7-11 … Paul did not take support money from the church, he worked, lived of gifts from Macedonia
• The super-apostles impertinently attack Paul on not having taken support, therefore he is no true apostle … surely established the teaching well, that a minister should receive money … which is biblical, but now construed
• 2 Cor 11:12-15 … > the super-apostles want to be recognized as Paul’s equals … “false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ” … here Paul gets to the bottom: they are not themselves misguided Corinthian church members, they are intentionally deceiving teachers coming from the outside
• 2 Cor 11:16-23 … “For you gladly put up with fools, being wise yourselves! For you put up with it when someone makes a slave of you, or preys upon you, or takes advantage of you, or puts on airs, or gives you a slap in the face” …
• Paul here speaks in desperate irony, trying to make the Corinthians understand what is happening
• 2 Cor 11:22-23 … “Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they ministers of Christ?”
• At least some of the super-apostles seem to have been Jews, portraying themselves as christian apostles …
• Actually, there has been Jewish teachers, following Paul’s footsteps and trying to influence the young churches all along in Acts … Some were Jew-Jews, honestly thinking that they were owing God to save the Jewish faith by opposing Paul
• But is seems that the ones descending on Corinth now are not that upright Jew-Jew types, but consciously deceiving, purposefully confusing the young churches, evil
• It seems that some were in for the money … I mean, it would be a quite good life, you move around from church to church, get treated as the honored guest, preach a fiery sermon once in a while and live of the churches donations
• 2 Cor 12:1-10 … Paul goes on to mentions extraordinary visions and revelations he has had. In this text you can easily recognize, how much Paul hates to argue like that: He speaks no only in irony, but takes on the role of a fool. Also he writes about himself as “I know a person …”
• The super-apostles probably impressed people with: spectacular visions and revelations, in order to portray themselves as very spiritual, very much in tune with God and “used by him” … who would want to contradict “the big prophet”, right?
• 2 Cor 12:11-13 … “I am not at all inferior to these super-apostles, even though I am nothing” … Paul appealing, Paul ironic, Paul humiliated … he hates to talk like this, but he feels he has to, because of what’s going on.
• 2 Cor 12:16-17 … “Nevertheless (you say) since I was crafty, I took you in by deceit. Did I take advantage of you through any of those whom I sent to you?”
• The super-apostles coaxed the Corinthians even into doubting Paul’s very motives, his heart, his commitment to them. What an extremely hurtful reproach! No wonder Paul says in 2 Cor 12:15 … “If I love your more, am I to be loved less?”
• Now we need to be careful … twi different groups of people are addressed:
• “all / you all” … focused on in the first division … 2 Cor 2:3-5, 3:18, 7:13, 13:13
• “some” … focused on in the third division … 2 Cor 3:1, 10:2, 10:7, 10:12, 11;4, 12:21

Treatment of the super-apostles

• So how, then, should these super-apostles be treated? What does Paul want the Corinthian church to do with them?
• 2 Cor 6:14-7:1 … “Therefore come out from them, and be separate from them, says the Lord”
• This does not refer to fellow believers … and it does not refer to normal ‘lost people’, that are to be reached out to
• In context of these “super-apostles” it makes a lot of sense > Paul strongly instruction the Corinthians to get rid of these people … do not be mismatched with unbelievers … therefore come out from them, and be separate from them
• Why didn’t he do it himself when he was there? What really happened during this visit?
• Most likely, first when these guys came, they came as christian itinerant teachers. They came with letters of recommendation and seem to have been really pleasant, interesting and entertaining people. Probably all of the church welcomed these new teachers, but that as things went along and they tried to take more and more influence, some of the church started to worry and started to oppose them.
• Now where were they when Paul came to visit? Were they at Corinth then? Or did they conveniently disappear for a while? If they were there, why didn’t Paul challenge them and throw them out? Was Paul too weak to do that? Did he fear the conflict? One should think from the intensity of this letter, that he would have done anything and everything for the Corinthians … then why didn’t he? Could is be that Paul did challenge the super-apostles but the Corinthian church itself sided with them, covered them, protected them … and thereby rejected and attacked Paul? What an extremely hurtful situation that must have been for him! We are not totally sure how exactly that visit went, but if Paul calls it “painful”, you can be sure it was.
• Could it be that Paul left the city because he couldn’t handle this situation emotionally any more? Could it be that Paul realized, that his presence could only aggravate the situation? Could it be that the Corinthians actively threw him out? Could it be that the super-apostles rallied the church together against him? Or was Paul just at a loss of what else to do? Or did Paul know, that if he went all the way throwing these super-apostles out, that he would cause a severe church split and loose quite a bit of the believers over it? Whatever exactly his motivation was, he did leave.
• It seems that only the severe letter, that he writes following the painful visit, together with its deliverer Titus started to change the Corinthian hearts … or maybe some Corinthians started to feel convicted over the way they had treated Paul? By God’s grace, a change in attitude starts happening … but will the super-apostles let go so easily? Are they still hanging on?
• So Paul instructs the church to get rid of the super-apostles in 2 Corinthians. He also hints in chapter 13 that if they are still there when he will visit for the third time, he will personally get rid of them …
• 2 Cor 13:2 … “I warn them now while absent, as I did when present on my second visit, that if I come again, I will not be lenient”
• 2 Cor 13:10 … So I write these things while I am away from you, so that when I come, I may not have to be severe in using the authority that the Lord has given me for building up and not for tearing down.
• So now, this third time, Paul will get rid of the super-apostles, even if that means that he looses some of the church over it. Because by now, after being given all this opportunity to repent, the church has repented at least partially and given him leadership again, the issue for Paul is whether to loose some of the church or all of the church.

Treatment of the Corinthian church members who sided with these super-apostles

• We know what will happen to the false teachers. But what is Paul saying about those church member who were deceived, who sided with the super-apostles?
• 2 Cor 12:19-21 … Quite a bit ungodliness is going on in the church … No surprise … this was a problem already in 1 Corinthians, and having flashy false teachers of corrupt character will definitely not have improved the state of the church
• 2 Cor 13:5-10 … Paul addresses the sinning church members as believers … Do you not realize that Jesus Christ is in you? … The intentional deceitful false teachers Paul just throws out, the confused, deceived believer he gives every reason and chance to repent.
• Again Paul gives grace by sending this letter ahead of himself, so people have time to make things right.
• 2 Cor 2:5-11 … therefore also has encouragement function: On tht repented is fully restored … how warmly Paul welcomes him back and encourages the church to do so!

Application for this “deceiver and deceived” theme

• Do you think this is relevant for today? Are there deceivers around? Is there deception around?
• My experience is that those who deceive intentionally and consciously are rather rare. What is common though are those who themselves are believers, but get off on some tangent and draw others with them.
• We need to test everything we hear, even if it’s from a “reputed big name”
• We should be more impressed with a faithful, servant-hearted, sacrificially loving person than with an eloquent, super-spiritual, flashy person
• We need to watch deception in ourselves: We need to commit ourselves to study God’s word, to balance and wisdom.
• And we need to be very humble, open to and welcoming correction from both God and men.
• Do not flippantly cause division, Paul could have come in, split the church and restart with a little group of faithful ones. But he does not do it this way. He goes the costly way of humiliation, of intercession, of trying to reconcile at the cost of being misunderstood.
• Truth is worth standing up for … in all wisdom and humility

DEFENSE OF PAUL’S APOSTLESHIP

• The overarching theme of 2 Corinthians is Paul defending true apostleship.
• First when I read 2 Corinthians I almost got upset at Paul. I thought: If Paul really doesn’t want to boast then why does he not simply shut up? Why does he keep defending himself over chapters and then he turns around and says …
• 2 Cor 12:19 … “Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves before you?” … Yes, Paul, isn’t that exactly what you’ve been doing?
• Can you feel all through the letter how he is squirming and winding and trying to avoid it? Paul is very embarrassed to have to spell true apostleship out in detail … and show, that he is a true apostle and the others don’t qualify in the least
• False teachers are addressed in many NT books … but not so much by disputing theology. False teachers are revealed by their character.
• How do I know whether someone is false? Look at their normal, daily life … are they serving others? preferring others? Do they display the the fruits of the Spirit? What is their motivation? Are they selfless?
• Also: Paul defends himself because to defend himself = defend his gospel = defend truth

STRUGGLING / SUFFERING

• In no other letter Paul is as emotional, as personal as in Corinthians … allowing glimpses into his inner world, his personality, he bares his heart and reveals his intimate love for this church.
• In Christian leadership circles you sometimes hear about “not letting things get too close” and” keeping a distance” to those you minister to. Well, Paul didn’t.
• Paul was blatantly honest, honest about weaknesses, his indignation and his love. He is very frank with both positive and negative emotions … he doesn’t mind opening himself and humbling himself before these people, being vulnerable … though hurt he doesn’t withdraw, grace leads him to reach out.
• For all it’s intensity and atmosphere, 2 Corinthians must be the most amazing letter in the New Testament to turn to in times that we struggle severely. I believe that over the centuries that this letter must have ministered to and challenged countless people in the most devastating circumstances … and devastating circumstances are sure to come at some point in life.
• Most of the sufferings that Paul lists in 2 Corinthians we do not know from Acts of from his other writings. The cost of discipleship in one’s personal life if something the apostles are rather quiet about.
• 2 Co 11:23-29 … “far greater labors, far more imprisonments (we just know of Philippi, all the other imprisonments described in Acts are yet to come) … with countless floggings, and often near death. Five times I have received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one (this was a punishment given also to Jesus, 40 lashes was considered deadly, that’s why only 39 were given). Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I received a stoning (this one we know, Lystra on the first missionary journey). Three times I was shipwrecked; for a night and a day I was adrift at sea (this is before the one described in Acts); on frequent journeys”
• The fact that we do not know of most of these happenings tells us that Paul didn’t brag about it in any “normal writing” not did Luke record them all either, he recorded some, but in no way all. Suffering was normal part, and if you had to suffer, you didn’t write 5 books about it.
• It seems Paul considered a measure of uncomfortableness / outright suffering a natural part of serving God. He didn’t seek suffering, but he also didn’t shrink back. Suffering didn’t make him question God’s goodness … “God, why do you allow this” … his outlook was more that to do certain things certain sacrifices were necessary.

Socratic defense

• For a philosopher to boast of his accomplishments was not considered good style.
  If attacked, a philosopher may use a socratic defense, first used by Socrates when he was accused.
• to avoid boasting directly, he took on the role of a “fool” … a fool can get away with such boasting / extreme statements
• use a third person to say what you can’t say yourself … “I know a man who …”
• not using normal rhetoric, use irony instead
  By taking the role of a “fool” he reminds them of his apostleship. Paul in effect says “Ok, you listen to these ‘super apostles’ who boast, well I’ll play along and boast a little myself if that is what you Corinthians require”. He doesn’t want to do this but plays along so they can see the absurdity of it all.
• 2 Cor 11:21 … “But whatever anyone dares to boast of – I am speaking as a fool – I also dare to boast of that”
• 2 Cor 11:23 … “Are they ministers of Christ? I am talking like a madman – I am a better one: with far greater labors”

Thorn in the flesh

• 2 Cor 12:7 … “a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me, to keep me from being too elated.”
• Physical … an ailment? Perhaps to do with his eyes? (Ga 4:15, 6:11)
• Spiritual … a demonic oppression, temptation or general sinful nature?
• Persecution … Jewish oppression? trouble from false teachers? super-apostles?
• “Thorn” (Greek: skolops) is used only here. 3 occurrences in the Septuagint, for Nu 33:55, Ez 28:24 … referring to people being a ‘pain int he neck’ to the people of God
• “Torment” (Greek: kolaphiz) is to buffet, to revile, used in “ and Mk 14:65 to describe what the soldiers do to Jesus.
• So by context and normal usage, the third option seems most likely

Third heaven

• Maybe 1st heaven refers to sky, 2nd heaven to the universe, 3rd heaven to where God is. The Hebrew word ‘shamayim-shameh’ (‘heaven’) can also be used in all these three ways.