The Epistle of Second Corinthians

Outline of 2nd Corinthians Explanation of Paul’s Apostolic Ministry (1:1—6:10) Greetings from “an apostle…by the will of God” (1:1-2) Past events in Paul’s ministry Trouble in Asia, but comfort from God (1:3-11) Plans for visiting Corinth (1:12-24) Writing out of love produces sorrow, yields forgiveness (2:1-11) Nature of the word Paul ministered Dual aroma of the gospel (2:12-17) The word is ministered thru the Corinthians’ changed lives (3:1-5) A ministry of the Spirit (3:6-18) God’s treasure in earthen vessels (4:1-7) Motivation for ministering An eternal perspective (4:8-18) A future expectation (5:1-11) The love of Christ (5:12-16) Reconciling men to God (5:17-21) Proof that Paul is a minister of God (6:1-10)

Outline of 2nd Corinthians Exhortations to the Corinthians (6:11—9:15) Concerning fellowshipping darkness The Corinthians must open their hearts and separate from the world (6:11—7:3) Comfort and confidence in the Corinthians’ obedience (7:4-16) Concerning the collection for the saints. The Corinthians are to do the following: Follow the examples of Christ and the Macedonian churches (8:1-9) Complete what had been planned and purposed (8:10-15) Prove themselves (8:16—9:5) Sow that they might reap, in order to have more to sow (9:6-15)

Outline of 2nd Corinthians Exoneration of Paul’s Apostleship (10:1—13:10) Paul not to be measured “according to the flesh” (10:1-18) Paul must boast: His selflessness excludes others from being regarded as apostles (11:1-15) His willingness to suffer (11:16-33) His exaltation due to his revelations is tempered by infirmity (12:1-10) His miracles (12:11-13) He spent and was spent so as not to burden the Corinthians (12:14-18) His desire for their edification (12:19—13:10)  Conclusion (13:11-14)

Challenges to the Corinthians: Open Your Hearts & Separate from the World (2 Corinthians 6:11-7:3) Paul has spoken from a heart that is wide open to the Corinthians (6:11; Psalm 119:32) The issue was not that Paul was restricting the Corinthians, but that their own affections were restricting them (6:12-13; 12:15; Galatians 4:16; Proverbs 15:12) Psalms 119:32  I will run the course of Your commandments, For You shall enlarge my heart. 2 Corinthians 12:15  And I will very gladly spend and be spent for your souls; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved. Galatians 4:16  Have I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth? Proverbs 15:12  A scoffer does not love one who corrects him, Nor will he go to the wise.

Separate from the World Challenges to the Corinthians: Open Your Hearts & Separate from the World (2 Corinthians 6:11-7:3) Separate from the World Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers (6:14-16a, Deut. 22:10; Ephesians 5:3-7, 11) What fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? What communion has light with darkness?  What accord has Christ with Belial? What part has a believer with an unbeliever?  What agreement has the temple of God with idols? Deuteronomy 22:10  You shall not plow with an ox and a donkey together. Ephesians 5:7  Therefore do not become partners with them; (ESV) The kind of association that is forbidden is an unequal yoke, a communion (metochē: “a sharing, communion, fellowship,” Thayer 407 fellowship (koinōnia: having things in common; “intercourse, fellowship, intimacy,” Thayer 352) The 2 preceding words are used in 1 Corinthians 10:16-17  where “koinonia” is translated “fellowship” “The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion (koinonia) of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?  17  For we, though many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread.” Concord ACCORD (from sumphōneō, “to sound together, be in accord,” sumphōnēsis: “concord, agreement”), part (meris: “part, portion, share,” Thayer 401) agreement (sugkatathesis: “approval, assent, agreement,” Thayer 592) Belial is a “Transliteration of Hebrew word for worthlessness and applied to Satan (Book of Jubilees 1.20) as here.” (Robertson)

Separate from the World Challenges to the Corinthians: Open Your Hearts & Separate from the World (2 Corinthians 6:11-7:3) Separate from the World You are the temple of the living God! (6:16-18; 1 Corinthians 6:19) “God does not dwell in temples made with hands but in the hearts of living beings who love and adore him (cf. Acts 7:48; 17:24)”* God has promised to dwell in you and walk with you! Paul applies promises made to physical Israel to the saints at Corinth (Leviticus 26:12; Exodus 29:45) God requires you to “come out” and “be separate” and “touch no unclean thing” so that you might be His children (Isaiah 52:11) 1 Corinthians 6:19  Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? * Mike Willis, p. 28 Leviticus 26:12  I will walk among you and be your God, and you shall be My people. Exodus 29:45  I will dwell among the children of Israel and will be their God. Isaiah 52:11  Depart! Depart! Go out from there, Touch no unclean thing; Go out from the midst of her, Be clean, You who bear the vessels of the LORD.

Separate from the World Challenges to the Corinthians: Open Your Hearts & Separate from the World (2 Corinthians 6:11-7:3) Separate from the World Separation and cleansing result in perfect holiness! (7:1) The “promises” mentioned in 7:1 were cited in 6:16-18 Holiness carries the dual meaning of “separate” and “pure.” One who is holy is a “saint,” which is what the Corinthians had been called to be (1 Cor. 1:2) Sanctified is translated from hagiazō Saint is translated from hagios Holy is translated also translated from hagios Holiness is translated from hagiōsunē 1 Corinthians 1:2  To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:

Second Appeal to “Open Your Hearts” Challenges to the Corinthians: Open Your Hearts & Separate from the World (2 Corinthians 6:11-7:3) Second Appeal to “Open Your Hearts” Paul appeals again to the Corinthians to open their hearts to him and his message (7:2; 6:13) He has given them no reason to close him off “We have wronged no one” (7:12, 1 Cor. 6:7-8) “We have corrupted no one” (1 Cor. 15:33) “We have cheated no one” (1 Thess. 4:6) Even now, Paul is not seeking to condemn, but to express his deep affection (7:3) Paul is living and dying with the Corinthians in his heart “Wronged” means to to hurt, damage, harm, often so as to have caused a loss In the parable of the laborers in the vineyard: Matthew 20:13  But he answered one of them and said, 'Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? Also used in 2 Corinthians 7:12 It is combined with “cheat” (defraud) in 1 Corinthians 6:7-8  Now therefore, it is already an utter failure for you that you go to law against one another. Why do you not rather accept wrong? Why do you not rather let yourselves be cheated?  8  No, you yourselves do wrong and cheat, and you do these things to your brethren! “Corrupted” refers to moral defilement, as in 1 Corinthians 15:33  Do not be deceived: "Evil company corrupts good habits.“ “Cheat” or “defrauded” (KJV) is used again in 1 Thessalonians 4:6  that no one should take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also forewarned you and testified.

Lesson Schedule for our study of Second Corinthians Eastside Auditorium Winter Quarter 2017-18