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 (2:11-13) 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)

God’s Treasure in Earthen Vessels (2 Corinthians 4:1-7) The word “therefore” indicates that what Paul is about to say is based on what he just said concerning the glorious gospel and its transformative power (4:1) Paul was given the precious ministry of the gospel by the mercy of God (1 Timothy 1:12-14: Ephesians 3:8) For this reason, “we do not lose heart.” The two Greek words* translated by five English words mean “to behave badly in, to give in to evil, to lose courage…It [refers to] the faint-hearted coward.” (Robinson, Word Pictures in the NT) 1 Timothy 1:12-14  And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry,  13  although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.  14  And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. Ephesians 3:8  To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, * Ouk Εκκακουμεν

God’s Treasure in Earthen Vessels (2 Corinthians 4:1-7) Paul and his coworkers had “renounced the hidden things of shame” (4:2) They thought so highly of the gospel that they refused to use anything “that was disguised, and artful, and crafty; everything like deceit and fraud.” (10:4) (Barnes) Nor did they use craftiness or handle the word of God deceitfully* (1:12; 2:17) Rather, by the clear “manifestation of the truth” they commended themselves to every man’s conscience “in the sight of God.” Paul is very aware that God sees all, and he strives to ensure that God would approve of what He sees in Paul’s life and work (2:17; 7:12) * Dolountes “to catch with bait, old and common verb, in papyri and inscriptions, to ensnare, to corrupt with error. Only here in N.T.” (Robertson)

God’s Treasure in Earthen Vessels (2 Corinthians 4:1-7) Paul’s gospel is veiled to those who are perishing (4:3-4) The gospel belongs to Paul and the apostles in the sense that they been entrusted with it (cf. Romans 2:16; 16:25; 2 Timothy 2:8) The god of this world has blinded the minds of those who do not believe The reference to Satan draws from similar descriptions in the New Testament (Ephesians 2:12; 6:12; John 12:31; 14:30) HOW does Satan blind people to the truth of the gospel???? Because the lost have been blinded, the “light of the gospel of the Glory of Christ, who is the image of God” does not illuminate their lives (Col. 1:15; Heb. 1:3) Romans 2:16  in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel. Romans 16:25  Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began 2 Timothy 2:8  Remember that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead according to my gospel, Eph. 2:12 — “the prince of the power of the air”; Eph. 6:12 — “the rulers of darkness of this world”; John 12:31; 14:30 — “the prince of this world.” The Greek word for “image” here is eikon as it is in Colossians 1:15  He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. The Greek word is “character” in Hebrews 1:3  who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person…

God’s Treasure in Earthen Vessels (2 Corinthians 4:1-7) Paul preached the gospel, not himself(4:5) He was a “bondservant” of the Corinthians He viewed himself as a slave! It was God who commanded the light to shine out of darkness. (4:6, Gen. 1:3; John 1:4-5; 3:19) The light shone in the hearts of inspired men who shared it with the world! (Acts 26:17-18; 2 Timothy 1:9-11) John 1:4-5  In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.  5  And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. John 3:19  And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. Acts 26:17-18  I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you,  18  to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.' 2 Timothy 1:9-11  who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began,  10  but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,  11  to which I was appointed a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.

God’s Treasure in Earthen Vessels (2 Corinthians 4:1-7) The treasure of the gospel is carried by mere humans (earthen vessels) so that the “excellence of the power” can be perceived as coming from God, not men. The jar in the picture is one of two intact jars remaining from the Dead Sea Scrolls. It is in Kando’s antiquities shop in Bethlehem. Dead Sea Scroll Jar

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