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)

Motivation from Eternal Expectation (2 Corinthians 5:1-11) Knowing “the terror of the Lord” (i.e. the certainty of punishment for evil doers) compels the apostles to persuade men” (5:11a) Hebrews 10:31  “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” The apostles’ motivations were well known to God, and Paul hoped they were understood by the Corinthians as well (5:11b) These pure motivations should assure the Corinthians of the truth of Paul’s message and help them appreciate the urgency with which he preached it (cp. 2 Corinthians 4:2) 2 Corinthians 4:2  But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.

Motivation from The Love of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:12-21) Paul gives the Corinthians reason to commend him and his fellow ministers when confronted with the boasts of those who are not true- hearted (5:12; 11:12-13; Proverbs 27:2) There were those in Corinth who sought to attain equal status with the apostles through self-promotion (2 Corinthians 11:12-13). Paul’s seemingly insane devotion was a sign of his commitment to serve God not man; his words of truth and soberness were for the benefit of his hearers (5:13; Acts 26:24-25; Mark 3:21) Proverbs 27:2  Let another man praise you, and not your own mouth; A stranger, and not your own lips. Acts 26:24  Now as he thus made his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, "Paul, you are beside yourself! Much learning is driving you mad!“ Acts 26:25  But he said, "I am not mad, most noble Festus, but speak the words of truth and reason. Mark 3:21  But when His own people heard about this, they went out to lay hold of Him, for they said, "He is out of His mind."

Motivation from The Love of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:12-21) The love of Christ compels Paul’s actions (5:14) “The love of Christ” may be His love for us or our love for Him, but it may encompass both (1 Jn. 4:9-11, 19) Christ died for all (Hebrews 2:9; 1 Timothy 2:6-7) As a consequence of Christ dying for all, “all died” (i.e. died to sin) (Romans 6:2-11) We are to live for the One who died for us! Those who live by the benefit of Jesus’ death should no longer live for themselves, but for the One who died for them and rose again (5:15; Galatians 2:20) 1 John 4:9-11  In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.  10  In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.  11  Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 1 John 4:19  We love Him because He first loved us. Hebrews 2:9  But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone. 1 Timothy 2:6-7  who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time,  7  for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle—I am speaking the truth in Christ and not lying—a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.

Motivation from The Love of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:12-21) We are new creatures! (5:16-17) The love of Christ transforms our view of every person, including Christ Himself (5:16) Anyone in Christ is a new creation: Old things have passed away, all things have become new (5:17) Here Paul is affirming the FACT that one who is in Christ is a new creation; elsewhere he describes how the new man ought to behave (Ephesians 4:22-24; Colossians 3:9-10) Ephesians 4:22-24  that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts,  23  and be renewed in the spirit of your mind,  24  and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness. Colossians 3:9-11  Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds,  10  and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him,  11  where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.

Motivation from The Love of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:12-21) Paul’s ministry of reconciliation (5:18-21) God has provided everything necessary for reconciliation through Christ (5:18) To reconcile is to bring divided parties together in peace and fellowship (Matthew 5:23-24; Acts 7:26) We have been reconciled to God through Christ (Colossians 1:21-22). God accomplishes reconciliation (5:19) Not imputing our trespasses (Colossians 2:13) Committing the word of reconciliation to faithful ministers who are Christ’s ambassadors (Eph. 6:19-20; Acts 26:17-18) Matthew 5:23-24  Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you,  24  leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Acts 7:26  And the next day he appeared to two of them as they were fighting, and tried to reconcile them, saying, 'Men, you are brethren; why do you wrong one another?’ Colossians 1:21-22  And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled  22  in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight— Colossians 2:13  And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, Ephesians 6:19-20  and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel,  20  for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. 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.'

Motivation from The Love of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:12-21) Paul’s ministry of reconciliation (5:18-21) God has acted to reconcile man to Himself by offering His Son as a sacrifice (15:21) God’s sinless Son was “made to be sin.” The word “sin” here is probably being used in the sense of a “sin offering” (see Leviticus 4:3) Jesus did not literally become sin; rather, He bore the punishment of sin for us. God made Christ our sacrifice, our sin offering, to make atonement for our sins (Isaiah 53:4-6, 8, 10-12) Leviticus 4:3  if the anointed priest sins, bringing guilt on the people, then let him offer to the LORD for his sin which he has sinned a young bull without blemish as a sin offering.

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