BIBLICAL PASTORAL FORMATION VERBUM DEI FAMILY-MANILA 1

2 St Paul’s 2nd Letter to the Corinthians

Why letters?

Paul and the Corinthians 1 st letter not well received He promises to visit but cannot immediately Later he visits but it is unsuccessful “I made up my mind, then, that my next visit to you would not be a painful one” 2 Corinthians 2:1 He was badly treated by newcomer missionaries 4

Paul and the Corinthians Shaken by hostility he leaves Corinth and writes a strong letter composed “with many tears” “For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you with many tears, not that you might be pained but that you might know the abundant love I have for you.” 2 Corinthians 2:4 Reconciliation occurs! Writes letter of reconciliation 5

Structure of 2 nd letter to the Corinthians A collection of letters Reconciliation – Chapters 1 -7 Reconciliation Collection – Chapter 8 / 9 Collection Many tears – Chapters Many tears 6

Main themes of 2 Cor 1. Crisis between Paul and the Corinthians2 Cor Collection for Jerusalem2 Cor Paul defense of his ministry 2 Cor

1. Crisis between Paul and the Corinthians APast relationships (1,12-2,13) BPaul’s ministry (2,14-7,4) CResolution of the crisis (7,5-7,16) 8

1. Crisis between Paul and the Corinthians A Past relationships (1,12-2,13) Promised to visit but then cannot “With this confidence I formerly intended to come to you” 2 Cor 1:15 “I decided not to come to you again ” 2 Cor 2:1 9

1. Crisis between Paul and the Corinthians B Paul’s ministry (2,14-7,4) -To be the aroma of Christ (2,14ff) 10 carij

11 Y o u a r e o u r l e t t e r, w r i t t e n i n o u r h e a r t s, k n o w n a n d r e a d b y a l l m e n ; s h o w n t o b e a l e t t e r o f C h r i s t a d m i n i s t e r e d b y u s, w r i t t e n n o t w i t h i n k, b u t w i t h t h e S p i r i t o f t h e l i v i n g G o d, n o t o n t a b l e t s o f s t o n e, b u t o n t a b l e t s o f h u m a n h e a r t s. 2 C o r i n t h i a n s 3 : 2 - 3

12 Fragility of Paul’s apostolic ministry

The negative never completely prevails Both negative and positive experiences grounded in Christ 8 We are subjected to every kind of hardship, but never distressed; we see no way out but we never despair; 9 we are pursued but never cut off; knocked down, but still have some life in us; 10 always we carry with us in our body the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus, too, may be visible in our body. 4, We are treated as deceivers and yet are truthful; 9 as unrecognized and yet acknowledged; as dying and behold we live; as chastised and yet not put to death; 10 as sorrowful yet always rejoicing; as poor yet enriching many; as having nothing and yet possessing all things. 6, 8-10

Call to reconciliation 14 Be reconciled to God (5,20) In everything we prove ourselves authentic servants of God; by resolute perseverance in times of hardships, difficulties and distress; 5 when we are flogged or sent to prison or mobbed; labouring, sleepless, starving; 6 in purity, in knowledge, in patience, in kindness; in the Holy Spirit, in a love free of affectation; 7 in the word of truth and in the power of God (6:4-7) People of Corinth, we have spoken frankly and opened our heart to you. (6:11 )

Style In this letter Paul really bares his heart You see ardour, tenacity, dedication, generosity, humility, fragility but also contradictions, polemics, irritations and sarcasms 15

People of Corinth, we have spoken frankly and opened our heart to you. (6:11 ) Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? …Therefore, come out from their midst and be separate," (6:14-17) I have great confidence in you, I have great pride in you; I am filled with encouragement, I am overflowing with joy all the more because of all our affliction. (7:4) 16

Collection for Jerusalem 2 Cor 8-9 Paul is fundraising for the church of Jerusalem The church of Macedonia gave generously Refers to self giving of Christ, ‘rich though he was, he became poor to enrich others’. A hymn to generosity 17

Collection for Jerusalem 2 Cor 9 Consider this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 Each must do as already determined, without sadness or compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 Moreover, God is able to make every grace abundant for you, so that in all things, always having all you need, you may have an abundance for every good work. 2 Corinthians 9:6-8 18

God loves a cheerful giver! 19

Paul defense of his ministry 2 Cor Paul vs. ‘The Superapostles’ A group of Jewish Christians who attacked Paul’s authority They boast of their Jewishness, of being ministers of Christ, with ecstatic experiences. They have letters of recommendation They criticize Paul saying he is weak, does not know how to speak, that Paul never knew Jesus, that he is not an apostle and has no letters of recommendation. Perhaps he even stole money! 20

Paul criticizes the ‘Superapostles’ Th ey preach another Jesus and a different Gospel “ For if someone comes and preaches another Jesus than the one we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it well enough. 2 Corinthians 11:4 “ For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, who masquerade as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan masquerades as an angel of light.” 2 Corinthians 11:

The boasting of Paul 18/58 He boasts of his sufferings, labors, imprisonments, beatings, numerous brushes with death, being lashed, beaten with rods, stoning, shipwreck, dangers while travelling, toils, hardship, sleepless nights, hunger, thirst, fastings, cold, exposure... “ on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my own race, dangers from Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers at sea, dangers among false brothers” 2 Cor 11,26 “Whoever boasts should boast in the Lord” 2 Cor 10, 17 22

Wisdom of the cross in 1 Corinthians God for the Corinthians was a God of power, and Christ was a Christ of glory. Paul responds ‘No!’ The glory of God is in the cross, in suffering and in weakness. 23

Wisdom of the cross in 2 Corinthians For the apostolic life the key of understanding is in the cross. It is in earthen clay pots in which every apostle carries his treasure, and in the poverty where one can be enriched. The greatness of the apostle is in his weakness as here Jesus can act. 24

The neatest Trinitarian formula in the whole of the New Testament “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the holy Spirit be with all of you.” 25 2 Corinthians 13:13