1. The Epistle of Second Corinthians

2. 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)

3. 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)

4. 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)

5. Paul Maintains his Integrity Despite Changing Plans (2 Corinthians 1:23-24)
Paul called God as a witness as to the reason he did not come to Corinth as first planned: it was to “spare” the Corinthians! (1:23)
This is NOT the same as taking an oath, which is to make an assurance of a statement based on the merits of another thing or person. (Mathew 5:34-36)
Paul had earlier indicated that if things did not change at Corinth, he might have to come to them with a “rod” of discipline (1 Corinthians 4:21)
Paul was not the overlord of the Corinthians’ faith, but was working with them so that they would know the joy of being established in the faith (1:24)
Matthew 5:34-36  But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God's throne;  35  nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.  36  Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black.
1 Corinthians 4:21  What do you want? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness?

6. Loving Rebuke Produces Repentance (2 Corinthians 2:1-11)
Paul had decided not to come to Corinth AGAIN in sorrow (2:1-2)
He had already made a second short visit to Corinth which grieved him (2 Cor. 12:14, 21; 13:1-2)
The one whom Paul has made sorrowful (by rebuke) is the one who can make Paul glad (by repentance)
Paul’s earlier writing was aimed at producing joy for himself and the Corinthians (2:3-4)
He had written out “much affliction and anguish of heart” not to grieve them but to show his love for them (Proverbs 27:6; Psalm 141:5).
True love expresses itself this way (Prov. 3:12; Rev. 3:19)
Proverbs 27:6  Faithful are the wounds of a friend, But the kisses of an enemy are deceitful
Psalms 141:5  Let the righteous strike me; It shall be a kindness. And let him rebuke me; It shall be as excellent oil; Let my head not refuse it. For still my prayer is against the deeds of the wicked.
This the true love and it is DIVINE LOVE!
Proverbs 3:12  For whom the LORD loves He corrects, Just as a father the son in whom he delights.
Revelation 3:19  As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.

7. Loving Rebuke Produces Repentance (2 Corinthians 2:1-11)
The sinner at Corinth was not merely a grief to Paul, but to all the Corinthians (2:5)
The “one who caused grief” is almost certainly the fornicator of 1 Corinthians 5.
His sin endangered the whole church (1 Cor. 5:1, 6), being both a reproach and an evil influence (Jude 12)
Therefore, the punishment inflicted by the majority of the church was appropriate (2:6)
But now expressions of forgiveness, comfort, and love were needed and appropriate (2:7-8)
The danger is that the repentant sinner would be swallowed up with “too much sorrow” (Matthew 5:4; Isaiah 61:1-3)
Jude 4  For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ.
Jude 12 “These are spots in your love feasts, while they feast with you without fear, serving only themselves.
Hebrews 12:6  FOR WHOM THE LORD LOVES HE CHASTENS, AND SCOURGES EVERY SON WHOM HE RECEIVES.“
Matthew 5:4  Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted.
Isaiah 61:1-3  "The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, Because the LORD has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;  2  To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn,  3  To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.“
When you send someone on a guilt trip, you need to give the a round trip ticket!

8. Loving Rebuke Produces Repentance (2 Corinthians 2:1-11)
Paul’s previous letter was a test of the Corinthian’s obedience in all things (2:9; Genesis 22:1, 12; Hebrews 11:17)
Paul extended forgiveness just as the Corinthians did (2:10)
To do anything less would allow Satan to gain an advantage (2:11)
What specific “device” of Satan are Paul and the Corinthians thwarting by forgiving this brother? (Leviticus 19:18; Colossians 3:13; Ephesians 4:31-32; Hebrews 12:15)
Genesis 22:1  Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham, and said to him, "Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am.“
Genesis 22:12  And He said, "Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.“
Hebrews 11:17  By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,
Leviticus 19:18  You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD.
Colossians 3:13  bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.
Ephesians 4:31-32  Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.  32  And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.
Hebrews 12:15  looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled;

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