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’s Genuine Concern for the Corinthians as an Apostle of Christ
God had enabled Paul to comfort the Corinthians (2 Corinthians 1:3-11)
Paul had changed his travel plans to spare the Corinthians a grievous visit (2 Corinthians 1:12-24)
Paul had written to rebuke them out of love (2 Corinthians 2:1-4)
Paul had forgiven the repentant sinner at Corinth and encouraged the Corinthians to reaffirm their love for him (2 Corinthians 2:5-11)
Paul had preached the gospel in its purity to the Corinthians, and their changed lives attested to his apostolic work (2 Corinthians 2:12—3:5)

6. The Gospel Preached by Paul & Written in the Corinthians’ Hearts (2 Corinthians 2:12—3:5)
Paul’s love and concern for the Corinthians had been stirred when traveling to Troas & Macedonia (2:12-13)
Although a door was opened to preach in Troas, Paul’s was concerned in his spirit for the Corinthians (1 Cor. 16:8-9; Col 4:3)
When Titus did not come from Corinth with news, Paul departed for Macedonia.
Troas
1 Corinthians 16:8-9  But I will tarry in Ephesus until Pentecost.  9  For a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.
Colossians 4:3  meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains,
Paul sent Titus to Corinth to follow-up on some of the issues addressed in the first letter (7:6-7, 13-14; 8:6; 12:18)

7. The Gospel Preached by Paul & Written in the Corinthians’ Hearts (2 Corinthians 2:12—3:5)
Paul recognizes that God is continually giving him (and other ministers of the gospel) a rousing victory in their efforts to diffuse the gospel everywhere (2:14-16)
They are spreading the fragrance of Christ among both the saved and the lost.
To some the aroma of the gospel is life-giving, but it is death to those who reject it.
The Rabbis had used similar language to describe the Law*
“Who is sufficient for these things?”
Only God could craft such a powerful message and enable mere humans to disperse it triumphantly (cf. 3:5)
Paul and his fellow-workers were not like street vendors or peddlers who sell fake merchandise for personal profit. He is sincere! (2:17; cf. 1:12)
* Barnes notes the following: “in Debarim Rabba, sec. 1, fol. 248, it is said, “As the bee brings home honey to the owner, but stings others, so it is with the words of the Law.” “They (the words of the Law) are a savor of life to Israel, but a savor of death to the people of this world.”
Thus, in Taarieth, fol. 7, 1, “Whoever gives attention to the Law on account of the Law itself, to him it becomes an aromatic of life (סם חיים cam chayiym), but to him who does not attend to the Law on account of the Law itself, to him it becomes an aromatic of death (סם מות cam mowt) “ - the idea of which is, that as medicines skillfully applied will heal, but if unskillfully applied will aggravate a disease, so it is with the words of the Law.”
CORRUPT(ING) is found in the ASV and KJV, whereas ESV, NKJV have PEDDLING
Sincerity is from a word meaning “purity”.

8. The Gospel Preached by Paul & Written in the Corinthians’ Hearts (2 Corinthians 2:12—3:5)
Paul’s position as an apostle was not established by self-commendation or by letters of commendation (3:1; Acts 18:27; 1 Cor. 16:3)
The conversion of the Corinthians through Paul’s ministry was a better testimonial than any letters could be (3:2; 1 Corinthians 9:2)
The Corinthians themselves are a letter…
Ministered by Paul (i.e. a result of Paul’s service)
Not written in ink, but in the Spirit of God (1 Peter 1:22-23)
Not written on tables of stone, but on human hearts
Acts 18:27  And when he desired to cross to Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him; and when he arrived, he greatly helped those who had believed through grace;
1 Corinthians 16:3  And when I come, whomever you approve by your letters I will send to bear your gift to Jerusalem.
1 Corinthians 9:2  If I am not an apostle to others, yet doubtless I am to you. For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.
1 Peter 1:22-23  Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart,  23  having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever,

9. The Gospel Preached by Paul & Written in the Corinthians’ Hearts (2 Corinthians 2:12—3:5)
Paul had the fullest trust and confidence in the authenticity and effectiveness of his ministry. (3:4)
Yet, Paul knew that he could not take credit for anything that had been accomplished through his work; God had supplied everything! (3:5; Timothy 1:12; Romans 11:36; 15:17-19)
1 Timothy 1:12  And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry,
Romans 11:36  For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.
Romans 15:17-19  Therefore I have reason to glory in Christ Jesus in the things which pertain to God.  18  For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ has not accomplished through me, in word and deed, to make the Gentiles obedient—  19  in mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God, so that from Jerusalem and round about to Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.

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