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’s ministry cannot 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 (12:11-13)
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. Exoneration of Paul’s Apostleship: Exaltation Tempered by Infirmity (2 Corinthians 12:1-10)
It is not profitable for Paul to boast (12:1)
This may refer to the fact that boasting is not generally a practice in which servants of Christ should engage (11:17; Matt. 6:2), or it may be another use of irony, i.e. “What use is it for someone who has done as little as Paul to boast?”
In either case, Paul now turns to the significance of revelations, but he does not boast directly of his own revelations*
Matthew 6:2  Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.
* The ESV seems to imply that Paul would further boast about revelations, but he DOES NOT boast of revelations in the same way he has been boasting about his work, his sacrifices and his suffering. 2 Corinthians 12:1  I must go on boasting. Though there is nothing to be gained by it, I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. (2 Cor. 12:1)
Either the next few verses which describe the glory of receiving revelation refer to those received by another Christian, or to Paul who does not identify himself.

6. Exoneration of Paul’s Apostleship: Exaltation Tempered by Infirmity (2 Corinthians 12:1-10)
Paul boasts of the revelation received by a man he knows in Christ (12:2-5)
“In Christ” indicates that this man was a Christian.
The revelation occurred 14 years ago (This was near or just after the time of Paul’s visit to Jerusalem mentioned in Acts 22:17-21 and Galatians 1:18)*
Paul did not know if the experience of the man was in the body or out of it (Ezekiel 8:3; Revelation 4:1-2)
The man was caught up into the “third heaven”
The man was caught up into Paradise* and heard inexpressible words (cf. Revelation 2:7; 22:2; 10:4)
Paul would boast of another man’s revelation experience, but confine personal boasting to infirmity
Galatians 1:18  Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and remained with him fifteen days.
Paul was in Corinth the first time in 51 A.D. From the events that transpire in Acts, he is probably writing this letter in A.D. His conversion happened during the reign of Aretas in Damascus (11:32-33). If it was near the end of Aretas reign, his visit to Jerusalem over three years later would correspond with 14 years before Paul is writes 2 Corinthians.
Ezekiel 8:3  He stretched out the form of a hand, and took me by a lock of my hair; and the Spirit lifted me up between earth and heaven, and brought me in visions of God to Jerusalem, to the door of the north gate of the inner court, where the seat of the image of jealousy was, which provokes to jealousy.
Revelation 4:1-2  After this I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven! And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.”  2  At once I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne.
Note that “paradise” is where Christ went after death (Luke 23:43), but also the eternal abode of God (Revelation 2:7; Revelation 22:2  In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.)
Revelation 10:4  Now when the seven thunders uttered their voices, I was about to write; but I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, "Seal up the things which the seven thunders uttered, and do not write them."

7. Exoneration of Paul’s Apostleship: Exaltation Tempered by Infirmity (2 Corinthians 12:1-10)
Paul could boast (12:6)
If Paul wanted to boast in his revelations, he would not be a fool, for he would only need to tell the truth.
But he refrains from doing so lest others think too much of him.
Paul’s thorn in the flesh (12:7)
It was given to him lest he be exalted above measure* due to the abundance of revelations given to him.
It was a messenger of Satan (Job 2:6-7; 33:19-32; Luke 13:16; 1 Peter 1:5-7)
* 2 Corinthians 12:6  though if I should wish to boast, I would not be a fool, for I would be speaking the truth; but I refrain from it, so that no one may think more of me than he sees in me or hears from me. (ESV).
The Greek word translated “exalted above measure” is huperairomai. Thayer’s Definition: 1) to lift or raise up over some thing 2) to lift one’s self up, be exalted, be haughty 3) to carry one’s self haughtily to, behave insolently towards one
Job 2:6-7  And the LORD said to Satan, "Behold, he is in your hand, but spare his life."  7  So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD, and struck Job with painful boils from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head.
Luke 13:16  So ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound—think of it—for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath?“
1 Peter 1:5-7  who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.  6  In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials,  7  that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,

8. Exoneration of Paul’s Apostleship: Exaltation Tempered by Infirmity (2 Corinthians 12:1-10)
Paul accepts his infirmity & God’s grace (12:8-10)
Paul had pleaded with the Lord three times to remove his thorn in the flesh (cp. Matthew 26:44)
The Lord had said, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my strength is made perfect in weakness.”
This leads Paul to gladly boast in his infirmities that the power of Christ may rest upon him
Paul says, “I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (Hebrews 11:34; Philippians 4:13)
Jesus prayed fervently 3 times in the Garden -- Matthew 26:44  So He left them, went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words.
2 Chronicles 32:7-8  "Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid nor dismayed before the king of Assyria, nor before all the multitude that is with him; for there are more with us than with him.  8  With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the LORD our God, to help us and to fight our battles." And the people were strengthened by the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.
Hebrews 11:34 “out of weakness were made strong,”
Philippians 4:13  I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

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