1. 2 Corinthians

2. Timeline AD 50–52: Paul ministers in Corinth for 18 months (Acts 18:1-17) AD 52–55: Paul ministers in Ephesus for 2+ years (Acts 19)  Paul writes “Letter A” (1 Cor 5:9)  Paul receives response to “Letter A” along with a negative report from Chloe’s people (1:11)  Paul writes 1 Corinthians (“Letter B”) (1 Cor 7:1, 8:1, 12:1, 16:1)  Titus delivers 1 Corinthians, things don’t go well  Paul makes a “painful visit” (2 Cor 2:1)  Paul writes his severe letter (“Letter C”) (2 Cor 7:5-8)

3. Timeline AD 55/56: Paul goes to Macedonia and surrounding regions (Acts 20:1-3)  Paul intends to visit Corinth from Macedonia but is unable to do so (1 Cor 16:5-6; 2 Cor 1:15-16)  Paul hears of major trouble at Corinth  Paul writes 2 Corinthians (“Letter D”) AD 56/57: Paul visits Corinth, writes Romans (Rom 16:23)

4. Opponents What we don’t know:  Where they are from  Their names  Exactly what they were teaching

5. Opponents What we do know  What they say about Paul  Disingenuous (10:1), Lousy speaker (10:10)  No references (3:1-2)  Shady financial dealings (11:7-9, 12:13-16)  Fickle/dishonest (1:15-19)  Their conclusion: Paul is not a legit apostle of Christ (13:3)

6. Opponents What we do know  What Paul says about them  Implied Peddlers of God’s word → door to door salesmen (2:17) Need references (3:1-10:12) Lack discernment because of Satan’s influence (4:2) Too concerned with appearances (5:12) Think about Christ “according to the flesh” (1:17, 11:18, 5:16, 10:2-3)  Explicit Preaching another Jesus, another spirit, another gospel (11:4) Consider themselves “super apostles” (11:5) FAKERS! (11:12-15) Boastful – used 29x in 2 Corinthians (e.g., 11:12)

7. Opponents What is Paul going to do about them?

8. Paul’s Response Galatians-Style?

9. Paul’s Response Galatians-Style?

10. Paul’s Response 2 Corinthians-Style

11. Walk Through Four Major Sections  1:12-2:13 → Why Paul didn’t show up in Corinth  2:14-6:13 → Paul explains and defends his ministry  6:14-9:15 → How Paul expects the Corinthian church to respond  10:1-13:10 → Paul addresses his opponents more directly

12. Rhetoric Definition – “the art of persuasion” Rhetoric in Education Genres  Forensic  Deliberative  Epideictic

13. Discussion 1 Will the real ministers of the gospel please stand up?  Using the texts on the front of your handout, identify the participants in the Corinthian courtroom.  From Paul’s perspective:  Who is the judge?  Who are the witnesses?  Who is on trial?  Who carries out the judge’s sentence?  From Paul’s opponents’ perspective:  Who is the judge?  Who are the witnesses?  Who is on trial?  Who carries out the judge’s sentence?

14. Discussion 1 Will the real ministers of the gospel please stand up?  Using the texts on the front of your handout, identify the participants in the Corinthian courtroom.  From Paul’s perspective:  Who is the judge?  Who are the witnesses?  Who is on trial?  Who carries out the judge’s sentence?  From Paul’s opponents’ perspective:  Who is the judge?  Who are the witnesses?  Who is on trial?  Who carries out the judge’s sentence?

15. Discussion 2 Will the real Jesus please stand up?  What do the verses on page 2 of your handout (“the ‘Jesus Narrative’ in 2 Corinthians”) say about Jesus’ experience on earth?  What connection do these verses make between Jesus’ experience and Paul’s? Why, in the context of Paul’s defense of his ministry, is that connection important?

16. Conclusion