Survey of 2 Cor. 1-13

•I. General information

N.T. Letters

• Epistles of Paul (Rom. – Heb.)

Author

• Paul was the penman

To whom written

• Church in Corinth – all men everywhere

Why it was written

• Paul writes to address their reaction to the first letter (1 Cor.) and to defend his apostleship

Outstanding features of the book

• After 1 Corinthians had been received by the church in Corinth, false teachers had entered in and stirred the people up against Paul.

They claimed he was:

• Fickle• Proud• Unimpressive in appearance• Unqualified as an apostle of Jesus Christ • (Donnie Barnes Bible Charts)

Brief outline

• I. Paul rejoices over their improved condition since their reception of the first letter (1-7)• II. The collection for the poor saints in

Jerusalem (8-9)• III. Paul defends his apostolic authority

and exposes false teachers (10-13)

•II. Main points in each chapter

2 Cor. 1

• The God of all comfort, Paul’s tribulations in the gospel, Paul defends his sincerity and plans another visit to Corinth

2 Cor. 2

• Church discipline work, Paul’s service to God and men

2 Cor. 3

• Epistles known and read of all men, the old law taken away, the new covenant, “the veil is upon their heart”

2 Cor. 4

• Truth hidden – minds blinded, the gospel in earthen vessels, “our light affliction, which is but for a moment”

2 Cor. 5

• An eternal building of God, we walk by faith, ministry of reconciliation,

2 Cor. 6

• Workers together with God, unequally yoked, “come out from among them”

2 Cor. 7

• Paul’s joy at their reception of the word, godly sorrow and true repentance

2 Cor. 8

• The appeal for liberality in giving, giving ourselves to God

2 Cor. 9

• The blessings of liberality, God’s unspeakable gift

2 Cor. 10

• Paul’s defense of his ministry

2 Cor. 11

• Paul’s concern for the church at Corinth, Paul’s list of sufferings

2 Cor. 12

• Paul’s vision of paradise, his thorn in the flesh, God’s sufficient grace, Paul plans another visit

2 Cor. 13

• “Examine yourselves”, final words, “a holy kiss”

•III. Some great lessons from

2 Corinthians

1. Church discipline

• In 1 Cor. 5 Paul commanded them to withdraw from the immoral brother• In 2 Cor. 2 we see that discipline

worked

Rom. 16:17

• [17] Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.

2 Thess. 3:6

• [6] Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.

2. The triumph over death

• 2 Cor. 4:16 - 5:10• 2 Cor. 5:8• [8] We are confident, I say, and

willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

3. Separation from the world

• 2 Cor. 6:14 – 7:1• 2 Cor. 6:14• [14] Be ye not unequally yoked

together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

4. Paul’s thorn in the flesh

• 2 Cor. 12:7• [7] And lest I should be exalted above

measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.

2 Cor. 12:8-9• [8] For this thing I besought the Lord

thrice, that it might depart from me.• [9] And he said unto me, My grace is

sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

• Whatever the thorn was, Paul was not permitted to cure it with miraculous powers --- It did not stop him from constant, loyal service to God

5. The list of sufferings endured by Paul

• 2 Cor. 11:24-33• [24] Of the Jews five times received I forty

stripes save one.[25] Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;

• [26] In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;

• [27] In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.[28] Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.

• [29] Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not?• [30] If I must needs glory, I will glory of

the things which concern mine infirmities.[31] The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not.

• [32] In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king kept the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desirous to apprehend me:[33] And through a window in a basket was I let down by the wall, and escaped his hands.

• “Paul’s overwhelming persecutions for Christ should make us ashamed to complain about our petty sufferings.” Frank J. Dunn

2 Cor. 4:7-18• [7] But we have this treasure in earthen

vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.• [8] We are troubled on every side, yet not

distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;• [9] Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast

down, but not destroyed;

• [10] Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.• [11] For we which live are alway

delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.

• [12] So then death worketh in us, but life in you.

• [13] We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;• [14] Knowing that he which raised up

the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.

• [15] For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.• [16] For which cause we faint not; but

though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

• [17] For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;• [18] While we look not at the things

which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things

Conclusion

• 2 Cor. 13:14• [14] The grace of the Lord Jesus

Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.