Weekly Sermons

2 Corinthians Overview

Last time we looked at the city of Corinth and I Corinthians.

Now we come to 2^nd Corinthians, written less than a year after I Corinthians.

2^nd Corinthians is the 47^th of 66 books in the Bible, the 8^th book of 27 in the New Testament; the 3^rd of 13 books written by Paul.

Listen to this summary by Nelson’s Complete Book of Bible Maps and Charts:

Since Paul’s first letter, the Corinthian church had been swayed by false teachers who stirred the people against Paul. They claimed he was fickle, proud, unimpressive in appearance and speech, dishonest, and unqualified as an apostle of Jesus Christ. Paul sent Titus to Corinth to deal with these difficulties, and upon his return, rejoiced to hear of the Corinthians change of heart. Paul wrote this letter to express his thanksgiving for the repentant majority and to appeal to the rebellious minority to accept his authority. Throughout the book he defends his conduct, character, and calling as an apostle of Jesus Christ.                                 - Nelson’s Complete Book of Bible Maps and Charts

2 Corinthians is the most autobiographical of Paul’s letters. It has many references to the hardships he encountered as an apostle!

2 Corinthians was written from Macedonia during Paul’s third missionary journey in AD 56 or 57. It reveals that he hopes to visit the Corinthians again soon.

We call them 1^st and 2^nd Corinthians, but I Corinthians refers to an earlier letter (I Cor. 5:9), and II Corinthians refers to an interval letter (2 Cor. 2:1-4; 7:8).

So in a way we have 2^nd and 4^th Corinthians.

But we call them 1^st and 2^nd Corinthians because they are God-breathed scripture.

Outline of 2 Corinthians:

Paul defends his character and gospel ministry   Ch. 1-7

The collection for the saints                                  Ch. 8-9

Paul’s defends his authority as an apostle            Ch. 10-13

Look at 2 Corinthians at a Glance on back of Notes!

I Corinthians	2 Corinthians
Objective and practical	Subjective and personal
Insight into the character of an early church	Insight into the character and ministry of Paul
Deliberate instruction	Impassioned testimony
Warns against pagan influences	Warns against Judaistic influences
Irving Jensen	Survey of the New Testament

 

In I Corinthians we saw that Paul’s co-writer was Sosthenes.

Who co-wrote 2 Corinthians?

Timothy!                                                       2 Cor. 1:1

Who delivered 2 Corinthians?

Titus and 2 companions!                               2 Cor. 8:6, 16-24

The brother praised throughout the churches for his gospel ministry (Apollos?)

The brother whom we have tested and found diligent!                

Paul was constantly encouraging and developing other leaders!

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Some passages to look at in 2 Corinthians:

1:3-7           Comfort others with the comfort we have received!

2:5-11         Forgive the individual who has repented (the man from I Cor. 5?)

Ch. 5            One of the great chapters of the New Testament      Let’s read it!

5:1-21         Christians are new creatures now and forevermore!   

Their great joy is helping sinners be reconciled to God!

6:14-18       Don’t be joined with unbelievers!

Ch.8-9         Best teaching in New Testament on giving!

Want to be an apostle for the perks of the ministry?

Paul tells what his experience had been:

11:22-12:15          The reality of what true apostles faced in this world!         

Remember I Cor. 4:9-13?

True apostles are like men condemned to die; considered garbage by the world!

They don’t preach for gain but for the sake of those whom God saves through their ministry! 

Comment as you go, Daniel!