2 CORINTHIANS
(Answers)
(Updated
02/2024)
CHAPTER 1
- As the people saw or learned
of Paul's afflictions and how God consoled or comforted him their own
faith would grow so that they too could remain strong during times of
affliction.
- Paul knew people were praying
for him.
- We plan with inconsistencies
and have to make changes. Letting God lead us we complete the task He
gives us.
- The Spirit is a pledge of God
to help us to salvation. We are prodded by the Spirit in the knowledge of
God, which we use to live by and to help others in the faith.
- Paul delayed coming to the
Corinthians to spare them his criticism and discipline for all the
disorder that was there as he wrote to them in his first letter (1 Cor
4:20,21).
CHAPTER 2
- The people should forgive the
one who was punished and love him back into the will of God.
- The one who had sinned could
hopelessly fall further away from God. Satan could also turn the church
into an instrument for His use.
- Titus was to give Paul an
account of the Corinthians since his first letter to them but Paul could
not find him. Paul worried about the church’s spiritual health.
- To those being saved Paul had
the words of life. He was like Christ bringing the word of God. However,
to those who resisted the word he only brought news of death for their
soul.
- When we spread the gospel and
word of God to others we carry on the work of Christ.
- Some were false teachers or
false apostles working only for what they could gain from it, not sincere
about the souls of those they taught.
CHAPTER 3
- The people he had ministered
to were proof of his authority to teach.
- The law made us aware of sin
to death. The Spirit makes us aware of forgiveness and righteousness
leading to life. The law had to be repeated; the Spirit was once and
forever.
- The presence of God was
before one man, Moses or the high priest, while the presence of God by the
Spirit is in all believers.
- Moses' face shone brightly
and the people were afraid.
- The Jews still had not
accepted Christ even though He was prophesied in their reading of the Old
Testament.
- When we turn to Jesus as our
Lord and Savior, we receive God's Holy Spirit and open our hearts to God’s
word and will for our lives.
- We are not under the bondage
of sacrifices any longer nor do we fear death.
CHAPTER 4
- Paul walked the walk that he
taught the people. He did not corrupt the gospel in any way for personal
gain.
- The light of the message of
the gospel has been entrusted to us but is empowered by the working of
God.
- Paul walked in the steps of
Jesus and as He sacrificed all Paul too was willing to sacrifice all to
show Jesus to the world.
- As we live our body is
perishing but we are growing closer spiritually to the Lord.
- The suffering, hardship, and
sacrifice we have now are temporary. The life to come will be much greater,
more wonderful, and forever.
CHAPTER 5
- a. Paul desired to be
clothed with the spiritual body that will never die. b. We will be clothed
with the spiritual body when Jesus returns to gather us to heaven.
- If we are not reconciled to
God through Christ we will be found without the righteous garments because
of our sins.
- (Pleasing means acceptable)
“We labor to become acceptable to Him whether present or absent”. We aim
to be pleasing or acceptable here so we that we will be accepted at the
return of Jesus.
- Knowing the terror of the
judgment of the Lord to come, Paul urged the people to be well pleasing to
the Lord here so they would be accepted at the judgment.
- We are not to regard the
outward appearance of man but what is in his heart with God.
- We are a new creation by
leaving behind our old self and sins to begin a new righteous walk that
serves the will of God. We have a new name, new tendencies, new heart and
nature. Old thoughts, principles, and practices are done away.
- In us we have the Spirit of
God working through us to reconcile others to Him.
- We are reconciled to God by
forgiveness of sins through Jesus' death.
CHAPTER 6
- If we do not become
reconciled to God through Jesus and by not complying fully with the Word
of God and all that it entails we take the grace of God in vain.
- Do not be yoked with any kind
of evil, darkness, or unrighteousness with unbelievers. We must not live
like them or partner with them in any unrighteous endeavor. We should be
the influence or witness to an unbeliever and seek to reconcile them to
God.
CHAPTER 7
- We should fear the judgment
of God. To receive the promise of God (eternal life) and His blessings, we
must pursue and perfect holiness in us (see He. 12:14).
- Paul's first letter produced
sorrow within the church and then their conviction led to their
repentance.
- a. Sorrow toward God is the
understanding that you have sinned against God and have displeased Him. b.
Godly sorrow will lead to true repentance for your sin and then to the
salvation of your soul.
- Paul boasted to Titus his
confidence in the church to correct their shortcomings and exemplify the
will of God.
- The church feared Titus would
find them lacking in the will of God.
CHAPTER 8
- The church gave while in
poverty and even beyond their ability.
- We must first dedicate our
hearts to the will of God then we will be open to what He shows us to do.
- The ministry for the saints
in Jerusalem was a test of their sincerity because they had previously
promised that they would help the saints.
- We must give in equality. The
abundance of one will supply the lack of another.
- Titus and another brother
were well trusted by the church. This deterred any negative impression or
accusation against Paul as to the proper handling and distribution of the
gift.
CHAPTER 9
- Paul's boasting would be in
vain if the church was not ready with their gift they had promised. He
wanted the church to be ready early to show their generosity and sincerity
instead of giving grudgingly.
- How much we give is
proportional to how many people we can help and reach for God.
- God is able to supply all
our needs so that we will have sufficiency in all things to do the work He
needs us to do.
CHAPTER 10
- Our weapons are spiritual
weapons; the Word of God, the Holy Spirit, and God's presence will be our
weapons against all strongholds and darkness.
- We are to cast down every
false argument and thought and bring them into obedience acceptable to
Christ.
- Paul was ready to admonish
and discipline any disobedience because the church should know and abide
in the truth. (i.e. 1 Co 5).
- Paul brought to light the
church’s shortcomings. He condemned and shamed them. Therefore, his speech
was contemptible to them.
- We should compare ourselves
to God’s standard, not by the carnal and worldly standards of the people.
CHAPTER 11
- Paul labored to present the
believers pure, committed, and focused on the one true God and ready for
Christ.
- Paul was afraid the
Corinthians might believe false doctrines, condone idolatry, and still try
to enforce the Law of Moses (as in circumcision).
- Satan’s ministers can seem
to be ministers of Christ but are really false apostles, deceitful
workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ looking to
benefit and esteem themselves.
- Paul could boast about all
the beatings, imprisonment, facing death, the shipwrecks, and being
sleepless and hungry while spreading the gospel and concerned for all the
churches.
- Once in Damascus the
governor was seeking Paul’s arrest and death but he was saved by going
through a window in a basket and let down the wall of the city.
CHAPTER 12
- Paul did not want the
people to regard him more highly than they should because of the visions
he received.
- a. Paul’s thorn in the
flesh was the worker of Satan who was always there to oppose Paul's
spreading of the Gospel. There was constant peril, opposition, reproaches,
and sufferings for Paul. b. Suffering makes one dependant on God. God
always brought Paul through all the resistance and opposition he faced.
This kept Paul humble and determined in spreading the gospel.
- Paul should have been
commended by the Corinthians as an apostle of Christ but was having to
commend himself.
- This seems to refer to the
gift that was given for the poor saints. Paul had Titus and others that he
knew they trusted to secure and distribute the gift. This eliminated the
false accusations they may have against him concerning the gift.
- The church had received the
best in signs, wonders, miracles, and teachings but they had not
contributed to the financial or material needs of Paul.
- Paul spent much time and
gave the church much knowledge of the Lord. If they would be found still
in sins this would make Paul look inadequate and cause him humiliation,
sadness, and shame before God.
CHAPTER 13
- Paul and the apostles
submitted to the will of God through Christ. They suffered for His sake.
- If they could prove on their
own that they were of Christ then it would be proof of Paul’s authority in
Christ and that Christ spoke through him because it was of Paul’s ministry
that they believed.
- If the gospel is in our heart
and we are living all that it entails we are of the faith. Ask yourself
are we weak for Christ, are we suffering or sacrificing for the sake of
the gospel, are we feeling or hearing the Spirit in our heart and mind,
and are we obeying the will of the Father or doing our own will?
- If the church were strong in
their faith then Paul would be weak by not having to enforce any
discipline or correction.