THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS Chapter 1 "Thanksgiving, Character and Purpose of Paul's Visit." This Bible Study is written by Roger
Christopherson, and made available with written
permission by http://www.theseason.org As we saw from Paul's first Epistle or letter to the Corinthians, the church was split into four divisions, and when the first letter was received, that letter had an effect on only the obedient members of the church. This is what caused Paul's writing of a second letter. In the second letter Paul gave comfort to the obedient members, while at the same time warned the disobedient element of the church. It is plain to see from Paul's writings that certain members of the church altogether denied Paul's authority, so Paul once more, powerfully vindicates his apostleship, especially in connection with false teacher whom he earnestly warned the Corinthians about. Paul's specific claim of authority as being from his Lord and Master alone takes up much of this second letter to the Corinthians. While Paul has much anxiety for all the churches, this second letter also gives doctrinal portions showing us the Divine love of Jesus Christ. Not only was this church at Corinth weighted down with trouble within, as was outlined in the first letter, but the Christians in the Corinth church had many trials from without, just as the Lord Jesus had told all of us that that we would have. In consolation to these troubles, Paul held out before them in 4:14 the same hope of the resurrection that he proclaimed in his first letter." Timothy had been send to Corinth and had no doubt returned bearing the bad news of the condition and events surrounding the Corinthian church. Titus delivered the first letter, and while there had been some delay in Titus' return, Paul traveled from Troas to Macedonia, where, later Titus brought for Corinth such reports as only partially assured the apostle, and let Paul to send this Second letter, also in the hand of Titus. This second letter was written from Macedonia very shortly after Paul's leaving Asia and it would not be many months after he had sent his first Epistle or letter. This second letter would have been in the winter of 57 A.D., or in the spring of 58 A.D. We see that Paul also writes doctrinal material that will deal with many parts of our personal lives, and the probable reason for this was the tolerance that the Corinthians had for the incestuous affair that was going on right within their church, under their noses. The Corinthians were splitting into different divisions, and claiming different men as their leaders rather than Christ, and was also the reason for Paul to give doctrinal direction to them. It was much the same as the denominationalism that we have today. The Corinthian divisional groups were taking what they were pleased with in the Word, and leaving or disregarding the rest of the Word. Because of this Paul spoke very blunt to them in a very stern manner. However, this book to the Corinthians was also written with Paul's deep love for this church. In this letter we will see that Paul was under much spiritual pressure, which is good at times. If you have a Companion bible it is important that you check out the outline given at the beginning of each chapter, to orient yourself with the order of events that will take place in this book of II Corinthians. II Corinthians 1:1 "Paul, and apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia:" It was only by God's will that Paul became an apostle. At the time that God struck Paul down on the road to Damascus, Paul's will was to imprison and beat Christians, but when God got a hold of Paul, Paul's will changed. God struck him blind and he had to be led into Damascus where God gave Ananias a vision of Paul and the Father told Ananias to go to him. Ananias knew how Paul had brought much trouble on the early church, and when Ananias objected to the Lord's direction, this is what God said to Ananias. Acts 9:15 "But the Lord said unto him, "Go thy way: for He is a chosen vessel unto Me, to bear My name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:" The Gentiles that Paul bore witness to were through the many churches that Paul established, and we know the instructions that Paul gave them through the letters that he wrote to them. These Gentile churches were the Churches of Corinth, Galatia, Philippi, Ephesus and so on, and those instructions are followed even to today. Paul, through his trials was called before several kings, and he was also called before Caesar himself. Then as Paul went through Europe, and on to Britain in the end, Paul witnessed to the offspring of the so called lost sheep of the "house of Israel", those that were removed from Palestine over a century before Nebuchadnezzar took the house of Judah into captivity. Acts 9:16 "For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for My name's sake." Paul did suffer many things for the sake of his bring the Word of God to the Gentiles. At one point Paul was beaten to the point of death, for his preaching against what the spiritual leaders of those communities wanted to hear. However, through all the hardship, Paul kept right on preaching, establishing churches, and leading the church. It is through his letters back to the churches that we have the knowledge of God's instruction to us today. Paul was a chosen vessel, and it was by the will of God that Paul was brought into the service of God's work. Timothy also was sent to minister at the church at Corinth, and to the saints that were in "Achaia", which is to say, "in trouble". Paul knew that some of the group has fallen back into line, but there would be many that we will see in this second book that still go against Paul's instruction. We will see this in detail in the eleventh chapter, where Paul will point out the danger of listening to those that would come to them disguised as angels of light, when if act the were of Satan. It is important that we listen to the Word of God, rather then the story-telling of the any man. This is why we should check out the Word of God for the truth before we accept any teaching. II Corinthians 1:2 "Grace be unto you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ." We have the "grace" or "unmerited favor" from both the Father and the Son of God. II Corinthians 1:3 "Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;" Blessed be God for He is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. This represents all three offices of the Godhead, The Father, the Son Jesus and the Comforter the Holy Spirit of God. It shows the blessedness that He can bring to you today when you love Him and allow Him to enter into you. When "achaia" or "trouble" does come, our Heavenly Father is there to handle our trouble for us, and at the same time His Comforter, the Holy Spirit will give comfort to our souls. A little trouble and testing can be a good exercise for strengthening our trust in Him and seeing just how much our Father loves us when we are obedient to Him. II Corinthians 1:4 "Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God." When the trouble comes, do you ask the Father for His help and then put your trust in Him to handle the affair? We are to ask God for help and confide in Him, and He will do the rest. God will not force Himself on anyone, but when we ask for protection He is there to give it. God will give you comfort in ALL YOUR TRIBULATION, which are your hard times. Many times we bring it all on ourselves and get ourselves into places where we know that we should not be. However He is there to hear our crying out in repentance in Jesus name, and He will be there to see us though those times. When you call out to the Lord in your trouble, he will come to you in love and defend you, and stand in the way of those things that would harm you, and defend you against those things and people that would plot to do you harm. Remember that God can read the minds of those that seek to do you harm, and He knows what they are planning before they do themselves. Just as God helps us, we are to return that help to those of Christ that are also in trouble, just like we were. You are the one that God will use in comforting another person that is going through what you went through. God works through people, His Word is passed to others through the mouths of His own people. Are you one of these Christians that just worries about yourself, or when another Christian hurts do you feel the pain also? God expects that us take the wisdom and knowledge that we receive from Him, and pass that knowledge into the minds of those around us that need it. We are suppose to be of some comfort to those around us, and all of us receive our comfort from God. You don't have to look for someone in trouble, but when you are living for Him, those in trouble will seek you out to help them in their time of need. When they then come to you, cause them to lean not of you, but on God, when they have done all that they have done in themselves. II Corinthians 1:5 "For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ." If you make a stand for Christ and let those around you know the faith that you have in Christ, the world will look upon you just as they did towards our Lord, when he walked on the earth. The more that we suffer because we carry Christ Name, the more that we will be comforted by His Spirit. When the tribulation really gets heavy and the more that you suffer because of it, the more that He will comfort you. There will never be a time when the tribulation gets so bad that it is to much for His Spirit. Our God is sufficient to handle anything that comes your way, and give you comfort to see your way through it. You just can't lose, my Friend. Doubt is the one thing that can rob you of that comfort that only God can give. If you doubt the promises that God has given to you, than the promises written in the Word were not to you. II Corinthians 1:6 "And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation." God is saying that when the Word of God is brought to us or made known to us, and we are afflicted by that Word; then it is for our best interest. Paul is repeating what he has just said. The suffering of the tribulation that you go through is to reinforce your salvation and comfort your soul. With each in-depth experience that you go through, and each experience of the comfort that God brings through that experience, the stronger you grow in your trust of Him. Each experience that you go through makes you all the more ready to pass it on to someone else. As you grow stronger, it makes you a better witness to a Christian brother or sister that is weak. Has God shared something with you, and you just couldn't wait to pass it on to another Christian? Let your countenance glow to where others may see the surety that is in your mind. Can other see by you, that they can count on God to do what He says He will do for them? Our heavenly Father comforts His children through His Son, and through His Spirit the Comforter. Through Him we find peace of mind and with it salvation. II Corinthians 1:7 "And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation." God is saying that we can be assured that just as you rely on Him, the sufferings will come, and with the sufferings will also come the comforting. If you suffer, He will sent the Comforter the Holy Spirit to give you peace of mind and rest in Him. The mind of many so called Christians today is that they just love Jesus. They never rock any boats, or take any stands, but they just stand by and love everybody. When someone tells you that without an explanation, be very suspicious of that person. Sure we are to love every one but we are not suppose to love the evil things that they do. When we see a so-called Christians playing church and doing things that go against God Word, we can let them know about it, and in doing so we are showing our love for them. In the matter of Sodomites or homosexuals, God loves the soul of that individual, but he hates the acts of what they do. He loves them to the point that He sent His Son to be sacrificed on the cross to pay the price for their filthy sins, but that sacrifice will not apply to that filthy pervert until that soul has a repentive heart. Until he or she asks for repentance from the Father in Jesus name, there is no forgiveness and the prices of the blood of Christ will not be theirs. God will not force Himself on anyone, and if they love their perversion of filthy acts, God will allow them to continue right on in sin all the way to the pit of hell fire. God will allow themselves to destroy their own selves. These perverts are going around seeking a way to prevent the disease and death that is surrounding themselves, and the answer is right here in God's Word. Don't pervert yourselves and you have nothing to worry about. Friend, "God's love" is to love them enough that we can tell them the truth. To love someone is to care enough about them that you want to bring them into the knowledge of God's Holy Word, and the comfort that only God can give.. II Corinthians 1:8 "For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life:" Paul is telling these Corinthians that if you think that you have trouble, it simple doesn't compare with the trouble that we received when we were in Asia. When we were trying to establish the churches there we faced death daily. We had reached the point that there was no obvious way that we would even survive. However God showed them the way through those troubles. When Paul was going to speak to a large crowd in Epheses that had gathered in an arena to hear him, these makers of the idols, the goldsmiths, and marketers of the idols worked the crowd to the point of wanting to kill Paul and his followers. God provided the way and the mob was quieted and saved Paul's life. This is recorded in Acts 19:28-41. Have you been threatened to the point of death when you tried to tell someone of the Word of God? If you have, then God saw you through or you would not be reading this book now. Have you ever stopped to look back and analyze to see how God has led you through those times of trouble? II Corinthians 1:9 "But we had the sentence of death in our selves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God Which raiseth the dead:" Paul is saying here something we should always remember. As far as we were concerned, we were already spiritually dead and we were forced to put it into the hands of God. Then God brought us through and gave us His protection and comfort. God has power over death and He is building an army for Himself in heaven that is going to come back to earth at Jesus Christ's return at the seventh trumpet. They will join the army that He has here on earth, and we simply cannot lose when we accept Him and receive that love and understanding that He has for us. II Corinthians 1:10 "Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in Whom we trust that He will yet deliver us;" When Jesus Christ went to the cross, the price for your death was paid. When he came out of that tomb He was given the power to deliver you over and over, each time you fall into trouble and call upon His help. Jesus will never let you down. Each day of your life He is there to pick you up as the troubles of the day seem so difficult that there seem no way out. Then we can ask Him for the help and He will deliver. II Corinthians 1:11 "Ye also helping together by prayer for us, that for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of many persons, thanks may be given by many on our behalf." God loves His children to talk to Him. Paul knew that much of the protection that he had was because of the intercessory prayers on Paul's behalf and for those traveling with him. When you talk to God it shows Him that you love Him, and that is what prayer is, our talking to the Father. Our Father has feelings just like each of have, for each of us are made in His image, even though He is supernatural. When you try to please Him, He in turn tries to please you, for you are His child. When many of His children come together and petition Him on behalf of another in trouble, it draws His attention and the matter is tended to. II Corinthians 1:12 "For or rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward." Don't make your prayers difficult when you are talking to Him. He can read your mind and He knows the very intent of your mind before you can ask it of Him. However, it is important that your prayers are given as He has requested, "in Jesus Name" for then you are acknowledging that you believe that Jesus did pay the price for your sins, and that He came out of the tomb defeating death. By saying "in Jesus Name", you are giving the credentials that Father requires before you, and you are then able to approach the throne of God, and be heard by Him. You don't approach the throne of God with the cunning ways of this World, with the flowery words and religious motions that the world gives in their prayers. But you come under the grace of God, which is through the blood of Christ. It is by that grace that you are saved and that allows you to come before Him and ask for anything. Romans 3:24 "Being justified freely by His Grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:" We all fall short, but our sins are "justified" when we repent and place them on the cross of Christ. Then on a daily basis we must also ask for forgiveness for those things that we commit on that day which are against God's Word. "Being Justified" means "to be "made just, or innocent". Even though your were guilty, the Judge who is our Heavenly Father has declared you to be innocent, and that all charges be dropped, and removed from your record there in heaven. That is what Father has done when you placed your sins on the cross of Christ through repentance. This is also the reason for our praying in "Jesus name." When you pray "in Jesus name" it show that you recognize that Jesus is the Son of God, and that you accept that blood sacrifice to be sufficient for your sins. "Jesus name" is our only credentials that God the Father will accept before His throne, and Jesus then become our advocate before the throne of God. "Redemption" is a "ransom that is paid in full". When the ransom was paid to redeem your soul, there is no other price to pay. It is complete and nothing can be added to the shed blood of Jesus in the claiming of your soul. However, even though Jesus paid the price, if by choice you select not to be ransomed, your "free will" will allow you to stay a prisoner of Satan. Then just like a prisoner of war, when you are ransomed by the government, the one paying the ransom has the right to take you home with him. As we saw after several of the police actions like Viet Nam, some of the prisoners of war chose to stay with the enemy and not be brought home, and that is also your right. If you desire to stay in Satan's prison, God will allow you that freedom of choice. Romans 3:25 "Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood, to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearances of God;" "Propitiation" means "a new way". Notice that our new way is "through faith", or the receiving of Jesus Christ's blood that was given for the ransom of your sinful soul. Notice also that your repentance is for your "sins that are past". This forgiveness does not cover sins that you have not committed yet, but may commit in the future. When your flesh nature you commits sins on a daily basis, then those sins must be also repented daily. Many teach that you don't have to worry about sins that you will commit in the future, that they are already forgiven, only that is not what Paul is teaching. The word for repenting of sins that are to be committed in the future is "premeditated", and that finds you guilty of them right from the start. The "forbearance of God" is the patience and longsuffering that God has for each soul as He waits for each of us to repent, and come to Him. II Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." Romans 3:26 "To declare, I say, at this time His righteousness: that He might be just, and the justifier of Him which believeth in Jesus Christ." Your justification comes only when you place all of your sins at the foot of the cross. Then and only then will your name be cleared of all sins, from the only books that count. Revelation 20:12 "And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works." God is keeping two sets of books in heaven, one set of books records everything that you do in this life, and in the millennium age, and it is from this set that you will condemn yourself to hell fire. The other book is the book of life and it is shorter, for the only thing that is in that book is your name. It is from this book that we receive eternal life, for each of those souls have had their sins washed away in the blood of Christ. Their sins are blotted out, and each souls in the Lamb's book of life stands before God guiltless, for their sins were removed even from the mind of God. It is as they were not committed. II Corinthians 1:13 "For we write none other things unto you, than what ye read or acknowledge; and I trust ye shall acknowledge even to the end;" Paul is saying that he taught the Word of God to them in such a simple way that they didn't have to read between the lines for the truth. We left nothing out the first time we preached to you, and in all your troubles God will comfort you if you love Him. Then everything is going to be fine. When you have done all you can do, then turn it over to Him, for God takes care of His own. II Corinthians 1:14 "As also ye have acknowledged us in part, that we are your rejoicing, even as ye also are ours in the day of the Lord Jesus." Paul is saying that even though I tried to teach you, you still fell back into much of the old ways. II Corinthians 1:15 "And in this confidence I was minded to come unto you before, that ye might have a second benefit;" When Paul saw this happening to them, the sin and corruption and divisions that were taking hold of them, his thoughts were of coming back to them and setting things right again. II Corinthians 1:16 "And to pass by you into Macedonia, and to come again out of Macedonia unto you, and of you to be brought on my way toward Judaea." In other words, Paul was thinking of passing through Corinth on his way of going to Macedonia and returning from Jerusalem. II Corinthians 1:17 "When I therefore was thus minded, did I use lightness? or the things that I purpose, do I purpose according to the flesh, that with me there should be yea yea, and nay nay?" Paul is asking them, am I fickle in the things that I say to you? Have I presented the gospel of Christ in such a manner that it sounded like it didn't matter what you said or did when you were in Christ? This is exactly what happens when you rely on what the great scholars of the world have to say, instead of relying of the absolutes of the Word of God. In our present generation the minister's use the same method of teaching as the lawyers do. They make the Word of God a "law by precedence", which relies on the judgment of prior men, rather then to absolute ruling of the Word of God. There is no room for confusion in the Word, or for any man to put his own meaning to it, but God's Word has only one meaning when it is applied, and it is an absolute yes or an absolute no. Man [the scholar] passes his own credentials attached with his decisions on to others, and the weight of that decisions then hinges on that scholar's credentials. Though this may be the simple way to the world, God does not teach that way. Yes or no, "yea yea or nay nay" but it must be God's way all the time. Paul is saying, I was not fickle in what I told you, it was from God's Word all the time. Not "on this hand", or "on the other hand", but with the authority of God. II Corinthians 1:18 "But as God is true, our word toward you was not yea and nay." Paul is reminding them that his preaching was never like that. II Corinthians 1:19 "For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, Who was preached among you by us, even by me and Silvanus and Timotheus, was not yea and nay, but in Him was yea." In all the preaching by Paul and the others that Paul had sent to them, each of them were not confusing in their preaching to them, but what was said was a Divine Yes. Friend, you are wasting your time with the preachers that give their priority to the so-called great scholars. It is okay if you use the words of a great scholar, if you knew for a fact that he was a scholar and not one with the legalistic mind. If his decisions were from the divine order from the Word of God, and not from the credential passed down through the word of man's mouth, as to what this brother had to say. It is from here-say that you stray off into the traditions of men, rather than keeping to the Word of God. II Corinthians 1:20 "For all the promises of God in Him are yea, and in Him Amen, unto the glory of God by us." All the promises of the Word of God are all positive and absolute and not man's opinion. The word "Amen" has a meaning, and in the translation from the Hebrew it means "Verily" or "Truly". If you are going to say the Word know what you are agreeing to. Amen does not mean that it is over and it's time to go, but it means that you agree exactly what was just spoken from the Word of God. When someone asks for an "Amen on what has just been said", he is asking for a second witness for the truth that has just been spoken from God's Word. To say Amen is not the backing of a precedence set by some man's feelings, but it is a second to the fact that was set forth by the Word of God. And it means that; "This is the truth". So Paul is telling us that all of his teaching is of the Amen, the Truth, for it is all positive because it is your way to salvation. II Corinthians 1:21 "Now He Which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God;" Paul is saying that it was God that choose us to preach. God anointed them as he anoints you and I with the Holy Spirit. It is through the Holy Spirit that we have the direction and the comfort and peace of mind that we do have. II Corinthians 1:22 "Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts." There are two words here that we must know, especially in our generation. The first is "sealed" and the second is "earnest". To be "sealed" is what you put in your mind or heart, what you rely upon to be truth that you can rely upon. "Earnest" is the guarantee that requires you to put something down to show your faith in completing the contract. This contract that God makes with us works two ways. The Spirit of God does the sealing within your mind, as you study His Word to know the promises and events of His Word. And the other side of the contract is what you put down to show your good faith in accepting the promises that He has given to us. It's a two way street, and we act according to that contract which is His Word now, and it gets far better as we go into the eternity. Then we will receive the full inheritance and rewards for following His Word. II Corinthians 1:23 "Moreover I call God for a record upon my soul, that to spare you I came not as yet unto Corinth." Paul is calling on God for a witness to himself and the Words he is saying. This is quite a strong rebuke of the Christians at Corinth. II Corinthians 1:24 "Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand." Paul is telling them that his faith and those that travel with him are already strong. Are you a believer in Jesus Christ so much that you would stake your very life on that faith? We are talking about truth and not the fairy tales that are promoted today in many churches. Do you deal in the simplicity of God's Word, or are you a drifter for one worldly doctrine to another and never quite knowing what you believe? Or can you stand up for the Word of God and be a faithful witness for Him? When you become a follower of the true King, it doesn't make you any better than the next person, but it makes you a servant of the God. When you become a true servant of God, it means that you are able to serve in the capacity as a servant, that you can be trusted and know how to do your job well. Just how well have you prepared yourselves for that service? Can God count on you, or do you even know where you stand? When you call out to God and ask him for help to understand His Word, and live your life for Him it will be alright, because that is the earnest that you put down to fulfill your contract with Him. Your earnest is your faith in Christ to know that He will do exactly what He promised, and you can count on Him.
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