2 Corinthians

Insights into the Life, Ministry, and Challenges of the Apostle Paul   by Samuel E. Ward   2 Corinthians   March 20 & 27, 2011     Introduction   Charles Hodge writes about the importance of 2 Corinthians in his commentary on this letter.   Paul's relation to the church in Corinth was in some respects peculiar. He was not only the founder of the congregation, but he continued in the closest relation to it. It excited his solicitude, called for the wisest management, tried his patience and forbearance, rewarded him at times by signal evidence of affection and obedience, and filled him with hopes of its extended and healthful influence. His love for that church was therefore of special intensity. It was analogous to that of a father for a promising son beset with temptations, whose character combined great excellencies with great defects. The epistles to the Corinthians, therefore, reveal to us more of the personal character of the apostle than any of his other letters. They show him to us as a man, as a pastor, as a counselor, as in conflict not only with heretics, but with personal enemies. They reveal his wisdom, his zeal, his forbearance, his liberality of principle and practice in all matters of indifference, his strictness in all matters of right and wrong, his humility, and perhaps above all, his unwearied activity and wonderful endurance.   Commentary on the Second Epistle to the Corinthians, Charles Hodge,  Electronic Edition STEP Files Copyright © 2003, QuickVerse.   Review   This study of 2 Corinthians began with . . .   I.  Paul's Defense of His Conduct and Ministry, 2 Cor 1-7   Its main sections contained the following:   A.  Paul's Introduction, 2 Cor 1:1 B.  The Best Laid Plans Are Subject to Change, 2 Cor 1:12-2:13. C.  The Best Response to the Issue at Hand, 2 Cor 2:5-11 D.  The Bothersome Circumstances that Lead Paul to Macedonia, 2 Cor 2:12-13 E.  The Basic Explanation of Paul's Apostolic Ministry, 2 Cor 2:14-6:10. F.  The Basic Expectations of Paul has for the Corinthians, 2 Cor 6:11-18.   Having defended his conduct and ministry, Paul shifted his focus to consider . . .   II.  The Gift, 2 Cor 8-9   The gift Paul was seeking from the Corinthians was for the purpose of relieving the suffering of saints in Jerusalem.  The Corinthians were the first to pledge their support a year before the writing of this letter.  Now that the time to collect had come, Paul wanted to be sure that they would be true to their promise. Chapters 8 and 9 are important relative to what they teach concerning what characteristics of giving please God and the blessings that come to cheerful and generous givers.   A.  Note the characteristics of giving that pleases God:   1.  Make it a joyous exercise. 2.  Let it spring from an eager desire to share with others in need. 3.  Desire that God receive the glory and thanksgiving. 4.  Willingly accept less so that others can have more.   B.  Note the blessings that come from God to cheerful and generous givers:   1.  God gives us more so we can give more. 2.  God gives us the right to give according to our blessedness rather than an established percentage.  Giving is not to be an imposed tax but a free-will offering. 3.  We will be granted fruitfulness in our other spiritual endeavors and are promised God's provision and favor. 4.  We will acquire a testimony for the obedience and sincerity of our faith as a result of our generosity to others. 5.  We will receive the benefit of the prayers of others for our willingness to be the channel of God's blessing.   Our study transitions in chapter ten to the final section of 2 Corinthians where . . .   III.  Paul Asserts His Apostolic Authority, 2 Cor 10-13   A.  Paul Asserts His Authority to Chastise and Punish, 2 Cor 10:1-6   1.  It was a duty in which he found no pleasure, 2 Cor 10:1-2.   (2 Cor 10:1-2 NIV)  By the meekness and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you--I, Paul, who am "timid" when face to face with you, but "bold" when away! {2} I beg you that when I come I may not have to be as bold as I expect to be toward some people who think that we live by the standards of this world.   2.  It was a duty that required the use of spiritual (not worldly) weapons, 2 Cor 10:3-4a.   (2 Cor 10:3-4 NIV)  For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. {4a} The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world.   Note the armor of God as described in Eph 6:11-18.   (Eph 6:11-18 NIV)  Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. {12} For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. {13} Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.  {14} Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, {15} and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. {16} In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. {17} Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. {18} And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.   How do we wage war against the dark spiritual forces led by the devil?   a.  We speak the truth. b.  We preach the gospel. c.  We exercise faith. d.  We hope in our salvation. e.  We speak God's Word appropriate to the battle situation and enemy. f.  We keep our Commander informed of our and our comrades' needs in the battle.   3.  It was a duty that included certain objectives, 2 Cor 10:4b-6.   (2 Cor 10:4b-6 NIV)  On the contrary, [the weapons we fight with] have divine power to demolish strongholds. {5} We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. {6} And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete.   Note in particular these objectives:   a.  To demolish strongholds (widely accepted and defended false views) b.  To demolish arguments (flawed reasoning). c.  To demolish every pretension against the knowledge of God (thoughts and beliefs that are specifically designed to discredit belief in God). d.  To take captive every thought and make them obedient to Christ (to confront every thought that seeks to undermine God's program and make it conform to Christ's plan).  e.  To punish every act of disobedience once the church has committed itself to being obedient.   4.  The costs to the church for not protecting the truth:   a.  It promotes controversies in the church instead of God's work.   (1 Tim 1:3-4 NIV)  As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer {4} nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. These promote controversies rather than God's work--which is by faith.   b.  It promotes envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions, and constant friction.   (1 Tim 6:3-5 NIV)  If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, {4} he is conceited and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions {5} and constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.   c.  It promotes destructive heresies that lead to denying the Lord and bringing disrepute to the way of truth.   (2 Pet 2:1-2 NIV)  But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them--bringing swift destruction on themselves. {2} Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute.   B.  Paul Answers Critics of His Authority, 2 Cor 10:7-11   1.  The Corinthians have accepted the authority of others based only on surface appearance, 2 Cor 10:7a.   (2 Cor 10:7a NIV)  You are looking only on the surface of things.   God warned Samuel not to make outward appearances key in making vital spiritual decisions.   (1 Sam 16:7 NIV)  But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."   Appearances are so deceiving.  That is why the unscrupulous concentrate on "appearances" rather than substance.   a.  Some, not all,  will "dress for success" because who is in the suit may not be as competent as the suit makes them appear. b.  Some, not all, will add coats of paint and do minor surface changes to houses bought cheaply to hide more serious defects so they can be "flipped" for a greater profit. c.    Some, not all, will "doctor" their financial reports to make their companies seem to a be a great investment opportunity even when they might be on the brink of bankruptcy. d.  Some, not all, will promote a Jesus who will make them prosperous, keep them from disease, redefine sin to allow their perversity, and remove the promised accountability for sin on a coming day of judgment where those who have rejected the real Christ will be eternally lost in hell.  e.  Some, not all, put on a good "face" of spiritually but with unholy motives.   Paul mentions some examples throughout this letter.   1)  Some peddle the word of God for profit, 2 Cor 2:17. 2)  Some deceive and distort the gospel, 2 Cor 4:1. 3)  Some "puff up" their resume's and take improper credit for  the work of others, 2 Cor 10:12-13. 4)  Some claim more authority than they actually have and easily fool others by their righteousness which they wear only as a mask of their true evil intentions, 2 Cor 11:13-15.   2.  The Corinthians should acknowledge that Paul's authority is certainly as valid as others' they were accepting, 2 Cor 7b-8.   (2 Cor 10:7b-8 NIV)  If anyone is confident that he belongs to Christ, he should consider again that we belong to Christ just as much as he. {8} For even if I boast somewhat freely about the authority the Lord gave us for building you up rather than pulling you down, I will not be ashamed of it.   a.  No one can show more evidence of belonging to Christ than he. b.  No one will be able to make him ashamed of claiming his proven authority.   (Rom 15:17-19 NIV)  Therefore I glory in Christ Jesus in my service to God. {18} I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obey God by what I have said and done-- {19} by the power of signs and miracles, through the power of the Spirit. So from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ.   (2 Cor 12:11-12 NIV)  I have made a fool of myself, but you drove me to it. I ought to have been commended by you, for I am not in the least inferior to the "super-apostles," even though I am nothing. {12} The things that mark an apostle--signs, wonders and miracles--were done among you with great perseverance.   The question becomes, can any of those challenging Paul's authority as an apostle show the marks of an apostle as he has among them?   3.  The Corinthians would do well not to misinterpret the forceful nature of his letters contrasted with the gentleness of his personal presence as being indecisive, 2 Cor 10:9-10.   (2 Cor 10:9-10 NIV)  I do not want to seem to be trying to frighten you with my letters. {10} For some say, "His letters are weighty and forceful, but in person he is unimpressive and his speaking amounts to nothing."   4.  The Corinthians should be ready to be confronted with any disobedience when Paul visits, 2 Cor 10:11.     (2 Cor 10:11 NIV)  Such people should realize that what we are in our letters when we are absent, we will be in our actions when we are present.   C.  Paul Claims Only the Fruit of His Own Labors, 2 Cor 10:12-18.   1.  Some measure themselves by criteria they have set for themselves, 2 Cor 10:12a.   (2 Cor 10:12a NIV)  We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves.   2.  Some exaggerate their resumes and take credit for others' labors. 2 Cor 10:12b.   (2 Cor 10:12b NIV)  When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise.   3.  But Paul's boasting is known to be true because the Corinthians were witnesses of his work.  As someone has said, "It ain't braggin' if it's true."  (2 Cor 10:13-16)   (2 Cor 10:13-16 NIV)  We, however, will not boast beyond proper limits, but will confine our boasting to the field God has assigned to us, a field that reaches even to you. {14} We are not going too far in our boasting, as would be the case if we had not come to you, for we did get as far as you with the gospel of Christ.  {15} Neither do we go beyond our limits by boasting of work done by others. Our hope is that, as your faith continues to grow, our area of activity among you will greatly expand, {16} so that we can preach the gospel in the regions beyond you. For we do not want to boast about work already done in another man's territory.   4.  Paul will take his commendations from the Lord rather than men, 2 Cor 10:17-18.   (2 Cor 10:17-18 NIV)  But, "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord." {18} For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.   Applications   1.  The battle the church wages is not so much against humans that if defeated the war would be won, but rather, against spiritual forces that require spiritual weapons to defeat what is not truth and godly.  We fight to win men and women to Christ.  We also fight to defeat Satan and expose his lies. 2.  The church must be on guard against destructive teachings and concerns that are designed to divide and destroy the church from within.  There is a false spirituality that can reside in the hearts of some inside the church that is every bit as destructive as the undisguised hostility outside the church. 3.  The ones who do the work have a legitimate right to direct the work to be done.  How easy it is to tell others what needs to be done but be unwilling to invest one's self in the effort.