2 Corinthians

Letters of Paul

Part 4

IV. 2 Corinthians

A. The Corinthian Correspondence

1. Paul to Corinth A – 1 Corinthians 5:9

2. Corinth to Paul A – 1 Corinthians 7:1

3. Paul to Corinth B – 1 Corinthians

4. Paul to Corinth C* – 2 Corinthians 2:4, 7:8

5. Paul to Corinth D – 2 Corinthians 1-9

6. Paul to Corinth E** – 2 Corinthians 10-13

* or C=B

** or D+E were one letter interrupted by fresh news

B. The Building Blocks of 2 Corinthians

1. Introduction and travel news (1:1-2:13)

2. Major digression: Paul's apostolic ministry (2:14-7:4)

3. Minor digression: unequal yokes (6:14-7:1)

4. Travel news (7:5-16)

5. The collection for Jerusalem (8:1-9:15)

6. Warnings and defense against Judaizers (10:1-13:14)

C. 2 Corinthians Outline

1. Paul's apostolic ministry (tender tones) (Chapters 1-7); A

2. The offering for Jerusalem (Chapters 8-9); B

3. Paul's apostolic ministry (tough tones) (Chapters 10-13); A'

D. Paul's Ministry with the Corinthian Church (2 Corinthians 1-7)

1. Confidence:

a. In his motives (1:12-22)

b. In the Corinthians (7:13b-16)

2. Sorrow:

a. For those punished (1:23-2:11)

b. Among the Corinthians (7:8-13a)

3. Travel:

a. Upcoming travel plans (2:12-13)

b. Travel plans (resumed) (7:5-7)

4. Spiritual contrasts:

a. The Spirit vs. the Letter (2:14-4:6) [New Covenant vs. Old Covenant]

b. Christ vs. Belial (6:11-7:4) [Belief vs. Unbelief]

5. Afflictions:

a. Present afflictions vs. coming glory (4:7-5:10)

b. Present afflictions vs. present glory (6:1-10)

6. Core of ministry – reconciliation (5:11-21)

E. Exegetical Highlights of 2 Corinthians 1-7

1. 1:12ff – Changed travel plans lead Paul to reaffirm his own motives

2. 2:5ff – Not sure same offender, but probable. Disfellowshipping always rehabilitative in design

3. 2:14-4:6 – The series of contrasts between old and new triggered by two ways of viewing Paul's journeying

4. Chain-Link discussion in 2 Corinthians 2:14-4:6

a. Letters of recommendation

b. Letter of Law

c. Spirit

d. Glory

e. Veil

5. 4:7ff – Key text on suffering, especially given 4:7, 16-18

6. 5:1-10 – Intermediate state

7. 5:11ff – Reconciliation: key text on substitutionary atonement in v. 21 from which removal of estrangement follows

8. 6:1ff – Exhortational material begins here in traditional letter outline

9. 6:14-7:1 – Can't prove about marriage (but see 1 Corinthians 7:39) but clearly about idolatry, and possibly Torah

F. The Principles of Giving in 2 Corinthians 8-9

1. Sacrificial (8:1-4)

2. Holistic (8:5-7)

3. Promise-Keeping (8:8-11)

4. Proportional/Graduated (8:12-15)

5. Protected/Accountable (8:16-9:5)

6. Rewarded: materially and/or spiritually (9:6-15)

G. From Triumphalism to Maturity: Key Points in 2 Corinthians 10-13

1. The context of 10:4 – winning spiritual warfare by right thinking

2. The regions beyond principle in 10:13-14

3. The "super-apostles" as Judaizers and false representatives of the Twelve (11:5, 13)

4. Paul can match their boasts but they can't match his suffering (11:16-33)

5. 12:1-6 balanced by vv. 7-10, with v. 9 as key "red-letter verse"

6. Parental relationship again in 12:14-15

7. Failing test implies not a Christian in 13:5

H. Heaven

1. Third heaven

2. Second heaven

3. First heaven

I. How to React to Suffering According to 2 Corinthians

1. Use the comfort we receive from God in order to comfort others (1:3-7)

2. Realize we can be a more powerful witness for Christ if we let Him (4:10-15; 12:7-10)

3. Remember our coming glory is more than adequate compensation (4:16-5:5) [and recall Belleville]