The Book of 2 Corinthians was written by Paul with the support of Timothy.
In 2 Corinthians 1:3 to 10 Paul emphasises how we as Gods people will suffer hardship, but we can receive comfort from Jesus Himself, a God of compassion. 2 Corinthians 1:3 reads - 3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.
In the later part of this chapter 2 Corinthians 1:11 to 24 and into the first part of 2 Corinthians 2:1 to 4 Paul discusses his journey plans with all honesty.
2 Corinthians 1:11 to 24
In the later part of 2 Corinthians 2:12 to 17 Paul highlights how our very presence as Gods people, living under the power of the Holy Spirit is a sweet aroma where ever we are. He says in 2 Corinthians 2:14 and 15 - 14 But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere.15 For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.
2 Corinthians 3:12 to 19 Paul reminds the Corinthian Christians how the Old Covenant creates a hidden vale hiding the truth of the New Covenant. But once we become Children of God under the New Covenant the vale is raised and we see the truth clearly. He says in 2 Corinthians 3:16 to 18 - 16 But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
In 2 Corinthians 4 Paul tells us that the mystery of the New Covenant through Satan is also hidden from the unbelievers – He says in 2 Corinthians 4:4 to 6 - 4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.
In the second part of the chapter Paul encourages the believers to not loose heart in spite of all we may go through, this life is only for a moment, because we will win the race, replaced by a life which is eternal as Paul emphasised in 2 Corinthians 4:16 and 17 - 16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
Paul continues the theme in the next chapter, highlighting our glorious future, he writes in 2 Corinthians 5:1 to 9 - For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. 2 Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, 3 because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. 4 For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5 Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
6 Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. 7 For we live by faith, not by sight. 8 We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9 So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.
In the later part of 2 Corinthians 5:1 Paul emphasises the transformation this new life in Christ brings and what should be our prime purpose while living on earth. That is to be ambassadors for Jesus Christ. He writes in 2 Corinthians 5:14 to 21 -14 For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.16 So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer.
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Paul emphasises our attitude of heart should be when facing persecution. He says in 2 Corinthians 6:3 to 10 - 3 We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path, so that our ministry will not be discredited. 4 Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; 5 in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; 6 in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; 7 in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; 8 through glory and dishonour, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; 9 known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; 10 sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.
Paul closes the chapter with a stark warning NOT to be locked into covenant arrangements or relationships with unbelievers. He says in 2 Corinthians 6:14 to 18 - 14 Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?15 What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.”
17 Therefore, “Come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.”
18 And, “I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”
In 2 Corinthians 7 – What joy it brings to the church and to all fellow Christians associated when we see by example how spiritual heathy Christians are living. When Titus visited, just to witness their generous heart and lifestyle brought Titus great encouragement. Paul in turn felt so rewarded and encouraged he was overjoyed because what he had invested in them by preaching the gospel teaching them in the faith and now seeing those living according to the teaching God had given him.
So in this chapter Paul shares his heart with the church in 2 Corinthians 7:4-7 he says - 4 I have spoken to you with great frankness; I take great pride in you. I am greatly encouraged; in all our troubles my joy knows no bounds.5 For when we came into Macedonia, we had no rest, but we were harassed at every turn—conflicts on the outside, fears within. 6 But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, 7 and not only by his coming but also by the comfort you had given him. He told us about your longing for me, your deep sorrow, your ardent concern for me, so that my joy was greater than ever.
In 2 Corinthians 8 - The great example is shown by the generosity of the Macedonian church to the church in Jerusalem in giving to the poor and needy, he encouraging them to replicate that same kindness by asking them to show their faith also by giving financially.
In 2 Corinthians 9 - Paul continues on the theme of generous giving in verse nine which he quotes from Psalm 112:9 - They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor, their righteousness endures forever; their horn will be lifted high in honour. As Paul says in verse 7 - Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. Paul quotes Jesus in - Acts 20:35 In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ” When we have the heart of God in our soul, we have his love in our heart, we have that desire to serve by giving whether it is financially or in more practical ways and God promises to bless us.
The key to what Paul is saying in 2 Corinthians 10:1- By the humility and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you—I, Paul, who am “timid” when face to face with you. Here is Paul who once was a hardened criminal now strong in the faith, showing his gentler nature. He wanted to assure the Christians there were no wrong boastings or motives in his work, and clarified that in - 2 Corinthians 10:7-10 he said - 7 You are judging by appearances. If anyone is confident that they belong to Christ, they should consider again that we belong to Christ just as much as they do. 8 So even if I boast somewhat freely about the authority the Lord gave us for building you up rather than tearing you down, I will not be ashamed of it. 9 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. He continues in - 2 Corinthians 10:13-18 - 13 We, however, will not boast beyond proper limits, but will confine our boasting to the sphere of service God himself has assigned to us, a sphere that also includes 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 sphere 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 someone else’s territory. 17 But, “Let the one 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.
Paul reassures the Christians that in facing the spiritual evils around the thoughts and behaviours of the world, in God, we have supreme power under His authority to overcome them, he says in - 2 Corinthians 10:13-18 - 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. 3 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they 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.
In 2 Corinthians 11 Paul opens by saying - “I hope you will put up with me in a little foolishness. Yes, please put up with me! Paul is not ashamed to be called a fool for Christ, he says in 1 Corinthians 1:18 - For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. Paul continues in 1 Corinthians 1:24-25 - 24 but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.
As a fool for Christ Paul in not ashamed to boast about the many trails and sufferings he endured in order to share the Gospel. In Romans 1:16 Paul says - For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.
Paul continues to say in 2 Corinthians 12:1 - I must go on boasting. In contrast to the many ways he suffered, Paul tells us about an experience that God privileged him to see, something that we could say belongs to those of God’s children who have and are faithful workers for Him, like Isaiah, Daniel and John the apostle. Paul says in 2 Corinthians 12:1-4 - Although there is nothing to be gained, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord. 2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know—God knows. 3 And I know that this man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows— 4 was caught up to paradise and heard inexpressible things, things that no one is permitted to tell. What a privilege Paul had in getting a glimpse of heaven, in spite of all the persecution and suffering he was experiencing God was encouraging Paul by showing him the place where one day he would live with the Lord forever. The apostle says in Romans 8:18 - 18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.
But Paul is quick to say that along with his boastings God has a way of keeping him humble so he did not get puffed up. Paul talks of the conflict between fleshly boasting and declaring the wonders of God, with the added disadvantage of fleshly thorns which will bring humility into the situation. He tells us in 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 - Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
In 2 Corinthians 13 - Paul explains his purpose in writing first before he visits. This will give them time to make any amends to their living so that when he comes to see them, instead of him reprimanding them he can enjoy the privilege of encouraging them. 2 Corinthians 13:10 says - 10 This is why I write these things when I am absent, that when I come I may not have to be harsh in my use of authority—the authority the Lord gave me for building you up, not for tearing you down.
So when they begin assessing themselves he advised in 2 Corinthians 13:5 - 5 Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you.
When questioning anything in 2 Corinthians 13:1- he says “Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.”
In the final verses of the book 2 Corinthians 13:11-14 Paul gives his farewell greeting. He brings encouragement finishing with a blessing often referred to as the “Grace” - 11 Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.12 Greet one another with a holy kiss. 13 All God’s people here send their greetings.
14 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
