2 Corinthians 1:1 - 2:4

Teacher: Rusty Kennedy
​Series: 2 Corinthians (Acts)

Rusty's Notes

2 Corinthians was written by Paul about twenty years after he came to Christ on the Damascus Road.

• 57 AD ( show chart)
• While in Macedonia (show map)
• Paul was a tentmaker.
• As he did manual labor, that would have carried a social stigma with people who were rich and powerful in the Corinthian culture, and that’s going to have an effect on 2 Corinthians.
• Now, when you think about Corinth at this time, think economic powerhouse.
• It was a mix of Roman political power and values.
• The Corinthians saw themselves as profoundly connected to the city of Rome itself.
• But it also embodied Greek cultural values, which is going to be very important as we think about the leadership values of Corinth.[1]
• Things that were important for Corinth leadership:

1) Power – politics and influence on people
2) Ability to speak; skill in rhetoric
3) Education
4) Wealth
 
GREETING
2 Corinthians 1:1-24
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by God’s will, and Timothy our brother:

• God’s will is the “trump card”
• Timothy was going to deliver the letter to the Church in Corinth.

To the church of God at Corinth, with all the saints who are throughout Achaia.

• Small house churches w/ different leadership, opinions and interpretations.
• Majority were following Paul every step.
• Minority that had different but similar agendas.

2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

• Grace is always first because it leads to peace.
• Grace and peace always come from God/Jesus.
• To call Jesus “Lord” really brought Him into conflict with Caesar, who was seen as the lord of the whole world.[2]​

 
THE GOD OF COMFORT (ENCOURAGEMENT)

• Paul’s prologue – Formal with some theological processing.

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort (encouragement). 4 He comforts (encourages) us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort (encourage) those who are in any kind of affliction, through the comfort (encouragement) we ourselves receive from God. 5 For just as the sufferings of Christ overflow to us, so also through Christ our comfort (encouragement) overflows. 6 If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort (encouragement) and salvation. If we are comforted (encouraged), it is for your comfort (encouragement), which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings that we suffer. 7 And our hope for you is firm, because we know that as you share in the sufferings, so you will also share in the comfort (encouragement).

• The Greek term here is paraklēsis.
• What is the difference between encouragement and comfort?
• As we look at the use of the book here as Paul is trying to write to them about this idea of comfort or encouragement, really, “encouragement” fits a bit better.[3]
• 9 times – read again with “encouragement”
• Suffering is difficult… but you get to the point where we can sympathize and comfort or encourage others who have suffered in similar circumstances.
• I grew up in a single parent home.
• I’ve experienced suicide in my family.
• My mother had dementia.
• It is not used as a comparison or competition, but one of experience and understanding.
• We comfort through our sympathy.
• It’s hard to sympathize with someone when you have been through what they have been through.

 
8 We don’t want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, of our affliction that took place in Asia. We were completely overwhelmed—beyond our strength—so that we even despaired of life itself. 9 Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death, so that we would not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead. 10 He has delivered us from such a terrible death, and he will deliver us. We have put our hope in him that he will deliver us again 11 while you join in helping us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gift that came to us through the prayers of many.

• Remember that one of the purposes of a prologue was to kind of update people on what had been going on with the author, and that’s exactly what we find here.
• Paul gives the Corinthians an update on something that has really affected his life and ministry recently.
• Now, part of the reason why he’s doing that is to get their sympathy.
• He wants them to know that some of his change in plans has been due to unexpected and very, very difficult circumstances.[4]
• What was Paul’s affliction?
• 1) Psychological – regretted sending that harsh letter to Corinth?
• 2) Potential fatal illness?
• 3) Persecution – Mob mentality – He had just left Ephesus where he was in the middle of a major riot.

 
A CLEAR CONSCIENCE
12 Indeed, this is our boast: The testimony of our conscience is that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially toward you, with godly sincerity and purity, not by human wisdom but by God’s grace. 13 For we are writing nothing to you other than what you can read and also understand. I hope you will understand completely--14 just as you have partially understood us—that we are your reason for pride (boasting, rejoicing), just as you also are ours in the day of our Lord Jesus.

• Affirming his own integrity.
• If Paul loses his integrity… he loses his audience.
• Boasting is seen as prideful.
• But we can also boast about what the Lord is doing.
• Pinheads… giving… boast in things beyond human comprehension
• Are we “growing”? Numbers or spiritually

 
A VISIT POSTPONED
15 Because of this confidence, I planned to come to you first, so that you could have a second benefit, 16 and to visit you on my way to Macedonia, and then come to you again from Macedonia and be helped by you on my journey to Judea. 17 Now when I planned this, was I of two minds? Or what I plan, do I plan in a purely human, way so that I say “Yes, yes” and “No, no” at the same time?

• Paul’s plans changed and he tries to explain why.
• Paul is trying to explain to them that he is not being “wishy-washy”
• Paul is not “walking according to the flesh”

18 As God is faithful, our message to you is not “Yes and no.”

• Paul says, “That same faithfulness and integrity is reflected in all of our actions as we are carrying out our ministry to you.”[5]

19 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, whom we proclaimed among you—Silvanus, Timothy, and I—did not become “Yes and no.” On the contrary, in him it is always “Yes.”

• Even though our plans changed, we still commit to come visit.

20 For every one of God’s promises is “Yes” in him. Therefore, through him we also say “Amen” to the glory of God. 21 Now it is God who strengthens us together with you in Christ, and who has anointed us. 22 He has also put his seal on us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a down payment.

• What he does is he explains his situation.
• He appeals to theological principles as the foundation of what he is doing.
• And so Paul approaches a difficult moment in his ministry by doing clear communication with theological reflection, and that’s a good pattern for us to follow as well when we are being accused falsely of lacking integrity.[6]
• It’s God’s plan… not ours… we are just following it.
• Integrity is important to ministry as well as clear communication.

 
23 I call on God as a witness, on my life, that it was to spare you that I did not come to Corinth. 24 I do not mean that we lord it over your faith, but we are workers with you for your joy, because you stand firm in your faith.[7]
 
2 Corinthians 2
1 In fact, I made up my mind about this: I would not come to you on another painful visit. 2 For if I cause you pain, then who will cheer me other than the one being hurt by me? 3 I wrote this very thing so that when I came I wouldn’t have pain from those who ought to give me joy, because I am confident about all of you that my joy will also be yours. 4 For I wrote to you with many tears out of an extremely troubled and anguished heart—not to cause you pain, but that you should know the abundant love I have for you.[8]
 

• Here Paul begins to explain why he didn’t come straight to Corinth.
• He agonized through writing a painful letter and even became afflicted when he hit the send button.
• But he also needed to address the situation so when he did come they could be past the situation and experience in each other’s presence.
• He says, “My motive was not to hurt you but that you might know the very great love that I have for you.”
• So, in terms of motive, Paul says, “I don’t want to make you sad. I don’t want to grieve you. I want to do this though because you need it at this moment.”[9]
• Let’s just be honest here…

[1] Guthrie, G. H. (2018). NT337 Book Study: Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
[2] Guthrie, G. H. (2018). NT337 Book Study: Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
[3] Guthrie, G. H. (2018). NT337 Book Study: Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
[4] Guthrie, G. H. (2018). NT337 Book Study: Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
[5] Guthrie, G. H. (2018). NT337 Book Study: Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
[6] Guthrie, G. H. (2018). NT337 Book Study: Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
[7] Christian Standard Bible. (2020). (2 Co 1:1–24). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[8] Christian Standard Bible. (2020). (2 Co 2:1–4). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[9] Guthrie, G. H. (2018). NT337 Book Study: Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.

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