Reforming a Community Through the Gospel

2 Corinthians Reforming a community through the gospel Key Terms/phrases: Themes:  Comfort: 1:3-7; 2:7; 7:4, 6; 7:7,13  Work of the Holy Spirit: 1:22 (assurance of  Reconcile: 5:18-20 salvation); 3:3,6-8, 17-18; 5:5  Christ: Name appears 47 times in the letter  Transforming grace: 4:15; 8:9; 9:14; 12:9  Belial (6:15): —worthlessness, frequently  Pure ministry: 1:1; 3:1-18; 4:1; 6:1-13; 7:2- used in the Old Testament as a proper name. 16; 10:17-18 It is first used in Deut. 13:13. In the New  Persecution: 4:8-9; 6:4-5; 11:24-26; 11:23- Testament it is found only in 2 Cor. 6:15, 26;12:7-10 where it is used as a name of Satan, the  Spiritual warfare: 2:10-11; 10:3-5 personification of all that is evil.1 Historical Context: Chapter Divisions/summaries:  Author: Paul (1:1)  1:1-2: Greetings  City was a major commercial center  1:3-11: Comfort of God  Had many idols; most prominent of which  1:12-2:4: Change of plans & Paul’s love was the temple to Aphrodite (ramped  2:5-17: Forgiveness & victory in Christ prostitution and fornication)  3:1-18: Ministers of the New Covenant  Paul likely ministered in Corinth in AD 51  4:1-18: The gospel & our treasure in jars of and 52 for 18 months clay  Letter written from Macedonia  5:1-10: Heavenly dwelling  5:11-6:13: Reconciliation  6:14-7:1: The believer & the temple of God  7:2-16: Paul’s joy & comfort  8:1-24: Encouragement to give & Titus’ ministry  9:1-5: Collection for Jerusalem believers  9:6-15: Cheerful giving  10:1-18: Paul’s ministry  11:1-33: Paul the Apostle, false prophets, and his sufferings  12:1-10: Paul’s vision, thorn, & God’s grace  12:11-13:10: Concerns & warnings  13:11-14: Final remarks Literary Devices:  Allusion: 3:7-14; 11:3  Contrast: 3:7-9 (ministry of the Old and New covenant)  Metaphor: 2:14-16  Paradox: (9) in 6:8-10; 13:4  Repetition: (comfort-see key terms section); 1:22; 5:5 (down payment of the Spirit); 5:18-20 (reconcile)

1 Easton, M. G. (1893). In Easton’s Bible dictionary. New York: Harper & Brothers. Applications:  We can have confidence in the many promises of God (1:20)  Love and forgiveness helps us to clear the confusion caused by Satan’s tactics (2:11)  Any aptitude or success in ministry flows from God (3:4-6; 4:11)  We can live a greater life of purpose when we realize the transitory nature of this world and focus on the eternality of the kingdom (4:18)  As believers we must engage internal and external conflicts through spiritual means (6:7; 10:4-5) Reference: English Standard Version Bible. Wheaton, IL: Crossway 2002 Dr. Constable. www.soniclight.com. Notes on 2 Corinthians Walvoord, J. F., & Zuck, R. B., Dallas Theological Seminary. (1985). The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.