Second Corinthians ΠΡΟΣ ΚΟΡΙΝΘΙΟΥΣ ʼB A verse-by-verse study guide, as taught by Pastor Robert L. Bolender at Austin Bible Church, from 2008 to 2014 Table of Contents Index of mp3 Audio Messages ............................................... 4 Through the Bible Chapter Summaries ................................ 5 Corinthian Conundrums ....................................................... 9 Chronology of the Apostle Paul .......................................... 11 Chapter One ......................................................................... 13 Chapter Two ........................................................................ 18 Chapter Three ...................................................................... 21 Chapter Four ........................................................................ 24 Chapter Five ......................................................................... 27 Chapter Six ........................................................................... 31 Chapter Seven ...................................................................... 34 Chapters Eight and Nine ..................................................... 37 Chapter Ten ......................................................................... 43 Chapter Eleven ..................................................................... 46 Chapter Twelve .................................................................... 51 Chapter Thirteen .................................................................. 54 Doctrines Taught in Second Corinthians........................... 56 Angelology ........................................................................... 57 Apostleship ............................................................................ 65 Blessing and Cursing ........................................................... 67 Craftiness, Deception & Corruption ................................... 69 Glory (summary study) ........................................................ 73 The Doctrine of Grace......................................................... 75 Grace Giving ........................................................................ 77 The Heart ............................................................................. 81 Introduction to Satan ........................................................... 83 A Passing Impression of Passive Imperatives ...................... 85 Pleasing God ......................................................................... 87 Preventative Cleansing versus Remedial Cleansing ........... 89 Principles of Rejoicing ......................................................... 91 The Promises of God ........................................................... 93 Readiness/Eagerness ............................................................. 95 Index of mp3 Audio Messages Chapter One 1-61 Chapter Seven 190-207 Introduction 1-7 7:2-4 190-194 1:1-2 8-12 7:5-7,13-16 194-197 The Doctrine of Apostleship 12-20 Principles of Rejoicing 197-198 1:3-7 21-35 7:8-12 199-207 1:8-11 36-39 Chapter Eight 208-246 1:12-14 40-47 8:1-15 208-225 1:15-24 48-51 Readiness/Eagerness 226-231 The Promises of God 52-61 8:16-9:5 232-246 Chapter Two 62-85 Chapter Nine 247-279 2:1-4 62-64 9:6-15 247-264 2:5-11 65-70 Grace Giving 264-266 Introduction to Satan 71-79 The Doctrine of Grace 267-279 2:12-13 80-81 2:14-17 82-85 Chapter Ten 280-311 10:1-6 280-297 Chapter Three 86-104 10:7-11 298-304 3:1-3 86-91 10:12-18 305-311 3:4-11 92-96 3:12-18 97-101,103 Chapter Eleven 312-360 The Heart 102,104 11:1-4 312-317 Craftiness, Deception & Corruption 318-334 Chapter Four 105-131 11:5-11 335-339 4:1-6 105-111 11:12-21a 340-351 4:7-15 112-118 11:21b-29 352-358 4:16-18 119-124 11:30-33 359-360 Glory (Summary Study) 125-131 Chapter Twelve 361-446 Chapter Five 132-161 12:1-10 361-378 5:1-10 132-142 Angelology 379-434 Pleasing God 143-150 12:11-13 435 5:11-21 151-161 12:14-21 436-446 Chapter Six 162-189 Chapter Thirteen 6:1-10 162-172 13:1-10 447-454 6:11-13 173-175 13:11-14 455-463 Passive Imperatives 175-177 Blessing and Cursing 464-476 6:14-7:1 178-186 Preventative vs. Remedial Cleansing 186-189 Second Corinthians Summary Review 477-481 Austin Bible Church Pastor Bob Bolender Page 4 of 95 Through the Bible Chapter Summaries Explanation of Collection for the Vindication of Paul’s Second Corinthians Focus Paul’s Ministry Saints Apostleship Πρὸς Κορινθίους Β 1:1 7:16 8:1 9:15 10:1 13:14 Second Corinthians is the Book that Paul never wanted to write. Paul’s second visit to Corinth was a theof sorrowful one, and a subsequent Ministry letter was likewise sorrowful. The Accusers Corinthians Corinthians Apostleship Divisions nd Macedonians Example Upcoming Visit Change of Plans Paul Defends His Reluctant Autobiography (2 Cor.) Paul Answers His Exhortation to the Paul Announces His defends Paul’s Apostleship and Paul’s Philosophy of Paul’s Explanationof His prepares the Corinthians for his third Paul’s Exhortations to the 1:1 2:13 2:14 6:10 6:11 7:16 8:1 8:6 8:7 9:15 10:1 10:18 11:1 12:13 12:14 13:14 visit among them—a visit in which none will be spared from his Character of Paul Collection for Saints Credentials of Paul nd apostolic discipline (2 Cor. 13:1,2). Topics Ephesus to Macedonia: To Corinth: The church in Corinth was rejecting Macedonia: Change of Preparations for Visit Imminence of Paul’s Paul’s message and ministry as they Itinerary to Corinth Visit listened to the false apostles in their midst (2nd Cor. 11:13). An excellent Place Written in Macedonia visit by Titus is the one thing that gives Paul hope, as Titus reports a Time c.AD56 positive response by the Corinthians to Paul’s sorrowful letter. Title: “To the Corinthians” is named for the recipients of the epistle. Author: The Apostle Paul is the primary author, with the scribal assistance and courier service of Timothy. Thoughts & Notes on Chapter One 3. Paul’s Ephesian afflictions were a matter of life 1. Paul opens the letter with a prayer for grace & death from his perspective, and an and peace from the Father and the Son opportunity for the Corinthians to join with (2nd Cor. 1:1,2). him in them through prayer (1st Cor. 1:8-11). 2. Paul gives the praise to the Father for His 4. Paul hopes that the Corinthians will understand faithful provision of comfort (2nd Cor. 1:3-7). his letter, but knows that they already have a a. He comforts us in every affliction (v.4a). number of problems with his previous letters & b. He intends for believers who receive His comfort to visits (2nd Cor. 1:12-14). extend that comfort to others (v.4b). c. He increases the comfort when the sufferings are 5. Paul explains that his previous intention to increased (v.5). make two more visits to Corinth has been d. He designs the affliction of spiritual leaders to changed (2nd Cor. 1:15-2:1). minister to the affliction of the flock (v.6). a. Paul affirmed that his ministry is as faithful as the e. He designs prayer to be the means by which Father and Son Who works through him what is believers can share in the mutual affliction and pleasing in Their sight (vv.18-22). comfort (vv.7,11). b. Paul stated that he was led to forestall his visit to Corinth so as to not cause extensive sorrow (vv.23,24 & 2:1). Austin Bible Church Pastor Bob Bolender Page 5 of 95 Thoughts & Notes on Chapter Two Thoughts & Notes on Chapter Four 1. Paul’s sorrowful letter was designed to show 1. The life of a believer in the Dispensation of the his love, and to inoculate them from Satanic Church is quite simple (2nd Cor. 4:1,2). exploitation (2nd Cor. 2:1-11). a. Receive mercy daily, and not lose heart (v.1; a. The man of incest responded to the sorrow by true Lam. 3:22,23). repentance. This was a source of gladness for Paul b. Manifest the Truth with a clear conscience in the st nd (v.2). sight of God (v.2; 1 Tim. 1:5,19; 3:9; 2 Tim. 1:3). b. The Corinthian believers failed to revoke the 2. The believer’s manifestation of Truth goes punishment when the repentance occurred, and forth into the devil’s darkness, as God Himself therefore caused excessive sorrow (vv.6-8). does the work of evangelism (2nd Cor. 4:3-6; c. Lack of forgiveness gives Satan a fertile ground in Jn. 1:5,9-13; 3:19-21) which to sow his seeds of division (v.11). 2. Paul describes his spiritual unrest over the 3. The believer’s weakness in physical life serves Corinthians’ treatment of Titus—especially to illustrate our power in spiritual life nd when Titus did not meet him in Troas as (2 Cor. 4:7ff.). a. The Christian Way of Life means that the believer (2nd Cor. 2:12,13) expected . will be afflicted, perplexed, persecuted, & struck 3. Paul found spiritual rest in that test by focusing down (vv.8,9). on the work of God the Father within his life b. Through these circumstances, we exhibit (bear) the (2nd Cor. 2:14-17). death and life of Jesus for others to observe. a. The Father leads us in His triumph in Christ. c. The eternal perspective through faith encourages the b. The Father manifests the sweet aroma of Christ believer to endure and not lose heart (vv.16-18). through us to this lost and dying world. c. The Father’s work is one of total grace—who is Thoughts & Notes on Chapter Five adequate for these things? 1. Our present indwelling of the Holy Spirit is simply a deposit for the eternal blessings we Note: Paul’s description of the Father’s ministry through him nd nd (2 Cor. 5:1-5) will continue through 2 Cor. 7:4. Some have speculated will enjoy in the resurrection . that 2nd Cor. 2:14-7:4 is a scribal insertion in between 2. This eternal perspective motivates us to greater 2nd Cor. 2:12,13 & 7:5ff., but there is no manuscript support diligence in preparation for the Judgment Seat for such a hypothesis. Rather, it is best to view of Christ (2nd Cor. 5:6-10). nd 2 Cor. 2:14-7:4 as one great digression in which Paul 3. Paul provides the Corinthians with a message occupies with Christ and assures himself that he is in the will of God. of love—so that they may have an answer for Paul’s critics among them (2nd Cor. 5:11,12). Thoughts & Notes on Chapter Three a.