2 Corinthians notes - by Peter Philippi

Last updated 02/19/12

2 Corinthians - Overview

• Attitude
• Restoration
• Comfort
• Partnership
• Obedience
• Separation
• Suffering
• Hope
• Judgment Seat
• Giving
• Ministry
• Law
• Warfare

2 Corinthians 1

1. Introduction 1:1-3

• Background, Author, Recipients, Greeting, Eulogy

2. Comfort for today, hope for tomorrow 1:4-7

• Comfort supplied by God in all our tribulations
• Comfort supplied by the comforted for those in any trouble
• The sufferings of Christ abounding in us
• Exceeds a fixed number of measures
• Our comfort abounds by Christ
• Our suffering, your comfort
• Our comfort, your comfort
• Our hope for you: as joint participants of sufferings also joint participants of comfort
• No anxiety about tomorrow, just hope

3. The many dimensions of God’s provisions in suffering for Christ 1:8-11

• The dimensions of suffering
• The dimensions of God’s provision:
• Past, present and future
• Body, soul and spirit
• From God, to me and for others
• For Christ’s sake and the Body’s (Paul)
• Saint, sanctified and servant
• From God to me through praying believers to the glory of God

4. The thoroughness and exactness of Christian living and ministry

• Regarding our conscience 1:12
  • The rejoicing of a clear conscience
  • The realm of a clear conscience
  • The reach of a clear conscience
• Regarding our communication 1:13-14
• Regarding our convictions 1:15-20
• Regarding our confidence 1:21-22
• Regarding our contribution 1:23-24

2 Corinthians 2

5. Writing instead of coming at this time

• The bad condition of some 2:1-3
• The proper conferring of discipline 2:4-11
  • With a sincere burden
  • With a heart ready to forgive
  • With a proof of sincere obedience
  • With a protection from Satan’s devices

6. Restlessness and burdened while ministering 2:12-13

7. Victory in ministering 2:14a

8. The accomplishments of faithful ministry 2:14-17

• The manifestation of the aroma of the knowledge of God
• Unto God a sweet aroma of Christ
• Unto them that perish an aroma of death
• Unto the saved a sweet aroma of life
• The divine enablement for faithful ministry
• The unwavering proclamation of the Word of God

2 Corinthians 3

1. Questions about and genuine evidences of the legitimacy of Paul’s ministry

• Do I have to start from the beginning again??
• Your existence is evidence of our legitimacy!
• It’s even clearer than physical evidence!
• Our trust is in God!
• Our sufficiency is from God!

2. Able ministers of the New Testament

• What is the New Covenant and with whom did God make it?
• What happened to the Old Covenant?
• The Old Covenant was a covenant of death and condemnation, the New Covenant is a covenant of life, the spirit and righteousness
• The Old Covenant was glorious, the New Covenant outshines it
• The awful blindness of Israel which the Old Covenant could not remove, but which Christ can!
• The great ministry of the Spirit: liberty and spiritual progress!
• How are we able ministers of the New Covenant?
  • We are beneficiaries of the New Covenant Gentiles, always were and will be
  • We have a clear understanding of the Old and New Covenants, therefore are very able ministers of it

2 Corinthians 4

1. The approach to God-pleasing ministry

• Renounced hidden things of dishonesty
• Do not walk in craftiness
• Do not handle the Word of God deceitfully
• We openly declare the Word of Truth - rightly divided
• Distinctions and divisions God has put in His Word
  1. Law versus Grace
  2. Conditional blessings versus unconditional blessings
  3. The Gospel of the Kingdom versus the Gospel of Grace
  4. The promise of a land versus the promise of heaven
  5. The hope of salvation: Christ’s return to earth versus the catching away of the Body of Christ through the rapture
  6. Reigning with Christ on earth versus in heaven
  7. Distinctions between Jews and Gentiles versus a program where there are no distinctions
  8. The ministry of the 12 apostles versus the ministry of the apostle Paul
  9. Preaching Christ according to the revelation of prophecy versus preaching Christ according to the revelation of the mystery
  10. Preaching repent and be baptized for the remission of sins and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit versus Christ died for our sins, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved
  11. Preaching the cross as bad news vs. preaching the cross as good news

2. The barriers to ministry: willing unbelief and Satan’s deliberate opposition 4:3-4

3. The focus and power of true ministry 4:5-7

• PREACH CHRIST, not ourselves 4:5
• VAILS in Chapters 3 & 4
  • Vail over Moses’ face ... 3:7, 9-13
  • Vail over Israel ... 3:14-15
  • Vail over the lost ... 4:3-4
  • NO Vail over them that believe ... 3:16-18
  • NO Vail over the face of Jesus Christ .. 4:4, 6
• CHRIST THE LIGHT
  • Light in Genesis ... 1:3 - 4:6 (Commanded)
  • Light when Christ came: ... Luke 2:25-32
  • Light of the glorious gospel of Christ: ... 4:4
  • Light of the knowledge of the glory of God: ... 4:6
    • In the FACE of Jesus Christ: ... 4:6
    • Clearly proclaiming who He is: ... 4:4
    • Clearly proclaiming what He accomplished: ... 4:4-6
• THE TREASURE in earthen vessels: glorious gospel of Christ
  • The glorious ministry that quickens us ... 3:6
  • The glorious ministry that regenerates us ... 3:8-9
  • The glorious ministry that assures us ... 3:11-12
  • The glorious ministry that unvails us ... 3:16
  • The glorious ministry that liberates us ... 3:17
  • The glorious ministry that transforms us ... 3:18
  • The glorious ministry that sustains us ... 4:1
  • The glorious ministry that enlightens us ... 4:6
• THIS IS THE TREASURE!!!!!! OF 4:7
• The Glorious ministry which must be COMMUNICATED PURELY ... 4:2
• The Glorious ministry which must focus on the GOSPEL OF CHRIST ... 4:3-5
• AND NEVER FORGETTING: in earthen vessels!

4. God’s Provision for the resistance and attack on ministry 2 Co. 4:8-12



Earthen Vessels	God’s Provision
Troubled on every side	Not distressed
Perplexed	Not in despair
Persecuted	Not forsaken
Cast down	Not destroyed
Always dying	Always manifesting the life of Jesus
Death in us	Life in you


5. The proper perspective in ministry .4:13-18

> We must speak! ... 4:13
> We will be raised! ... 4:14a
> We will be presented with others! ... 4:14b
> We must make others our priority! ... 4:15a
> We must ensure that God receives the glory! ... 4:15b
> We must press on! ... 4:16a
> We must focus on inward renewal! ... 4:16b
> We must have the right view on our afflictions! ... 4:17
> We must concentrate on the unseen and eternal! ... 4:18

Contrasts of 17 & 18!

1.	"Affliction"	"Glory"
2.	"Light affliction"	"Weight of glory"
3.	"A moment"	"Eternal"
4.	"But" (merely)	"Far more exceeding"
5.	"The things which are seen"	"The things which are not seen"
6.	"We look not"	"We look"

2 Corinthians 5

Designations of our current state
1. Earthly
2. House
3. Tabernacle
4. Dissolved
5. Groan
6. Earnestly desiring
7. Burdened
8. Mortality
9. At home in the body
10. Absent from the Lord
11. Willing to be absent from the body
12. Willing to be present with the Lord

Designations of our future state
1. A building of God
2. House not made with hands
3. Eternal
4. In the heavens
5. Clothing
6. Life
7. Absent from the body
8. Present with the Lord

1. When will we receive this new body?
2. What happens to those who have died and are waiting for their new bodies?
3. We are not looking for mansions on streets of gold
4. Our hope is not merely to shed this temporal, decaying, groaning, dying, burdened and suffering body
5. Our hope is what awaits us once we do! 5:4
6. Our hope is guaranteed by God Himself! 5:5
7. Our hope is absolutely, completely, 100% certain! 5:6, 8
8. Our hope makes our current reality bearable!
9. Our hope is made real by faith! 5:7
10. Our hope controls our innermost longing! 5:8
11. Our hope results in tireless labor 5:9
12. Our motivation is driven by a strong desire to please God 5:9
13. Our motivation is focused on the assimilation and processing of doctrine 5:10 = Judgement Seat
    • The basis for judgement and giving out of rewards
    • We have already been judged for our sins at Calvary
    • Therefore there are no more sins left to be dealt with
    • Grace negates the possibility of being faced with our sins
    • We are completely and totally accepted in the Beloved
    • This is a place for rewards to be passed out
    • The rewards are based on the materials we have built with
    • How will Christ build the Kingdom church?
    • How is God building the church the Body of Christ today?
    • The key issue in I Co 3 is workmanship
    • Cannot be a place of suffering
    • Difference between the Judgement Seat and the Great White Throne
14. Our motivation is made urgent by the terror of the Lord 5:11
15. Our motivation is selfless in the relentless pursuit of honoring God and benefitting others 5:12
16. Our motivation is derived from the infinite, unique love of God 5:14
17. We conclude that Christ’s death is God’s ultimate manifestation and demonstration of His love 5:14
18. We conclude that Christ’s death was a representative death: for ALL! 5:15
19. We conclude that Christ’s representative death causes us to live for Him and Him alone 5:15
20. We now know man differently than when he lived under Law 5:16a
21. We now know Christ differently than when He lived and ministered on earth 5:16b
22. We now are a new creation 5:17
23. We now are reconciled to God! 5:18
24. We now have a new responsibility to the world 5:18
25. We now appeal to a world that is made reconcilable to God 5:19
26. We now have a new message for the world 5:19
27. We now have a new role in this world 5:20
28. We now have an unprecedented offer for the world 5:21

2 Corinthians 5

• This was completely between God the Father and God the Son
• Christ became that which was essentially foreign to Him
• So that we might become that which is essentially foreign to us
• Righteousness is only provided in Christ
• This flies in the face of all religions
• In the final analysis righteousness is the issue with God

2 Corinthians 6

1. The somber warning 6:1

Manifestations of unbelief:

• Yesterday is irretrievable ... gone forever!
• Almost persuaded: Acts 26:19-29
• Inconvenient time: Acts 24:24-27
• Defiance: Romans 2:1-5
• Rage: Acts 7:51-54, 57-58
• Indifference: "I don’t care"
• Refusal: Matthew 23:37 "ye would not"
• Self-righteous: Romans 10:1-3
• Exchange of the truth: Romans 1:18-25
2. The urgency to respond
3. The carefulness of life and ministry 6:3-10

Our role in ministry:

• Persuading
• Ambassadors
• Workers together
• Giving no offense in anything
• Finding approval in all things



4. What Paul encountered	5. How Paul lived & endured
IN much patience	BY pureness
IN afflictions	BY knowledge
IN necessities	BY longsuffering
IN distresses	BY kindness
IN stripes	BY the Holy Ghost
IN imprisonments	BY love unfeigned
IN tumults	BY the Word of truth
IN labors	BY the power of God
IN watchings	BY the armor of righteousness
IN fastings	BY honor & dishonor
	BY evil report & good report


6. The triumphant perspective of God’s ambassadors & servants

• AS unknown and YET well known!
• AS dying, AND, behold we live!
• AS chastened, AND not killed!
• AS sorrowful, YET always rejoicing!
• AS poor, YET making many rich!
• AS having nothing, AND YET possessing all things!

2 Corinthians 7

Some fatherly advice and appeal (6:11-18)

• We speak freely and our hearts are wide open to you, but you have tightened up in your affection for me (6:11-12)
• I speak to you as children; make a large place in your heart for me (6:13)
• Stop being joined as with a yoke to unbelievers (6:14-18)
• "Receive us; our actions and motives have been pure" (7:2)
• We have wronged no one
• We have corrupted no one
• We have taken advantage of no one
• "I don’t condemn you" (7:3)
• "I have spoken with great directness and clarity to you" (7:4)
• "I am filled with joy and encouragement over you" (7:4)
• "Even in the most difficult of circumstances your response to me and my strong rebuke have caused my joy to overflow" (7:4-16)
• Joyful through the troubles in Macedonia (7:4c-5)
• Joyful as God comforted us through Titus’ report about you (7:6-7, 13-16)
• Joyful because you sorrowed so deeply and genuinely in your response to my rebuke (7:8-10)
• Joyful because of what this genuine sorrow produced in you (7:11-12, 15)
• Carefulness, clearing, indignation, fear, earnest desire, zeal, revenge, obedience (15-16)

Lessons from Chapter 7

1. It’s always right to do right, regardless of the consequences
2. When dealing with a sensitive and serious issue we must confront it head on and boldly
3. We must always do so with a deep and sincere love
4. If a good result is achieved it’s because we have done 1-3

2 Corinthians 8 - Grace Giving

1. Giving that is prompted by the example of grace in others
• It’s God’s provision for those who will receive it (8:1)
• It’s giving without regard for one’s own difficulties (8:2a)
• It’s giving with overflowing joy (8:2b)
• It’s giving without regard of one’s own need (8:2c)
• It’s giving with overflowing generosity (8:2d)
• It’s giving with overwhelming sacrifice (8:3)
• It’s giving that is completely voluntary (8:3)
• It’s giving with genuine sincerity (8:4a)
• It’s giving with real concern for others (8:4b)
• It’s giving that comes from a deep devotion to Christ and to His work (8:5)
2. Giving that is prompted by grace in you (8:6-8)
3. Giving that is prompted by the supreme example of grace in Christ (8:9)
4. Giving by the Corinthians that is prompted by an earlier promise (8:10-11)
5. Giving they can afford (8:12-15)
6. Giving with great carefulness, integrity and open accountability (8:16-23)
7. Giving voluntarily and joyfully, not resentfully or out of obligation (9:1-7)
8. Giving as a normal expression of grace at work in you (9:8-15)

2 Corinthians 8-9 - Grace Giving

1. Giving must be focused on meeting true need (physical and spiritual)
2. Giving cannot be to feed greed
3. Giving can be sacrificial but doesn’t need to be
4. Giving cannot be demanded
5. Giving cannot be obligatory
6. Giving is a natural expression of grace
7. Giving graciously should result in thanksgiving and glory to God

2 Corinthians 10

• Paul’s gentle appeal (10:1-2)
• The true nature of our battles (10:3-5)
1. Our battles are not physical but spiritual
2. Our weapons are not physical but spiritual
3. Our weapons, being from God, are all powerful
4. In our spiritual battle we must actively reject all wrong doctrine and reasonings
5. In our spiritual battle we must take captive every thought to obey and comply with Christ’s revealed truth to us
• The time will come when disobedience to Paul’s message and ministry will be dealt with, but for now the important thing is to obey him and his apostolic authority (10:6)
• Look not on outward appearance, it will lead to pride and foolishness (10:7-16)

Jesus Christ in I & II Corinthians - Christmas Dec 18, 2011

1. Jesus Christ the true source of Grace & Peace - I Cor 1:3-4 / II Cor 1:2
2. Jesus Christ the focus of our eternal fellowship - I Cor 1:9
3. Jesus Christ, a stumbling block to some, foolishness to others, the power of God, the wisdom of God, righteousness, sactification, and redemption to the saved - I Cor 1:23-24, 30
4. Jesus Christ our Passover, sacrificed for us - I Cor 5:7
5. Jesus Christ the ransom payment for our salvation - I Cor 6:19-20
6. Jesus Christ the creator of the universe - I Cor 8:6
7. Jesus Christ providing good news through His death, burial and ressurection I Cor 15:1-4
8. Jesus Christ the hope of all that are His - I Cor 15:20-23
9. Jesus Christ made sin for us - II cor 5:21
10. Jesus Christ God’s unspeakable Gift - II Cor 9:15

Jan 15, 2012
2 Corinthians 11 - Gullible, Corrupted and Beguiled Christians

• Paul’s justification for comparing himself with bad teachers [Judaizers] (11:1-3)
• CAUTION: Beware of those that preach another Jesus, beware of receiving another spirit, and beware of accepting another gospel (11:4-6)
• Paul’s offering of the gospel to the Corinthians freely, without charge (11:7-12)

Jan 22, 2012

1. Those that believe another Jesus...whom Paul has not preached (11:4a)
2. Those that receive another spirit...which they have not received (11:4b)
3. Those that receive another gospel...which they have not accepted (11:4c)
4. Those that accept the flowery and eloquent words of the educated (11:5-6)
5. Those that rob you and love your money and not you (11:7-11)
6. Those that accept any apostles other than the apostle Paul (11:12-13)
• Transformation #1: Those that transform themselves into the apostles of Christ
7. Those that accept as light that which stems from Satan (darkness) (11:14)
• Transformation #2: Satan transforms himself into an angel of light
8. Those that accept Satan’s messengers as ministers of righteousness (11:15-16)
• Transformation #3: Satan’s ministers transformed into ministers of righteousness
9. Our Protection:
• Listen carefully
• Investigate thoroughly
• Believe completely conviction!
• Stand firmly
• Proclaim boldly
10. Those who accept fools who glory after the flesh (11:17-21) ...even though it leads to bondage and destruction and great loss and abuse
• They glory after the flesh
• They are fools
• They bring you into bondage
• They devour you
• They take from you
• They exalt themselves
• They hurt you
11. Those who have regard for credentials, pedigree and status (11:22-23)

Jan 29, 2012
2 Corinthians 11 - Paul’s Unique and Genuine Ministry and Life

1. A ministry of genuine concern and doctrinal purity (11:1-4)
• Paul’s "foolishness"
• Paul’s deep seated concern
• Paul’s sober warning
2. A ministry of truth and transparency (11:5-6)
• Paul’s status as an apostle
• Paul’s speech and knowledge
• Paul’s integrity in ministry
3. A ministry of unselfish self-sacrifice (11:7-9)  
• Paul’s purposeful humility
• Paul’s integrity and discernment
4. A heart of sincere love (11:10-11)
5. A ministry of aggression and boldness against the enemies of the truth (11:11-21) Exposing them for what they are!
6. A ministry of modest assertion (11:22-23)
7. A life of sacrifice and intense suffering for Christ, Christians and the truth (11:24-27)
8. A heart burdened heavily for the spiritual health of Christians (11:28-29)
9. A communication that is 100% true and sincere (11:30-31)
10. A life and ministry with ceaseless persecution (11:32-33)

Feb 05, 2012
2 Corinthians 12 - Paul’s Visions and Revelations

1. Paul’s glorying in what he received from Christ (12:1-6)
Paul’s visions and revelations (1-4)
Paul refuses to glory in himself or to have anyone think more highly of him that they ought (5-6)

2. The absolute necessity of not putting Paul on a pedestal (12:7-10)
Paul’s thorn: from God through Satan (7)
Paul’s deep desire: that the thorn would depart (8)
Paul’s total satisfaction: grace & glory (9-10)
We are Pauline and not Paul worshippers: followers of Paul, believers in and proclaimers of Paul’s gospel

3. Paul became a "fool", he was forced to do so because of their spiritual weakness and gullibility the Corinthians knew better! (12:11-13)
Paul’s rebuke (11a)
Paul’s position (11b)
Paul’s appropriate view of himself (11c)
Paul’s apostolic credentials (12)
Paul’s sarcasm (13)

4. Paul uncompromising and absolute integrity (12:14-21)  
Paul’s unselfish motives (14-15)
Paul’s unwavering mission (16-19)
Paul’s genuine concern (20-21)

Feb 12, 2012
2 Corinthians 13

1. I’m coming back and everything will be confirmed (13:1)
2. I’m going to deal with the sinners among you, and I will not hold back (13:2)
3. I appear weak to you, but through Christ I am very strong and so it was with Christ (13:3-4)
4. Please examine yourselves thoroughly to make absolutely sure whether you are saved or not (13:5)
5. I trust you know that we are not rejects (13:6)
6. I pray for you that you will not engage in evil, not just for my sake, but for your sake (13:7)
7. Understand, the truth will always stand (13:8)
8. We absolutely rejoice when you do well, and we pray for the perfecting of your soul (13:9)
9. I am writing very bluntly to you, for if I come I will deal very sharply with you in keeping with the authority I have been given of God for the ultimate purpose of your edification, and not your destruction (13:10)
10. I bid you fare well:
1. Be perfect
2. Be comforted and encouraged
3. Be in agreement about that which is true
4. Be in harmony with each other
5. The result is that God’s favor and presence will be with you, that is the God of love and peace
6. Greet each other with the deepest affection
7. All the believers greet you
8. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you
9. The love of God be with you
10. The fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you

Feb 19, 2012
Corinthian Problems in the Church Today

1. The problem of divisions in the church
   The Solution: speak the same thing, and be perfectly joined together
2. The problem of worldly wisdom in the church
   The Solution: preach the gospel, preach the cross, preach Christ
3. The problem of spiritual shallowness
   The Solution: have to acknowledge the mystery
4. The problem of carnality
   The Solution: build on the right foundation and build with the right materials
5. The problem of spiritual gifts
   The Solution: understand the role of spiritual gifts and pursue love