II Corinthians 10

• This chapter begins the third major section of II Corinthians. The tone here is more assertive and sharper.
• II Corinthians 10:1-2 – Paul is trying to draw a distinction between the behaviors they were tolerating from false teachers and what they were accusing him of.
• II Corinthians 10:7-8 – Compare II Corinthians 5:12. They were looking at outward appearances. Paul is trying to point out that they are both on the same team – they should both recognize each other as being in Christ.
• II Corinthians 10:9-11 – This was a subtle accusation of hypocrisy – that Paul wrote differently than he spoke. Paul is saying he was willing to back up what he was writing. Paul may well have been unimpressive in appearance because of the persecution he had endured.
• II Corinthians 10:12-13 – It was appropriate for him to boast about his work because of his history with them. See Romans 15:23-24.
• II Corinthians 10:14-16 – Paul was hoping to get them to the point that he could move on, as he had been able to do in other places.
• II Corinthians 10:17-18 – God’s commendation is the only one that really matters.

II Corinthians 11

• II Corinthians 11:1-2 – These false apostles that they were tolerating were endangering their purity before Christ.
• II Corinthians 11:3-4 – Paul’s tone was sharp because he was afraid they were being led away from Christ.

Introduction

• Can we list a few things that allow a person to be positive and optimistic?
  • Take care of someone who is worse off than you.
  • Be grateful.
  • Don’t sweat the small stuff.

Positivity comes from Christ

• I Thessalonians 4:18; II Thessalonians 1:9
• Philippians 1:12-20

Learn from the past, but don’t let it ruin the present

• I Corinthians 10:6-11
• I Timothy 1:15
• Ezra 3:10-13 – The people wept thinking about the glory of the previous temple.
• Haggai 2:3-5
• Ezra 6:16
• Philippians 1:21-26

Focus on what’s good

• Philippians 4:8
• Acts 9:1; I Corinthians 1:4; 11:2; 16:24

United kingdom

Even godly people can lose their way.

Saul

• I Samuel 10:2 – Saul started humbly enough.
• I Samuel 13:8, 11-14 – Saul didn’t fully obey.
• I Samuel 15:9, 28

David

• II Samuel 11:2-3; 12:9
• Let us never thing it can’t happen to us!

Solomon

• I Kings 3:3, 9-10 – Solomon started humbly and wisely.
• I Kings 11:3-4 – Solomon took a wrong turn.
• No one is immune to temptation.

Divided kingdom

Your faith is your own choice.

• I Kings 2:26-33 – Jeroboam invented idols an led Israel astray.
• All of the following kings in Israel follow his idolatry.
• But people don’t necessarily continue the faith of their parents. Examples:
  • II Kings 16:3 – Ahaz did evil.
  • II Kings 18:1-6 – Hezekiah turned from his father’s ways and did good.
  • II Kings 21:1-3 – Manasseh did evil nearly his whole life.
  • II Kings 21:19-21 – Amon did evil.
  • II Kings 22:1-2; 23:25 – Josiah did right in God’s eyes.
  • II Kings 23:32 – Jehoahaz did evil.
  • II Kings 23:35 – Jehoiakim did evil.

II Corinthians 9

• II Corinthians 9:1 – With whatever I have in my life, how can I have a generous attitude?
• II Corinthians 9:2 – See Romans 15:25-27.
• II Corinthians 9:4 – The men in Acts 20:4 may have accompanied Paul. Part of the idea here was not giving the Macedonians a bad feeling by getting the gift together at the last minute.
• II Corinthians 9:6-7 – See Matthew 19:29. Generosity will be rewarded. Consider Proverbs 11:24; 19:17; 22:8-9.
• II Corinthians 9:8-9 – See Psalms 112:1-9.
• II Corinthians 9:10-11 – We are responsible for reflecting God to other people. Paul is trying to expand their idea of what it means to be generous.
• II Corinthians 9:12-15 – “Contribution” here is translated from a word that is also translated “fellowship.” This gift had a broader impact than just the money itself. More people than just those receiving the funds would benefit.

Introduction

• I Timothy 3:8-13

The word “deacon” (diakonos)

• Often translated “servant” or “minister.”
• Romans 16:1-2 – Same Greek word used here for Phoebe. She doesn’t seem to be a deacon in the special sense of I Timothy 3.
• Romans 15:8; 13:4
• All Christians are servants, but I Timothy 3 is talking about something above and beyond that.

I Timothy 3:8-13

• “first be tested”
  • These qualifications are the test.
• “beyond reproach”
  • A deacon should be blameless.
  • I John 1:8 – We all sin.
  • We can only be blameless through the grace of God.
  • Colossians 1:21
• “dignity”
  • Is a man serious and respectful enough for this work?
• “not double-tongued”
  • Speaks the truth.
• “not addicted to much wine”
  • This does not imply permission for a little win.
  • I Timothy 5:23
  • When the extreme measure is condemned, it does not all the half measure.
• “[not] fond of sordid gain”
• “holding to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience”
  • Mystery just means it wasn’t yet fully revealed.
  • Colossians 1:25-26
  • A deacon should be a man who is holding to God’s truth.
• “Women”
  • Same word in Greek means both woman and wife. Context must indicate which.
  • This seems to be speaking about wives of deacons.
• “Women must likewise be dignified”
• “not malicious gossips”
• “temperate”
  • Sober and self-controlled.
• “faithful in all things”
• “husbands of only one wife”
  • Bachelors and polygamists are forbidden from serving as deacons.
  • This does not seem to be forbidding those who have been remarried, as long as it was lawful in God’s eyes.
• “good managers of their children and their own households”
• “a high standing”
  • This is a service worthy of respect.
  • What work should deacons do?
  • Acts 6:1-4 – Are these men the first deacons? There are parallels, but the qualifications are not exactly the same.