[Note: Due to technical difficulties, the recording of the beginning of this class was lost. My apologies! - MRW]

Introduction to 2 Corinthians

• Notable verses
  • II Corinthians 4:16
  • II Corinthians 5:7
  • II Corinthians 5:10
  • II Corinthians 5:17
  • II Corinthians 6:2
  • II Corinthians 7:10
  • II Corinthians 9:7
  • II Corinthians 10:4
  • II Corinthians 12:9
  • II Corinthians 13:5
• Corinth, a city of Achaia
  • Ancient Greek city destroyed by Rome in 146 B.C., then refounded as a Roman colony in 44 B.C. by Julius Caesar.
  • Important crossroads between the Greek mainland and Peloponnesian peninsula
  • Home to many “gods” and “lords” (I Corinthians 8:5)
  • Jewish presence (Acts 18:4)
  • Other cities of Achaia: Athens and Cenchrea (Acts 17; 18:18)
  • Acts 18:2-3
• Background
  • Paul spent 1.5 years in Corinth in the late 40s/early 50s (second journey).
  • I Corinthians written about A.D. 55 from Ephesus (third journey)
    • Paul anticipated another visit to Corinth (I Corinthians 16:2-3, 6)
    • Painful visit (II Corinthians 2:1)?
  • II Corinthians written about a year later from Macedonia (third journey)
    • II Corinthians 13:1
    • Three-month stay in Greece after writing II Corinthians (Acts 20:2-3)
    • Wrote Romans during that visit.
  • Brief review of I Corinthians
• Three main sections of II Corinthians
  • II Corinthians 1-7 – Apologetic (explanation and defense)
  • II Corinthians 8-9 – Hortatory (exhortation)
  • II Corinthians 10-13 – Polemical
• II Corinthians overview
  • Very personal letter from Paul to Christians in Achaia.
  • Paul used a variety of methods to convince and exhort them.
• Paul’s work as an apostle
  • John 15:26-27; 16:8-11
  • Acts 9:15-16
    • “Instrument” from the Greek, skeuos, meaning vessel (II Corinthians 4:7)
  • Acts 20:22-24
  • I Corinthians 15:8-10
  • II Corinthians 4:1; 5:18; 6:3
  • I Timothy 1:12-13, 16
• Class goals
  • Greater understanding of the text with a goal toward personal application and improvement.
  • Local authority and individual Christian’s relationship with apostolic authority.
• Class expectations

II Corinthians 1:1-2

• Paul immediately calls himself an apostle.
  • II Corinthians 8:23 – Titus is called an apostle in Greek, but usually translated “messenger.”
  • Paul was more than just a messenger. He was an apostle in the matter of the original twelve.
• II Corinthians 1:2 - Compare II Corinthians 13:4
  • “Lord Jesus Christ” – this phrase is used a number of times
    • “Lord” – refers to His Deity
    • “Jesus” – refers to His time as a man
    • “Christ” – refers to His role as Messiah