[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