Readings for this week
Monday: 2nd Corinthians 7
Tuesday: 2nd Corinthians 8
Wednesday: 2nd Corinthians 9
Thursday: 2nd Corinthians 10
Friday: 2nd Corinthians 11
Saturday: 2nd Corinthians 12
Sunday: 2nd Corinthians 13
Introduction to 2nd Corinthians 7-13
Chapter 7
Paul then reiterates his request for mutual affection, saying “Make room for us in your hearts. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have exploited no one. I do not say this to condemn you; I have said before that you have such a place in our hearts that we would live or die with you. I have been frank with you, but I am proud of you.”
Paul then talks about his meeting with Titus in Macedonia. He says that they had no rest and were constantly harassed when they came to Macedonia, but Titus comforted them when he arrived with his message of how the Corinthians had repented and longed to see them again. Paul says that he no longer regrets sending his previous letter to the Corinthians, even though it caused them great sorrow, because he can now see that their sorrow led them to repentance. He says that Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. He says that this godly sorrow has produced in them:
Earnestness
Eagerness to clear themselves
Indignation
Alarm
Longing
Concern
Readiness to see justice done
He says that they had boasted about the Corinthians to Titus, and when they heard his report about the Corinthians, they were glad that they hadn’t embarrassed them.
Chapter 8
Paul then exhorts them to give, bringing up the collection for the believers in Jerusalem. He speaks of the necessity for generosity and points to the example of the Macedonians who gave beyond their ability in the midst of extreme trial and poverty, begging them to participate in giving to the service of the Lord’s people. He says they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to the apostles. He then says that they urged to Titus to encourage them to be like the Macedonians - to give generously in addition to having all those spiritual gifts they excel in. He says he is not commanding them, but he wants to test the sincerity of their love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. He says that “the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ was seen in that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.” Paul says he thinks it best that the Corinthians finish the gift that they started to put together last year. But he adds that an acceptable gift is one given willingly – it’s not about what they have or don’t have. The goal here is equality – not that they provide for everyone else to their own hurt, but that everyone provides for everyone.
Paul again talks about the mission of Titus to Corinth. First, he commends Titus, saying that Titus was excited when they asked him to visit the Corinthians again. Paul says that Titus is being sent back along with two brothers who are praised by all the churches and who were chosen by the churches to help distribute the gifts of offerings among the churches. Paul asks that they Please show these church representatives the proof of their love and the reason for his pride in them.
Chapter 9
Paul then talks about the need for readiness. He says that since he has boasted about their generous giving to the Macedonians, he is asking that they please be ready to give when these brothers come to visit them so that they won’t embarrass Paul. And he adds that he may bring some Macedonians with him when he visits, and he wants them to see that they give generously and not grudgingly.
Paul then discusses the results of generosity, starting with the benefit to the giver. He says to remember that:
Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly.
Whoever sows generously will also reap generously.
He says, “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” He says that he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase their store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of their righteousness. He says that they will be enriched in every way so that they can be generous on every occasion, and through the apostles the Corinthians’’ generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.
Chapter 10
Chapters 10-13 are made up of what is known as the “Severe” Letter… or Paul’s defense of his apostolic authority. This section provides context for the preceding chapters.
The first section of Paul’s defense addresses polemics and is an affirmation of apostolic authority in general. This is argued in spite of what Paul acknowledges is an unimpressive appearance. He says he makes his appeal to them by the humility and gentleness of Christ, saying, “You claim that I’m timid when present but bold when far away, but my hope is that I won’t have to be as ‘bold’ with you when I come to visit as I expect to be.” He says that “we live in the world, but we don’t fight the way the world fights. The world has the power to demolish strongholds, but we have the power to demolish arguments and ignorance, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”
He tells the Corinthians that he and the other apostles are ready to punish disobedience, and he accuses them of judging by appearances. He declares that if anyone is confident that they belong to Christ, they should consider again that the apostles also belong to Christ just as much as they do. He says that even if he boasts somewhat freely about the authority the Lord gave them for building them up rather than tearing them down, he will not be ashamed of it. But he says that he does not want to seem to be trying to frighten them with his letters. He then accuses some of them of saying, “His letters are weighty and forceful, but in person he is unimpressive and his speaking amounts to nothing.” He says that these people should realize that what th0ye are in their letters when they are absent, they will be in their actions when they are present.
Paul then brings up an apparent invasion of false apostles into his territory. He says that the apostles do not classify or compare themselves with “those who foolishly compare themselves with themselves and measure themselves by themselves.” And he says that the apostles will confine their boasting to the sphere of service God himself has assigned to them, a sphere that also includes the Corinthians. He says, “We’re not going too far when we boast about you, because we worked with you. We’re not going too far when we boast about the work of others either. We hope that as your faith grows we can spread to the regions beyond you. We don’t want to boast about work already done in someone else’s territory.” And he concludes that all boasting should be in the Lord because people can’t approve of themselves – only God can.
Chapter 11
Paul then goes on to seek vindication of the authenticity of his own apostleship. And he offers arguments for the justification of his labors in Corinth. He says, “Please put up with my foolishness. I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to Christ as a virgin bride. But I’m afraid you’re more like an Eve than a bride, being tricked away from your God by a clever snake.” He tells them that they seem to easily put up with anybody who comes along preaching a different gospel than the one he presented to them. And he says that he doesn’t think he’s in any way inferior to these “super-apostles.” He says, “I may not be a trained speaker, but at least I have knowledge!” And he asks them if it was a sin for him to lower himself in order to elevate them by preaching the gospel of God to them free of charge. And he declares that he feels like he robbed other churches by receiving support from them so as to serve the Corinthians! He declares, “I was never a burden to you when I was with because the Macedonians supplied me with everything I needed! I will never allow myself to be a burden to you! I love you too much! I will continue to cut the ground out from under those who think they are equal to us in the things they boats about!”
He labels these other people as:
False apostles
Deceitful workers
Masquerading as apostles of Christ.
He says that just like their master Satan, they masquerade as angels of light, but their end will be what their actions deserve.
Paul brings up the bragging rights of a true apostle, and he boasts about his own sufferings. He says, “Don’t take me for a fool, but if you do, listen to me the way you listen to fools. I’m about to do a little boasting – but this is not how the Lord talks, but how a fool talks. Since so many are boasting as the world boasts, let me give it a shot. You think you’re being wise when you put up with these fools. But to your credit, you also put up with anyone who enslaves you, cheats you, or slaps you in the face. So all that stuff everybody’s boasting about – I can out-boast them all!”
He then lists off his bragging rights:
I am more…
Hebrew than they are
Israelite than they are
Abraham’s descendant than they are
servant of Christ than they are
I have…
Worked much harder
Been in prison more frequently
Been flogged more severely
Been exposed to death again and again
Received from the Jews five times the forty lashes minus one
Been beaten with rods three times
Been pelted with stones once
Been shipwrecked three times
Spent a night and a day in the open sea
Been constantly on the move
Been in danger from rivers
Been in danger from bandits
Been in danger from my fellow Jews
Been in danger from Gentiles
Been in danger in the city
Been in danger in the country
Been in danger at sea
Been in danger from false believers
Labored and toiled
Often gone without sleep
Known hunger and thirst
Often gone without food
Been cold and naked.
And then he adds that besides everything else, he faces daily the pressure of his concern for all the churches. He asks, “Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn?” But then he says that if he must boast, I will choose to boast of the things that show his weakness.
And he gives an example:
“In Damascus the governor under King Aretas had the city of the Damascenes guarded in order to arrest me. But I was lowered in a basket from a window in the wall and slipped through his hands.”
Chapter 12
Paul then boasts about his revelations and vision from the Lord, while acknowledging that he knows full well that it is stupid to brag about such things. First, he says that he knows a man in Christ who fourteen years prior was caught up to “the third heaven.” He adds that he doesn’t know whether it was in the body or out of the body – but God knows. He says the man was caught up to paradise and heard inexpressible things, things that no one is permitted to tell. And he says he will boast about a man like that, but he will not boast about himself …except about his weaknesses. And he adds that even if he should choose to boast, he would not be a fool, because he would be speaking the truth. But he refrains, so no one will think more of him than is warranted by what he does or says… or because of these surpassingly great revelations.
And Paul continues to boast about his own weaknesses. He says that in order to keep him from becoming conceited, he was given “a thorn” in his flesh, “a messenger of Satan”, to torment him. And he says that he pleaded three times with the Lord to take it away from him, But God said, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” And so Paul concludes that he will boast all the more gladly about his weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on him. He says this is why, for Christ’s sake, he delights in…
Weaknesses
Insults
Hardships
Persecutions
Difficulties
For when he is weak, then he is strong.
Paul then summarizes his argument by offering the proof of a true apostle. He says, “I have made a fool of myself, but you drove me to it. You ought to have commended me, for even though I am nothing, I am no less than these ‘super-apostles.’ I persevered in demonstrating among you the marks of a true apostle, including signs, wonders and miracles. How were you inferior to the other churches, except that I was never a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong!”
Paul then talks about his planned third visit. He promises not to be a burden, saying that children should not have to save up for their parents, but parents for their children. He says he will very gladly spend everything he has on them and expend himself as well. And he asks, “If I love you more, will you love me less? …Be that as it may, I have not been a burden to you. Yet, crafty fellow that I am, I caught you by trickery! Did I exploit you through any of the men I sent to you? I urged Titus to go to you and I sent our brother with him. …Titus did not exploit you, did he? Did we not walk in the same footsteps by the same Spirit?”
Paul then admits his fears about those who are unrepentant. And he asks the Corinthians if they have been thinking all along that the apostles have been defending themselves to them. He says that they have been speaking in the sight of God as those in Christ, and everything they do is for strengthening their friends, in this case, the Corinthians. He says he’s afraid that when he comes he may not find them as he wants them to be… and vice versa.
He’s afraid there may be…
Discord
Jealousy
Fits of rage
Selfish ambition
Slander
Gossip
Arrogance
Disorder
He says he’s afraid that when he comes again God will humble him before them, and he will be grieved over many who have sinned earlier and have not repented of impurity, sexual sin, and debauchery.
Chapter 13
Paul says that this will be his third visit to them, and that he warned them the second time he visited and he is warning them again while he is away that he will not spare anyone who has sinned. He says the reason for this is because they have demanded proof that Christ is speaking through him. He declares that Christ…
Is not weak in dealing with them
Is powerful among them.
Was crucified in weakness
Lives by God’s power.
And he adds that even though the apostles are weak in Christ, they will receive God’s life-giving power through Christ during their dealings with the Corinthians.
Paul then sets an expectation of self-examination. He tells them to examine themselves to see whether they are in the faith, and that they should realize that Jesus Christ lives in them… unless of course they fail the test. And he says they will discover that the apostles have passed the test. He says, “We pray that you don’t mess up – not so that people will think we’re so good, but for your own benefit in spite of what anyone thinks of us.”
He asks, “Why do I write these things to you?” And answers, “Because we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. Because we are glad whenever we are weak but you are strong. Because our prayer is that you may be fully restored. So that when I come I may not have to be harsh in my use of authority. Because God gave me authority over you to build you up, not tear you down.”
Paul then offers his final exhortation and greetings. And he gives his final command…
Rejoice!
Strive for full restoration
Encourage one another
Be of one mind
Live in peace
And he blesses them…
“The God of love and peace will be with you. Greet one another with a holy kiss. All God’s people here send their greetings.”
May these be with you all:
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ
The love of God
The fellowship of the Holy Spirit
