II Corinthians

This book is in progress.

This chapter opens with greetings from Paul and Timothy. Paul shares that they went through some very difficult times, even thinking that they were going to die while they were in Asia. They had given up hope of living and had to learn to trust God in those circumstances. Through those trials, they learned to better rely on God instead of their own strength.   Paul shares that the trials we go through bring God’s comfort to us for us to share with others.

Paul notes that they have been honest and holy in their dealings with others. He notes that he is not saying one thing and meaning another. He shares this as a background of his travel schedule. Paul notes that he hopes to come twice now as a “double blessing” to them. He also says he didn’t come through last time because he wanted to spare them a rebuke on the previous trip.  

Principles:  Don’t rely on yourself.  Rely on God in all circumstances.  

Paul references a letter an earlier letter that he wrote to the Corinthians chastising them. He notes that it was a hard letter for him to write and that he would not visit as a result because he didn’t want them to have additional pain. He references that a man that had caused trouble was now to be forgiven and shown love by them. When they forgave him, Paul also would forgive him.   Paul also noted that he was testing them through the letter to see if they would listen to what he directed them to do.  He said that they needed to forgive so that Satan would not outsmart them as believers.  

Paul notes that God has made them captives and directs them where they should go to spread the message of Christ everywhere.  This would be a sweet perfume to those who are being saved and like the smell of death to those that have rejected God.  

He points out that he and his team of ministers are not like the “many hucksters who preach for personal profit.”  Instead they preach with sincerity and Christ’s authority knowing that God is watching.   

Principles:  Sometimes delivering a hard message makes it better in the long run.  When we are doing God’s work, we are a sweet smelling fragrance to those in Christ and are off-putting to those who have rejected God.  Many “ministers” are hucksters in it only for the money.   

In this chapter, Paul challenges the Corinthians with his credentials with them.  He says they do not need recommendations from others because they (the Corinthians) ARE the recommendation letters as they have brought them to faith through their ministry efforts.

Paul then goes on to say that the old covenant showed God’s glory but was hidden behind a veil that Moses wore.  The new covenant does not have that cover and is even more glorious.  When someone turns to Jesus, the veil is removed from their lives so that they can experience God’s glory directly.  

Principles:  God’s presence in our lives through the new covenant through Christ allows us to experience the glory of God directly.