II Corinthians

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.

In this chapter Paul encourages the Corinthians to never give up.  He recognizes that they will face trouble and are living lives in fragile human bodies. However, he notes that they hold the shining light of Jesus Christ within them.  With God’s strength, we carry on that through our trials and even death, God is glorified through them.  Paul notes that our present struggles are miniscule in comparison with the glory of the things we cannot see that will last forever in God’s presence.   

Principles:  Our present trials are nothing in comparison to the glory of God.  In our suffering for Christ, Christ is glorified.

This chapter talks about having a new heavenly body when we die that is eternal and made by God for us for those who believe in Christ as Savior.  Paul notes that our earthly bodies groan and sigh in their current state.  It’s not that we want to die, Paul points out.  Instead, it’s that we want to have our new heavenly bodies.  He points out that regardless of whether we are here in our earthly bodies or in our heavenly bodies with the Lord, we should be working to please the Lord.  With that comes the responsibility for our actions for which we will be judged.

Because we understand that we will be judged for our actions, we work to be responsible to God and persuade others to know Him.  As we have been reconciled to Him, we are ambassadors to others for this same purpose.   

Principles:  Our earthly bodies will one day be replaced by heavenly bodies created by God for those that are His children.  We should be focused on being ambassadors of God to the world.

Paul opens this section imploring the Corinthians not to be given God’s gift and then ignore it.  

He then shares the hardships that they face as ministers noting that no one will stumble based on how they live and operate.  He shares that Paul and his fellow ministers have love for them but the Corinthians have withheld their love from Paul and his cohorts.  

He ends the section talking about keeping themselves pure because they are the temple of the living God.  He notes that they should not live like unbelievers.

Principles:  God’s kindness and love for us should be our focus.  Live life submitted to His holy purpose.  Don’t let others stumble because of your life.

As a follow-up to the ending of chapter 6, Paul encourages the Corinthians to live holy lives unto God because of the promises we have.  Paul encourages them to open their hearts to Paul and his team as well as they only want them to be close to each other and to God.

Paul also expresses joy at the Corinthian’s repentance based on his letter to them that was harsh.  He also was happy at the way they cared for Titus when he came to them.  He noted that it was a great joy to experience the truth of what Paul said about the Corinthians and in how he felt their care.      

Principles:  Be in good fellowship with believers that draw you to the Lord.  Live holy lives in communion with God.

Paul addresses the concept of giving in this chapter.  He doesn’t demand it for his sake but for the good of those that give and showing love to others that are in need.  He’s careful to say that they should not give what they don’t have or to give so much that it they are made poor while making others rich.  Paul instead focuses on what it does for the giver.

Principles:  Give from a cheerful heart and out of love for others.

Paul continues discussing giving with the Corinthians.  He tells them that he has shared how willing they were to give to others like the Macedonians.  He has sent this letter to be sure that they actually had followed through and collected the gifts to be given so that they would (and he would) not be embarrassed if they had not.  He did, however, want to make sure that it was a willing gift and not under pressure.  

He also noted that giving a good gift was like a farmer planting a good crop that would yield a good harvest.  

He also noted that the good gift would produce good things:  blessings for the receivers who had needs and glory given to God.  

Principles: Give willingly and cheerfully. Give to glorify God and to meet needs.  Give what you say you will give.

Paul talks about his authority with the Corinthians and for the work he does.  He notes that he is perceived as harsh in his letters and mild in person.  He says he hopes that he is able to still be mild in person because of his letters. 

He also points to his authority with them because of the work God has done through him with them and the efforts that they have made to reach out to them with God’s love.

He talks about boasting about their accomplishments.  He says he will not boast outside of what they have accomplished like others do nor compare himself to their own standards.  Instead, they will boast about the Lord’s work and stay within what God has them doing.  

Principles:  Authority/leadership is established through relationship.  Boast in the Lord and not your own accomplishments.  Let others and the Lord confirm your credentials.  Let God manage your reputation.

Paul continues to speak to the Corinthians in a way that he calls being foolish.  He points out truth by being sarcastic.  He points out that he was “too weak” to take advantage of other “Christian preachers” who caused them to be in bondage and took money from them.  Paul instead never took money, always providing for himself or letting other believers elsewhere cover the costs.  He shares the hardships and persecution that he has endured as credentials that far surpass any of the other “Christian preachers.”  

Paul boasts in the weakness he has that reflect God’s greatness in provision.  

Principles:  Don’t come into bondage from Christian guilt.  Glory in your weakness through God’s provision.  

Paul continues on the previous chapter noting that he has the qualifications and experiences that would allow him to boast. However, he won’t do that because he wants the glory to be God’s. He even notes that he either had a vision or was taken to heaven to see things humans are not allowed to share on earth. Instead of boasting about all of this, he focuses back on God. He notes that to keep him humble, Paul was given a thorn in the flesh. This thorn in the flesh kept him from becoming proud. When he asked God to remove it, God responded that His grace was all that Paul needed and that His power works best in Paul’s weakness. 

Paul goes on to share his concern for the Corinthians, pointing out that he has never taken advantage of them. He doesn’t take support from them for himself or any of his team like any of the “super apostles” (that take advantage of the Corinthians) do. Yet some still think he has cheated them somehow.   Paul assures the Corinthians that he doesn’t want their possessions.  He wants them and their love.  

Principles:  Our strength is not sustaining.  God’s greatness is exemplified in our weakness.  God doesn’t want our stuff. . .He wants us.

Paul is closing the letter in this chapter.  He warns them that his next trip will be one where he corrects if those sinning (that are known individuals) do not repent on their own.  He tells them that Christ is not weak as they suppose but operates in the God’s strength as Paul and his team does when they are doing His will.  Paul prays that the Corinthians will become mature and live in the joy, peace, and harmony of God.  

Principles:  Stubborn sinning requires diligent discipline.  You can do it the easy way or the hard way.