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A.             The City of Corinth: its History The history of ancient Corinth is the story of two cities. We first take note of Corinth in 146 b.c. when it was invaded by a Roman army under the leadership of L. Mummius who destroyed the city and killed or enslaved virtually the entire population. Corinth lay in ruins for more than a century until 44 b.c. when Julius Caesar saw its great potential. He gave orde...Read More

A.             Greeting and Thanksgiving - 1:1-11 1.              The author - 1:1a a.              his calling: an apostle (by the will of God) "But when he describes himself as 'an apostle by the will of God,' he is not emphasizing his own obedience or response to a divine call. ...Read More

Following a lengthy opening salutation in which Paul expresses his gratitude to God for the comfort and deliverance he had experienced (vv. 1-11), Paul turns immediately to a defense of his integrity and motives in his dealings with the Corinthians. The charges leveled against him by certain persons at Corinth were both varied and vicious. In 1:12-2:4 Paul responds to three false accusations which were designed to undermine his apostolic authority. A.   &...Read More

Special Study on Church Discipline A.             Greeting and Thanksgiving - 1:1-11 B.             Paul's Defense against Unwarranted Accusations - 1:12-2:4 C.             Paul on Church Discipline - 2:5-11 1.              Pr...Read More

A.             Greeting and Thanksgiving - 1:1-11 B.             Paul's Defense against Unwarranted Accusations - 1:12-2:4 C.             Paul on Church Discipline - 2:5-11 D.            Paul and the Gospel of Christ - 2:12-17 1. &...Read More

E.             Paul and the Ministry of the New Covenant - 3:1-18 1.              the Corinthians: Paul's commendation in New Covenant ministry - 3:1-3 Paul may well have felt somewhat awkward following his comments in 2:14-17, thinking that it sounded self-serving and boastful. Perhaps his accusers would use vv. 14-17 to say: "Well, there he goe...Read More

F.             New Covenant Ministry and its Ministers: Treasure in Earthen Vessels - 4:1-15 1.              Treasure: the glory of the message - 4:1-6 a.              an open ministry - vv. 1-2 1)             steadfastnes...Read More

G.            The New Covenant Hope - 4:16-5:10 1.              the incomparable glory of heaven - 4:16-18 2.              the incorruptible life of heaven - 5:1-5 a.              the prospect of dying - v. 1 1) &nbs...Read More

G.            The New Covenant Hope - 4:16-5:10 H.            The New Covenant Message: Reconciliation - 5:11-21 1.              the motivation of his ministry - 5:11-15 In sum, it is not the commendation of men but the fear of the Lord and the constraining love of Christ which motivate and move ...Read More

I.               The New Covenant Ministry: the Quality of Paul's Service - 6:1-13 A.             Paul commands - 6:1-2 Paul describes himself as a "co-worker," but with whom or with what? Options: (1) with God (based on 5:18,21); (2) with Christ (based on 5:20), (3) with the Corinthians, or (4) with other teachers, perhaps his companions at...Read More

I.               The New Covenant Life: an Exhortation to Holiness - 6:14-7:1 [The authenticity of 6:14-7:1 and its place in the context of 2 Corinthians have been questioned. Three arguments are often used to prove that this paragraph did not originate with Paul, or at best was inserted by the apostle after the original composition of the letter: (1) the presence here of many words not found elsewher...Read More

L.             New Covenant Stewardship - 8:1-9:15 The historical background to the Jerusalem Collection: See 1 Cor. 16:1-4; Rom. 15:25-27. Ralph Martin gives this explanation for the causes of poverty in Jerusalem: "It may be the church had grown in size, and with increasing numbers of widows to care for, the relief fund was overburdened (cf. Acts 6:1-7). We know that elderly Jewish families migrated to the ...Read More

L.             New Covenant Stewardship - 8:1-9:15 1.              the example of the Christians in Macedonia - 8:1-5 2.              the effect on the Christians in Corinth - 8:6-7 3.              the model for Chris...Read More

M.           Paul's Defense of his Apostolic Authority - 10:1-13:14 1.              obedience and discipline - 10:1-6 a.              appeal - vv. 1-2 1)             prelude - v. 1 Here Paul is responding to criticisms (1) of his p...Read More

M.           Paul's Defense of his Apostolic Authority - 10:1-13:14 1.              Obedience and Discipline - 10:1-6 2.              Personal Obedience and Apostolic Commission - 10:7-18 3.              An Appeal for Acceptanc...Read More

M.           Paul's Defense of his Apostolic Authority - 10:1-13:14 1.              Obedience and Discipline - 10:1-6 2.              Personal Obedience and Apostolic Commission - 10:7-18 3.              An Appeal for Acceptanc...Read More

M.           Paul's Defense of his Apostolic Authority - 10:1-13:14 1.              Obedience and Discipline - 10:1-6 2.              Personal Obedience and Apostolic Commission - 10:7-18 3.              An Appeal for Acceptanc...Read More

I have placed an asterisk (*) after those commentaries that I recommend most highly.] Barnett, Paul. The Message of 2 Corinthians: Power in Weakness (Bible Speaks Today series). Downers Grove: IVP, 1988. ______. The Second Epistle to the Corinthians. Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1997.* Barrett, C. K. A Commentary on the Second Epistle to the Corinthians. New York: Harper & Row Publishers, 1973. Belleville, Linda L. 2 Corinthians (IVP New Test...Read More