[Note: Due to technical difficulties, the recording of the beginning of this class was lost. My apologies! - MRW]
Introduction to 2 Corinthians
Notable versesII Corinthians 4:16II Corinthians 5:7II Corinthians 5:10II Corinthians 5:17II Corinthians 6:2II Corinthians 7:10II Corinthians 9:7II Corinthians 10:4II Corinthians 12:9II Corinthians 13:5Corinth, a city of AchaiaAncient 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 peninsulaHome 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 18:2-3BackgroundPaul 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 13:1Three-month stay in Greece after writing II Corinthians (Acts 20:2-3)Wrote Romans during that visit.Brief review of I CorinthiansThree main sections of II CorinthiansII Corinthians 1-7 – Apologetic (explanation and defense)II Corinthians 8-9 – Hortatory (exhortation)II Corinthians 10-13 – PolemicalII Corinthians overviewVery personal letter from Paul to Christians in Achaia.Paul used a variety of methods to convince and exhort them.Paul’s work as an apostleJohn 15:26-27; 16:8-11Acts 9:15-16“Instrument” from the Greek, skeuos, meaning vessel (II Corinthians 4:7)Acts 20:22-24I Corinthians 15:8-10II Corinthians 4:1; 5:18; 6:3I Timothy 1:12-13, 16Class goalsGreater understanding of the text with a goal toward personal application and improvement.Local authority and individual Christian’s relationship with apostolic authority.Class expectationsII 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
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