2 Corinthians

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2 Corinthians

• 2 The God of all Comfort

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Analysis of 2 Corinthians

• Paul Defends his Conduct towards the Ecclesia
  (1-7)
• Salutation (11-2)
• Comfort in affliction (13-14)
• Reasons for Paul's changes of plan (115-24)
• Forgiving the offender (25-11)
• Disappointment and joy at Troas (212-17)
• The comfort Titus brought (75-16)
• Treasure in Earthen Vessels (3-5)
• The Corinthians a letter from Christ (31-6)
• A fading and an abiding glory (37-16)
• The message of Christ faithfully delivered
  (317-46)
• Treasure in earthen vessels (47-15)
• The sustaining hope (416-510)
• The ministry of reconciliation (511-610)

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Analysis of 2 Corinthians

• Collection for Poor Saints in Jerusalem
• Receive not the Grace of God in Vain (6- 9)
• Their response to the apostle's labours
  (611-74)
• Generosity encouraged (81-15)
• Titus and companions sent to Corinth (816 95)
  
• Results of generous giving (96-15)
• Defence against his Opponents (10-13)
• When I am Weak, then am I Strong
• Defence of his authority and mission (101-18)
• "Foolish" boastings (111 1221)
• Final warnings (131-10)
• Final greetings (1311-14)

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Tensions

• Declares intention to visit them again - 1
  Corinthians 165,6
• Makes a painful visit 2 Corinthians 21
• Abandons plan for another visit - 2 Corinthians
  115,16,23, 22
• Writes a severe letter - Letter C , sent via
  Titus (2 Corinthians 23,4 78)

5
Relief

• Leaves Ephesus for Troas, hoping to catch Titus
  as he returns - Acts 201 2 Corinthians 21
• Continues to Macedonia and meets Titus - 2
  Corinthians 212 75-7 15,16
• Writes Letter D - 2 Corinthians

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Comfort (Gk paraklesis)

• Isaiah 401-11
• Romans 154
• John 1425-27 157,8
• Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me
• 1 John 16-22
• Paraklesis comfort, encouragement,
  exhortation, consolation

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Giving comfort

• In grief
• In loss
• In failure
• In affliction
• In the home
• To our neighbours
• At work
• In the ecclesia
• In the brotherhood

9
Comfort in affliction

• For as we share abundantly in Christ's
  sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly
  in comfort too. If we are afflicted, it is for
  your comfort and salvation and if we are
  comforted, it is for your comfort, which you
  experience when you patiently endure the same
  sufferings that we suffer. Our hope for you is
  unshaken, for we know that as you share in our
  sufferings, you will also share in our comfort.
• (2Co 15-7)

10
Effectual fervent prayer

• For we do not want you to be ignorant, brothers,
  of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we
  were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that
  we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that
  we had received the sentence of death. But that
  was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God
  who raises the dead. He delivered us from such a
  deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we
  have set our hope that he will deliver us again.
  You also must help us by prayer, so that many
  will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing
  granted us through the prayers of many.
• (2Co 18-11)

11
Godly repentance

• For godly grief and the pain God is permitted to
  direct, produce a repentance that leads and
  contributes to salvation and deliverance from
  evil, and it never brings regret but worldly
  grief (the hopeless sorrow that is characteristic
  of the pagan world) is deadly breeding and
  ending in death.
• 2 Corinthians 710 (Amplified Bible)

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Fragrance of the gospel

• But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads
  us in triumphal procession, and through us
  spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him
  everywhere. For we are the aroma of Christ tood
  among those who are being saved and among those
  who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death
  to death, to the other a fragrance from life to
  life. Who is sufficient for these things?
• (2Co 214-16)

13
A Roman Triumph

• When a Roman general won an important military
  victory, the senate/emperor honoured him upon his
  return home with a "triumph."
• The victorious general and his soldiers usually
  came first.
• Behind him came the incense-bearers. They carried
  censers of burning incense, which represented
  thanksgiving to the gods for victory.
• Next came the captives, usually consisting of two
  distinct groups
• Those who had voluntarily surrendered and
  complied with Rome. They were to be set free
  after the triumph.
• Those who resisted and were forcibly subdued came
  last and in chains. They were to be executed
  after the triumph.

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The impact of Christ

• The "triumphant general" is Jesus, who won the
  greatest ever spiritual victory
• The "incense-bearers" are Paul and his band--and
  all who have received Christ
• The incense is the gospel message
• The gospel is a stumbling block to Jews and
  foolishness to Gentiles, but to those who receive
  it, the wisdom of God gt