Chapter 10: 2 Corinthians 10:1-18, spiritual warfare

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, we pray for transformation, renewal, new insights, revelation, and anointing. We pray for understanding, insight, and application of difficult and controversial passages. We pray for spiritual eyes of faith to see into the spiritual world, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

VV 1-2, 1 Now I, Paul, myself am pleading with you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am lowly among you, but being absent am bold toward you. 2 But I beg you that when I am present I may not be bold with that confidence by which I intend to be bold against some, who think of us as if we walked according to the flesh.

Paul was bold when he wrote letters to his audience but was meek, gentle, and lowly when he confronted them face to face.

But Paul was bold when he confronted the false apostles because he was not afraid of them .

VV 3-6, 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, 6 and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.

Our battle is not physical but spiritual. Our battle is not against flesh and blood but against principalities, powers, thrones, rulers, authorities, and spiritual wickedness in high places, Ephesians 6:12. Since our battle is spiritual, our weapons of warfare are also spiritual. These are the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the gospel shoes of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, Ephesians 6:14-17. The first five are weapons of defend. The sixth, the sword of the Spirit, is a weapon of defend and attack. The sword of the spirit is the word of God and prayer. We defend ourselves with the word of God. We attack the enemy with prayer.

Ephesians 6:12, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”

Ephesians 6:14-17, “Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace, above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”

VV 7-11, 7 Do you look at things according to the outward appearance? If anyone is convinced in himself that he is Christ’s, let him again consider this in himself, that just as he is Christ’s, even so we are Christ’s. 8 For even if I should boast somewhat more about our authority, which the Lord gave us for edification and not for your destruction, I shall not be ashamed, 9 lest I seem to terrify you by letters. 10 “For his letters,” they say, “are weighty and powerful, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.” 11 Let such a person consider this, that what we are in word by letters when we are absent, such we will also be in deed when we are present.

Paul asked 1 rhetorical question. Paul urged his audience not to judge him by outward appearance. Paul boasted about his apostolic authority from Christ. The false apostles criticised Paul’s unremarkable oratory skills and unimpressive outward appearance although they acknowledged his exemplary writing skills.

VV 12-13, 12 For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise. 13 We, however, will not boast beyond measure, but within the limits of the sphere which God appointed us, a sphere which especially includes you.

Paul and his co-workers dared not judge or praise themselves. The false apostles however, did not hesitate to judge, praise, and elevate themselves excessively.

VV 14-18, 14 For we are not overextending ourselves (as though our authority did not extend to you), for it was to you that we came with the gospel of Christ, 15 not boasting of things beyond measure, that is, in other men’s labors, but having hope, that as your faith is increased, we shall be greatly enlarged by you in our sphere, 16 to preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man’s sphere of accomplishment. 17 But “he who glories, let him glory in the Lord.” 18 For not he who commends himself is approved, but whom the Lord commends.

Paul and his co-workers imposed limits to their boastings and authority. Paul preached the gospel to places where no other apostles visited so as not to encroach into other apostle’s sphere of influence. Paul quoted Jeremiah 9:24.

Jeremiah 9:24, “But let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight, says the Lord.”

Application:

Our battle is not against flesh and blood but against principalities, powers, thrones, rulers, authorities, and spiritual wickedness in high places, Ephesians 6:12. The spiritual weapons of our warfare are the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the gospel shoes of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, Ephesians 6:14-17. In order to win this battle, we must identify and know our enemy and we must use the correct spiritual weapons.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, help us to understand that we are not fighting against flesh and blood but against principalities, powers, thrones, rulers, authorities, and spiritual wickedness in high places. Help us to protect and fight this battle using Your full spiritual armour, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Chapter 9: 2 Corinthians 9: 1-15, sowing and reaping

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, we pray for spiritual ears to hear, spiritual eyes to see, spiritual minds to understand, spiritual hearts to receive, and divine enablement to obey. We permit You to perform radical surgery, to conform, transform, and renew us from inside out, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

VV 1-3, 1 Now concerning the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you; 2 for I know your willingness, about which I boast of you to the Macedonians, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal has stirred up the majority. 3 Yet I have sent the brethren, lest our boasting of you should be in vain in this respect, that, as I said, you may be ready,

Ancient Achaia was a province of the Roman Empire and Corinth was its capital. Achaia had already started the collection for the mother church in Jerusalem 1 year ago but the collection might have slowed down.

Paul sent Titus and 2 other brothers ahead of him to them to encourage them to continue and complete the collection. Paul boasted about the Corinthian Christian’s zeal to the Macedonian Christians.

VV 4-5, 4 lest if some Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we (not to mention you!) should be ashamed of this confident boasting. 5 Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren to go to you ahead of time, and prepare your generous gift beforehand, which you had previously promised, that it may be ready as a matter of generosity and not as a grudging obligation.

If Paul came to Corinth with some Macedonian Christians and found them unprepared with the offering it would not be edifying. Therefore, Paul took the liberty to send Titus and the two other brothers to them ahead of him to prepare their generous gift beforehand.

VV 6-9, 6 But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. 9 As it is written: “He has dispersed abroad, He has given to the poor, His righteousness endures forever.”

Paul explained the principle of sowing and reaping. In planting, whoever sows a lot of seeds will reap a plentiful harvest. Whoever sows a few seeds will reap only a meagre harvest. The same principle applies to giving to the Lord’s work. Whoever givea lot to the Lord’s work will reap a bountiful reward from the Lord at the judgment seat of Christ, 2 Corinthians 5:10. We should not give grudgingly because God loves a cheerful giver. Paul quoted Psalm 112:2.

Paul quoted, Psalm 112:9, “He has dispersed abroad, He has given to the poor; His righteousness endures forever; His horn will be exalted with honor.”

2 Corinthians 5:10, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.”

VV 10-11, 10 Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness, 11 while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God.

The principle of sowing and reaping also applies to evangelism. God is the gardener. He supplies us with the seed of the gospel. Our job is to sow the seeds far and wide to increase the fruits of our labour. Whoever sows bountifully will reap bountifully. Whoever sows sparingly will reap sparingly.

VV 12-15, 12 For the administration of this service not only supplies the needs of the saints, but also is abounding through many thanksgivings to God, 13 while, through the proof of this ministry, they glorify God for the obedience of your confession to the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal sharing with them and all men, 14 and by their prayer for you, who long for you because of the exceeding grace of God in you. 15 Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!

The collection of the offering would supply the needs of the famine and poverty-stricken Judean Christians of the mother church. Their generous offering would be proof of their obedience, glorify God, and answered the prayers of the Judean Christians. Paul thanked God for their generous and indescribable gift.

Application:

2 Corinthians 9:6-7 should be committed to memory. “But this I say, He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

Whoever sows generouly to the Lord’s work will reap a generous reward from the Lord at the judgment seat of Christ, 2 Corinthians 5:10. Sowing into God’s kingdom on earth translates to depositing into our heavenly bank accounts. Whatever is deposited into our accounts in heaven lasts into eternity.

Matthew 6:19-21, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, help us not to lay up for ourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for ourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Chapter 8: 2 Corinthians 8: 1-24, collection for the saints

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, we pray for daily bread, to nurture our weary souls and spirits. We pray for sanctification by Your Word of truth. We pray for growth in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

VV 1-4, 1 Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia: 2 that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality. 3 For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing, 4 imploring us with much urgency that we would receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.

Paul initiated a collection of offering from the churches in Asia Minor to the poverty-stricken mother church in Judea, who was facing financial hardship due to famine.

Paul commended the Macedonian churches for their joy, willingness, and enthusiasm in giving. Even during times of affliction and poverty, they freely and urgently gave beyond their ability.

VV 5-7, 5 And not only as we had hoped, but they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God. 6 So we urged Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also complete this grace in you as well. 7 But as you abound in everything, in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us, see that you abound in this grace also.

Before the Macedonian Christians gave their offerings to Paul’s initiative, they gave themselves fully to Christ in submission to God’s will. Paul entrusted Titus to be in charge of the collection. Paul did not handle the collection to prevent any conflict of interest. Paul urged his audience to give freely out of love and grace.

VV 8-9, 8 I speak not by commandment, but I am testing the sincerity of your love by the diligence of others. 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.

Christ, the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, became poor for our sake, to make us rich. He gave up the glory of heaven when He became a man. He humbled Himself on the cross to become the substitutionary atonement for the sins of the world, Philippians 2:5-8.

Philippians 2:5-8, “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.”

VV 10-12, 10 And in this I give advice. It is to your advantage not only to be doing what you began and were desiring to do a year ago, 11 but now you also must complete the doing of it, that as there was a readiness to desire it, so there also may be a completion out of what you have. 12 For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have.

The Corinthian Corinthians started the collection 1 year ago. Paul encouraged them to continue and complete the collection.

VV 13-15, 13 For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened, 14 but by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may supply their lack, that their abundance also may supply your lack, that there may be equality. 15 As it is written, “He who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack.”

Paul quoted Exodus 16:18. God miraculously provided manna from heaven to the Jews of the Exodus.

The Jews who were greedy collected more manna than they needed but the extra manna turned bad the next day. Those who collected less manna they needed did not experience any lack because God supplied the balance.

Exodus 16:18, “So when they measured it by omers, he who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack. Every man had gathered according to each one’s need.’’

VV 16-21, 16 But thanks be to God who puts the same earnest care for you into the heart of Titus. 17 For he not only accepted the exhortation but being more diligent, he went to you of his own accord. 18 And we have sent with him the brother whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches, 19 and not only that, but who was also chosen by the churches to travel with us with this gift, which is administered by us to the glory of the Lord Himself and to show your ready mind, 20 avoiding this, that anyone should blame us in this lavish gift which is administered by us, 21 providing honorable things, not only in the sight of the Lord but also in the sight of men.

Titus willingly accepted the duty of overseeing the collection. In addition to Titus, Paul also entrusted another brother chosen by the churches to minister and oversee the collection of the offering. Paul did not want to be accused of mishandling the funds for personal gain.

VV 22-24, 22 And we have sent with them our brother whom we have often proved diligent in many things, but now much more diligent, because of the great confidence which we have in you. 23 If anyone inquires about Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker concerning you. Or if our brethren are inquired about, they are messengers of the churches, the glory of Christ. 24 Therefore show to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love and of our boasting on your behalf.

In addition to Titus and the other brother, Paul entrusted one more brother to co-administer and oversee the collection of the offering. Paul confirmed the credentials of Titus and the other two brothers as his partners and fellow workers of the gospel. Paul encouraged his audience to give generously to this worthy project as proof of their love and obedience.

Application:

Before giving your offering to the Lord’s work, you should give yourself fully to the Lord first, and submit yourself to His will. You should give generously to the work of the Lord. God loves a cheerful giver. You cannot never out-give God. It is more blessed to give than to receive.

 

 

 

Prayer:

 

Heavenly Father, thank You for the grace of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, that even though He was rich, yet became poor for our sakes, so that through His poverty, we might become rich. Thank You for the gift of salvation, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Chapter 7: 2 Corinthians 7:1-16, godly repentance

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, we pray for You to minister to us by the living Word of eternal life and feed our weary souls with the Bread of Life. We pray for You to quench our thirst with the Living Water of the Holy Spirit. We pray for the anointing of the Holy Spirit, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

V 1, Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

Paul admonished his audience not to walk in the flesh but encouraged them to walk in the Spirit and manifest the fruit of the Spirit.

VV 2-4, 2 Open your hearts to us. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have cheated no one. 3 I do not say this to condemn; for I have said before that you are in our hearts, to die together and to live together. 4 Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my boasting on your behalf. I am filled with comfort. I am exceedingly joyful in all our tribulation.

Paul urged his audience to open their hearts to him and his co-workers. They were honest with them. They had not wronged, corrupted, or cheated them. Paul loved (agape) them and was willing even to die for them. Paul minced no words. He was exceedingly joyful even when under intense persecutions and tribulations.

VV 5-7, 5 For indeed, when we came to Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were troubled on every side. Outside were conflicts, inside were fears. 6 Nevertheless God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, 7 and not only by his coming but also by the consolation with which he was comforted in you when he told us of your earnest desire, your mourning, your zeal for me so that I rejoiced even more.

When Paul and his co-workers arrived at Corinth from Macedonia, they encountered troubles, conflicts, and fear. Paul was comforted, encouraged, and edified when he met Titus in Macedonia, and received favourable news regarding the Corinthians Christians.

VV 8-10, 8 For even if I made you sorry with my letter, I do not regret it, though I did regret it. For I perceive that the same epistle made you sorry, though only for a while. 9 Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing. 10 For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted, but the sorrow of the world produces death.

Paul apologised to his audience for his strongly worded letter. He was vindicated when this resulted in repentance, obedience, and change of hearts by his audience towards him. Godly sorrow resulted in godly repentance and salvation but worldly sorrow ends in death.

VV 11-12, 11 For observe this very thing, that you sorrowed in a godly manner. What diligence it produced in you, what clearing of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what vehement desire, what zeal, what vindication! In all things you proved yourselves to be clear in this matter. 12 Therefore, although I wrote to you, I did not do it for the sake of him who had done the wrong, nor for the sake of him who suffered wrong, but that our care for you in the sight of God might appear to you.

Paul commended the Corinthians Christians for their godly repentance in response to his strongly worded letter.

Paul’s letter was for the benefit of the Corinthian Christians, not for the false apostles and not for himself.

VV 13-16, 13 Therefore we have been comforted in your comfort. And we rejoiced exceedingly more for the joy of Titus, because his spirit has been refreshed by you all. 14 For if in anything I have boasted to him about you, I am not ashamed. But as we spoke all things to you in truth, even so our boasting to Titus was found true. 15 And his affections are greater for you as he remembers the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling you received him. 16 Therefore I rejoice that I have confidence in you in everything.

Paul and Titus were comforted, encouraged, refreshed, and edified by the Corinthians Christian’s godly repentance and obedience. Speaking the truth in love, Paul commended Titus for his zeal, confidence, and boldness.

Application:

Memorise 2 Corinthians 7:10, “For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted, but the sorrow of the world produces death.”

If we sinned, we should confess, repent, and claim the promise of 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, help us to remove all filthiness and works of the flesh. We pray for divine empowerment and grace to walk in the Spirit. We pray for the fruit of the Spirit to be displayed in us. You are the God of all comfort who comforts and rescues us out of difficult circumstances, so that we can comfort others in similar circumstances, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Chapter 6: 2 Corinthians 6:1-18, marks of true apostle

 

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, we are gathered here today to listen to Your word, to learn more of You, to have a closer walk with You, and to have a relationship with You. We pray for the grace to know You more and more every day, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

VV 1-2, 1 We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain. 2 For He says: “In an acceptable time I have heard you, and in the day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the accepted time, behold, now is the day of salvation.

Paul pleaded with his audience not to take God’s grace for granted by quoting God’s promise to Israel in Isaiah 49:8.

Isaiah 49:8, Thus says the Lord: “In an acceptable time I have heard You, and in the day of salvation I have helped You.

I will preserve You and give You as a covenant to the people, to restore the earth, to cause them to inherit the desolate heritages

VV 3-10, 3 We give no offense in anything, that our ministry may not be blamed. 4 But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God, in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses, 5 in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in fasting, 6 by purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love, 7 by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, 8 by honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true; 9 as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold we live, as chastened, and yet not killed; 10 as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing, as poor, yet making many rich, as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

Paul defended his ministry saying that he and his co-workers did not offend anyone and his ministry was blameless. Paul listed out the hallmarks of a true apostle. True apostles are ministers of God, in difficulties, sufferings, tribulations, trials, persecutions, distress, sleeplessness, etc, by purity, patience, kindness, love, power, honour, etc, as unknown yet known, as dying, yet alive, as poor, yet making others rich, as having nothing, yet possessing all things. Note, “in”, “by”, and “as”.

VV 11-13, 11 O Corinthians! We have spoken openly to you, our heart is wide open. 12 You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted by your own affections. 13 Now in return for the same (I speak as to children), you also be open.

Greek for restricted is “stenochoreo”, which means, a closed heart. Paul and his co-workers opened their hearts to the Corinthian Christians but the Corinthian Christians closed their hearts to them. Paul pleaded with his audience to reciprocate by opening their hearts to him.

VV 14-16, 14 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? 15 And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? 16 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell in them, and walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people.”

Paul warned his audience against forming partnerships with unbelievers in marriage, business partneship, or any other joint ventures. Paul warned his audience to reject the false apostles who peddled false theology and heretic doctrines. Paul asked 5 rhetorical questions. Paul considered the false apostles as unbelievers and unrighteous ministers of satan. They discredited Paul’s apostolic authority through slander, lies, and deception. Righteousness is not compatible with lawlessness. Light is not compatible with darkness, Christ is not compatible with satan. Idolatry is not compatible with Christianity as Christians are temples of the Holy Spirit. Paul quoted Ezekiel 37:27.

Ezekiel 37:27, “My tabernacle also shall be with them; indeed I will be their God, and they shall be My people.”

VV 17-18, 17 Therefore, “ come out from among them, and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you.” 18 “’ I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”

Paul warned his audience to reject the false apostles by quoting Isaiah 52:11. We should be holy because God is holy. God is our Father and we are His children through spiritual regeneration and new birth, John 1:12.

Isaiah 52:11, “Depart! Depart! Go out from there, touch no unclean thing, go out from the midst of her, be clean, you who bear the vessels of the Lord.”

John 1:12, “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name.”

Application:

Christians should not be unequally yoked with non-Christians in marriage, business partnership, or any other joint ventures. Christian values are not compatible with non-Christian values. Differences in objectives, opinions, perspectives, worldviews, and principles will lead to difficulties, complications, and failed relationships. Going against God’s advice will not be fruitful.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of salvation by grace through faith in Christ. Help us not to take your grace for granted. Thank You that in an acceptable time, You heard us, and in the day of salvation, You saved us, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Chapter 5: 2 Corinthians 5:1-21,  judgment seat of Christ

 

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, we commit this time to You to see, hear, feel, and learn from You. We pray for all distractions, obstructions, doubts, and hindrances to be divinely removed. Help us to walk by faith and not by sight, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

VV 1-5, 1 For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven, 3 if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked. 4 For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life. 5 Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.

The earthly house or tent is the physical body. If our physical bodies are destroyed through death, we will receive a resurrected body made by God that will last into eternity. This will happen to all Christians at a future event called the rapture, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17. God’s promise of resurrection is guaranteed by the giving of the Holy Spirit as an earnest deposit. Greek for guarantee is “egguos”, which means an earnest deposit.

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.”

VV 6-8, 6 So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. 7 For we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.

When Christians are alive, they are absent from the Lord, but upon death, their spirits and souls will be united with the Lord. At death, our bodies will be either buried or cremated, but our spirits and souls live on with the Lord in heaven forever. Christians do not walk by physical sight but by spiritual eyes of faith.

VV 9-11, 9 Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. 11 Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men, but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences.

Paul encouraged his audience to live worthy of their calling. After the rapture, Christians will appear before the judgment seat of Christ, Rev 4. The judgment seat of Christ is a judgment for rewards, not condemnation, 1 Cor 3: 14-15. Christians will be rewarded or rebuked for things they did, or did not do after salvation, but their salvation is secured. Christ had already paid the penalty of sins for the Christians on the cross. The judgment seat of Christ is not the same as the white throne judgment of Rev 20:11-15.

Romans 14:10, “But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. Unfruitful believers will still be saved because they had built their foundation on Christ through faith.”

I Corinthians 3:14-15, “If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.”

Revelation 20:11, “Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them.

“VV 12-14, 12 For we do not commend ourselves again to you, but give you opportunity to boast on our behalf, that you may have an answer for those who boast in appearance and not in heart. 13 For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; or if we are of sound mind, it is for you. 14 For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus, that if One died for all, then all died; 15 and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.

Paul criticised the false apostles for boasting about their appearances without the sincerity of hearts. Paul might not have a stunning personality but his heart was sincere. Christ died for everyone. Christians should not live for themselves but live for Christ who died and resurrection from the dead for them.

VV 16-17, 16 Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

Therefore, connects us back to the previous verses. Since Christ died for everyone in the flesh, Paul would not appraise anyone according to the flesh. A born-again Christian is a new creation in Christ, regenerated by the Holy Spirit with the incorruptible seed of God’s words. The old man of the flesh is replaced by the spirit-man of the Holy Spirit. There is a change of world view, desire, appetite, gifting, insight, and ambition. There is a transformation of heart, renewal of mindset, and conformity to the image of God, Romans 12:2.”

Romans 12:2, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

VV 18-19, 18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.

Justification by faith reconciled Christians to God, Romans 5:10. God reconciled the world to Himself through the atoning sacrifice of Christ on the cross, 2 Corinthians 5:21.

Romans 5:10, “For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.”

2 Corinthians 5:21, “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

VV 20-21, 20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. 21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Christians are ambassadors for Christ with a mission to take the message of the gospel to the world. God made Jesus who is sinless and perfect to be sin for us so that Christ’s righteousness is imputed to us through faith. Jesus took the sins of the whole upon Him as a substitutionary atonement on the cross of Calvary on Good Friday.

Application:

An ambassador is an official representative of one country to another country. As ambassadors of Christ, we must take the message of Christ’s gospel to the world on His behalf.

Jesus, the perfect and sinless man, took our sins for us on Good Friday, so that His righteousness is imputed to us by His death. Because of His amazing love, He did for us something that we could never do for ourselves.

Memorise 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away, behold, all things have become new.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, we claim the promise that when our earthly house is destroyed, we will have a custom-designed eternal building in heaven built by You. Thank You for giving us the Holy Spirit now as a guarantee of our future resurrection life with You in heaven, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Chapter 4: 2 Corinthians 4:1-18, treasure in jars of clay

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, give us this day our daily bread, forgive us of our trespasses, as we also forgive those who had trespassed against us. Do not lead us not into temptation, deliver us from the evil one, for Yours is the kingdom and the power, and the glory forever and ever, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

VV 1-4, 1 Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart. 2 But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. 3 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.

Therefore, connects us to thoughts of the previous chapter, regarding Moses, veiling his face before he met the Israelites. Paul encouraged his audience not to give up hope since they had received God’s mercy. Paul’s dealings with his audience was honest, transparent, truthful, and above board. He preached the truth of the gospel with a clear conscience in God’s sight. He had nothing to hide from anyone. The gospel is veiled for those who did not believe because satan had blinded their eyes, hearts, and minds to keep them in darkness.

VV 5-6, 5 For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For it is the God who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Paul and his co-workers did not boast about themselves. They preached the gospel as bondservants of Christ. Paul alluded to Genesis 1:3. The world was in total darkness and chaos until God created the light and commanded the light to shine into the darkness. Our hearts were in total darkness before we are born again until God commanded the light of the Holy Spirit to illuminate our hearts and minds to convict us of sins.

Genesis 1:3, Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light.

VV 7-9, 7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. 8 We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed, we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed,

Our bodies are jars of clay, rough, cheap, fragile, unimpressive, and ordinary. Although on the outside we are unimpressive, fragile, and rough, on the inside, we have the treasure of the Holy Spirit. We carry the presence of Christ and the Holy Spirit in our jars of clay. Although, we are weak and fragile, Christ in us is strong and powerful. Christ used lowly, ordinary, and fragile people to manifest and display His power and glory. Paul described the hardships, sufferings, trials, and persecutions, that he and his team suffered. They were hard-pressed but not crushed, perplexed but not despaired, persecuted but not forsaken, struck down but not destroyed.

VV 10-12, 10 always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. 11 For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So then death is working in us, but life in you.

Greek for manifest is “phaneroo”, which means to make known. We carry the death of Jesus in our bodies to manfest the life of Jesus Christ to others. Paul was rescued from the dead for Jesus’ sake, so that Jesus may be manifested in his mortal life. Death was working for Paul but life was working for his audience.

VV 13-15, 13 And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed and therefore I spoke,” we also believe and therefore speak, 14 knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you. 15 For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.

Paul quoted Psalm 116:10. God who raised Christ from the dead will also raise born again Christians from the dead at a future event called the rapture, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18.

Psalm 116:10, I believed, therefore I spoke, “I am greatly afflicted.”

1 Thessalonians 4:16-18, “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.”

VV 16-18, 16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. 17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, 18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Paul encourged the Corinthian Christians not to throw in the towel. Our physical bodies undergo degeneration every day but our souls and spirits are renewed day by day. Our sufferings in this world are only temporary. The glory of heaven awaits us in the future where there will be no more sufferings. We should not look at the visible things which are temporal but at the invisible, eternal things. 

Application:

The world was in darkness and chaos until God created the light and commanded the light to shine into the darkness. Before conversion, our hearts were in total darkness, but God commanded the light of the Holy Spirit to illuminate our hearts and minds and we were born again. Our spiritual eyes were opened and we saw Christ. Our spiritual ears were opened and heard the gospel. Our spiritual hearts were softened and we receive Christ into our lives. This was a miracle that only God could do.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, help us not to be discouraged. Even though our physical bodies are degenerating, our spirits and souls are renewed day by day. We claim the promise that our present sufferings in this world will be compensated by our future glory with You in heaven. Help us not to look at the visible and temporal things but to look at the invisible and eternal things, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Chapter 3: 2 Corinthians 3:1-18, Christ’s epistle

 

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, we pray for understanding as we opened up Your inspired Word for us today in 2 Corinthians. We pray for illumination and anointing of the Holy Spirit. We permit You to search our hearts and motives. We pray that You will create in us a pure heart, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

VV 1-3, 1 Do we begin again to commend ourselves? Or do we need, as some others, epistles of commendation to you or letters of commendation from you? 2 You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men; 3 clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart.

Paul asked two rhetorical questions. Paul used the plural pronouns, we, us, ourselves, our, to include his co-workers. Paul and his team did not require any letters of recommendation from his audience. The Corinthians Christians were letters of Christ written by the Holy Spirit onto their hearts of flesh and not on tablets of stone.

VV 4-6, 4 And we have such trust through Christ toward God. 5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God, 6 who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

Greek for sufficiency is “hikanos”, which means worthiness. Our worthiness is from God and not from ourselves. God, through the Holy Spirit, made us worthy to be ministers of the new covenant. The Mosaic law brings condemnation but the Holy Spirit gives life.

VV 7-11, 7 But if the ministry of death, written and engraved on stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of the glory of his countenance, which glory was passing away, 8 how will the ministry of the Spirit not be more glorious? 9 For if the ministry of condemnation had glory, the ministry of righteousness exceeds much more in glory. 10 For even what was made glorious had no glory in this respect, because of the glory that excels. 11 For if what is passing away was glorious, what remains is much more glorious.

Paul asked 1 rhetorical question. The Mosaic law written on stone tablets resulted in death to those who broke it. When Moses came down from Mount Sinai after meeting God, his face shone with the glory of God. When he came down to meet the Israelites, he covered his face with a veil because the glory of God was too strong for the people. Paul asked a rhetorical question saying that the glory of the Holy Spirit far exceeded the glory on Moses’ face.

VV 12-18, 12 Therefore, since we have such hope, we use great boldness of speech, 13 unlike Moses, who put a veil over his face so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the end of what was passing away. 14 But their minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament because the veil is taken away in Christ. 15 But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. 16 Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.

Moses veiled his face because the Israelites could not look at his fading glory. Until today, the veil had covered the hearts of most Israelites preventing them from understanding the revelation of Christ in the Old Testament.

God will remove this veil and free the Israelites from spiritual blindness when they believe in Christ. Christians who looked into the glory of Christ with unveiled faces will undergo transformation of hearts and renewal of minds to conform to the image of God. Romans 12:2, “And do not be conform to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of minds, that you may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

Application:

You are letters of Christ, not written onto ink and paper, but by the Holy Spirit onto your hearts. You carry the image and glory of Christ wherever you go. Non-Christians read your lives daily as if you are the living and walking Bible. When people see you, will they see the glory of Christ? Are you the living and walking Bible that non-Christians read?

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, thank You for writing Your epistles into our hearts. Help us live our lives worthy of Your calling so that others may see the glory and image of Christ in us. Do not allow the world to squeeze us into its mould. Transform our hearts, renew our minds, and conform us into the image of Christ, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Chapter 1: 2 Corinthians 1: 1-24, God of all comfort 

Prayer:

 

Heavenly Father, we pray for persistence, perseverance, commitment, and diligence to journey with You in this journey of faith into the epistle of 2 Corinthians through the eyes apostle Paul. We pray for open, soft, receptive, teachable, and obedient hearts, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

 

VV 1-2, 1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,To the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints who are in all Achaia, 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

Paul revealed himself as the author. He spelled out his credential,  an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God. Greek for apostle is “apostolos”, which means a messenger, someone sent out on a mission. Paul acknowledged Timothy, his co-worker, protégé, and spiritual god-son in the faith.  He identified his recipients as Christians in Corinth and Achaia. Corinth is the city. Achaia is the region or state.  Christians are called saints. Greek for saint is “hagio”, which means holy, sanctified, or set apart. Paul’s opening salutation was grace and peace. Grace is the common Greek greeting, “charis”. Peace is the common Hebrew greeting, “shalom”. Grace precedes peace. Grace is the result of justification. Peace is the result of reconciliation. 

 

VV 3-4, 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 

 

Greek for blessed is “eulogeo” which means praise. The English word eulogy is derived from the Greek word “eulogeo”. God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, is the God of praise, mercies, and comfort. God comforts us in our sufferings so that we can identify with and comfort other people who are suffering.  

 

 

 

VV 5-7, 5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ. 6 Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. 7 And our hope for you is steadfast because we know that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will partake of the consolation.

 

Christ comforts and restores us in our sufferings. Paul identified with his audience’s sufferings because of his suffering. There is a higher purpose in suffering. Suffering helps us to help others in their suffering. Paul encouraged his audience to share in his suffering and consolation. 

 

VV 8-11, 8 For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life. 9 Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead, 10 who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver us, in whom we trust that He will still deliver us, 11 you also helping together in prayer for us, that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the gift granted to us through many.

 

 

Paul listed out his troubles, trials, tribulations, persecutions, and sufferings in Asia Minor, modern-day Turkey. Paul used the personal pronouns, us, our, and we, to include his co-workers Timothy, Titus, Silvanus, and others in his team. They had suffered beyond imaginations, to the point of exhaustion, desperation, despair, and depression. There were times when they thought they would not make it out alive. They relied on God for deliverance out of these perilous times. God had delivered them from death in the past, was delivering them in the present, and would continue to deliver them in the future. Paul thanked his audience for their prayer support. 

 

VV 12-14, 12 For our boasting is this, the testimony of our conscience that we conducted ourselves in the world in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God, and more abundantly toward you. 13 For we are not writing any other things to you than what you read or understand. Now I trust you will understand, even to the end 14 (as also you have understood us in part), that we are your boast as you also are ours, in the day of the Lord Jesus.

Paul and his co-workers conducted themselves with humility, honesty, integrity, simplicity, godly sincerity, and spiritual wisdom. They dared not boast of anything except to boast concerning the day of the Lord’s second coming. 

 

 

 

VV 15-17, 15 And in this confidence I intended to come to you before, that you might have a second benefit, 16 to pass by way of you to Macedonia, to come again from Macedonia to you, and be helped by you on my way to Judea. 17 Therefore, when I was planning this, did I do it lightly? Or the things I plan, do I plan according to the flesh, that with me there should be Yes, Yes, and No, No? 

 

Paul planned to travel from Ephesus to Corinth, to Macedonia, to Corinth and then to Judea, visiting Corinth twice. Paul asked 2 rhetorical questions to prove his sincerity and integrity. 

 

VV 18-22, 18 But as God is faithful, our word to you was not Yes and No. 19 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, by me, Silvanus, and Timothy, was not Yes and No, but in Him was Yes. 20 For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us. 21 Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, 22 who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.

 

Everything that Paul said and do was either yes or no. All the promises of God are Yes and Amen. Amen in the beginning of a sentence means “surely”. Amen at the end of a prayer means, “so be it”. God had established, anointed, and sealed Christians in Christ with the seal of the Holy Spirit. Greek for seal is “sphragis”, which means the impression of a signet ring on wax.

 

 

 

The seal is the authority of God to signify ownership. Christians are owned by God. Greek for guarantee is “arrabona”, which means earnest deposit or down payment. The Holy Spirit is God’s earnest deposit to Christians until Christ’s second coming. 

 

VV 23-24, 23 Moreover I call God as a witness against my soul, that to spare you I came no more to Corinth. 24 Not that we have dominion over your faith, but are fellow workers for your joy; for by faith you stand.

Paul declared the genuineness of his dealings by calling on God as his witness.  He did not dominate or oppress anyone but considered all as his fellow workers in the kingdom of God. 

 

Application:

 

There is a higher purpose in suffering. When we go through sufferings, Christ comforts, rescues, and restores us. Sufferings help us to help others in their suffering. Suffering allows us to identify with other people’s suffering. 

 

     We are sealed with the Holy Spirit, God’s down payment to us until Christ’s second coming.

 

Our dealings and conducts with others must always be above board. Our answers to others should be either yes or no. We should not give ambiguous, misleading, dishonest, or vague answers to get out of difficult situations. 

 

 

 

Prayer:

  Heavenly Father, thank You for all that You have done for us in our lives. Thank You for delivering us from perilous, critical, and dangerous life situations. Thank You for rescuing us through the various storms of lives. Thank You for delivering us in the past, ij the present, and in the future, in Jesus’ name, Amen. 

2 Corinthians, Introduction:

Author, Date, and Recipients:

 

Scholars believed that Paul wrote 2 Corinthians between 55 to 56 AD from Macedonia during his third missionary journey, about 1 year after 1 Corinthians and 1 year before Romans. This was probably the fourth letter that he wrote to the Corinthian church. Scholars believed that two letters of Paul to the Corinthians church did not survive through history. 

 

After spending three years in Ephesus, Paul visited the churches in Macedonia. In Macedonia, Paul met his protégé and spiritual god-son in the faith, who updated him with news about the church in Corinth. 

 

 

 

Purpose:

 

Paul vindicated his apostolic ministry, strengthened the faith of the Corinthian Christians, and offered the rebellious minority a chance to repent before his return to Corinth. 

 

     Theme:

 

Paul confronted the false apostles, whom he called ministers of satan, who peddled heretic doctrines,  opposed Paul’s apostleship, and disputed his apostolic credentials.

 

The message of the cross, God’s righteousness, transforming power of the Holy Spirit,  Jesus Christ, Saviour and universal Judge of the world. The Holy Spirit as a guarantee for Christian’s end-time resurrection.

 

Paul encouraged the Corinthian Christians to endure hardships, tribulations, sufferings, and persecutions.

 

Outline

 

     1:1-24, salutation, the God of all comfort, godly sincerity

    2:1-17, triumph in Christ

3:1-18, Christ’s epistle, the Holy Spirit, the glory of the New Covenant

 

 

 

4:1-18, the light of Christ’s gospel in jars of clay, seeing the invisible

    5:1-21, assurance of resurrection, the judgment seat of Christ, substitutionary atonement

6:1-18, the hallmarks of a true apostle, warning against the false apostles 

7:1-16, the Corinthian’s repentance, godly sorrow versus worldly sorrow

8:1-25, collection for the mother church 

9:1-15, principles of sowing and reaping  

10:1-18, spiritual warfare, confronting the false apostles

11:1-33, confronting the false apostles, an angel of light, the hallmarks of a true apostle 

12:1-21, raptured into paradise, a thorn in the flesh, the credentials of a true apostle 

13:1-14, Final encouragements and benediction 

 

Application:

 

Times had not changed. Today, we still have false teachers who peddled false doctrines and heresies. Heresies and false doctrines are dangerous and should be rejected at all costs.

 

Prayer:

 

Heavenly Father, thank You for journeying with us through Paul’s epistle of 2 Corinthians. Open our eyes to see the truth of scripture. Help us to encounter You through Your living Word of eternal life, in Jesus’ name, Amen.