2 Corinthians: 2

Chaps. 8-9 focus on the Church and their Giving.  Paul wants the Corinthians to follow the Macedonian church’s lead in giving (8:1-5): despite living in poverty this church gave an offering (to help other financially afflicted believers) above and beyond their own means (2 Cor 8:3).  Paul says that the Corinthians (as all believers) should likewise give grace-fully to help others (8:6-15).  In other words, you should give in accordance and in proportion to how God has graced or blessed you.  Question: How does tithing fit into that?  Paul says that such giving proves the sincerity of our love for God and for others (8:8), and that the ultimate example of this type of giving is Jesus (2 Cor 8:9).  In 8:16-24, Paul offers another example of someone who models this “grace-giving,” and whom the Corinthians should emulate: Titus. 

Paul considers it unnecessary to speak to the church about giving (9:1)—but he does so anyway, describing his preparations for the collection he is taking up (9:1-5).  Ultimately, believers can give b/c God has first given to us (9:6-15).  In other words, b/c God has given to us we can give to others.  It is in this way that giving is a “grace”—a spiritual gift.  Question: Can you think of any implications for giving if it is indeed a spiritual gift?  Furthermore, Paul says something kind of startling here: by giving materially, we reap spiritual blessing (2 Cor 9:10-11)—quite the opposite of what you hear from those televangelists! 

The tone of Paul’s letter takes a huge turn in chaps. 10-13, which focus on his Apostolic Warnings.  He begins by making an appeal to the Corinthians for their obedience to his apostolic authority (10:1-6).  Clearly, there have been other leaders/teachers who sought to exercise their authority over the church, and in doing so they attacked and undercut Paul.  So Paul defends himself, i.e., his apostleship (something he does in other letters, e.g., Galatians).  The 1^st thing he does is contrast his attitude as a leader with that of his rivals (10:8-12): Paul doesn’t promote himself, but his opponents are nothing more than braggarts (2 Cor 10:10, 12).  2^nd, Paul notes how his opponents only enter the scene after all the hard work has been done (10:13-16).  In other words, to speak metaphorically, only after Paul cleared away the forest, and built and sold all the homes in the subdivision, did these “cherry-pickers” come in and start trying to get these new home owners to (what only amounts to) trading homes with one another. 

3^rd, Paul defends his apostleship by contrasting his ministry with that of his opponents (11:1-12:12).  Here he says a few things.  He says is that he preaches the gospel free of charge and not for profit (2 Cor 11:7-9; cf. 2 Cor 2:17).  As well, while his opponents preached the Jewish law, Paul exposes their inadequacy to do so by appealing to his own impeccable Jewish credentials (11:22); in other words, he trumps them at their own game.  While they offer a gospel of triumphalism, he “boasts” in his extreme hardships (11:23-33), e.g., being imprisoned, beaten up, whipped, and stoned (you know, great things to put on your resume).  However, just in case people forget that God does speak to Paul, he tells the church of his divine revelations (12:1-6).  Some of the things God has shown him are so incredibly lofty and other-worldly, that God has not permitted Paul to share them with anyone (2 Cor 12:4); and that God has even given Paul a “pride-buster”—to ensure that he doesn’t become arrogant from experiencing these unique revelations from God (2 Cor 12:7).  And just in case people forget that Paul isn’t just “all talk”, he reminds the Corinthians that he, like all true apostles, performed signs and wonders while he was with them (2 Cor 12:12).

But despite this defense of his apostleship, Paul remains concerned about the Corinthians spiritual state and the impact of his opponents, which is the last section of his letter, Apostolic Renewal (12:14-13:10).  Paul expresses apprehension about the state of the church when he comes to visit them again (2 Cor 12:20-21).  Will there be all kinds of infighting, factions, and divisions?  And will there continue to be unrepentant, sexually immoral “believers”?  So he warns the Corinthians to deal with their sin before he comes—or else he will . . . and it won’t be pretty! (2 Cor 13:2-3) Therefore, each one should examine him/herself to see if they truly are “believers” (13:5)—after all, just b/c you say doesn’t make it so! (cf. Matt 7:21-23, and the whole NT for that matter).

In his Concluding Remarks (13:11-14), Paul stresses church unity: in v. 11 he tells them to be like-minded and to live in peace with one another.  And he closes out the letter with his famous Trinitarian benediction that speaks of the “grace of the Lord Jesus”, and “love of God”, and the “fellowship of the Holy Spirit.”

Next up in the NT: Paul’s smaller letters . . .