1:11 Paul asks for the prayers of the people. SO THAT "many will give thanks." I love that Paul always turns everything back around to focus on God. He asks for prayers not just because he personally really wants something. But he asks for prayers so that thanks can be given to God upon His answer of those prayers. God likes to work through prayer in order to bring us closer to Him because after He answers prayer - we thank Him! Let this be my perspective when I pray and ask for prayer from others.
15 Because I was sure of this, I wanted to come to you first, so that you might have a second experience of grace.
15 Because I was sure of this, I wanted to come to you first, so that you might have a second experience of grace.
1:15 Paul wants to visit the Corinthians so that they can have a "second experience of grace" or a double blessing. Being around encouraging believers (like Paul) is a means of grace that we shouldn't take for granted. Encourage relationships with Godly people in your life!
5 Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, 6 who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
5 Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, 6 who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
3:5-6 "Our sufficiency is from God." Paul again turns the attention from himself to God - the One who deserves the fame. We are incompetent in ourselves. It is only through God that we are able to be ministers of the gospel. Nothing comes from us - all of our sufficiency, competency, and worth comes from God.
7 Now if the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at Moses' face because of its glory, which was being brought to an end, 8 will not the ministry of the Spirit have even more glory? 9 For if there was glory in the ministry of condemnation, the ministry of righteousness must far exceed it in glory. 10 Indeed, in this case, what once had glory has come to have no glory at all, because of the glory that surpasses it.11 For if what was being brought to an end came with glory, much more will what is permanent have glory.
7 Now if the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at Moses' face because of its glory, which was being brought to an end, 8 will not the ministry of the Spirit have even more glory? 9 For if there was glory in the ministry of condemnation, the ministry of righteousness must far exceed it in glory. 10 Indeed, in this case, what once had glory has come to have no glory at all, because of the glory that surpasses it.11 For if what was being brought to an end came with glory, much more will what is permanent have glory.
3:7-11 The old covenant was necessary for a time. It was glorious in that time and we see evidence of that because the people could not look at the face of Moses because it radiated the glory of God. However, it was temporary. How much MORE glory will the permanent new covenant have! This passage says the new covenant "far exceeds" the old. Thank you, Jesus!
7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.
7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.
4:7 When we think of treasure we think of money, earthly fortunes, possessions that we put in a special treasure box. But when Paul says treasure, he's referring to the gospel! That is true treasure. Where God has placed this treasure? In the hearts and minds of believers - in "jars of clay"! Again at the end of this verse Paul points to God. The reason Paul says that we have this treasure is "to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and NOT to us." God is BIG and worthy of praise, and we are little and nothing without Him - a theme I keep seeing in 2 Corinthians.
15 For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.
15 For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.
4:15 Again Paul says that as we extend grace to each other and as God extends grace to us, we will see an INCREASE in thanksgiving to God. God deserves our glory. If you've received grace today - the reason was so that you would glorify God with thanksgiving. Don't waste God's grace!
16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
4:16-18 Eternal perspective, people. This momentary affliction, no matter how big or small, is just that - momentary and insignificant in comparison with the ETERNAL weight of GLORY. Death, the worst human experience imaginable, is just the beginning of eternal bliss for the Christian. We can't even dream up how wonderful it will be to be in the presence of God. Open my eyes, God, to look at this world through the vision of eternal perspective.
8 Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9 So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him.
8 Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9 So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him.
5:8-9 Continuing on with his plea for an eternal perspective, Paul says that he longs to be away from his earthly body and at home with the Lord. But verse 9 is what I love. He says that no matter where he is - here on this earth or with God in heaven - it is his aim to PLEASE GOD. That is your purpose in life. Strive to live it out diligently.
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
5:17-21 These are some of the best verses ever. In just a few short sentences we see the heart of the gospel. We are a new creation in Christ. We may not feel "new" on the outside. Life may proceed pretty normally as we know it, but eternally our lives are radically different. Eternally, our spirit has been joined with God. Our future went from a place of torment to a place of glory. The all-powerful Creator of the universe went from being our enemy to being our Father. We have been reconciled to God and we've been given the ministry of helping others come into covenant relationship with God. Our sins are erased and forgiven and we have the greatest treasure we could ever imagine - a personal, intimate, wonderful relationship with the All-mighty. We now have the opportunity to do something for this wonderful God who sent His Son to die for us. We are His ambassadors. Jesus became sin for us, what will we do to say thank you?
4 but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, 5 beatings, imprisonments,riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; 6 by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love; 7 by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left;8 through honor and dishonor, through slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; 9 as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; 10 as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything.
4 but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, 5 beatings, imprisonments,riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; 6 by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love; 7 by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left;8 through honor and dishonor, through slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; 9 as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; 10 as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything.
6:4-10 Paul's life so radically follows this eternal perspective I've been talking about. Read these verses and tell me Paul's life is not worse than yours. Paul enduring so many hardships yet at the end of explaining all of these horrible things he says these antithetical statements: impostors yet true, unknown yet known, sorrowful yet rejoicing, poor yet rich, having nothing yet having everything. There is only one thing we can gather from these paradoxes: having JESUS means having EVERYTHING. Having Jesus means nothing else matters. Please, Jesus, make this my perspective.
8 For even if I made you grieve with my letter, I do not regret it—thoughI did regret it, for I see that that letter grieved you, though only for a while.9 As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief, so that you suffered no loss through us.
8 For even if I made you grieve with my letter, I do not regret it—thoughI did regret it, for I see that that letter grieved you, though only for a while.9 As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief, so that you suffered no loss through us.
7:8-9 Paul is a no-nonsense kind of guy. He tells the Corinthians that he is glad that they were grieved. Paul wrote them a letter, basically chewing them out. And then in this letter (2 Corinthians) here in verses 8-9 he says that he's glad that it made them grieve, not just grieved for grieving sake, but grieved into repenting. Paul doesn't care about the process of grieving that they may have gone through. He cares about the end result which is repenting and making movement towards God. His stern letter caused them to repent and that is the end result he was looking for. Being in leadership is difficult because sometimes we must show "tough love" in order to help people turn to Christ in repentance. It's all about moving towards God. The process may not be fun, but the end result is a closer relationship with God.
2 for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. 3 For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord,
2 for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. 3 For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord,
8:2-3 Paul praises the churches in Macedonia for their extreme generosity. They gave even "beyond their means." Shame on us - we can pay for ridiculous phone bills, Netflix, movies, and Starbucks, but we say we are "broke" and can't give anything extra to the furtherment of the gospel. Give to the Lord first, then if you have extra, you can go see that movie for $10.50.
11 You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, whichthrough us will produce thanksgiving to God. 12 For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God.
11 You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, whichthrough us will produce thanksgiving to God. 12 For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God.
9:11-12 Again Paul shows the meaning and purpose behind giving. He says that the people's generosity will "produce thanksgiving to God." He says that giving does not merely provide supplies for the work of the apostles, but it is an overflow of thanksgiving to God. God has given us an "inexpressible gift" (vs 15), so how can we hold back in also giving to God.
15 We do not boast beyond limit in the labors of others. But our hope is that as your faith increases, our area of influence among you may be greatly enlarged, 16 so that we may preach the gospel in lands beyond you, without boasting of work already done in another's area of influence. 17 “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”
15 We do not boast beyond limit in the labors of others. But our hope is that as your faith increases, our area of influence among you may be greatly enlarged, 16 so that we may preach the gospel in lands beyond you, without boasting of work already done in another's area of influence. 17 “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”
10:15-17 Paul talks of his ministry to the Corinthians in that he brought the gospel to them and that his hope is that their faith increases and that the influence of the gospel increases. His desire is that the gospel spread into lands beyond them. He again brings it back around to say that he is not boasting in himself, but in God and that work that God has done. Paul is not doing anything praise-worthy, only God is praise-worthy. "Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord!"
4 For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus than the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it readily enough. 5 Indeed, I consider that I am not in the least inferior to these super-apostles. 6 Even if I am unskilled in speaking, I am not so in knowledge; indeed, in every way we have made this plain to you in all things.
4 For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus than the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it readily enough. 5 Indeed, I consider that I am not in the least inferior to these super-apostles. 6 Even if I am unskilled in speaking, I am not so in knowledge; indeed, in every way we have made this plain to you in all things.
11:4-6 Paul is jealous over the Corinthians. He does not want to share them with the false teachers. Paul pleads with them to not let their thoughts be lead astray by the devil or those he uses to influence them. He warns them against those who will bring a different gospel to their ears. Paul defends his ministry by saying that it's not about how well he speaks or how well-trained he was as an orator, but it's about the power of the gospel. The gospel is what changes people. God works through our depravity to cause the gospel to go forth. We cannot let our ears even hear or entertain the idea of another gospel.
9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
12:9-10 These well-known verses always give me this sense of the awesome power that comes with the presence of God. Even though we may plead with God for a certain outcome in life, God says, "I'm in control and what I desire is my glory to be shown through you. Be satisfied in that." His grace is sufficient in that we see a bigger picture of God as we suffer. His power is shown and we are made small - just as it should be. Paul says that we can boast in our weakness because it makes God look bigger. Paul was content with hardships because God's glory and power are shown more clearly through his sufferings. God's purposes cannot be thwarted by this fallen world. God still works through our depraved intentions and actions to accomplish His will.
5 Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test! 6 I hope you will find out that we have not failed the test. 7 But we pray to God that you may not do wrong—not that we may appear to have met the test, but that you may do what is right, though we may seem to have failed. 8 For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. 9 For we are glad when we are weak and you are strong. Your restoration is what we pray for.
5 Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test! 6 I hope you will find out that we have not failed the test. 7 But we pray to God that you may not do wrong—not that we may appear to have met the test, but that you may do what is right, though we may seem to have failed. 8 For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. 9 For we are glad when we are weak and you are strong. Your restoration is what we pray for.
13:5-9 Paul urges the Corinthians to do a self-check to see if they are in Christ. Assurance of our salvation comes when we can see fruit in our lives. If we see no fruit, then something is wrong. The reason Paul wants them to check themselves is so that they will "do what is right." He says he is praying for their "restoration." If they realize that they've never fully trusted Christ for salvation, then they need to make that first step. If they have, but their life is not showing that proof, then they need to turn to Christ and do what is right. Paul is urging them towards holiness. He wants them to walk according to the truth. Paul's desire is their restoration in Christ. He doesn't want to have to rebuke them again when he comes to see them.
14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
13:14 This is a trinitarian verse if I even saw one! Here we see the roles of all three persons of the Trinity: the LOVE of the Father, the GRACE of the Son, and the FELLOWSHIP of the Spirit. This is our God!
I've thoroughly enjoyed my time walking through this book. I am so thankful for a God who continues to refresh my enjoyment of Him through books of the Bible I've read over and over before!
I've thoroughly enjoyed my time walking through this book. I am so thankful for a God who continues to refresh my enjoyment of Him through books of the Bible I've read over and over before!
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