2 Corinthians
Jesus Christ, the answer to every problem, and the heart of a true minister: comfort in affliction and power in weakness.
Second Corinthians is the most personal of Paul’s letters. After 1 Corinthians, relations between Paul and the church became strained. False apostles had arrived, questioning his authority, his sincerity, and his appearance: “his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible” (10:10). Paul made a painful visit and wrote a severe letter. When Titus finally brought news that most of the church had repented, Paul wrote this epistle from Macedonia with relief and joy.
The letter opens with comfort in suffering (1:3–7) and explains the change in Paul’s travel plans. Chapters 3–7 describe the glory of the new covenant ministry—treasure in earthen vessels, the ministry of reconciliation, and ambassadors for Christ. Chapters 8–9 urge the Corinthians to complete their offering for the poor saints at Jerusalem, pointing to the grace of the Lord Jesus, who “though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor” (8:9).
Chapters 10–13 answer the false apostles directly. Paul reluctantly “boasts” of his sufferings, his visions, and his thorn in the flesh, and learns the lesson that runs through the whole letter: “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness” (12:9).
Writer: Paul
Written: From Macedonia about AD 57.
Name: The second canonical letter to the believers in Corinth.
Title and authorship
The second epistle to the Corinthians, addressed to the church at Corinth “with all the saints which are in all Achaia” (1:1).
Paul wrote the letter (1:1; 10:1) with Timothy. The King James subscription notes that it was written from Philippi and carried by Titus and Lucas.
Historical background
Written from Macedonia about AD 56–57, after Titus met Paul with news from Corinth (7:5–7), shortly before Paul’s three months in Greece (Acts 20:1–3).
The church at Corinth and the believers throughout Achaia, including a repentant majority and a resistant minority influenced by false apostles.
Paul’s movements
After a riot in Ephesus (Acts 19), Paul went to Troas hoping to meet Titus, found no rest, and went on to Macedonia, where Titus finally arrived with good news (2:12–13; 7:5–7). The letter reflects this anxious period.
The collection
Paul organized an offering from the Gentile churches of Galatia, Macedonia, and Achaia for the poor saints in Jerusalem (Romans 15:25–27; 1 Corinthians 16:1–4). The Macedonians gave out of deep poverty (8:1–5). The gift expressed the unity of Jew and Gentile in the body of Christ.
Paul’s sufferings
Paul lists five beatings of thirty-nine stripes from the Jews, three beatings with rods, one stoning, three shipwrecks, a night and a day in the deep, perils of every kind, and the daily care of all the churches (11:23–28). Much of this is not recorded in Acts.
Key passages
2 Corinthians 5:17–21
New creatures in Christ, the ministry of reconciliation, ambassadors, and the great exchange: He was made sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.
2 Corinthians 4:7
We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God.
2 Corinthians 12:9
My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.
Outline
1–4 · Comfort and the character of ministry
Suffering, forgiveness, and the treasure in earthen vessels reveal genuine service.
5–7 · Reconciliation and restoration
Eternal hope, ambassadorial responsibility, separation, and repentance shape ministry.
8–9 · The grace of giving
Paul calls for generous, willing, and accountable support of others.
10–13 · Apostolic authority and weakness
Paul answers opponents and calls the congregation to honest self-examination.
Original language
παράκλησις (paraklesis, G3874) — “comfort, consolation”
Encouragement given by one called alongside. The noun and verb occur about ten times in 1:3–7. God comforts us in our tribulation so that we can comfort others.
καταλλαγή (katallage, G2643) — “reconciliation”
A change from enmity to friendship. God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself and has committed to believers the ministry and word of reconciliation.
πρεσβεύω (presbeuo, G4243) — “we are ambassadors”
To act as an envoy representing a king in a foreign land. Believers represent Christ in the world and plead with men on His behalf: “be ye reconciled to God” (5:20).
σκόλοψ (skolops, G4647) — “thorn”
A stake or sharp splinter. Paul’s thorn in the flesh was “the messenger of Satan to buffet me” (12:7). Whatever it was, God refused to remove it and gave grace instead.
Doctrinal study
The great exchange
“For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him” (5:21). The sinless Christ was treated as sin in the sinner’s place, and the believer is credited with God’s righteousness in Christ. This is the heart of the gospel.
Absent from the body, present with the Lord
At death the believer is “absent from the body” and “present with the Lord” (5:8). There is no soul-sleep or purgatory for the Christian; his earthly house dissolves, and he awaits the resurrection body, the “house which is from heaven.”
Satan transformed
“Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light,” and his ministers into ministers of righteousness (11:13–15). Error rarely comes looking evil; it comes in religious dress. The believer must judge by the word, not by appearance.
Commentary notes
Principles of confrontation
Paul’s suffering had someone’s name on it (1:4–8). Confrontation should be carried out with a broken heart (2:4). Godly sorrow shows itself in actions and attitudes (7:8–12). Confrontation anticipates restoration (7:13–16; 2:6–8).
A soldier’s duties
Love the fallen (2:5–13); testify to the unsaved (2:14–17); live consistently (3–6); receive correction (7); give cheerfully (8–9); acknowledge authority (10); prove ourselves (13:5).
Wanting more for others than they want
In ministry to adults, be very careful about wanting something more for someone than they want for themselves. Not everyone in Corinth wanted to do right; you cannot solve a problem for someone who does not want it solved. Choose your battles wisely.
Christ in the book
- The image of God, in whose face shines the glory of God (4:4–6)
- The one made sin for us (5:21)
- The rich one who became poor (8:9)
- God’s unspeakable gift (9:15)
Applications
Historical
- Paul’s second letter to commend the obedient, confirm the careful, and confront the deceivers in the Corinthian church.
- Many of the Corinthians had received correction and repented, although opposition remained. Paul addresses both the restoration of fellowship and the continuing challenges to his ministry.
- Titus’s ministry and report are central to the restored relationship between Paul and the congregation.
Doctrinal
- One day the chief Shepherd will return to commend the obedient, comfort the careful, and deal with the wolves who have sought to devour His shepherds and sheep. All must appear before the judgment seat of Christ (5:10).
- God reconciles sinners to himself through Christ and commits the message of reconciliation to his servants.
- The judgment seat of Christ gives weight to service, motives, and the present use of life.
Devotional
- The key to ministry is being willing to suffer. Because ministry is so personal, it cuts deep; a servant of God must be thick-skinned but soft-hearted, seeing people from God’s perspective and loving them as Christ does.
- Receive comfort as something to pass on to others facing affliction.
- Correction should aim at restoration and be carried out with a heart that grieves over sin.
- Give willingly and transparently, taking care that the handling of money is honorable before God and people.
Answering the critics
Critics accept Pauline authorship but often divide the letter into fragments of several letters, citing the change of tone between chapters 1–9 and 10–13.
The change of tone fits the situation: Paul first addresses the repentant majority with relief, then turns to the rebellious minority and the false apostles. No manuscript supports dividing the letter. It was received as one epistle.