Overview of 2 Corinthians

Next up is 2 Corinthians a letter also written by Paul to the church in Corinth likely around 57 CE.

Recapping what we covered in 1 Corinthians, Paul planted the Corinthian church during his second missionary journey (Acts 18). After leaving, he received reports of divisions in the church. In response, Paul wrote a now-lost letter. The Corinthians replied with their own letter which we also don’t have, leading Paul to write 1 Corinthians to address their concerns.

After writing 1 Corinthians Paul heard that the Corinthians were not fully following his instructions and his authority was being challenged. So Paul makes a "painful visit" which he describes 2 Corinthians 2:1. At the end of 1 Corinthians he mentioned he was going to travel to Macedonia before visiting them, but it seems like he changed his mind and decided to visit them first and then come back around again after Macedonia. We can piece from 2 Corinthians that in this visit his authority was challenged and he was personally attacked (2 Corinthians 2:5-11).

Afterward, he chose not visit them again but sent a severe, tearful letter (2 Corinthians 2:4; 7:8), which is also lost. Titus delivered this letter and later reported that the church had largely repented (2 Corinthians 7:6-7). However, new opposition arose from so-called "super-apostles" (2 Corinthians 11:5), prompting Paul to write 2 Corinthians to defend his authority and prepare for another visit.

2 Corinthians 1-7 - Paul reconciles with the Corinthians

• 2 Corinthians 1-2 - Opening prayer and explanation of Paul’s itinerary and letter
• 2 Corinthians 3 - Paul’s ‘letter of recommendation’
• 2 Corinthians 4-7 - Apostles are to suffer and serve as Jesus did

2 Corinthians 8-9 - Addressing their lack of generosity

2 Corinthians 10-13 - Defending the role of apostle and challenging these fake ‘super-apostles’

The crux of this letter is addressing the Corinthians’ value systems. The arguments against Paul’s authority as an apostle are built on the fact that he’s poor, he lacks eloquence, and he’s always suffering. Surely that wouldn’t be the case if he was really chosen by God. In contrast, these new leaders who are calling themselves apostles are eloquent, well to-do, and come highly recommended.

When Paul is defending his authority as an apostle in this letter, it’s not a power play. He’s not trying to grasp hold and keep power. He’s addressing a core issue amongst the Corinthians that they still haven’t understood that the gospel is upside down. It isn’t about being impressive and successful. It’s about servant leadership and humility.

If they choose to submit to these other leaders and see them as having more authority than Paul because of his weaknesses, then they have missed the gospel entirely.

2 Corinthians 1-2

As with his other letters, Paul starts with a greeting where introduces himself as an apostle of Jesus. Normally, he then thanks God for the believers and prays over them. Here in 2 Corinthians, he thanks God for how God has supported him and then invites the Corinthians to pray for him.

Paul thanks the ‘God of all comfort’. It may be that Paul is talking about how God has got him through a particularly difficult time in Asia. Or Paul can be talking about how God has comforted him and brought reconciliation between him and the Corinthians after what was clearly a very painful disagreement and tension. Or it may be both.

Paul does tell the Corinthians that he was sentenced to death in Asia and it was God who delivered him. He asks them for prayer as he continues in his ministry.

He then addresses his change in plans. He had initially planned to visit them, then go to Macdeonia, and then visit them again. After the tension of his last visit, he decided not to visit them a second time, and some of the new leaders in Corinth were using that against him. How can Paul call himself an apostle if he keeps flip flopping on his travel plans?

So Paul admits, yes, his initial plan was to visit them twice, both before and after Macedonia. But then he decided not to. Does that mean that Paul was being fickle or lying? Was he just telling them what they wanted to hear and then changing his mind later?

No. As far as Paul is concerned, when he says yes, he means yes. When he says no, he means no. And he doesn’t change what he wants to say to please people. Look at his message of Jesus. Every word of that was true. And God is true in his nature. Through Jesus, all of God’s promises are true and for us.

So if the accusation is Paul is a liar or fickle, then that is wrong. Paul has committed himself to a gospel of truth. A gospel that does not change and will always remain true.

Paul intended to visit them twice. But then when he visited them before Macedonia, he realised it wasn’t best to visit again. In that visit, accusations had been made against him, and his authority had been rejected. He wasn’t going to try to come back and assert his dominance and authority over them.

He comes to bring joy to his people, and that last visit seemed to only bring disunity and pain. So better then that he not visit again and allow some space. That’s why he wrote a letter instead, to try to heal some of that brokenness, so when he did visit them again, it might be with joy. Writing that letter was hard for him, but he wanted them to know the love that he had for them.

Paul is laying the groundwork for the letter. He’s showing how he has purposely tried not to dominate them or exert authority over them. Instead, he wants them to know how much he loves them. These new leaders want to fight over who has more authority, but Paul is playing a different game.

But it seems now that all is well between Paul and the Corinthians, so Paul addresses the issue of the one that made the accusations at his last visit. Paul point out that person did not hurt him. His confidence is in Jesus. But they did hurt the church by causing confusion and disunity.

It seems that the church in Corinth had already realised this and turned on this individual, so Paul now asks that they forgive them. Have mercy on them and let them back into the church as they seem repentant. Paul has forgiven them, so let the Corinthians forgive them as well. That way, they avoid disunity and don’t give Satan an opportunity in their midst.

Paul had initially written the letter and travelled to Troas, where doors were opening for him. But for Paul, it was more important he travel on to Macedonia so he could find Titus and pass on the letter to them, because they were his priority.

And now that he has heard from Titus that all is good, Paul gives thank to God. God has made them all a beautiful aroma that is shown by their unity and how they live. Others just want to go round teaching God’s word, but in Christ Paul and the Corinthians are to be living embodiments of God’s word. They are to be a good aroma of life to those who are still in death.

Psalm 147

This psalm isn’t attributed to anyone in particular and falls into the category of praise psalm. These final five psalms (Psalm 146-150) serves as a doxology for the whole book of psalms. They praise God as king and speak his authority over all things.

Psalm 147:1-6 - Praise the Lord of Jerusalem

Psalm 147:7-11 - The Lord of creation provides

Psalm 147:12-20 - Praise the Lord of Jerusalem

Psalm 147:15-20 - The Lord of creation provides

The psalmist starts with a call to praise the Lord. He is the Lord that builds up Jerusalem. While this focuses on the city itself, the city represents the people. Jerusalem is the capital of the Israelites, and the idea is that when it flourishes, they flourish. And so the Lord builds up Jerusalem and in doing so he gathers the outcasts of Isreal and he heals the brokenhearted. He is the Lord of the universe, creating all the stars and knowing each of their names. His power and understanding are more than we can fathom. And despite that, he stills cares about those who are downtrodden.

The psalm then switches to how the Lord provides for his people as Lord over creation. He provides the clouds which rain and cause things to grow. He provides food for all animals, even the small ones, like young ravens. But he doesn’t care about appearance or ability. What he cares about and delights in is those who put their trust in him.

And then we’re back to Jerusalem. The psalmist praises the Lord for strengthening the gates of Jerusalem and blessing those within. This city he has built with its wall serves as a place of peace for its people. He provides the city with all the resources it needs. Then we’re back to creation again. He is the God who brings the snow and hail. He provides wind and flowing water. And as Lord of all creation, he committed himself to the Israelites that they would be his people.

This psalm ties together the Lord as Lord over creation and Lord over Jerusalem. Jerusalem is where his temple is and therefore where his presence is. The point is that because the Lord protected Jerusalem and dwells, the Israelites are a people who have access to God. Now, we have access to him through Jesus and we too can praise him for being Lord over creation and for his provision for us as we draw close to him.