Bible Study - 2 Corinthians Chapter One
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Study Questions
Study Questions
Verses 1-2
Verses 1-2
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the church of God that is at Corinth, with all the saints who are in the whole of Achaia: 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
1. To whom was 2 Corinthians addressed?
1. To whom was 2 Corinthians addressed?
The church at Corinth
Saints in the whole of Achaia
2. From whom was 2 Corinthians sent?
2. From whom was 2 Corinthians sent?
Paul
Timothy
3. How does Paul address 2 Corinthians differently than he does his letter to the Galatians?
3. How does Paul address 2 Corinthians differently than he does his letter to the Galatians?
2 Corinthians is to “saints in Achaia”…Galatians is the “churches of Galatia”
1 Paul, an apostle—not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead— 2 and all the brothers who are with me, To the churches of Galatia:
Verses 3-7
Verses 3-7
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 affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. 6 If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. 7 Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort.
4. To whom should we go for comfort when afflicted? Though the Sunday School answer to this question is obvious…to whom do we most often go for comfort when afflicted?
4. To whom should we go for comfort when afflicted? Though the Sunday School answer to this question is obvious…to whom do we most often go for comfort when afflicted?
God
Other people…ourselves…bad habits…etc.
Why do you suppose this is?
5. How must we endure affliction if we desire to also experience comfort along with the affliction?
5. How must we endure affliction if we desire to also experience comfort along with the affliction?
When we “patiently endure the suffering” (6)
6. What do afflictions have in common with spiritual gifts? Hint: Refer back to 1 Corinthians 12:7 and any notes you have from our study of that passage. Additional hint: Compare specifically 1 Corinthians 12:7 and 2 Corinthians 1:4.
6. What do afflictions have in common with spiritual gifts? Hint: Refer back to 1 Corinthians 12:7 and any notes you have from our study of that passage. Additional hint: Compare specifically 1 Corinthians 12:7 and 2 Corinthians 1:4.
It is to help us help others in their own affliction (4)
Don’t waste an affliction…it will help you help someone else someday.
Verses 8-11
Verses 8-11
8 For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. 9 Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. 10 He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again. 11 You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.
7. True or False: Paul was so close to the Lord that he never struggled with fear, depression, or doubt.
7. True or False: Paul was so close to the Lord that he never struggled with fear, depression, or doubt.
False (8)
8. What is the awareness of our inevitable death supposed to bring about in our lives?
8. What is the awareness of our inevitable death supposed to bring about in our lives?
To teach us to rely on God (9)
This is why removing the reality of death from the minds and hearts of men leads to their NOT learning to rely on God.
9. True or False: The Christian’s hope in God is that He will deliver us from the physical death of the body.
9. True or False: The Christian’s hope in God is that He will deliver us from the physical death of the body.
False
10. What does Paul specifically ask the Corinthians to do with reference to his suffering and afflictions?
10. What does Paul specifically ask the Corinthians to do with reference to his suffering and afflictions?
Pray for him…and take part in the joy of his being helped.
We don’t feel the deliverance and joy others experience because we don’t pray for them in the midst of the trial and affliction.
Verses 12-16
Verses 12-16
12 For our boast is this, the testimony of our conscience, that we behaved in the world with simplicity and godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God, and supremely so toward you. 13 For we are not writing to you anything other than what you read and understand and I hope you will fully understand— 14 just as you did partially understand us—that on the day of our Lord Jesus you will boast of us as we will boast of you. 15 Because I was sure of this, I wanted to come to you first, so that you might have a second experience of grace. 16 I wanted to visit you on my way to Macedonia, and to come back to you from Macedonia and have you send me on my way to Judea.
11. List the things Paul identifies as the “testimony of [his] conscience.”
11. List the things Paul identifies as the “testimony of [his] conscience.”
He had behaved with simplicity, godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom, but by God’s grace, and most especially toward the Corinthaisn.
12. Do you share Paul’s “testimony of [his] conscience.”?
12. Do you share Paul’s “testimony of [his] conscience.”?
We should…do we?
13. What do you think Paul meant when he desired the Corinthians to have a “second experience of grace.” in verse 15?
13. What do you think Paul meant when he desired the Corinthians to have a “second experience of grace.” in verse 15?
I think he’s just referring to the fact that it was God’s grace that brought Paul to the Corinthians in the first place, and thus, the “second” place as well.
Verses 17-20
Verses 17-20
17 Was I vacillating when I wanted to do this? Do I make my plans according to the flesh, ready to say “Yes, yes” and “No, no” at the same time? 18 As surely as God is faithful, our word to you has not been Yes and No. 19 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, whom we proclaimed among you, Silvanus and Timothy and I, was not Yes and No, but in him it is always Yes. 20 For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.
14. What is the difference between planning according to the flesh, and planning according to the Spirit (God)? Consider everything Paul say’s in verses 17-20 as you answer.
14. What is the difference between planning according to the flesh, and planning according to the Spirit (God)? Consider everything Paul say’s in verses 17-20 as you answer.
Planning according to the flesh does not come with the certainty, peace, and solid direction as planning according to the Spirit.
15. What does “Amen” mean?
15. What does “Amen” mean?
“So be it.”
16. What attitude of mind and heart ought one have when they close their prayers with “Amen”?
16. What attitude of mind and heart ought one have when they close their prayers with “Amen”?
“Lord. SO BE IT!”
Verses 21-24
Verses 21-24
21 And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, 22 and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee. 23 But I call God to witness against me—it was to spare you that I refrained from coming again to Corinth. 24 Not that we lord it over your faith, but we work with you for your joy, for you stand firm in your faith.
17. What guarantee do we have that we are children of God?
17. What guarantee do we have that we are children of God?
The seal (and presence) of the Spirit of God.
18. What does it mean that God has placed a “seal” on His children?
18. What does it mean that God has placed a “seal” on His children?
He has marked us as His.
19. Why did Paul not return to Corinth when the Corinthians desired him to do so?
19. Why did Paul not return to Corinth when the Corinthians desired him to do so?
To spare the Corinthians
20. What was Paul’s desire for the Corinthians in working with them?
20. What was Paul’s desire for the Corinthians in working with them?
For their “joy” and the “stand firm in [their] faity.” (24)
Few understand this…when a preacher shares the truth, it makes the flesh terribly uncomfortable, and even offended…but the the preacher is merely working to bring you joy in the truth.