"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: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!" (II Corinthians 1:1-2)
The apostle Paul makes it clear right up-front that his mission was not a self-appointed one, or based on his own achievements, but one of divine appointment! And that his letter reflected not his own message but the very words of God! No other book of the Bible reflects better the claims and promises of II Timothy 3:16-17--that "all Scripture is breathed out (and given) by inspiration of God and profitable for teaching (doctrine!), for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work!" And that's why we as "men of the Bible" (or MOBsters) are enthusiastically into studying it and sharing what we're learning with each together!
In his salutation Paul makes mention of his cherished son in the faith, Timothy, who was with him during the founding of the church of Corinth, and extends grace (God's unmerited favor) and peace (one of its benefits), which were the normal salutations in all of Paul's letters to the churches!
This is Paul's second letter to the church of Corinth! First Corinthians, with all its great content, apparently "did not get rid of all the problems in this troubled church," writes Constable. And so the apostle Paul wrote this letter "with the immediate purpose of combating the influence of Judaizers who promoted legalistic teaching"! These teachers were evidently Jews, mainly from Judea, who claimed to be Christians but may have been unbelievers or misguided believers! But God's larger purpose, again according to Constable, was to "make the gospel crystal clear"!
MacArthur writes that II Corinthians is the "most personally revealing of all Paul's epistles"! (But) "at the same time it is perhaps the least familiar of all his inspired writings, often overlooked by individual believers and preachers alike...an immense loss to the church"! (John Neal referred to it as "Paul's autobiography," and that in it, Paul "pours out his soul for the Corinthian church"! Paul's "godly character clearly shows through as he interacts with the most troubled of his congregations...out of humility"! "If I have to boast, I will boast of what pertains to my weakness," he writes in II Corinthians 11:30; and he says in 3:5-6, "Not that are adequate in ourselves...but our adequacy is from God, who made us adequate as servants of a new covenant..."! His passionate concern for the flock is shown in 4:5 where he declares, "For we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants for Jesus sake"!
MacArthur notes that "no preacher in the history of the church has faced such intense persecution as did Paul, and in this letter he models how to handle suffering in the ministry! For example, in 4:7-12, Paul writes, "For we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves, even as we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in our body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are constantly delivered over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death works in us, but life in you!" And so much more!
But though it is an intensive look at Paul, nonetheless, MacArthur writes, II Corinthians "contains rich theological truth! Here the new covenant receives its most complete exposition outside of Hebrews! In II Corinthians 5:1-11, Paul presents important teaching (especially for us old guys) on what happens to believers when they die! And what comforting words he gives! Here's a preview: "For we know that if the earthly tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For indeed in this house we groan, longing to be clothed with our dwelling from heaven, inasmuch as we, having put it on, will not be found naked. For indeed while we are in this tent, we groan, being burdened, because we do not want to be unclothed but to be clothed, so that what is mortal will be swallowed up by life. Now He who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave to us the Spirit as a pledge. Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord--for we walk by faith, not by sight--we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord! Therefore, we also have as our ambition whether at home or absent, to be pleasing with Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad!" Whew!
Here's something else to look forward to! That same chapter 5 discusses the doctrine of reconciliation, "culminating in the fifteen Greek words of 5:21...providing the most concise yet profound summary of the substitutionary atonement of Jesus Christ to be found anywhere in Scripture!" Wow! Can't wait to try to figure out those 15 Greek words!
Then, MacArthur notes, "a brief Christological gem of immense valve" in 8:9: "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich!"
And lots of practical aspects of living the Christian life, including the principle of separating ourselves from unbelievers; teachings on giving; and distinguishing true servants of God from false teachers, and instructions of how God uses suffering in the lives of His children!
And, last but not least, II Corinthians closes with this great exhortation (and promise) "Finally, brethren, rejoice, be made complete, be comforted, be like-minded, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you!" Followed by the "Trinitarian benediction": "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all!" And I just want to add, "Amen!"
I hope this overview whets your appetite as we get into--in more detail--the apostle Paul's wonderful, and often neglected, epistle of II Corinthians! Welcome to MOB!
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!
Lowell
The apostle Paul makes it clear right up-front that his mission was not a self-appointed one, or based on his own achievements, but one of divine appointment! And that his letter reflected not his own message but the very words of God! No other book of the Bible reflects better the claims and promises of II Timothy 3:16-17--that "all Scripture is breathed out (and given) by inspiration of God and profitable for teaching (doctrine!), for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work!" And that's why we as "men of the Bible" (or MOBsters) are enthusiastically into studying it and sharing what we're learning with each together!
In his salutation Paul makes mention of his cherished son in the faith, Timothy, who was with him during the founding of the church of Corinth, and extends grace (God's unmerited favor) and peace (one of its benefits), which were the normal salutations in all of Paul's letters to the churches!
This is Paul's second letter to the church of Corinth! First Corinthians, with all its great content, apparently "did not get rid of all the problems in this troubled church," writes Constable. And so the apostle Paul wrote this letter "with the immediate purpose of combating the influence of Judaizers who promoted legalistic teaching"! These teachers were evidently Jews, mainly from Judea, who claimed to be Christians but may have been unbelievers or misguided believers! But God's larger purpose, again according to Constable, was to "make the gospel crystal clear"!
MacArthur writes that II Corinthians is the "most personally revealing of all Paul's epistles"! (But) "at the same time it is perhaps the least familiar of all his inspired writings, often overlooked by individual believers and preachers alike...an immense loss to the church"! (John Neal referred to it as "Paul's autobiography," and that in it, Paul "pours out his soul for the Corinthian church"! Paul's "godly character clearly shows through as he interacts with the most troubled of his congregations...out of humility"! "If I have to boast, I will boast of what pertains to my weakness," he writes in II Corinthians 11:30; and he says in 3:5-6, "Not that are adequate in ourselves...but our adequacy is from God, who made us adequate as servants of a new covenant..."! His passionate concern for the flock is shown in 4:5 where he declares, "For we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants for Jesus sake"!
MacArthur notes that "no preacher in the history of the church has faced such intense persecution as did Paul, and in this letter he models how to handle suffering in the ministry! For example, in 4:7-12, Paul writes, "For we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves, even as we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in our body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are constantly delivered over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death works in us, but life in you!" And so much more!
But though it is an intensive look at Paul, nonetheless, MacArthur writes, II Corinthians "contains rich theological truth! Here the new covenant receives its most complete exposition outside of Hebrews! In II Corinthians 5:1-11, Paul presents important teaching (especially for us old guys) on what happens to believers when they die! And what comforting words he gives! Here's a preview: "For we know that if the earthly tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For indeed in this house we groan, longing to be clothed with our dwelling from heaven, inasmuch as we, having put it on, will not be found naked. For indeed while we are in this tent, we groan, being burdened, because we do not want to be unclothed but to be clothed, so that what is mortal will be swallowed up by life. Now He who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave to us the Spirit as a pledge. Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord--for we walk by faith, not by sight--we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord! Therefore, we also have as our ambition whether at home or absent, to be pleasing with Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad!" Whew!
Here's something else to look forward to! That same chapter 5 discusses the doctrine of reconciliation, "culminating in the fifteen Greek words of 5:21...providing the most concise yet profound summary of the substitutionary atonement of Jesus Christ to be found anywhere in Scripture!" Wow! Can't wait to try to figure out those 15 Greek words!
Then, MacArthur notes, "a brief Christological gem of immense valve" in 8:9: "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich!"
And lots of practical aspects of living the Christian life, including the principle of separating ourselves from unbelievers; teachings on giving; and distinguishing true servants of God from false teachers, and instructions of how God uses suffering in the lives of His children!
And, last but not least, II Corinthians closes with this great exhortation (and promise) "Finally, brethren, rejoice, be made complete, be comforted, be like-minded, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you!" Followed by the "Trinitarian benediction": "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all!" And I just want to add, "Amen!"
I hope this overview whets your appetite as we get into--in more detail--the apostle Paul's wonderful, and often neglected, epistle of II Corinthians! Welcome to MOB!
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!
Lowell
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