Class 2

2nd Corinthians & Philippians

© John Stevenson, 2008
2 nd Corinthians

Defending the Faith

The Second Epistle to the
Corinthians
• The most biographical of all of
Paul’s writings.
• This epistle is written some time
after 1st Corinthians. Some of the
problems in that first epistle had
been settled; some still remained.
– The legitimacy of Paul’s apostleship
had been brought into question.
– Another collection for the church in
Jerusalem.
Occasions for the Epistle
• Paul explains why he has not
returned to Corinth (1:15 – 2:4).
• Restoration of a repentant
believer (2:5-11).
• Encouragement to complete an
offering for the church in
Jerusalem (8-9).
• To affirm his apostleship and
teachings which have come
under attack.
 Outline of 2nd Corinthians
Chapters 1-7 Chapters 8-9 Chapters 10-13
A presentation An A defense of
of Paul’s encouragement Paul’s apostolic
apostolic of the Corinthians’ ministry
ministry financial ministry

Personal Practical Personal

Introduction (1:1-11)
Travel Plans: Why Paul didn’t come
to Corinth (1:12 - 2:13)
Presentation of Paul’s Apostolic Ministry
(2:14 - 7:16)
Collection of a Love Gift for the Jerusalem
Church (8-9)
Defense of Paul’s Apostolic Ministry
(10:1 - 12:10)
Travel Plans: Paul’s upcoming trip
to Corinth (12:11 - 13:10)
Conclusion (13:11-14)
 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
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.
 2 Corinthians 1:8-10
8 For we do not want you to be
unaware, brethren, of our affliction
which came to us in Asia, that we
were burdened excessively, beyond
our strength, so that we despaired
even of life; 9 indeed, we had the
sentence of death within ourselves in
order that we should not trust in
ourselves, but in God who raises the
dead; 10 who delivered us from so
great a peril of death, and will deliver
us, He on whom we have set our
hope. And He will yet deliver us…
Introduction (1:1-11)
Travel Plans: Why Paul didn’t come
to Corinth (1:12 - 2:13)
Presentation of Paul’s Apostolic Ministry
(2:14 - 7:16)
Collection of a Love Gift for the Jerusalem
Church (8-9)
Defense of Paul’s Apostolic Ministry
(10:1 - 12:10)
Travel Plans: Paul’s upcoming trip
to Corinth (12:11 - 13:10)
Conclusion (13:11-14)
 2 Corinthians 2:1-3
1 But I determined this for my
own sake, that I would not come to
you in sorrow again. 2 For if I cause
you sorrow, who then makes me glad
but the one whom I made sorrowful?
3 And this is the very thing I

wrote you, lest, when I came, I

should have sorrow from those who
ought to make me rejoice; having
confidence in you all, that my joy
would be the joy of you all.
 2 Corinthians 2:4
For out of much affliction and
anguish of heart I wrote to you with
many tears; not that you should be
made sorrowful, but that you might
know the love which I have especially
for you.
 2 Corinthians 2:6-8
6 Sufficient for such a one is this
punishment which was inflicted by
the majority, 7 so that on the contrary
you should rather forgive and comfort
him, lest somehow such a one be
overwhelmed by excessive sorrow.
8 Wherefore I urge you to
reaffirm your love for him.
Introduction (1:1-11)
Travel Plans: Why Paul didn’t come
to Corinth (1:12 - 2:13)
Presentation of Paul’s Apostolic Ministry
(2:14 - 7:16)
Collection of a Love Gift for the Jerusalem
Church (8-9)
Defense of Paul’s Apostolic Ministry
(10:1 - 12:10)
Travel Plans: Paul’s upcoming trip
to Corinth (12:11 - 13:10)
Conclusion (13:11-14)
 2 Corinthians 2:14-16
14 But thanks be to God, who
always leads us in His triumph in
Christ, and manifests through us the
sweet aroma of the knowledge of
Him in every place.
15 For we are a fragrance of
Christ to God among those who are
being saved and among those who
are perishing; 16 to the one an aroma
from death to death, to the other an
aroma from life to life. And who is
adequate for these things?
 2 Corinthians 2:17
For we are not like many,
peddling the word of God, but as
from sincerity, but as from God, we
speak in Christ in the sight of God.
 2 Corinthians 3:1-3
1 Are we beginning to commend
ourselves again? Or do we need, as
some, letters of commendation to you
or from you?
2 You are our letter, written in our

hearts, known and read by all men; 3

being manifested that you are a letter
of Christ, cared for by us, written not
with ink, but with the Spirit of the living
God, not on tablets of stone, but on
tablets of human hearts.
 2 Corinthians 3:4-6
4 And such confidence we have
through Christ toward God. 5 Not that
we are adequate in ourselves to
consider anything as coming from
ourselves, but our adequacy is from
God, 6 who also made us adequate as
servants of a new covenant, not of the
letter, but of the Spirit; for the letter
kills, but the Spirit gives life.
 Old Covenant New Covenant
The letter The Spirit
Tablets of stone Tablets of human
hearts
The letter kills The Spirit gives life

If the ministry of the How shall the ministry

death, in letters of the Spirit fail to be
engraved on stones, even more with glory?
came with glory…
2 Corinthians 3:12-13
Having therefore
such a hope, we use
great boldness in our
speech, 13 and are not
as Moses, who used to
put a veil over his face
that the sons of Israel
might not look intently
at the end of what was
fading away.
 2 Corinthians 3:14-16
14 But their minds were hardened;
for until this very day at the reading of
the old covenant the same veil
remains unlifted, because it is
removed in Christ.
15 But to this day whenever
Moses is read, a veil lies over their
heart; 16 but whenever a man turns to
the Lord, the veil is taken away.
 2 Corinthians 3:17-18
17 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and
where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is
liberty.
18 But we all, with unveiled face

beholding as in a mirror the glory of

the Lord, are being transformed into
the same image from glory to glory,
just as from the Lord, the Spirit.
 2 Corinthians 4:3-5
3 And even if our gospel is veiled,
it is veiled to those who are perishing,
4 in whose case the god of this world

has blinded the minds of the

unbelieving, that they might not see
the light of the gospel of the glory of
Christ, who is the image of God.
5 For we do not preach ourselves

but Christ Jesus as Lord, and

ourselves as your bond-servants for
Jesus' sake.
2 Corinthians 5:10
For we must all
appear before the
judgment seat of Christ,
that each one may be
recompensed for his
deeds in the body,
according to what he has
done, whether good or
bad.
2 Corinthians 5:11
Therefore knowing
the fear of the Lord, we
persuade men, but we
are made manifest to
God; and I hope that we
are made manifest also
in your consciences.
2 Corinthians 5:20
Therefore, we are
ambassadors for Christ,
as though God were
entreating through us;
we beg you on behalf of
Christ, be reconciled to
God.
Introduction (1:1-11)
Travel Plans: Why Paul didn’t come
to Corinth (1:12 - 2:13)
Presentation of Paul’s Apostolic Ministry
(2:14 - 7:16)
Collection of a Love Gift for the Jerusalem
Church (8-9)
Defense of Paul’s Apostolic Ministry
(10:1 - 12:10)
Travel Plans: Paul’s upcoming trip
to Corinth (12:11 - 13:10)
Conclusion (13:11-14)
 2 Corinthians 8:1-2
Now, brethren, we wish
to make known to you Macedonia

the grace of God which

has been given in the
churches of Macedonia, 2
that in a great ordeal of
affliction their abundance ●
of joy and their deep Corinth
poverty overflowed in the
wealth of their liberality.
 2 Corinthians 8:6-7
6 Consequently we urged Titus
that as he had previously made a
beginning, so he would also complete
in you this gracious work as well. 7 But
just as you abound in everything, in
faith and utterance and knowledge
and in all earnestness and in the love
we inspired in you, see that you
abound in this gracious work also.
 2 Corinthians 8:8-9
8 I am not speaking this as a
command, but as proving through the
earnestness of others the sincerity of
your love also.
9 For you know the grace of our

Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was

rich, yet for your sake He became
poor, that you through His poverty
might become rich.
 2 Corinthians 9:6-7
6 Now this I say, he who sows
sparingly shall also reap sparingly;
and he who sows bountifully shall also
reap bountifully.
7 Let each one do just as he has

purposed in his heart; not grudgingly

or under compulsion; for God loves a
cheerful giver.
 2 Corinthians 9:8-9
8 And God is able to make all
grace abound to you, that always
having all sufficiency in everything,
you may have an abundance for every
good deed; 9 as it is written, "He
scattered abroad, he gave to the poor,
His righteousness abides forever."
 2 Corinthians 9:10-11
10Now He who supplies seed to
the sower and bread for food, will
supply and multiply your seed for
sowing and increase the harvest of
your righteousness; 11 you will be
enriched in everything for all liberality,
which through us is producing
thanksgiving to God.
Introduction (1:1-11)
Travel Plans: Why Paul didn’t come
to Corinth (1:12 - 2:13)
Presentation of Paul’s Apostolic Ministry
(2:14 - 7:16)
Collection of a Love Gift for the Jerusalem
Church (8-9)
Defense of Paul’s Apostolic Ministry
(10:1 - 12:10)
Travel Plans: Paul’s upcoming trip
to Corinth (12:11 - 13:10)
Conclusion (13:11-14)
 2 Corinthians 10:12-13
12For we are not bold to class or
compare ourselves with some of
those who commend themselves; but
when they measure themselves by
themselves, and compare themselves
with themselves, they are without
understanding. 13 But we will not boast
beyond our measure, but within the
measure of the sphere which God
apportioned to us as a measure, to
reach even as far as you.
 2 Corinthians 11:2-3
2 For I am jealous for you with a
godly jealousy; for I betrothed you to
one husband, that to Christ I might
present you as a pure virgin.
3 But I am afraid, lest as the

serpent deceived Eve by his

craftiness, your minds should be led
astray from the simplicity and purity of
devotion to Christ.
 2 Corinthians 11:4
For if one comes and preaches
another Jesus whom we have not
preached, or you receive a different
spirit which you have not received, or
a different gospel which you have not
accepted, you bear this beautifully.
 2 Corinthians 12:1-2
1 Boasting is necessary, though it
is not profitable; but I will go on to
visions and revelations of the Lord.
2 I know a man in Christ who

fourteen years ago-- whether in the

body I do not know, or out of the body
I do not know, God knows-- such a
man was caught up to the third
heaven.
 2 Corinthians 12:3-5
3 And I know how such a man--
whether in the body or apart from the
body I do not know, God knows-- 4
was caught up into Paradise, and
heard inexpressible words, which a
man is not permitted to speak.
5 On behalf of such a man will I

boast; but on my own behalf I will not

boast, except in regard to my
weaknesses.
 2 Corinthians 12:7-8
7 And because of the surpassing
greatness of the revelations, for this
reason, to keep me from exalting
myself, there was given me a thorn in
the flesh, a messenger of Satan to
buffet me-- to keep me from exalting
myself!
8 Concerning this I entreated the

Lord three times that it might depart

from me.
 2 Corinthians 12:9-10
9 And He has said to me, "My
grace is sufficient for you, for power is
perfected in weakness." Most gladly,
therefore, I will rather boast about my
weaknesses, that the power of Christ
may dwell in me.
10 Therefore I am well content

with weaknesses, with insults, with

distresses, with persecutions, with
difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when
I am weak, then I am strong.
 Look through these epistles
and look for principles on…

Groups 1 & 2 Groups 3 & 4

The Purity of The Unity of
the Church the Church
What happens when a church
moves to one extreme or the
other?

Unity Purity
Joy in the
Journey
  Philippi

ASIA MINOR
GREECE
 Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4
Paul’s
thanksgiving
in his
circumstances
“I thank my God in
all my remembrance
of you…” (1:3)

Reason why • “Your participation in the

Paul is thankful gospel from the first day
until now” (1:5).
• “He who began a good
work in you will perfect it
until the day of Christ
Jesus” (1:6).
• “You all are partakers of
grace with me” (1:7).
Paul’s Prayer To the glory of God

That your love will abound …which comes

in real knowledge & all through Jesus
discernment (1:9) Christ

That you may approve the By being filled

things that are excellent with the fruit of
(1:10) righteousness

In order to be sincere and How do

blameless in the day of we
Christ (1:10) achieve
this?
 Philippians 1:12-14
12 Now I want you to know, brethren,
that my circumstances have turned out for
the greater progress of the gospel, 13 so
that my imprisonment in the cause of Christ
has become well known throughout the
whole praetorian guard and to everyone
else, 14 and that most of the brethren,
trusting in the Lord because of my
imprisonment, have far more courage to
speak the word of God without fear.
…speak the word of God without fear.
Some, to be sure, …but some also
are preaching Christ from good will
even from envy and (1:15)
strife (1:15)

the former The latter do it

proclaim Christ out of love,
out of selfish knowing that I
ambition, rather am appointed
than from pure for the defense
motives… of the gospel;
 Philippians 1:18
What then? Only that in
every way, whether in pretense
or in truth, Christ is proclaimed;
and in this I rejoice, yes, and I
will rejoice.
 Philippians 1:19-20
19 For I know that this shall turn out
for my deliverance through your prayers
and the provision of the Spirit of Jesus
Christ, 20 according to my earnest
expectation and hope, that I shall not be
put to shame in anything, but that with all
boldness, Christ shall even now, as always,
be exalted in my body, whether by life or by
death.
 To Live To Die

…is Christ …is gain

…if I am to live I am …having the

on in the flesh, hard- desire to depart
this will mean pressed and be with
fruitful labor for from Christ, for that is
me both very much better
directions

…yet to remain on in the flesh is

more necessary for your sake
Attitudes on Life & Death

• In light of the passages we have

seen in Thessalonians, Corinthians,
and here in Philippians, what is the
believer’s destiny after death?
• What should be our own attitude in
this present life?
Attitudes on Life & Death

• What are some other common

perspectives people have regarding
death, and how does the biblical
view differ from them?
 Philippians 1:27-28
27 Only conduct yourselves in a
manner worthy of the gospel of Christ; so
that whether I come and see you or remain
absent, I may hear of you that you are
standing firm in one spirit, with one mind
striving together for the faith of the gospel;
28 in no way alarmed by your opponents--
which is a sign of destruction for them, but
of salvation for you, and that too, from God.
 Philippians 2:3-4
3 Do nothing from selfishness or
empty conceit, but with humility of mind let
each of you regard one another as more
important than himself; 4 do not merely look
out for your own personal interests, but
also for the interests of others.
 Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4
Paul’s
Examples
thanksgiving
of true
in his
servants
circumstances
 Philippians 2:5-8
5 Have this attitude in yourselves
which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who,
although He existed in the form of God, did
not regard equality with God a thing to be
grasped, 7 but emptied Himself, taking the
form of a bond-servant, and being made in
the likeness of men. 8 And being found in
appearance as a man, He humbled Himself
by becoming obedient to the point of death,
even death on a cross.
 Philippians 2:9-11
9 Therefore also God highly exalted
Him, and bestowed on Him the name which
is above every name, 10 that at the name of
Jesus every knee should bow, of those who
are in heaven, and on earth, and under the
earth, 11 and that every tongue should
confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the
glory of God the Father.
 Philippians 2:9-11
12 So then, my beloved, just as you
have always obeyed, not as in my
presence only, but now much more in my
absence, work out your salvation with fear
and trembling; 13 for it is God who is at work
in you, both to will and to work for His good
pleasure.

GOD Work
out
Works Salvatio
in you n
 Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3
Paul’s
Examples Examples
thanksgiving
of true of false
in his
servants servants
circumstances
• Jesus • Paul (before
• Timothy his salvation)
• Enemies of
• Epaphroditus
the cross of
Christ
 Philippians 3:1
Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the
Lord. To write the same things again is no
trouble to me, and it is a safeguard for you.
 Philippians 3:2-4
2 Beware of the dogs, beware of the
evil workers, beware of the false
circumcision; 3 for we are the true
circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of
God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no
confidence in the flesh, 4 although I myself
might have confidence even in the flesh. If
anyone else has a mind to put confidence
in the flesh, I far more:
 Philippians 3:5-6
5 …circumcised the eighth day, of the
nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a
Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the Law, a
Pharisee; 6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the
church; as to the righteousness which is in
the Law, found blameless.
 Philippians 3:7
7 But whatever things were gain to
me, those things I have counted as loss for
the sake of Christ.
 Philippians 3:8-9
8 More than that, I count all things to
be loss in view of the surpassing value of
knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I
have suffered the loss of all things, and
count them but rubbish in order that I may
gain Christ, 9 and may be found in Him, not
having a righteousness of my own derived
from the Law, but that which is through faith
in Christ, the righteousness which comes
from God on the basis of faith…
 Philippians 3:10-11
10 …that I may know Him, and the power of
His resurrection and the fellowship of His
sufferings, being conformed to His death; 11
in order that I may attain to the resurrection
from the dead.
 Philippians 3:12-14
12Not that I have already obtained it,
or have already become perfect, but I press
on in order that I may lay hold of that for
which also I was laid hold of by Christ
Jesus.
13 Brethren, I do not regard myself as
having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do:
forgetting what lies behind and reaching
forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on
toward the goal for the prize of the upward
call of God in Christ Jesus.
Enemies of the cross of Christ
(3:18-19)

• Whose end is destruction

• Whose god is their appetite
• Whose glory is in their shame
• Who set their minds on earthly
things
 Philippians 3:20-21
20 For our citizenship is in heaven,
from which also we eagerly wait for a
Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; 21 who will
transform the body of our humble state into
conformity with the body of His glory, by the
exertion of the power that He has even to
subject all things to Himself.
 Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4
Paul’s Warnings
Examples Final
thanksgiving against
of true exhortations
in his false
servants and Rejoicing
circumstances servants

• Stand firm
• Help Euodia
& Syntyche
• Rejoice
• Be anxious
for nothing
 Philippians 4:8
Finally, brethren,
whatever is true,
whatever is honorable,
whatever is right,
whatever is pure,
whatever is lovely,
whatever is of good repute,
if there is any excellence and
if anything worthy of praise,
let your mind dwell on these things.
I rejoiced in the Lord
greatly, that now at last
you have revived your Not that I speak from
concern for me (4:10) want; for I have learned
to be content in whatever
circumstances I am (4:11)

I know how to I also know

get along with how to live
humble means in prosperity

I can do all things

through Him who
strengthens me
A Question of Contentment

To what extent do you wrestle with

this issue of contentment?
A Question of Contentment

What have been some of the

steps that have helped you to
grow in this area?
A Question of Contentment

Why is it important that we come

to this place of contentment?