2 Corinthians 9-13
What I Noticed Today (2 Corinthians 9-13)
2 Corinthians 9
In verses 1-5, Paul reminds the Corinthians of the gift for the saints in Jerusalem they had promised. Paul had bragged to the Macedonians about the Corinthian’s’ eagerness to support the saints. This caused the Macedonians to respond by putting their gifts together. Paul does not want the Corinthians to be embarrassed if any Macedonians accompany him on his next visit, and they find the Corinthians have not fulfilled their promise. Therefore, Paul urged the Corinthians to complete the gift and have it ready as promised.
In verses 6-15, Paul explains three rewards of generosity:
- The givers are enriched (vv. 6-10). Those who sow generously will reap generously. Give what is in your heart to give, not out of necessity or reluctantly, because God loves a cheerful giver. God’s grace will overflow to you so that you will have everything you need.
- The recipient’s needs are met (vv. 11-12). The recipient’s physical needs are met, but their spiritual needs are met as well.
- God is praised (vv. 13-15). They will glorify God for your obedience to the Gospel and your generosity. They will pray for you because of God’s grace in you.
2 Corinthians 10
In chapter 10, Paul’s tone changes dramatically from engaging and encouraging, to harsh as he defends himself and his ministry against the false apostles.
In verses 1-6, Paul begins making a personal appeal. He plans to challenge certain people (the false apostles) who are accusing him of behaving in an unspiritual way. He does not wage war in an unspiritual way since the weapons of his warfare are from God.
Note: Paul frequently uses warfare as an illustration. In this case, he is saying Christians should not engage in battles in a worldly way (either literal or philosophical) for their weapons are not of this world but are from God for the demolition of strongholds (Satan).
Note: The transition is direct, “Now I, Paul.” The only other place Paul used his name was in the letter’s salutation (2 Corinthians 1:1).
Paul says he demolishes every high-minded argument raised up against the knowledge of God and is ready to punish any disobedience.
Note: Paul expects the Corinthians to be obedient to him and the Gospel as he taught them, and reject the accusations of the false apostles.
2 Corinthians 10:7-11:15
Paul confronts the false apostles (Judaizers).
Note: These were Jews, who claimed to be Christians who wanted Christians to follow the Law of Moses as well.
In verses 7-18, Paul made several points:
- Believers all belong to Christ (v. 7). The false apostles had suggested they were special.
- Those that God has given authority and leadership to have the responsibility to build up the body never to tear it down (v. 8).
- The false apostles said Paul’s letters were strong, but his personal appearance was weak, and his public speaking despicable (vv. 9-10).
- Paul said if need be, the words of his letters would be like his action when he was present with them (v. 11).
- The false apostles commend themselves (v. 12). They compared themselves to themselves rather than to Christ.
- God was the one who had assigned Paul to take the Gospel to the Corinthians (vv. 13-14).
- The false apostles had exaggerated their accomplishments, bragging to others what they had done (vv. 15-16).
- Paul closes this section saying those that boast must boast in the Lord (vv. 17-18). It is not the one who commends himself that is approved. It is the one approved by the Lord.
2 Corinthians 11
In verses 1-4, Paul uses an analogy of marriage to explain his relationship to the Corinthian church:
- He is their spiritual father, who has promised them to one husband.
- He is to present them as virgin daughters.
- Christ is their bridegroom, to whom they were to marry.
- Like Eve who was seduced by the serpent, they are being seduced by Satan through false teachers from having a complete devotion to Christ.
In verses 5-15, Paul says he does not consider himself inferior to the “super-apostles.”
Note: The Greek translated “super-apostles” is a combination of the word for “superior” and “apostles.” Paul’s use of quotation marks means it could be read “so-called apostles.”
Paul admits he may not have been formally trained in public speaking, but he was not deficient in his knowledge of God. His focus was on making the Gospel clear, not on his oratory. Paul asks a rhetorical question, “Did I commit a sin by preaching the Gospel to you for free?” Paul also defended his refusal to take money from the Corinthians to preach to them, saying churches in Macedonia had provided for him.
Note: The false apostles thought Paul’s preaching was inferior because he refused to charge a fee for teaching the Corinthians the Gospel.
In addition, Paul was not a financial burden to the Corinthians because he had also provided for his own needs through his business as a tentmaker.
Note: The brothers that came from Macedonia (verse 8) to support Paul were Timothy and Silas.
Paul says he will continue to do just as he has done, so the false apostles will not be able to boast they are equals. Those who charge for the gospel are false apostles, deceitful workers who disguise themselves as apostles of Christ for personal gain. He says these false apostles are servants of Satan who disguise themselves as servants of righteousness.
2 Corinthians 11:16-12:10
This section is often referred to as Paul’s “Fools Speech.” In this section, he boasts about experiences that others would have considered foolish or shameful.
In verses 16-21, Paul had said earlier (10:1) to put up with his foolishness. He continues with a list of examples of how he has been “foolish” in his service to God. Paul says they put up with fools, they put up with being enslaved, if someone devours them, if someone dominates you, or even if someone hits you in the face.
Note: The word translated “foolish” means unlearned or ignorant. Paul’s point is that Corinthians think they are wise, but in fact, they are being foolish and led astray by these false apostles.
In verses 22-27, Paul now begins a list of comparisons of external qualifications deemed important by the Corinthians:
- A Hebrew, an Israelite, a Jew (seed of Abraham).
- A servant of Christ imprisoned, beaten, received 39 lashed five times, three times beaten with rods, once stoned, once shipwrecked, a night and day in the open sea.
- On many occasions, he faced dangers from rivers, robbers, his own people, and Gentiles.
- He faced dangers in the cities, in the country, and on the sea.
- He faced dangers from false brothers.
- He endured hardships, sleepless nights, hunger, thirst, cold, and lacked clothing.
In verses 28-33, Paul concludes saying he burns with indignation when someone stumbles. He will boast about his weakness and God the Father knows he is not lying about any of these claims.
2 Corinthians 12
In verses 1-10, Paul continues his “Foolish Speech,” discussing revelations and visions he has received from the Lord.
Paul speaks of himself in the third person, saying he knows a man who was caught up into the third heaven fourteen years ago. He heard inexpressible words which a man is not allowed to speak.
Note: The first heaven is the atmospheric sky, the second heaven is the planetary sky, and the third heaven is the dwelling place of God.
Paul speaks of a thorn in his flesh given to him by a messenger of Satan to torment him so he would not exalt himself. Paul pleaded with the Lord three times to take the thorn away, but the Lord said my grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness. Therefore, Paul says, he will boast in his weakness so that Christ’s power would reside in him.
Note: Paul does not identify what the thorn in the flesh was, although the Corinthians probably knew. Many scholars believe it was probably a physical affliction.
Paul says he takes pleasure in weaknesses, insults, catastrophes, persecutions, and pressures for the cause of Christ because when he is weak (humanly speaking), then he is strong (spiritually speaking).
In verses 11-13, Paul says the Corinthians should have recognized Paul was not inferior to the “super-apostles” because of the signs and wonders that were done among them.
In verses 14-21, Paul says he is ready to come to them but will not be a financial burden to them. He only wants to care for them as a father who loves them. He was not a burden to them, nor did he deceive them. He sent Titus to them, who walked in the same spirit with them.
Everything he said was not to defend themselves but to build them up in Christ. He fears that when Paul comes to visit them, they will still not find them to be the way he wants, and he will not be what they want. He does not want to see quarreling, jealousy, or outbursts of anger, selfish ambitions, slander, gossip, arrogance, or disorder among them.
His greatest concern is that they will not have repented of the moral impurity, sexual immorality, and promiscuity they had practiced in the past.
Note: The eight sins mentioned in verse 20 as well as the three sins mentioned in verse 21, Paul attributes to coming from disunity in the church.
2 Corinthians 13
In verses 1-4, Paul says this will be his third trip to visit the Corinthians. In dealing with issues of discipline, every fact must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses (Deuteronomy 17:6). He reminds them that he had warned them on his second visit about those who had sinned. He promised he would not be lenient this visit if they had not repented. While Paul was seen as weak by the Corinthians, Christ whom he served was not; he was crucified in weakness but lives by God’s power. Paul was also weak toward the Corinthians, but toward them, he would live with Him in God’s power.
In verses 5-10, Paul exhorts the Corinthians to test themselves to see if they are in the faith; to see if you can recognize Christ in you.
Note: Verse 5-6 is written in present tense meaning, “keep on testing,” “keep on examining.” It is important to examine one’s life in Christ regularly.
Even if at first you fail, you must do what is right. We rejoice when we are weak, and you are strong. We pray that you will become fully mature. This, says Paul, is why he is writing; to build them up not to tear them down.
In verses 11-14, Paul concludes the letter telling the Corinthians to rejoice, become mature, be of the same mind, be at peace, and then the love of God and peace will be with you.
Note: Paul’s benediction is Trinitarian: the grace of the Lord Jesus, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit.
Some thoughts for further consideration:
- Throughout the scope of this second letter to the Corinthians, Paul is focused on bringing them to a true relationship with Christ and to avoid the false teaching of the false apostles.
- Despite all the trials and tribulations, he endured for the sake of building up, never tearing down the believers in Corinth. He wanted unity within the body.
What did you notice in your study today? Feel free to visit the website and leave a question or a comment.