2 CORINTHIANS
(Answers)

CHAPTER 1

  1. As the people saw or learned of Paul's afflictions and how God consoled or comforted him their own faith would grow so that they too could remain strong during times of affliction.
  2. He knew people were praying for him.
  3. We can plan with inconsistencies and have to make changes. Letting God lead us we can complete the task He gives us.
  4. We are prodded by the Spirit of the knowledge of God which we will use to live by and to help others in the faith. The Spirit is a pledge of God to help us to salvation.
  5. He delayed coming to them to spare them his criticism (1 Cor 4:20,21).

CHAPTER 2

  1. They should forgive him and try to bring him back in the will of God.
  2. The one who had sinned could fall further away from God and into the hand of Satan. The church too could suffer because it would have a reputation of hostility instead of love, forgiveness, and nurturing.
  3. Titus was to give Paul an account of the Corinthians but Paul could not find him. He worried about the church’s spiritual health.
  4. To those being saved he had the words of life. He was like Christ bringing the word of God. However, to those who resisted the word he only brought news of death for their soul.
  5. When we spread the gospel and word of God to others we carry on the work of Christ.
  6. Some were false teachers or false apostles working only for what they could gain from it, not sincere about the souls of those they taught.

CHAPTER 3

  1. The people he had ministered to were proof of his authority to teach.
  2. The law made us aware of sin to death. The Spirit makes us aware of forgiveness and righteousness leading to life. The law had to be repeated; the Spirit was once and forever.
  3. The presence of God was only in one man Moses while the presence of God by the Spirit can be in all believers.
  4. Moses' face shone brightly and the people were afraid.
  5. They still had not accepted Christ even though He was prophesied of in their reading of the Old Testament.
  6. When we turn to Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we receive God's Holy Spirit and open our hearts to God’s plan and will for our lives.
  7. We are not under the bondage of sacrifices any longer nor do we fear death.

CHAPTER 4

  1. Paul walked the walk that he taught the people. He did not corrupt the gospel in any way for personal gain.
  2. The light of the message of the gospel has been entrusted to us but is empowered by the working of God.
  3. Paul walked in the steps of Jesus and as He sacrificed all Paul too was willing to sacrifice all to show Jesus to the world.
  4. As we live our body is perishing but we are growing closer spiritually to the Lord.
  5. The suffering, hardship, and sacrifice we have now are temporary. The life to come will be much greater, more wonderful, and forever.

 

CHAPTER 5

  1. a. To be clothed with the spiritual body that will never die. b. At the return of Jesus when He gathers us to heaven.
  2. If we are not reconciled to God through Christ we will be found without the righteous garments because of our sins.
  3. (Pleasing means acceptable) “We labor to become acceptable to Him whether present or absent”. We aim to be pleasing or acceptable here so we that we will be accepted at the return of Jesus.
  4. We are not to regard what is significant of man in the flesh but what is his relationship spiritually to God.
  5. He urged them to do what was acceptable here on earth so that they would be accepted at the judgment.
  6. By leaving behind our old self and sins to begin a new righteous walk that serves God instead of us. We have a new name, new tendencies, new heart and nature. Ole thoughts, principles, and practices are done away with.
  7. We have the Spirit of God in us. He will work through us to reconcile others to Him.
  8. We are reconciled to God by forgiveness of sins through Jesus' death.

CHAPTER 6

  1. If we are not reconciled to God through Jesus. This is by total rejection of Jesus or by not complying fully with the Word of God and all that it entails.
  2. Avoid any kind of evil, darkness, or unrighteousness with unbelievers. We must not live like them or partner with them in any unrighteous endeavor. We should influence or witness to an unbeliever and seek to reconcile them to God.

CHAPTER 7

  1. We should fear the judgment of God. To receive the promise of God (eternal life) and His blessings, we must pursue and perfect holiness in us (see He. 12:14).
  2. Paul's first letter produced sorrow within the church and then the conviction led to their repentance.
  3. a. Sorrow toward God is the understanding that you have sinned against God and have displeased Him. b. Godly sorrow will lead to true repentance for your sin and then to the salvation of your soul.
  4. He boasted to Titus his confidence in the church to correct their shortcomings and to get back in the will of God.
  5. They feared Titus would find them lacking in the will of God.

CHAPTER 8

  1. They gave while in poverty and even beyond their ability.
  2. We must first dedicate our hearts to the will of God then we will be open to what He shows us to do.
  3. No. It was a test of their sincerity because they had previously promised that they would help the saints.
  4. We must give in equality. The abundance of one will supply the lack of another.
  5. They were trusted by the church. This deterred any negative impression or accusation against Paul as to the proper handling and distribution of the gift.

CHAPTER 9

  1. Paul wanted them to be ready early to show their generosity and sincerity in giving as they had promised instead of grudgingly.
  2. How much you give is proportional to how many people you can help and reach for God.
  3. God is able to supply all our needs so that we will have sufficiency in all things to do the work He needs us to do.

CHAPTER 10

  1. Our weapons are spiritual weapons; the Word of God, the Holy Spirit, and God's presence Himself will be our weapons against all strongholds and darkness.
  2. We are to bring them to obedience acceptable to Christ.
  3. He would admonish and discipline any disobedience because the church should know and abide in the truth. (i.e. 1 Co 5).
  4. Paul brought to light the church’s short comings. He condemned and shamed them. Therefore, they did not like what he said to them.
  5. We should compare ourselves to God’s standard, not by judging others.

CHAPTER 11

  1. He labored to be able to present the believers pure, committed, and focused on the one true God and ready for Christ.
  2. He was afraid they might believe false doctrines, condone idolatry, and still try to enforce the Law of Moses (as in circumcision).
  3. They can seem to be ministers of Christ but are really false teachers with watered doctrines looking to benefit themselves.
  4. He would boast in the perils and opposition he faced while trying to spread the gospel. He had no strength or ability of his own to prevent any of it. However, he was delivered each time by God.
  5. Once in Damascus the governor was seeking his arrest and death but he was saved by going through a window in a basket and let down the wall of the city.

CHAPTER 12

  1. He did not want the people to regard him more highly than they should. God should get all the honor.
  2. a. The worker of Satan who was always there to oppose Paul's spreading of the Gospel. This always brought opposition, reproaches, and sufferings for Paul. b. Suffering makes you dependant on God. God always brought Paul through all the resistance and opposition he faced. This kept Paul  humble and determined in spreading the gospel.
  3. He should have been commended by the Corinthians as an apostle of Christ but was having to commend himself.
  4. This seems to refer to the gift that was given for the poor saints. He had Titus and others that he knew they trusted to secure and distribute the gift. This eliminated the false accusations they may have against him concerning the gift.
  5. They had received the best in signs, wonders, miracles, and teachings but they had not contributed to the financial or material needs of Paul.
  6. He had spent much time and given them much knowledge of the will of the Lord. If they would be found still in sins this would make Paul look inadequate and caused him humiliation, sadness, and shame before God.

CHAPTER 13

  1. Paul and the apostles submitted to the will of God through Christ. They suffered for His sake.
  2. If they could prove on their own that they were of Christ then it would be proof of Paul’s authority in Christ, that Christ spoke through him because it was of Paul’s ministry that they believed.
  3. Are we weak for Christ? Are we as God wants us to be? Are we suffering or sacrificing for the sake of the gospel? Are we feeling or hearing the Spirit in our heart and mind? Are we obeying the will of the Father or doing our own way?
  4. If they were strong in their faith then he would not have to enforce and discipline or correction.
  5. He prayed for their righteous walk not for credit to be given to him but to do honor, justice, and our ‘reasonable service’ to the profession of our faith.