Unlocking the Scriptures for You

SECOND CORINTHIANS

Knofel Staton

STANDARD

BIBLE STUDIES

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible: New International Version, ©1973, 1978, 1984 by the International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers and the International Bible Society.

Sharing the thoughts of his own heart, the author may express views not entirely consistent with those of the publisher.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data:

Staton, Knofel.

Second Corinthians.

(Standard Bible studies)

1. Bible. N.T. Corinthians, 2nd—Commentaries.

I. Title. II. Series.

ISBN 0-87403-168-0

Copyright © 1988. The STANDARD PUBLISHING Company, Cincinnati, Ohio.

A division of STANDEX INTERNATIONAL Corporation.

CONTENTS

Introduction: Paul and the Church at Corinth

Chapter 1: An Apostle for Others

(2 Corinthians 1:1–11)

Chapter 2: Being Both Flexible and Inflexible for Others

(2 Corinthians 1:12–2:13)

Chapter 3: Victory in Jesus

(2 Corinthians 2:14–3:18)

Chapter 4: Servant Characteristics

(2 Corinthians 4)

Chapter 5: Servant Commitment

(2 Corinthians 5)

Chapter 6: Practices of People Helpers

(2 Corinthians 6:1–7:1)

Chapter 7: The Joys of a People Helper

(2 Corinthians 7:2–16)

Chapter 8: Motivations for Helping People With Our Money

(2 Corinthians 8)

Chapter 9: Characteristics of People-helper Giving

(2 Corinthians 9)

Chapter 10: The Nature of Paul’s Warfare

(2 Corinthians 10)

Chapter 11: Defense of Paul’s Ministry

(2 Corinthians 11)

Chapter 12: Defense of Paul’s Apostleship

(2 Corinthians 12)

Chapter 13: Readiness for Paul’s Third Visit

(2 Corinthians 13)

INTRODUCTION

Paul and the Church of Corinth

The Beginning of the Church

We know more about Paul’s relationship with the church of Corinth than his relationship with any other congregation. That information comes to us from the book of Acts and from what Paul says about that relationship in both 1 and 2 Corinthians.

Paul first visited Corinth on what we call his second missionary journey. After a brief stay in Athens, Paul entered Corinth alone. In order to have provisions to live on, he began to work as a tentmaker (Acts 18:1–3). This restricted the amount of time that he could devote to evangelism, leaving only the Sabbath for such work (Acts 18:4). However, when his companions joined him, Paul then devoted his full-time energies toward evangelism (Acts 18:5). At first, he centered his activities within the synagogue, but soon received sharp opposition from the Jews and moved the center of his activities to a house next to the synagogue (Acts 18:6–7). The opposition was so fierce that Paul was evidently beginning to be discouraged about a long stay at Corinth. So God intervened with a message of support for Paul’s ministry there, “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many ...