This week, we shall begin the study of Second Corinthians of the New Testament.
Background: After writing First Corinthians, Paul
likely paid them a visit, but it turned out to be a painful one (2:1). However, as he traveled to Macedonia
(northern Greece), he met Titus and found out that his previous letter did have
some good effects (7:5-13). Still, there
remained some serious problems within the church, and some of the people still
disputed his Apostleship and followed the teachings of “false apostles” (
It is also worth noting that Paul repeats sharing the details of his sufferings in chapter 4:7ff, chapter 6:3ff and chapter 11:23ff.
(1) Compare the opening salutations of 2 Corinthians and 1
Corinthians. Given the above background,
what is Paul’s emphasis to the
(2) Paul begins this letter with praise. What does Paul praise God about?
(3) How does Paul look at his own sufferings in relation to Christ and the believers in Corinth in vv. 3-7?
(4) How should you look at your own sufferings then?
(5) What does “the God of all comfort” mean?
(6) In the beatitudes, Jesus says, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” (Matt. 5:4)
a. Does it mean that whoever suffers will definitely be comforted?
b. As one who believes in Jesus, how will you be truly comforted and blessed?
(7) As mentioned in the Background, Paul will share his
sufferings in detail in later chapters. How does he begin to describe his
suffering in vv. 8-9? What kind of danger did he experience when he was in
(8) To what does Paul attribute the following?
a. The purpose of his sufferings
b. The reason for God's deliverance of him from these sufferings
(9) Think of the worst sufferings you have experienced. How may the words of Paul give you comfort and courage?
(10) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
Perhaps because of the painfulness of the last visit, it was short (2:1). Presumably Paul has promised to return, but the delay of his return has obviously aroused some ill feelings among the believers in Corinth. Now he writes to defend his action, and in so doing you might have picked up Paul’s repeated reference to the world (v. 12 and v. 17)
(1) How does Paul contrast his conduct with that of the world in v. 12, i.e. what are the marks of his conduct?
(2) How important are these marks for Christians, especially for the servant of the Lord?
(3) How does Paul demonstrate in his writing to them that what he has done is not according to worldly wisdom? (v.12)
(4) Boasting, in general, is not something commendable. Therefore in what sense is this mutual boasting good and necessary, and what is the basis of this mutual boasting?
(5) What was the purpose of Paul’s original plan to visit them? What has this “intention” to do with their mutual boasting?
(6) Now, Paul defends his decision (not to return) as plans that are not made in a worldly manner. How does Paul describe plans that are made “in a worldly manner”? Why is it so?
(7) From vv. 18-22, in order to impress upon them that he has not acted in a worldly manner, Paul has invoked (i) the faithfulness of God, (ii) their message to the Corinthians, (iii) God’s promises, (iv) the fact that God is the one who makes them stand firm, and (v) that He has given them a “seal”—the Holy Spirit as a deposit.
a. What have all these to do with his not honoring his plan to return?
b. Why are they relevant to his argument?
c. What is the point he is trying to make?
d. Why is it so important to him (and to the Corinthians)?
(8) Finally, in v. 23, Paul gives the core reason for his not returning. What is it?
(9) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
(1) How does v. 2 reveal Paul’s love and relationship with the Corinthian believers?
(2) How does Paul explain his feelings behind the harsh words he wrote to them in the previous letter and how he felt when he wrote them?
(3) To whom might you write or speak with great distress, anguish of heart and with tears? What would have prompted you to write even under such distress and tears?
(4) How would you describe Paul as a servant of the Lord?
(5) Vv. 5-11 appear to refer to a specific man whom Paul has asked them to confront. While it is not absolutely certain that he is referring to the adulterous man in 1 Corinthians 5:1-5, what Paul urges the Corinthians to do now seems to apply to him. Let’s revisit that case:
a. What sin has this man committed in 1 Corinthians 5?
b. What punishment has Paul asked them to inflict upon the person?
c. What is the ultimate reason that Paul has given for such a punishment?
(6) Now, presumably this man has sincerely repented.
a. What might be the sign of his sincere repentance (v. 7)?
b. What should the Corinthians do now, even though his sin was horrible?
c. As harsh as the punishment demanded by Paul was, what was Paul trying to do, according to here (v. 9)?
d. If they refuse to forgive the man, what might the implication be (v. 11)?
(7) What have you learned about church discipline with these words of Paul?
(8) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
(1) Why does Paul not have peace of mind even with an open gospel door in Troas?
(2) Should he be so concerned about Titus? Why or why not? What does it say about Paul as a person and an apostle? (Note: According to Acts 20:7-12, Paul did return to preach at Troas.)
(3) Paul likens himself and other co-workers as being led by God in an open “procession”. There were usually two kinds of procession in Rome, one that features the victors and the other one, the captives. Which do you think is being depicted here, and why?
(4) Why would Paul use this analogy of a public procession? What is his main idea?
(5) What is being depicted by the use of fragrance? What is meant by the fragrance of the knowledge of Christ?
(6) Does your life exude such a fragrance? How do you know?
(7) If what we exude is the fragrance of the knowledge of Christ, why is it the fragrance of life to some, but at the same time, a smell of death to others?
(8) Who are the two different groups of people mentioned by Paul, and why would there be such a different reaction to our aroma?
(9) “Who is equal to such a task?”
a. Why does Paul call this a task?
b. Why is one so unequal to such a task?
(10) What might be the key to this powerful task which is without equal, according to v. 17?
(11) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
So far, the letter has been on a depressing note, talking about sufferings and the ill feelings that the Corinthian believers hold against Paul. Chapter 2 ends with a triumphant note about the awesome task of being an aroma of Christ as the bearer of His gospel:
(1) With whom, do you think, Paul is comparing himself?
(2) How does he compare himself with these “peddlers” of God’s Word? What is meant by “peddlers” of God’s words?
(3) It was not uncommon to have letters of recommendation when an evangelist traveled to a new place of ministry.
a) Does Paul need any letter or recommendation to minister among the Corinthian believers?
b) Why not? (vv. 2-3)
c) Why then would he even bring it up?
d) What does this say about the believers in Corinth?
(4) In expressing his confidence, how does Paul also show his humility in vv. 4-5?
(5) It is easy to say such words of humility. How should one demonstrate such an understanding in his or her ministry?
(6) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
It appears that Paul does not have to attack those law-oriented Judaizers with this letter, yet he does compare our New Testament ministry with that of Moses.
(1) He calls our ministry one of the new covenant (3:6). In what way is this covenant new?
(2) From 3:7–11, Paul uses these words to describe the ministry of Moses: letter (that kills), death, engraved on stones, glory that the Israelites could not look at, fading glory, condemns. What kind of picture is he painting?
(3) Can you highlight the words that Paul uses to describe our ministry under the new covenant? Contrast them to the words highlighted above in (2).
a. What kind of a picture is he painting?
b. Of the words that Paul uses of the new ministry, which one, in particular, means the most to you?
c. Why?
(4) What is the hope referred to in v. 12 and how does it make us bold? (In what is it bold?—Note the main topic covered by Paul in the first two chapters.)
(5) Why does Paul say that when the Jews read the Law of Moses today still “a veil covers their hearts”?
(6) How can this veil be removed?
(7) How many times does Paul mention the word “spirit” or “Spirit” in this passage?
(8) Why does it mean that we are “with unveiled faces” as a result?
(9) Do you think you are seeing God with unveiled faces today?
(10) Are you reflecting the Lord’s glory today? Why or why not?
(11) What is the key to you being able to reflect His likeness with ever-increasing glory?
(12) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
“Losing heart” seems to be the theme of this chapter, as Paul opens with saying “we do not lose heart” (4:1) and ends with the same words (4:16). Today, we shall focus on vv. 1-7:
(1) Why do you think Paul has to talk about not losing heart?
(2) He appears to continue comparing himself to the “peddlers” in 2:17. He uses the following terms to describe them: Secret and shameful ways, deception and distorting the word of God.
a. Why does Paul use such harsh words to attack them?
b. What might be the intent of these “peddlers” of God’s word?
(3) In contrast, how does Paul preach the word of God? How different is he and his way? (v. 2)
(4) But does it mean that his preaching is necessarily effective? (v. 3) Why or why not?
(5) We once were all blinded by the god of this age. How then could we come to “see the light of the gospel—the glory of Christ who is the image of God”? (v. 6)
(6) Paul emphasizes that “we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as…servants” (v. 5).
a. Do you agree that we might be preaching ourselves at times without knowing it?
b. What might be the signs that we are preaching ourselves, even though we mention Christ’s name and His gospel?
c. How can we make sure that we preach as servants only and be regarded as such by the hearers?
(7) How does v. 7 help answer the above question?
(8) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?