This week, we shall conclude the study of Second Corinthians of the New
Testament.
Paul launches his most passionate defense of his apostleship before the Corinthian believers, using language that is rather unexpected:
(1) Paul begins in v. 1 urging the Corinthian believers to put up with his "foolishness”. Within these first 10 verses, how does Paul reveal his “foolishness”?
(2) He has already said he will not compare with himself others in 10:12. Why then would he feel obliged to compare himself with these “super-apostles”?
(3) According to vv. 1-4, how serious are the heresies taught by these “super-apostles”?
(4) In what way, according to v. 4, did the Corinthian believers demonstrate that they might have been deceived as Eve was? In what way might the deception that they have fallen for be similar to Eve’s (in terms of the medium or method used by Satan)?
(5) Paul says his jealousy is one of “godly jealousy”. In what way(s) might godly jealousy differ from ungodly jealousy?
(6) It is obvious that at least some in the Corinthian congregation consider Paul as inferior to the “super-apostles”. What is one of the factors used by these critics of Paul according to v. 6? How does Paul defend himself?
(7) Interestingly, another factor used to discredit Paul appears to do with Paul not getting paid by the Corinthians, while the “super-apostles” appear to be paid handsomely by them:
a. How then can this be a sign of Paul’s inferiority?
b. What is Paul’s defense in this case?
(8) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
(1) In pressing the point that he purposely avoids taking money from the Corinthians, what two reasons does Paul give in vv. 11-12? What does the second reason really mean?
(2) Paul launches his fiercest attack of these “super-apostles in vv. 13-15:
a. What does he accuse them of?
b. According to Paul who are these “super-apostles”?
c. Is it too harsh an accusation? Why or why not?
(3) Since he acknowledges that his boasting is “in the way the world does” (v. 18). Why then would Paul go on to boast? Does he not really make a “fool” of himself? Why or why not?
(4) By putting up with these “super-apostles” so easily (v. 4), what in fact have the Corinthian believers allowed to have done to themselves according to v. 20?
(5) By putting up with these “super-apostles” so easily (v.4), and judging by the words that Paul has said so far, do you think the Corinthians have already been led astray or are only in danger of being led astray? Why?
(6) What then does Paul want to achieve by his boasting?
(7) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
(1) In comparing himself with the “super-apostles”, what is Paul comparing in v. 22? What does this tell us about who the “super-apostles” might be?
(2) But in vv. 23–29, Paul is listing his credentials with which those of hardly anyone else, let alone the “super-apostles”, can compare. Try to divide these credentials into logical subdivisions.
(3) The following are my suggested subdivisions, based on the emphasis used by Paul in each (more easily identifiable in the original Greek):
a. The “more” section: he worked (more) harder, was jailed more frequently and flogged more severely;
b. The “many times” section: he was exposed to death many times, lashed five times, beaten by rods three times, stoned once, shipwrecked three times, in open sea for a night and day, on the move many times;
c. The “danger” section: he was (in) rivers, (in the hands of) bandits, fellow Jews, Gentiles, (in) the city, (in) the country, at sea and among false brothers;
d. The “in conditions” section: he was in labor and hardship, in sleeplessness, in hunger and thirst, in fasting (i.e. without food) and in cold and nakedness;
e. The “besides” section: on him the daily pressure, concern for all churches.
(4) Why would Paul boast of the above?
(5) What do you think are the differences between Paul’s boasting and that of the “super-apostles”?
(6) Why does Paul call these boastings “of the things that show my weakness” (v. 30)?
(7) Are you aware of what you tend to boast of yourself (even unknowingly)?
(8) Note the last subdivision, i.e. that of “besides” in v. 28: The following verse (29) is likely Paul’s explanation of why he feels pressure daily in his concern for all the church. How does this speak to his credentials as “an apostle of Jesus Christ” (1:1)? What example does he set for you and me?
(9) Why does Paul, having ended his list of sufferings, add one more example in vv. 32-33?
(10) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
Having shared his immense sufferings for the Lord which should have shamed those who challenged his apostleship in Christ, why does he feel necessary to also share something, perhaps, that he has never shared with anyone until now—his “surpassing great revelations”? (v. 7).
(1) What impact might it have on the Corinthians who appear to take pride in special knowledge and spiritual gifts?
(2) In talking about this experience in the 3rd person, Paul would date this occurrence to prove that it is real:
a. Where was he caught up to (v. 2 and v. 4)?
b. Why does he not know if it was in the body or out of the body? What does this tell you about supernatural visions and revelations?
c. What did he hear?
d. What do you think was the purpose of such a supernatural experience?
(3) Now that he has shared this experience, albeit reluctantly and in the 3rd person, do you think he has made others “think more of (him) than is warranted”? (v. 6)
(4) In order to keep Paul from becoming conceited, what did God do to Paul and why?
(5) Paul has chosen not to tell us what that thorn in his flesh is, but he does mention a few things about it:
a. If you had a thorn in your flesh, how would you feel?
b. If God allowed the thorn to remain, how would you feel?
c. Paul follows with calling this thorn a messenger of Satan—if understood literally, how is this messenger acting as a thorn in Paul’s flesh?
d. Naturally Paul pleaded with God to take it away. Why does he appear to stop after three times? What was God’s answer?
e. What did God’s answer mean to Paul so that he would accept his condition?
f. Does God’s answer apply to you and your condition? Why?
(6) Can you say the same with Paul that, “This is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties”? Why or why not?
(7) Has today’s reflection helped you understand what Paul says in v. 5, “I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses”?
(8) What weaknesses can you boast about today?
(9) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
(1) Paul is obvious very unhappy that he has to boast as he just did, but he puts the blame squarely on the Corinthians. Do you think Paul is justified in blaming them? Why or why not?
(2) What does Paul say the signs of a true apostle are? Why then does he still say that he is nothing?
(3) Can you see what one of the complaints against Paul by the Corinthians is according to v. 13?
(4) Why is Paul so determined not to receive any financial support from the Corinthian believers according to v. 14?
(5) Also from the reading of vv. 16-18, what accusations have been made by some of the Corinthian believers? If you were Paul, would you receive financial support from them? Would you still visit them? Why or why not?
(6) From vv.14-15, what explanation does Paul give in insisting that he is not taking their money and yet he will still visit them?
(7) Having read through chapters 10-12, consider how would you describe the relationship between Paul and the church in Corinth from the perspectives of the following people.
a. The Corinthian believers
b. Paul
c. Paul’s companions’ (like Titus)
(8) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
(1) Sensing that the Corinthian believers may not take his words well and accuse him of being defensive, Paul bares his soul and emphasizes again his motive and attitude of his defense in v. 19. What should these emphases mean to the Corinthians?
(2) Paul also spells out his fear in three different aspects:
a. If I call his 1st fear one of confrontation (v. 20a), would you agree? Why?
b. What is his 2nd fear (v. 20b)? What kind of a church is the church of Corinth, in your opinion?
c. If I call his 3rd fear a fear of grief, (v. 21), would you agree? Why?
(3) Now, Paul points out what he is about to do in his 3rd visit and it is partly to address their demand for proof that Christ is speaking through him:
a. What then is the essence of this challenge?
b. What proof can they produce to sustain their challenge?
c. What proof does Paul need to counter their challenge?
d. What does his quote in v. 1 from Deuteronomy 19:15 to do with this challenge?
(4) What warning does Paul give to them in v.4? What does he mean?
(5) If you were the Apostle Paul, would you look forward to this 3rd visit?
(6) Why then does Paul feel obligated to visit them for the 3rd time?
(7) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
(1) What is the basic test that Paul urges the Corinthian believers to do?
(2) What is the implication of such a request, given the last part of v. 5 can be translated as, “unless you are counterfeits”?
(3) How then can one be sure of having Christ in him (or her)?
(4) What do verses 7 and 8 point to as the basis of such a test?
(5) Even though Paul has been so put down by the Corinthians, his servant’s heart is fully revealed in v.9. What can you learn from his servant’s heart in this verse?
(6) Do you think Paul would actually use his apostolic authority when he goes to Corinth? Why or why not?
(7) Note the final greetings in vv. 11-12:
a. What does it involve?
b. Since these amount to his last words, how special and important are they?
(8) As we come to the end of this letter, use some time to scan through your journal and see what might be the most important messages of this letter?
(9) What has meant the most to you and how may you apply it to your life?