2 Corinthians One….(verses 1-24)
1. Verse 1-11
a. Who was with Paul at this time helping him? (verse 1)
Timothy
b. Where was it written from? (verse 1c)
The region of Achaia.
c. How does Paul describe God in verse 3?
As the Father of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort.
d. What are we to remember when we are going through troubles and trials? (verses 4-5; Roman 15:3-4)
That God won’t give us more than we can bear; that even Christ didn’t please Himself and went through trials; that God will comfort us if we don’t wallow in self pity.
e. What does Isaiah 53:4 tell us about our grief and sorrows?
Christ has carried our sorrows and borne our grief for us
f. What should that mean to us? (1 Peter 5:7)
That there is no point in being overcome with sorrow when it has already been carried for us.
g. What is the spin off from going through these experiences? (verse 4)
We are able to comfort others who are going through similar problems because we have experienced the comfort that God gave us.
h. What is Paul saying in verse 5?
The more we suffer for Christ, the more we can be comforted by Him.
i. What was Paul’s personal feeling about the problems the Corinthians were going through? (verse 7)
He was sure that they would look to the Lord for comfort.
j. What was one of the troubles that Paul got into in Asia? (Acts 19:24-30; 20:1)
The people rioted around him because they were afraid that Paul’s preaching would be to the detriment of their goddess Diana. He was thrown into prison as a result.
k. How did Paul feel about his situation from a human point of view? (verse 8)
It seemed hopeless, as though there was no chance of escape.
l. What helped him through this situation? (verses 9-11)
They realised that there was no-one else they could trust except God to get them through; also they knew that the prayers of other believers were helping them.
2. Verses 12-24
a. What did Paul say his attitude to others was based on? (verse 12)
He took people at their word, simply and sincerely, not depending on man’s worldly wisdom but seeing them in the grace of God…i.e. as sinners needing salvation.
b. In what way was Paul writing to these people? (verse 13)
He was writing without any hidden meanings…he meant what he said and said what he meant.
c. How did Paul feel about these people? (verse 14)
He rejoiced in them…he respected and thought a lot of them and they of him.
d. What had he been planning to do in the near future? (verses 15-16)
To visit them on his way to and back from Macedonia.
e. They were wondering why Paul had changed his mind….what did he say in verses 17-18?
Did you think I was talking rubbish without meaning it? No, I had a very good reason for changing my mind.
f. What is the one thing that every believer can be 100% sure of about God? (verse 20; Malachi 3:6)
God never changes! I am the Lord, I DO NOT change! His word is sure and steadfast.
g. What is it that we know that God has done for every believer? (verses 21-22)
He has given us a position in Christ and annointed us as His….He has given us the seal of ownership in the Holy Spirit living in our hearts.
h. Now we come to the reason he had changed his mind over visiting them….what was it? (verse 23; 1 Corinthians 4:19-21)
He didn’t want to upset them….he knew he had some hard things to deal with if they hadn’t taken notice of his first letter and dealt with things themselves.
i. Paul had no qualms over their faith, but what did he want them to have as well as faith? (verse 24)
He wanted them to be happy as well, to be joyful believers in the Lord.
2 Corinthians Two….(verses 1-17)
1. Verses 1-11
a. What were some of the things that Paul had corrected them rather severely for in their first letter? (1 Corinthians 3:1-6; 5:1-3; 6:1-8)
Their divisions in the fellowship; the immorality they were turning a blind eye to and taking each other to the civil court of law.
b. What did he NOT want to do the next time he came to see them? (verse 1)
He didn’t want to have to deal with these things himself all over again….he wanted to be able to praise them for having put things right themselves.
c. What was his attitude when he wrote these corrections to them? (verses 2-4)
He was cut to the heart over their situation and wrote with many tears and out of a deep love for them and a desire to see them going on for the Lord in the way they should.
d. What was he hoping the Christians in Corinth would do? (verse 3)
He was hoping they would straighten themselves up before the Lord in the areas he had written about.
e. How did Paul feel about the believers in Corinth? (verse 4b)
He loved them with a deep love
f. What gives preachers and teachers the greatest joy? (3 John 1:4)
To see those they have taught, still going on for the Lord and growing in Him after a period of time.
2. Verses 5-10
a. How had the church at Corinth been affected by the man who had sinned and who Paul had written about in his first letter? (verse 5; 1 Corinthians 5:1-3)
Everyone in the fellowship had been saddened by his conduct and blatant attitude…with Paul’s authority behind them, they straightened him up.
b. Read 2 Samuel 12:14….What could you say to someone who says, “What I do hurts no-one else and is no-one else’s business” ?
Whatever we do for bad or good has spin-offs on those who know us….it affects everyone and causes non-Christians to point the finger and breaks down the local testimony and God’s holy name.
c. What is Paul saying in verses 6-8 about their attitude to this man now?
They have dealt with him and put him out of fellowship, but if he is truly repentant, they must now forgive him and take him back into fellowship.
d. How did Paul personally view this person? (verse 10)
He went along with the Corinthian’s decision in the matter…. If they had forgiven him, he would too.
e. What is the danger in handling these cases? (verse 11)
If they are not done as before the Lord, Satan can get a toehold in the fellowship and in people’s lives which will wreak more havoc.
f. Where did Paul go and why didn’t he stay long? (verses 12-13)
He went off to Troas thinking that Titus might be there, but when he didn’t find him, he carried on into Macedonia.
g. Did he find him there ? (chapter 7:5-7)
Not at first….he was most unsettled wondering what had happened until Titus finally arrived from Corinth with a good report of conditions there.
h. How does verse 15 describe believers before God?
As being a sweet fragrance of Christ’s work.
i. How are believers’ prayers described in Revelation 5:8c?
As being the aroma of incense to God
j. How are believers described to other people around? (verse 16)
To non Christians, believers are the smell of doom, while to other believers, they are the fragrance of life.
k. What attitude did Paul have in preaching the Gospel? (verse 17; 1 Corinthians 9:16)
He was sincere before the God, wanting many to accept the message, in fact he felt compelled to preach the Gospel for as long as he could!
l. What were some other preachers doing? (verse 17)
They were making a living out of it, just preaching for the money they could get out of it.
2 Corinthians Three….(verses 1-18)
1. Verses 1-18
a. Why did Paul not need a letter of recommendation to the believers in Corinth? (verses 1-2)
Because they knew each other very well.
b. What acted as Paul’s recommendation ? (verses2-3)
The Corinthian believers themselves were proof of Paul’s preaching and teaching.
c. Who (or what) was the driving force behind Paul in his preaching? (verses 3-5; Galatians 1:15)
It was God who called Paul to this work, and His Spirit who gave him the strength to do it.
d. What does Paul go on to contrast? (verse 6)
The old way of the law and the new way of the Gospel.
e. What does he say about the law that Moses gave them ? (verses 7-8)
It was glorious even though it led to death when it wasn’t kept.
f. What is the contrast with the Gospel? (Galatians 5:1)
The gospel is more glorious because it leads away from bondage to freedom and life.
g. What does verse 11 tell us has happened to the law for salvation?
It is done away with….it is past.
h. Does this mean that believers can flout the law of God? (Philippians 2:12)
No! We don’t keep the law to BE saved; we keep the law BECAUSE we are saved!
i. Which people have their minds blinded to the truths of the Gospel? (verses 13-16)
Those who don’t want to hear it…particularly the Judaists of Paul’s day.
j. Is there still opportunity for them to be saved? (verse 16)
Yes, anyone who truly seeks the Lord will find Him and be set free….the veil is taken away when they turn to Him.
k. What is it like for those who find the Lord? (verse 18)
It is like seeing God’s glory reflected in a mirror that then becomes reflected in us….the more we look at God’s glory, the more we reflect it in the way we live and act.
l. Is this reflecting of God’s glory a static thing? (Romans 12:2)
No, it is a growing state and we continue to change as we follow Him
2 Corinthians Four….(verses 1-18)
1. Verses 1-18
a. How did Paul regard the Gospel that he preached? (verses 1-2; Romans 1:16)
As the absolute truth of God and this is how he preached it; it is the power of God to change the lives of everyone who believes it.
b. Who was (is) it hidden from? Who can’t see the truths of it and why ? (verse 3)
Those whose eyes were (and are) blinded by Satan….they are lost and in darkness.
c. How is Christ described here? What does it mean? (verse 4; Hebrews 1:3a)
He is described as being the image of God…He is the exact likeness, and is surrounded by light which drives the darkness away.
d. How did Jesus Christ describe himself in John 8:12?
As being the Light of the world.
e. How is the Gospel described here? (verse 4b)
As full of light, glory and wonder
f. What does the Gospel of Jesus Christ give to mankind? (verse 6)
It shows the light of the knowledge of God’s glory and of Christ to those who believe that others cannot comprehend.
g. How does Paul describe himself (or his body)? Why? (verse 7)
He says it is like an earthen vessel, a clay pot because the human body is a frail thing, just held together by a thread of life.
h. How does he describe his manner of life ? (verses 8-11)
As being in constant danger and trouble; always feeling knocked around by circumstances, suffering problem after problem.
i. Read what he went through in 2 Corinthians 11:23-29…..what did these troubles help him be able to do?
They helped him to understand what others were suffering and going through.
j. Paul was constantly facing danger….what did it result in? (verse 12)
Those who heard the Gospel had the opportunity to receive eternal life.
k. What was Paul looking forwards to? (verse 14)
The time of the end when all believers will be presented to the Father by the Lord Jesus.
l. What is the gist of this whole passage? (verses 17-18)
That these troubles are only temporary and result in eternal blessings! He had confidence that God would only allow so much suffering for the greatest resulting blessing.
m. How did Paul get through his bodily trials ? (verse 16)
He renewed his spirit daily in the Lord Jesus… he rejoiced in Him and counted his eternal blessings!
n. What was Paul’s whole overview of the situation? (verse 18)
He looked past his troubles of NOW, to what the result would be in ETERNITY.
2 Corinthians Five….(verses 1-21)
1. Verses 1-10
a. What is Paul saying in verse 1?
When our earthly body disintegrates, we mustn’t worry as God has made us an eternal body.
b. How does this tie in with 1 Corinthians 15:44, 49-50 ?
Exactly the same….our earthly bodies cannot exist in heaven….we will all have spiritual bodies free of old age or deterioration, not subject to gravity or other earthly needs, but subject only to Christ.
c. Who will we be like? (1 John 3:2)
We will be like Christ Himself, with the same sort of glorified body.
d. What sort of life can the believer look forwards to? (verses 2-4)
Having immortal life, eternal life without end!
e. How will all this happen? (verse 5)
Just as God created our first body and has given us the seal of His Spirit, so He will bring us through to being present with Him in our immortal bodies.
f. Paul speaks very confidently of these things….how do we know this is all true? (verses 6-7)
We accept these truths by faith in God….if He says it, then it’s true!
g. If a believer is absent from the body (dead), then where is he? (verse 8)
Present with the Lord; no-one just goes into oblivion or “soul sleep”….Paul doesn’t teach this.
h. How did Paul personally feel about all this? (Philippians 1:21, 23-24)
He could hardly wait to get there, but he realised that it was necessary for him to be on earth longer for the sake of the new Christians he had established.
i. What should a believer’s main priority be? (verse 9)
To please the Lord in all things, whether in life or death.
j. What are we told is going to happen to every believer? (verse 10)
We are all going to stand before the judgement seat of Christ and receive commendation (or otherwise). We are NOT going to be judged for our sins (that has been dealt with on the cross) but we ARE going to be judged for our behaviour after our conversion.
k. Who is going to give an account of each believer ? (Matthew 12:36; Romans 14:12)
Each person will give an account of himself with absolute truth!
l. What will be the measuring rule for us to measure up in that day? Will we be able to fool anyone? Or make excuses? (Hebrews 4:12-13)
God’s word will be our measuring rule, and we will realise that His words and His eyes will pierce us through and through. We will admit freely and openly where we have missed the mark without excuses, and will take our blame and confess where we have gone wrong.
m. What should we endeavour to do continually as believers? (Psalm 139:23-24; 1 John 1:9)
We should be continually cleansing our thoughts, minds and motives in the light of God’s Word.
2. Verses 11-21
a. What is Paul pointing out in verses 12-13?
That some people were judging on the outward appearance, but God knows their hearts. Even though he (Paul) seemed to be doing crazy things, it was for the Lord’s sake and he hoped they would realise this.
b. What is the part of us that only God can see? (1 Samuel 16:7c)
Our hearts and minds….our motives and thoughts.
c. What about how others see US? How should we conduct ourselves? (Matthew 7:20)
They see what I do and what I say, in other words my “fruit”. We must realise that others can only see our outsides and the way we behave (and dress) must commend God to them at all times. What’s in WILL come out!
d. What fruit (habits and ways) should a believer have and exhibit? (Galations 5:22)
The fruit of the Spirit….love, joy, peace, patience etc.
e. Although we can’t see what’s in a person’s heart, how do we know what’s there? ( Matthew 12:34-35)
By what comes out of their mouths in speech and how they act…..by what they say and do.
f. Who are we to live for? (verse 15)
For Christ!
g. How did Paul’s estimation of Jesus Christ change when he became a believer? (verses 16-17)
He once thought of Him as a radical man who needed destroying, but now he knew Him as the Lord of Glory!
h. What happens when a person believes? (verse 17)
He becomes a new creature….everything changes and he no longer carries the burden of sin around; he now becomes an ambassador for Christ.
i. What amazing truth are we told in verse 18?
That God has put in place how we can be bought back by Him. This is through Jesus Christ Who is the Agent that we go through to be reconciled and acceptable to God!!
j. What part did God the Father have in this buying back (redemption) of man? (verse 19)
Everything that Christ felt on earth, God the Father felt in Heaven! It cost Him everything in His only Son.
k. Because of all this, what should each believer be? (verse 20)
We should be ambassadors for Christ, telling of this reconciliation that is available for people.
l. What does verse 21 tell us?
That God put our sin on His Son, Jesus Christ, and took Christ’s righteousness to put on those who accept His gift of eternal life.
m. How can people refuse to do this? (chapter 4:4)
It is beyond common sense to refuse, until we realise that Satan has kept people blind to these truths.
2 Corinthians Six….(verses 1-18)
1. Verses 1-18
a. What was Paul concerned about for these believers? (verse 1)
That they might be taking God’s message too lightly and miss out on the blessings that God had for them.
b. Verse 2 is a quotation from Isaiah 49:8….what does Paul remind us to do to avoid missing out on these blessings of God? (verse 2b)
We are to do something about it NOW! There is no better time than the present! If something is wrong, put it right NOW. If we need to confess something do that NOW too!
c. What do we have to be aware of in our actions? (verse 3)
That we don’t do anything that would cause God’s ministry to be badly spoken of.
d. What does Paul talk about in verse 4?
That we be good examples in the midst of our troubles.
e. What did Christ point out to His followers? (John 16:33)
That it was only in Him that they could have peace….the world would give them trials and tribulations.
f. What sort of tribulations did Paul experience? (verse 5)
Whippings, imprisonments, hard work, being uncertain wondering what was going to happen next, being hungry.
g. How did Paul deal with these things? How did he react? (verses 6-10)
He showed love and patience in these situations and was kind to his persecutors. He didn’t let what people said about him to get him down…..he took it all patiently.
h. How should we take trials and troubles when they come? Who is our chief example to follow? (1 Peter 2:20-23)
Christ is our example to follow…..He didn’t pay back evil for evil, He didn’t threaten. We should take all trials patiently without fretting or threatening.
i. Read verses 11-13 in a modern version…..how did Paul feel about the Corinthian people?
He loved them as though they were his own children.
j. How did he want them to feel about him? (verse 13)
He wanted them to love him in the same way.
k. What warning did Paul give in verse 14?
That believers should not get into any partnership or marriage with a non-Christian person.
l. What did God tell the Israeli people in Deuteronomy 7:3-4? What was the reason for this?
That they weren’t to marry any heathen person because the heathen spouse would turn away their heart from following the Lord.
m. What do verses 15-16 tell us?
That an unequal partnership cannot work, there will always be a conflict of interests; just as oil and water cannot mix, neither can belief and unbelief be a pure thing before God.
n. What sort of people are believers to be? (verse 17)
They are to be a separate people for God, living holy lives before Him.
o. What is God’s desire for His people? (verse 18)
That He would be a Father to his people and they would be His sons and daughters, the family of God.
2 Corinthians Seven….(verses 1-16)
1. Verses 1-7
a. “Having therefore these promises”…. what promise are we given in the last verse of the previous chapter? (verse 1a; chapter 6:18)
That we belong to the family of God and are His sons and daughters and that He is our Heavenly Father.
b. What are to do in the light of this promise? (verse 1b)
We are to cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit and endeavour to live in a holy manner.
c. How do we go about “cleansing” ourselves? (Psalm 119:9; 1 John 1:9)
By reading and obeying God’s word and confessing our sins and shortcomings.
d. What does Paul define as needing cleansing? (verse 2)
Our personal relationships….if we have been offended or have offended another person to put it right with them and with the Lord, and then to be friends again!
e. How was Paul feeling in this passage? (verses 3-6)
He loved the Corinthians very much and wasn’t afraid to speak plainly of his concerns for them….in spite of his trials he was still rejoicing and although he had problems all around him and fears within, yet he recognised that God comforted him by the arrival of Titus with good news.
f. What does God do for us when we feel discouraged (if we let Him)? (verse 6; 1 Corinthians 1:3)
He is the God of all comfort and will comfort us in our distress if we ask Him, and don’t wallow in self pity!
g. How did God comfort Paul at this particular time? (verse 6)
By sending Titus to him with good news.
h. What was this good news? (verses 6-7)
How that the Corinthians had reacted to Paul’s first letter in the way he had hoped that they would.
2. Verses 8-16
a. How did Paul feel after he had sent the first letter? (verse 8)
It seems as though he may have wished he hadn’t sent it!
b. How did they react to it when they got it? (verses 9-11)
In the right way….they repented and did their best to straighten up the wrong things.
c. What was the main reason Paul wrote to them the first time? (verse 12)
To show them how much he loved them and cared for their spiritual welfare, wanting only what was best for them.
d. How could they have reacted? What is this sort of feeling called here? (verse 10b)
By being offended by his plain talking, and wanting nothing more to do with him….this is how the world reacts and ends in death (death to fellowship and peace)
e. How do WE react when we are corrected by someone else? How SHOULD we react? (verse 11)
We should stop and try to see where we have gone wrong; and to see ourselves from the other person’s perspective, and then evaluated what they have said from the Scriptures. The main thing is to remain calm and take it to the Lord and as from the Lord.
f. How did the Corinthians pass this test? (verse 11c)
With flying colours! They showed themselves to be clear in this matter in every way.
g. Titus was encouraged to see the Corinthians’ obedience….what WAS this problem that had been fixed? (1 Corinthians 5:1-2, 13)
It was a case of blatant immorality that not even the heathen practiced.
h. Because Titus was encouraged, what could he do in turn? (verse 13)
He was able to encourage them further and subsequently encourage Paul when he passed on this news.
i. What had Paul said to Titus about this matter? (verse 14)
That he was sure that they would do the right thing.
j. What had Titus’ visit proved? (verse 14c)
That this was the case…..they had done what Paul said to do.
k. What characteristics of Paul come through in this chapter? (verses 2, 9, 12b)
i. His humility (begging them to receive him)
ii. His rejoicing spirit
iii. His love and care for them
2 Corinthians Eight….(verses 1-24)
1. Verses 1-9
a. Who does Paul go on to talk about? (verse 1)
The Macedonian believers.
b. What had they done ? (verses 2-4)
Even though they were not well off, they had sent a gift of money to others.
c. What was the most important aspect of this giving? (verse 5; Romans 12:2)
That they had given THEMSELVES to the Lord first before giving anything else.
d. Which is the easiest to do…..give yourself and your time to others or to hand over money?
If one has money to spare, it is always easier to hand that over rather than to put oneself out for others.
e. Which is more important in the Lord’s eyes? (Matthew 16:24-25)
To give oneself and one’s time to others.
f. What did the Lord Jesus call this? (Luke 9:23)
He called it denying oneself and taking up a cross to follow Him.
g. What was Paul hoping the Corinthians would now do? (verses 7-11)
He was hoping that they would do just that…..give themselves to the Lord first, and then their time and money.
h. What would this prove ? (verse 8)
How sincere their love was.
i. What is the example for us to follow? (verse 9; Philippians 2:7)
The example of the Lord Jesus Christ who didn’t please Himself, but did the will of the Father for our sakes, so that we could benefit through His self denial.
j. What sort of things is the believer rich in? (verse 9b; James 2:5)
They have a third dimension in life that a non–believer doesn’t have…..a spiritual awareness and a personal knowledge of God, together with an inheritance in God’s kingdom waiting for them..
k. What else are we rich in we are rich in? (Ephesians 1:7, 18)
The forgiveness of our sins and in spiritual understanding of the things of God and how many wonderful things are ahead.
l. What does 1 Timothy 6:17 tell us we are rich in?
We recognise that everything we have (possessions) and can see and do (activities and recreation) and the enjoyment of it all are given to us richly by God.
2. Verses 10-24
a. Was there any compulsion in this giving? What if they didn’t have enough to give? (verses 10-13)
The first requirement is to do it willingly and happily; they weren’t to try to give what they didn’t have.
b. What are the ground rules for giving money? (verses 14-15)
Sharing in times of need.
c. How were they to do it to show their honesty ? (verses 16-19)
To have more than one person involved in handling and delivering it.
d. Do you think these principles are still valid for today? (verses 20-21)
Yes, this is how it should be done!
e. What does all this show in the sight of others? (verse 24)
It shows the proof of the love that believers have for each other…..after all, the world gives in times of need and disaster, how much more should believers give!
2 Corinthians Nine….(verses 1-15)
1. Read the whole chapter through……
a. What is the general gist of it?
Paul had boasted to others how the Corinthians were good givers, and now he was telling them to make sure that they had their gift ready for when these other brothers arrived to pick it up. He was warning them so they could be ready and not feel ashamed that they weren’t.
2. Verses 1-15
a. What effect can what we do (either for good or bad) have on others? (verse 2b)
It will stimulate them to do the same.
b. What was Paul telling these believers to do? What should we do? (verses 3-5)
To make sure that there was already money in the bank waiting for these times of need.
c. What is the principle in verse 6?
We reap what we sow….if we give little, we will reap little and vice-versa.
d. What attitude are we to have when giving? (verse 7)
We are to do it cheerfully…..it is no use doing it grudgingly.
e. Does God NEED our gifts? (verse 9; Psalm 50:9-12)
No, everything we have is a gift from Him in the first place….the whole world is His and everything in that is in it!
f. Who does our giving benefit the most? (verse 8)
It benefits ourselves first, then the recipient next.
g. What did the Lord Jesus say about giving? (Acts 20:35b)
He said that it does more for us to give than to receive.
h. What does our giving result in ? (verse 12)
Thanksgiving and praise to God.
i. What must we always remember? (Ecclesiastes 5:19)
That we only have what God has given us…..everything we have is a gift from God.
j. What is this unspeakable (most wonderful) gift that God has given the human race? (verse 15; Romans 6:23)
The Lord Jesus Christ is God’s greatest gift and the eternal life that He gives us.
2 Corinthians Ten….(verses 1-18)
1. Verses 1-18
a. How did Paul act when he was with the Corinthians? (verse 1)
He was gentle and humble with them.
b. How did they now regard him? (verse 2)
As being hard and authoritative.
c. What sort of battle is a Christian engaged in ? (verses 3-4; Ephesians 6:12)
A spiritual battle against the spiritual forces of darkness.
d. What do these spiritual forces try to do? (verse 5)
They try to drag the believer down and away from following God, to fill our minds with other things and keep us busy with other activities.
e. What is Paul saying about these spiritual forces? Can you think of things these days that do this? (verse 6)
Any form of disobedience; anything that exalts itself over the Scriptures that is an evil force or can be used by Satan e.g. theory of evolution; talking of Mother Nature rather than the hand of God; philosophies and degrees of theology that supersede the Biblical principles.
f. What should believers’ aim be as far as the mind is concerned? (Romans 12:2; Ephesians 4:22-24 )
To KNOW Christ and the Father, to measure up every thought and motive to obey God; to transform the mind and not to conform to the world’s values and ways of thinking.
g. How do we DO this in this day and age? What are we told to do? (Psalm 101:2-3a; Philippians 4:8)
How we are at home, determines what we are at work and church. We have to be very self disciplined in what we watch, read and listen to in our recreational times. If we measured up our TV programmes, internet, reading and music to these verses, we would be well on the way!!
h.. Put verse 7 into you own words….what is Paul actually saying?
Can’t you see what I’m getting at? If you think you are spiritual, remember that I am too!
i. What is the sign of a spiritual person? (1 Corinthians 14:37)
One who acknowledges that Paul’s writings are on the authority of God.
j. What did God say about Paul when He called him? (Acts 9:15)
That he was a chosen vessel ( a chosen person) to take His name far and wide.
k. What did Paul line himself and his authority up with? (verse 8)
With the commission that God had given him when he was converted.
l. What were the Corinthians now saying about Paul? (verse 10)
His letters sound powerful, but when he’s here he doesn’t say much!
m. What is the most foolish thing we can do in our assessment of our ourselves? (verse 12)
Comparing ourselves with other people
n. What should our measuring rule be ? (verse 13)
God’s measuring rule, the Bible; we should measure ourselves up against what the Bible says.
o. What was Paul’s aim in life? (verse16)
To be able to preach the Gospel in other foreign lands.
p. Who (or what) should the Christian glory in or boast about? (verse 17; Jeremiah 9:24)
Only in the Lord (and not in relation to himself either!) We can never think too much of, or exalt too highly the God of Heaven and his attributes.
q. What is the important thing for a believer to look for? (verse 18)
Not for glory from men, but commendation from God.
2 Corinthians Eleven….(verses 1-33)
1. Verses 1-33
a. What was Paul’s aim for these believers? (verses 1-2)
He wanted them to love Christ just as engaged girl loves her fiancé.
b. What was Paul afraid might happen to the Corinthian believers? (verse 3)
He was afraid that other teachers with false doctrine might come among them and take away the simplicity of the gospel truths from them.
c. What did he liken this possibility to ? (verse 3)
Eve being tricked by Satan into disobeying God.
d. Teachers had arrived from Galatia and were spreading around a false Gospel….what were they saying? ( verse 4; Galatians 1:6-8; 6:12-14)
That the Christians had to keep the law and be circumcised as well as believe in Christ for salvation.
e. What should we do when we hear some new doctrine? (1 John 4:1-3)
Test it against what the Scriptures teach, remembering that there are many peculiar teachings that are only half truths.
f. What does Paul say about these teachers in verses 13-15?
He calls them false apostles, workers of Satan, who make out they are angels of light whereas they are teaching darkness.
g. Why did Paul think the Corinthians might be despising him? (verses 7-9 )
Because he worked among them free of charge, living from what the other churches sent him.
h. Paul then began to give his credentials for his preaching, but how did he feel about this boasting of his exploits? (verses 17-18)
He felt it was foolish but that they needed to be reminded of the cost to him personally and how that the preaching of the Gospel led him into many dangers.
i. What was the attitude of the Corinthians to Paul? (verses 19-20)
It’s only old Paul, these other teachers know so much more!
j. What WAS Paul’s pedigree? (verse 22; Philippians 3:5-6)
He was from the tribe of Benjamin and had been trained as a Pharisee; he had been a persecutor of the early church, and blameless as far as keeping the law went.
k. How many times had he been lashed with forty whippings? (verse 24)
Five times.
k. How many times had he been shipwrecked? (verse 25)
Three times.
l. What other worries did Paul have besides these physical dangers and pains? (verse 28)
He worried about what was happening in all the churches he had established, and hoped things were going OK.
m. When does it seem that this occurrence of being let down the city wall in a basket happen? (verses32-33; Acts 9:23-25; Galatians 1:17-18a)
About three years after his conversion….he went off into Arabia on his own to think things through with the Lord, and then returned to Damascus where he preached with power until they drove him out, and he got away safely at night over the wall.
2 Corinthians Twelve….(verses 1-21)
1. Verses 1-10
- a. Who does “this man” that Paul is referring to, seem to be? (verses 1-3)
It seems to be himself.
b. How and when did Paul get all the teaching that he passes on in his letters? (Galatians 1:11-12, 15-17)
It was revealed directly to him by the Lord; soon after his conversion he went off on his own to Arabia, where he sorted himself out before the Lord.
c. What sort of experience did he have that he tells of here ? (verses 4-5)
Some sort of “out of the body” experience….it was more than a vision (perhaps a near death experience) where he was actually in God’s heaven, where he saw and heard things that he couldn’t begin to describe and wasn’t able to anyway.
d. What was he then able to say about dying? ( Philippians 1:23)
That to die is to be with Christ which is “far better”
e. How then are we to view Paul’s teachings today? (1 Corinthians 14:37)
As being God’s Word to us.
f. Why did Paul feel he could not glory in his revelations from God? What DID he glory in? (verses 6, 9b )
If he told of the heavenly things he had seen, he felt it would seem like boasting, and people might think more highly of him that they ought to. He would glory in his weakness instead.
g. What did he say about this particular weakness that he had? (verses 7-8)
He called it a “thorn in the flesh”, a messenger of Satan and told how he had asked the Lord three times to remove it.
h. What was God’s answer? (verse 9)
You can function with it…..show that My grace is sufficient for you, that I can work with your weakness.
i. What principle is this that goes right through the Bible? (Joshua 23:10)
That God can work with one man who is obedient to Him to do His work…..God can show His power through man’s weakness.
j. How did this truth make Paul feel? (verse 10)
He took pleasure in his “thorns”, knowing that it would not hinder God’s work…..he could experience God’s power even when he was feeling physically weak and miserable.
2. Verses 11-21
a. Why did Paul say he had been saying these things? (verse 11)
Because it seems that they were downgrading him as of no consequence, not worth taking notice of.
b. What were some of these mighty signs and wonders that Paul performed? (verse 12; Acts 19:11-12; 20:9-12; 28:3-6; Romans 15:19)
Healing the sick, throwing out demons, not being poisoned by a snake bite, bringing a dead man back to life….these were the signs of a true apostle of Christ.
c. What did Paul now consider might have been a wrong he did to the Corinthians? (verse 13)
The fact that he stayed among them free of charge…they may have valued his teaching more if they had had to pay for his keep!
d. Paul was coming for a third visit…..what was he afraid he might find? (verses 20-21)
That they might have slipped back into worldly ways and be squabbling, gossiping, and living immorally.
e. How would Paul feel if he found them backslidden in heart and behaviour? (verse 21)
He would be grievously disappointed and humbled before God….he would feel disgraced by their spiritual condition.
f. How do we feel about fellow believers who let the church down? Judgemental? (1 Corinthians 10:12)
It hurts the whole fellowship when someone falls, but we must remember to take heed lest we fall likewise.
2 Corinthians Thirteen….(verses 1-14)
1. Verses 1-14
a. What is the Biblical principle of listening to allegations about people? (verse 1; Deuteronomy 19:15; Matthew 18:15-16)
There must be no less than two witnesses, preferably three.
b. How was Paul going to confront the Corinthian believers on this third visit if he found they had ignored his two previous warnings? (verse 2)
He would be very stern and straight with them….no kind talk this time!
c. What does this tell us about dealing with wrongdoing whether in a child or adult ?
Wrong has to be dealt with properly….kindly, but firmly with no deviation.
d. What do we have to remember if we find ourselves in this situation? ( 1 Corinthians 10:12; Matthew 7:2-3)
That we have faults too….it may not be the one being dealt with, but it may be just as bad in another way…..we also have to remember that we are not infallible ourselves and we are just as capable of falling as the next person.
e. What does Paul tell the believers to do? Does this just apply to a person who is being dealt with as a wrong doer? (verse 5)
We are all to examine ourselves before the Lord to make sure we really ARE obedient believers.
f. We know what we ought to be, and what we would like to be, but the point is, ARE we like this…..how does David tackle this problem in Psalm 139:23-24?
He asked the Lord to search his heart and to try his thoughts to see if there was any wickedness lurking there….we can’t trust ourselves to be honest enough to do this without the Lord!
g. What did Paul want these believers to do? (verse 7)
To recognise the truths that he taught and live honest open lives even if they despised him personally.
h. What did Paul want more than anything for these Corinthian Christians? (verses 8-9)
That they would be strong and mature believers.
i. What was Paul’s hope in writing this letter? (verse 10)
That they would straighten up their act before he got there, or else he would have to speak sharply to them!
j. What was Paul’s final farewell to them? (verse 11)
To be sensible and take heed to his letter; to be in unity and not squabbling, and then God would be with them….if this were the case, then they would experience His love and grace and be able to communicate openly with Him.
k. What do we notice about God in verse 14? What is each believer to experience?
We see the whole of the Trinity mentioned in this one verse…the Lord Jesus, God Himself (the Father), and the Holy Spirit. As we each recognise the grace of Jesus Christ, we will experience the love of God and have communion with Him through the Holy Spirit…..the Three are One. We cannot dissect or understand this union, but have to accept it by faith.