THE SECOND EPISTLE OF PAUL
TO THE CORINTHIANS
INTRODUCTION
Paul wrote the second epistle to the Corinthians during a difficult period in his relationship with the church at Corinth. Evidently some members of the Corinthian church made strong attacks against Paul. He made strong efforts to reconcile with them. And when their
relationship has been patched up , Paul expressed his joy.
Paul clarified his position and relationship with the church at Corinth.
Paul explained the reason for his severe response to insult and opposition in the church. He expressed joy when this severity has resulted in repentance and
reconciliation.
Paul asked the Corinthian folks for a generous offering
to help the needy believers in Judea. In the latter part of the epistle , Paul defends his apostleship against some Corinthian folks who set themselves as apostles.CHAPTER 1
2 Cor 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia: Paul begins by establishing the fact that he is writing in the authority of an apostle. Paul knows that the Lord is God. Paul claims that he is an apostle by
the will of God.
Timothy is a Christian brother to Paul. The two brothers in the Lord are on the plane and in agreement with each other. They have the motives. They are writing to God’s church which is at Corinth, with all the believers who are in all Achaia. 2Cor 1:2 Grace be to you and peace from God our Father,
and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Grace and peace are the gifts from God to the believers.
2Cor 1:3 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;
Praised be God. Praise God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Praise God the father of miracles .
Praise God of all comfort.
2Cor 1:4 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation,that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.
God gives us inner strength to endure our suffering ,
but this is not for us alone . God comforts us so that
we will be able to comfort those folks who are in any
trouble . We comfort others who might be overwhelmed by
similar distress .
God helps us in our trouble , so that we are able to help
others who have all kinds of trouble .To help the needy
people , we use the same help that we ourselves have
received from God .
2Cor 1:5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us,
so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ. Just as we have shared in Christ's many sufferings,
so also through Christ we share God's help and comfort.
2Cor 1:6 And whether we be afflicted, it is for your
consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the
enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer:
or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation
and salvation.
Paul and his fellow-workers in the Lord are inspirations
to them .
How Paul and his fellow-workers faithfully endure their suffering can be used as examples for the Corinthians .
They receive comfort and help from God . The Corinthians
can expect to receive comfort and help in their hour of
trouble . The comfort that Paul experiences in his own
suffering can be passed on by Paul to the Corinthian
believers in their time of suffering .
2Cor 1:7 And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation.
As you are partakers of the Christ's sufferings , so shall you be also of God's comfort .
2Cor 1:8 For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength,
insomuch that we despaired even of life:
In Asia Paul and his fellow workers were pressed
out of measure , above strength, inasmuch that they had to even sacrifice their lives for the Lord . The burden and danger was so great that they gave up hope of staying alive .
2Cor 1:9 But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:
They thought that the death sentence had passed on
them . This happened so that they should not rely
on themselves , but only in God who raises the dead .
2Cor 1:10 Who delivered us from so great a death,
and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet
deliver us;
God saved them from such dangers of death . We must
placed our trust only in God , who have saved us from
danger , and will save us again.
2Cor 1:11 Ye also helping together by prayer for us,
that for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of many persons thanks may be given by many on our behalf.
God answers prayers . When God answers prayers, many persons will raise their voices in thanksgiving to God .
2Cor 1:12 For our rejoicing is this, the testimony
of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly
sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.
Paul found it necessary to defend himself against
adverse criticism. Apparently some of the Corinthians
were saying that Paul was inconsistent in his dealing
with them . They were criticizing him for making plans and then changing his mind and failing to
carry out his plans .
In dealing with others , we have to be pure and sincere , quietly depending on the Lord for wisdom ,
and not on our fleshy skills .
2Cor 1:13 For we write none other things unto you,
than what ye read or acknowledge; and I trust ye shall acknowledge even to the end;
Paul claimed that his letters have been straightforward
and sincere .
2Cor 1:14 As also ye have acknowledged us in part,
that we are your rejoicing, even as ye also are ours
in the day of the Lord Jesus. Paul wrote to them only what they could read and
understand .But even they now understand him in part ,
Paul hopes that they will come to understand him more
completely , so that in the Day of our Lord Jesus
they can be as proud of them as Paul and his fellow
workers shall be of them.
2Cor 1:15-16 And in this confidence I was minded
to come unto you before, that ye might have a
second benefit;
And to pass by you into Macedonia, and to come again
out of Macedonia unto you, and of you to be brought
on my way toward Judaea. When I therefore was thus minded, did I use lightness? or the things that I purpose, do I purpose according to the flesh, that with me there should be yea yea, and nay nay?
It was because Paul was so sure of their understanding
and trust that he planned to stop and see them on his
way to Macedonia and again on his way back , so that
they could send him on his way to Judea.
Paul did not change his plans . When Paul say " Yes" ,
he really meant " Yes"
2Cor 1:18 But as God is true, our word toward you
was not yea and nay.
As God is true , Paul's " Yes" meant " Yes".
2Cor 1:19 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was
preached among you by us, even by me and Silvanus
and Timotheus, was not yea and nay, but in him was yea.
Paul , Silas , and Timothy preached the Son of God ,
Jesus Christ among the Corinthians . They were not the type of people who say " Yes" when they meant " No".
2Cor 1:20 For all the promises of God in him are yea,
and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.
All the promises of God has been fulfilled by Jesus .
2Cor 1:21 Now he which establisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; When we accepted Christ as our Saviour , God anointed us with the Holy Spirit .
2Cor 1:22 Who hath also sealed us, and given
the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.
The sealing of the Holy Spirit is the guarantee of
the believer's security. (Eph 1:13;4:30)
The Holy Spirit is the seal that signifies ownership ,security, and a completed transaction .
Earnest is the initial payment on a purchase.
It is a guarantee.
God has established us in Christ .
God has anointed us with the Holy Spirit .
God has sealed us with the Holy Spirit .
The Holy Spirit is our guarantee that we are saved .
2Cor 1:23 Moreover I call God for a record upon my soul,
that to spare you I came not as yet unto Corinth.
Paul called God to be his witness .God knew his heart.
It was in order to spare his accuser that he decided
not to go to Corinth .
2Cor 1:24 Not for that we have dominion over your
faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith
ye stand.
They were not trying to dictate to the Corinthians what they should believe. They knew that the Corinthians were standing firm in the faith . Paul and his fellow worker in the Lord were working with them for Corinthian's own happiness.
2Cor 2:1 But I determined this with myself, that I would not come again to you in heaviness. To avoid a sad visit to the Corinthians , Paul wrote to them .
Paul preferred to deal with them by letter , not because he was weak in character but because Paul wanted to preserve their mutual
affection between himself and his converts .
If he were to visit them before they settle this
matter,he probably would be angry with them.
2Cor 2:2 For if I make you sorry, who is he then that maketh me glad, but the same which is made sorry by me?
Paul's main wish was to work with them to promote
their joy.He wanted to share their joy, and to be happy in their happiness.
How could he expect folks whom he had saddened
to make him cheerful ?
2Cor 2:3 And I wrote this same unto you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy is the joy of you all. Paul wrote them , because Paul did not want to come
to them and be made sad by the very people who should
make him happy .Paul was convinced that when he
was happy , then all of the Corinthians were happy too .
2Cor 2:4 For out of much affliction and anguish
of heart I wrote unto you with many tears;
not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might
know the love which I have more abundantly unto you.
Paul wrote to them with a greatly troubled and
distressed heart and with many tears .
His purpose was not to make them sad . His purpose
was to make them realize how much he loved them .
2Cor 2:5 But if any have caused grief, he hath not
grieved me, but in part: that I may not overcharge
you all.
The man who had caused all the trouble , had not
caused sorrow to Paul as much as to the Corinthians .
Paul didn't want to be harder on him than he should .
2Cor 2:6 Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many.
The man had been punished enough by their united
disapproval .
2Cor 2:7 So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such
a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow.
After his punishment, they should forgive him.
They should comfort and encourage him , in order to keep him from becoming so sad as to give up
completely . They certainly didn't want him to be swallowed up with too much sorrow and discouragement .
They wanted him to recover .Show him that you still love him .
2Cor 2:8 Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him.
Let him know that you still love him . Confirm your love toward him. Show him you still love him .
2Cor 2:9 For to this end also did I write,
that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things.
Paul wrote them that letter because he wanted to
find out how well they had stood the test ,and whether they were obedient in all things of the Lord .
2Cor 2:10 To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it,
for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ;
When they forgive anyone , Paul forgives also.
Whatever Paul had forgiven had been by Christ's
authority , and it was for their good.
2Cor 2:11 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us:
for we are not ignorant of his devices.
A further reason for forgiveness is keep Satan from
getting the upper hand over us . We know what his evil
plans are. We are not ignorant of his evil devices.
2Cor 2:12 Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach
Christ's gospel, and a door was opened unto me of
the Lord,
When Paul got as far as the city of Troas ,
the Lord gave him tremendous opportunities to preach
the Good News .
2Cor 2:13 I had no rest in my spirit, because I found
not Titus my brother: but taking my leave of them, I went from thence into Macedonia. But Titus, his dear brother , wasn't there to meet him .
And Paul couldn't rest , because he was wondering what
had happened to Titus . So he said good-bye and went
right on to Macedonia to try to find him .
2Cor 2:14 Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.
Now thanks be to God , who always causes us to triumph
in Christ . Wherever we go God uses us to tell others
about the Lord Jesus Christ and to spread the
Good News like a sweet perfume .
2Cor 2:15 For we are unto God a sweet savour of
Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that
perish:
We are a sweet smelling incense offered by Christ to God, which spread among those who are being saved
and those who are being lost. The work of the believers is a sacrificial offering made to God. It is an offering made by Christ to God ,
because it is Christ who inspires and directs the
believer's preaching and work .
2Cor 2:16 To the one we are the savour of death unto
death; and to the other the savour of life unto life.
And who is sufficient for these things?
Those who rejects the Good News are on the way to perdition . The separate themselves from God and sentence themselves to spiritual death. They are the folks who will perish . For those folks who are perishing,
it is a deadly stench that kills. But to those folks who are being saved , it is a sweet fragrance that brings life .This life is not extinguished by physical death . And who is capable of such a task ?
2Cor 2:17 For we are not as many, which corrupt
the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God,
in the sight of God speak we in Christ.
Many corrupted folks go hawking the word of God for financial profit. They corrupt the word of God .
Paul and fellow workers are not like these evil folks .
They are sincere .They are sincere when they declare
the word of God, as from God and in God's sight ,
as members of Christ.
2Cor 3:1 Do we begin again to commend ourselves?
or need we, as some others, epistles of commendation
to you, or letters of commendation from you?
They were not boasting about themselves. They did not need letters recommendation to the Corinthians or from them . 2Cor 3:2 Ye are our epistle written in our hearts,
known and read of all men:
You are our letter written in our hearts for everyone
to know and read.
You are our letter. By looking at your pure hearts ,
everyone can see that we have done God's good work among you.
2Cor 3:3 Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us,
written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the
living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy
tables of the heart.
Everyone can see that you are a letter from Christ
and send it by us .It is not a letter written in ink.
It is a letter written with the Spirit of the living God. And it is not written on stone tablets but on human hearts.
2Cor 3:4 And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward:
They dare to say these things because they have confidence in God through Christ .
2Cor 3:5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;
Paul did not claim any credit for their great works
among the Corinthians . The capacity and sufficiency
to do great works come from God . Their power and success come from God. 2Cor 3:6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the
spirit giveth life.
God has helped us to tell others about His new
agreement to save them.
It is God who made us capable of serving the
new covenant , which consists not of a written law but of the Holy Spirit .The Law brings death ,
but the Holy Spirit gives life.The believers possess the inward guidance of the Holy Spirit .
Under the Old Covenant or old order , folks inevitably broke God's laws were condemned . Under the New Covenant or new order, the believers were acquitted. By his sacrifice at the cross ,
Christ paid the penalty for our sin . Christ secured forgiveness from God for us.
The Holy Spirit is given the believers .
The inward power of the Holy Spirit enables us to obey God .
2Cor 3:7 But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not
stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was
to be done away:
It is possible the Jewish Christians have been criticizing Paul for failing to make his Gentile converts observe the Law of Moses . This might be reason why Paul is trying to prove that the New Covenant is much superior than the Old Covenant.
The Mosaic law was man's custodian until Christ came (Gal 3:24).
The Mosaic law does reflect the character and the purposes of God, so it is right to describe
it as glorious.
2Cor 3:8 How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious?
How much greater is the glory that belongs to the activity of the Holy Spirit .We shall
expect much greater glory in these days because the Holy Spirit gives life .
2Cor 3:9 For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.
If the old system which brings condemnation was glorious ,how much more glorious is the activity
of the new covenant which brings salvation.
2Cor 3:10 For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the
glory that excelleth.
Because of the far brighter glory now the smaller glory of the past is gone .
2Cor 3:11 For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious. If there was glory in the old system which lasted for a little while , how much more glory is there in the new system which lasts forever .
If the old system that faded into nothing was full of glory , how much more glorious is God's new plan for our eternal salvation.
2Cor 3:12-13 Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech:
And not as Moses, which put a veil over his face, that the children of Israel could
not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished: Since we know this new glory will never fade away , we can preach with great boldness .
Because we have this hope , we are very bold in preaching the Good News ,and not as Moses did, who had to put a veil over his face so the children of Israel would not see the brightness fade and
disappear .
2Cor 3:14 But their minds were blinded:
for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament;
which vail is done away in Christ.
Their minds were blinded. To this very day their minds are covered with the same veil as they read the books of the old covenant .
The veil is removed only when a person is joined to Christ .
2Cor 3:15 But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart.
Even today , whenever they read the Law of Moses,
the veil still covers their mind .
2Cor 3:16 Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.
This veil of misunderstanding can be removed only by believing in Christ.
2Cor 3:17 Now the Lord is that Spirit:
and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
The Lord is Christ ,in whom the Old Testament is fulfilled . The Lord Jesus Christ is one
with the Holy Spirit. The Lord and the Holy Spirit
are One in the same sense that Jesus said He and
the Father are one(John 10:30). The Holy Spirit takes virtues of Christ and reveals them to the believers. Because of the Holy Spirit , The Lord Jesus Christ can with unlimited power
transform universally the inner lives of believers.
The influence of the Holy Spirit and the influence of the Lord Jesus Christ can be distinguished.
Where the Holy Spirit is , there is freedom from old system of trying to be saved by keeping the Mosaic Law . Now we only need the
Lord Jesus Christ to save us. That is freedom.
2Cor 3:18 But we all, with open face beholding
as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed
into the same image from glory to glory, even as
by the Spirit of the Lord.
We believers have no veil over our faces .
We can be mirrors that reflect brightly the glory of the Lord . The Holy Spirit works in us, making us more and more like the Lord . The Holy Spirit
transform us into His likeness from glory to glory. 2Cor 4:1 Therefore seeing we have this ministry,
as we have received mercy, we faint not;
God in His mercy has given them this work to do ,
and so they do not become discouraged .
2Cor 4:2 But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor
handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.
They put aside all secret , shameful and dishonest deeds. They do not act with deceit , nor do they falsify the word of God . In the full light of the truth they live in God's sight . And they commend
themselves to everyone's conscience . 2Cor 4:3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: The Good News is hidden from those folks who are being lost.
2Cor 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ,
who is the image of God, should shine unto them. They do believe , because their minds have been kept in the dark by the devil of this world .
The devil keeps them from seeing the light of the
glorious Good News of Christ, who is the exact
likeness of God .
2Cor 4:5 For we preach not ourselves,
but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants
for Jesus' sake.
Paul and his fellow workers preach not about themselves.
They preach Jesus Christ as Lord . They are their servants for Jesus' sake.
2Cor 4:6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. God commanded the light to shine out of darkness .It is the same God who has shined in our hearts , to bring us the knowledge of God's glory shining in the face of Jesus. 2Cor 4:7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
But we have this spiritual treasure in common clay vessels , in order to show that the supreme power belongs to God , and not to us. 2Cor 4:8-9 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down,
but not destroyed;
We are often troubled , yet we are not distressed . We are sometimes perplexed , but we are not in despair . We are persecuted , but the Lord has not forsaken us . We are cast down , but we are not destroyed. 2Cor 4:10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. Our bodies always face death just as Jesus did, so that his life also may be seen in our bodies . 2Cor 4:11 For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. We live under constant danger of death because we serve the Lord , but this gives us opportunities to show the power of the Lord Jesus Christ within our mortal bodies of flesh. 2Cor 4:12 So then death worketh in us, but life in you.
So then death works in us , but life in you .
2Cor 4:13 We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak; The Psalm writer wrote ,
I believed , and therefore have I spoken.
We have the same spirit of faith , we also believe , and therefore we speak. 2Cor 4:14 Knowing that He which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us
with you. We know that the same God who raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also with Jesus , and present us to Him along with you . 2Cor 4:15 For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God. The suffering of Christian workers are for the benefit of the new converts. The more of them who are won for Christ , the more there are to thank the Lord for His abundant grace and mercy , and the more the Lord
is glorified .
2Cor 4:16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
This is why believers never give up . Though our bodies are dying , our inner strength in the Lord are renewed day by day . 2Cor 4:17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; These small troubles and minor sufferings are but for a moment .It does not last very long , but it works for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory . It helps us win God's eternal blessing . 2Cor 4:18 While we look not at the things which are seen,
but at the things which are not seen:
for the things which are seen are temporal;
but the things which are not seen are eternal.
We fix our attention not at the things which are seen.
We fix our attention on things which are not seen .
The things which are seen lasts only a short time ,
but what can not be seen lasts forever
2Cor 5:1 For we know that if our earthly house of
this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of
God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
We know that if our earthy house of this tent were
torn down , God will have a house in heaven for us to
live in .No human hands built this house .
It is a heavenly home that God has built for us ,
which will last forever.
2Cor 5:2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:
And now we groan , so great is our desire to be clothed upon with our heavenly home .
How weary are we of our earthy bodies.
2Cor 5:3 If so be that being clothed we
shall not be found naked. If we are clothed with heavenly clothes we shall not be found naked.
We look forward eagerly for that day when we shall have heavenly bodies which we shall
put on like new clothes .
2Cor 5:4 For we that are in this tabernacle
do groan, being burdened: not for that we would
be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. We who are in this earthly tent do groan and sigh
because we are burdened and troubled by the thought of dying and having no bodies .
As long as we are clothed in this temporary tent we have the painful longing not because we want to just get rid of these temporary clothes , but because we want to put on heavenly clothes , so that life swallows up our mortal death .
2Cor 5:5 Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath
given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.
God has shaped us for this very purpose.
God has given us the Holy Spirit as a pledge
and a guarantee .God has given us the Holy Spirit as the first installment of
future bliss.
2Cor 5:6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body,
we are absent from the Lord: Knowing that the Holy Spirit is always ready to help us , we are always confident .
We realize that while we are at home in the earthly body , we are absent from the Lord .
2Cor 5:7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) For we guide our lives by faith in the Lord .
We do not walk by sight .
2Cor 5:8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
In this confidence we would be glad to leave
our home in the body , and make our home
with the Lord.
2Cor 5:9 Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. Therefore we make it our aim that whether present or absent , we may be well-pleasing
unto him .
2Cor 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ;
that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done,
whether it be good or bad.
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ . Everyone will receive good or bad , according to what he has done in the body.
Each person will receive rewards or punishment
according to the life that he has lived his body .
2Cor 5:11 Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made
manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.
Therefore , because Paul and his fellow workers know what the fear of the Lord means ,
they appeal to men . God knows their motives .
Paul hopes the Corinthians are conscious of it.
2Cor 5:12 For we commend not ourselves again unto you, but give you occasion to glory on our behalf, that ye may have somewhat to answer them
which glory in appearance, and not in heart.
They are not requesting the approvals of the Corinthians. They are giving the Corinthians a
chance to be proud of them .
God looks at the heart of man , whether he is righteous or not. God does not respect
outside appearances.This is what Paul has been teaching the Corinthians.This is the ready answer for those silly folks who pride themselves
on appearances and not on character.
The foolish folks are proud of external appearances instead of inward reality.
2Cor 5:13 For whether we be beside ourselves,
it is to God: or whether we be sober,
it is for your cause.
We are not out of our senses to say this .
God knows that we are sober . And we speaking
soberly to you for your benefit .
2Cor 5:14 For the love of Christ constraineth us;
because we thus judge, that if one died for all,
then were all dead:
It is the love of Christ which compels and controls
us .If One has died for all , then , in a sense ,
they all died .
2Cor 5:15 And that he died for all, that they
which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them,
and rose again.
Christ died for all of us , so that they who live should not henceforth live for themselves. They should live for Christ who for their sake died and was raised to life .
2Cor 5:16 Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known
Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. From this time forward we refuse to regard anyone
from the world's standards . Even if we once
thought of Christ from the standard of the world , yet now we do so no longer. 2Cor 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. Therefore if any person is in union with Christ ,
he is a new person .
Old things passed away . Behold , all things
has become new.
2Cor 5:18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ,
and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
All things come from God who has make us at peace
with Himself through Christ , and has given us
the work of making peace .
2Cor 5:19 To wit, that God was in Christ,
reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. God was in Christ making peace between the world of people and Himself , no longer counting their sins against them , and has given us the preaching of Good News of peace .
2Cor 5:20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ,
as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.
Now then we are ambassadors for Christ .God is using
us to appeal the people to accept Christ as their Saviour
2Cor 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us,
who knew no sin; that we might be made the
righteousness of God in him.
Christ was innocent of sin , because Christ knew no sin.
Yet , God ,for our sake , made Jesus one with the
sinfulness of men , so that we through union with
Christ might come into right standing with God .
1Cor 6:1 We then , as workers together with him , beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. You have receive God's grace . Don't waste it.
Don't let it go for nothing .
2Cor 6:2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee:
behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)
God's words are :
I have answered your prayer in a accepted time . In the day of salvation I came to your aid . Behold now is the accepted time. Behold , now is the day of Salvation. 2Cor 6:3 Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed: Never put an obstacle in any one's way . Make sure your conscience is clear . Make sure you have a righteous motive in everything that you do , so that the ministry be not blamed.
2Cor 6:4-5 But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings,in fastings; But in everything make it clear that we are the servants of God , in many hours of endurance ,
in troubles, in hardships , in distresses and difficulties, in floggings and stripes,
in imprisonments ,in labours , in fastings, in hunger and thirst. 2Cor 6:6 By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned, In all things we make it clear we are servants
of God by pureness, by knowledge and understanding ,
by long-suffering and patience, by kindness .
The Holy Spirit makes it clear to others that we are servants of God by our sincere and genuine love .
2Cor 6:7 By the word of truth, by the power of God,
by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,
We speak the word of truth. We use truthful speech ,
and we are living by the power of God.
We are working with the power of God , fighting with the weapons of righteousness , but for attack and for defense. 2Cor 6:8 By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true; In everything we make it clear that we are servants of God . Some evil folks will try
to dishonour us because we are servants of God ,
but God knows our righteous motives .
God knows that we are honourable. Some evil folks will give evil report about us , but God knows our reports . Some wicked folks
will count us as deceivers , but God knows that we are being true to Him.
2Cor 6:9 As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed; We are unknown by men , and yet we well known by God . We are acknowledged by God . We are dying to the world , and behold live in the Lord . We are alive in the Lord . We are chastened and punished , but not killed .
2Cor 6:10 As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing;
as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing,
and yet possessing all things. We are sorrowful yet we are always rejoicing and glad. We are poor , yet we are making many rich in the Lord .
We have nothing , and yet we possess all things.
We are penniless , yet we own the world .
2Cor 6:11 O ye Corinthians, our mouth is open unto you, our heart is enlarged.
Paul and his fellow in the Lord are speaking freely to them.They throw their
heart wide open to them.
2Cor 6:12 Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your own bowels.
There is room in our heart for you ,but there is not room , in your love , for us . 2Cor 6:13 Now for a recompence in the same, (I speak as unto my children,) be ye also enlarged.
Paul is speaking to them as his own children . He is telling them to open their hearts with
love , not to him to every one . 2Cor 6:14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what
communion hath light with darkness?
Avoid unsuitable connections with unbelievers.
Righteousness has no fellowship with
unrighteousness. Light has no communion with
darkness. Goodness and evilness are opposite .
2Cor 6:15 And what concord hath Christ
with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
Christ has no agreement between Belial,
the Evil One. The believer has nothing in common with the unbeliever. 2Cor 6:16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. The temple of God has nothing to do with idols.
You are the temple of the living God . God has said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
2Cor 6:17-18 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. Therefore come out from among the unbelievers. Separate yourselves from them. Touch not the unclean thing. And do not touch what is unclean.> If you obey the words of God, then He will receive you . The Lord Almighty will be a Father unto you . And you shall be His sons and daughters. 2Cor 7:1 Having therefore these promises,
dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
With these promises , let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of flesh and spirit , perfecting holiness in the fear of God. 2Cor 7:2 Receive us; we have wronged no man, We have corrupted no man.We have defrauded no man. Paul wants them to receive him and his co-workers.
They have wronged no one . They have defrauded no one.
They have cheated no one.
2Cor 7:3 I speak not this to condemn you:
for I have said before, that ye are in our hearts to die and live with you.
They have hold them so close in their hearts that nothing in life or in death can part them from the Corinthian believers.
2Cor 7:4 Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you: I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our
tribulation.
Great is Paul's confidence toward them, great is his praise of them . He is filled with comfort. He is full of encouragement . In spite of all his troubles and sufferings , Paul is exceeding joyful .
His heart is overflowing with happiness ,
in the midst of all these trials .
2Cor 7:5 For, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears.
Even when they reached Macedonia , their bodies had no rest. There were troubles on every side ,
quarrels all round them , anxieties , and fears.
2Cor 7:6 Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the
coming of Titus;
But God , who comforts those folks who are cast down , comforts them by allowing Titus
to come to them.
2Cor 7:7 And not by his coming only, but by the consolation wherewith he was comforted
in you, when he told us your earnest desire, your mourning, your fervent mind toward me;
so that I rejoiced the more.
And it is not only his arrival that they are encouraged , but also by the encouragement which
Titus has received from the Corinthian believers.
The Corinthians have an earnest desire to serve the Lord . They have mourned for Paul's reproof
because they are sorry . They saw the light and their mind agrees with Paul . This is the reason Paul is happier.
2Cor 7:8 For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent:
for I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though it were but for a season.
Though with the letter Paul made them sorry , Paul does not regret it . Paul can see that the letter has upset them , though only for a
short time.
2Cor 7:9 Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance:
for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing.
Paul rejoiced not because they were grieved , but because their grief led them to repentance.
It is God will that they should feel sorry .
It is a holy sorrow .They were not loser through what Paul had done .They were not
offended by what Paul had wrote .
2Cor 7:10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of:
but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
Godly sorrow produces repentance that leads to salvation and brings no regret. But sorrow of
the world works death.The world's sorrow leads to death. 2Cor 7:11 For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what
indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what
vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea,
what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.
See how the hand of God was in that sorrow See how seriously it made the Corinthians think of the Lord. The sorrow brought their feelings.
How anger they were. How apprehensive.
What eplanations. What alarm .What zeal.What fear. How determined they were to punish
the offender.
They have cleared themselves altogether
from all the guilt in this matter. They have clear themselves in this matter.
2Cor 7:12 Wherefore, though I wrote unto you, I did it not for his cause that had done the wrong, nor for his cause that suffered wrong,
but that our care for you in the sight of God
might appear unto you.
Paul's letter to them is not on the account of the offender nor for the sake of one who was
suffering. Paul wrote to them to make them conscious , in the sight of God , of their devotion to help him and his fellow workers.
2Cor 7:13 Therefore we were comforted in your comfort: yea, and exceedingly the more
joyed we for the joy of Titus, because his spirit was refreshed by you all.
Therefore they were comforted in the
Corinthian believers' comfort.
They have encouraged Paul . In addition to the joy that this gave Paul ,
he was made happier still by the happiness of Titus ; for the Corinthians have cheer
Titus up.
2Cor 7:14 For if I have boasted any thing to him of you, I am not ashamed; but as we spake all things to you in truth, even so our
boasting, which I made before Titus, is found a truth.
Paul had told him of his pride in the Corinthians.And they had let him down .
2Cor 7:15 And his inward affection is more abundant toward you, whilst he remembereth the obedience of you all,
how with fear and trembling ye
received him.
His love for the Corinthians is increase more, now that he has seen their obedience
and reverence to the Lord.
2Cor 7:16 I rejoice therefore that I have confidence in you in all things.
Paul rejoices that he has confidence in the Corinthians in all things. Paul is glad that he has complete confidence in them.
2Cor 8:1 Moreover, brethren, we do you
to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the
churches of Macedonia; God's love has been shown the churches of Macedonia. 2Cor 8:2 How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality. Amid a great trial of affliction and trouble, the overflowing joy , and even the depth of their poverty , resulted in a flood of their generosity. 2Cor 8:3 For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves;
They have given not only according to their means , but beyond their means . And they give from their own free will. As they were able , and even more than they were able , they gave freely . Without the urging from any one , they were willing to give to the limit of their means , and beyond their means.
2Cor 8:4 Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us
the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.
They begged the apostles to allow them the privilege of helping to supply the needs of the believers. They begged them to accept the gifts and let them share the honor of helping
the needy believers.
2Cor 8:5 And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.
And they indeed exceeded Paul's expectations.
First they gave themselves to the Lord , and then to the Paul and his fellow workers as God willed.
2Cor 8:6 In so much that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also.
This led Paul to urge Titus that , as he had begun the work , so he should complete among the Corinthians this same act of love .
Paul ask Titus to complete the arrangements for the same gracious contribution among the Corinthians ,
2Cor 8:7 Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge,
and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also.
Therefore , as the Corinthians excel in everything , in faith , and utterance , and knowledge , and in all diligence , and in your love to Paul and his fellow workers , Paul asked them to express their love in this general service of help . 2Cor 8:8 I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love. This is not a command . But prove to others that your love is for real. Show that you care for others because you love them. 2Cor 8:9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich. You know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though he was rich , yet for your sakes he became poor , that by his poverty you might be rich . 2Cor 8:10 And herein I give my advice: for this is expedient for you, who have begun before, not only to do, but also to be forward a year ago. Paul was giving his advice . It was best for the Corinthians to complete what a year ago they had began . They were the first to want to help . They were thinking about helping . They should carry through what they had intended to do. 2Cor 8:11 Now therefore perform the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have. Now therefore fulfill your purpose by your deeds. Complete the work according to the readiness of your will . Finish what you have planned . Finish the work according to your means. 2Cor 8:12 For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not. If a person is willing to give , God accepts him according to what he has , and not according to what he has not. 2Cor 8:13 For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened:
We are not helping others so that they will be lazy folks. Nor are we going to relieve lazy folks at cost of hardship to ourselves. We only help needy folks .
2Cor 8:14 But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality: What you can spare may supply their need. And what they can supply can supply your need . Your abundance and surplus can used to help them . And their abundance and surplus can be used to help you. And thus matters may be equalized. 2Cor 8:15 As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over;
and he that had gathered little had no lack.
He that had gathered a lot had no more than enough .And he that had gathered little had no
lack .
2Cor 8:16 But thanks be to God, which put the same earnest care into the heart of
Titus for you.
Paul thanked God , for inspiring Titus with
the same keen interest in their welfare that Paul had.
2Cor 8:17 For indeed he accepted the
exhortation; but being more forward,
of his own accord he went unto you.
For indeed he responded to Paul's appeal ,
but he himself is very zealous in the matter. He went to the Corinthians because he really wanted to go.He was so devoted to you that
he had to go to you.
2Cor 8:18 And we have sent with him the brother, whose praise is in the gospel
throughout all the churches;
Coming with him is a brother , who services to the Good News are praised by all the churches. 2Cor 8:19 And not that only, but who was also chosen of the churches to travel with us with this grace, which is administered by us to the glory of the same Lord, and declaration. of your ready mind: Moreover the churches have appointed him to travel with them and help with this beneficent work to honor the Lord and to
show their readiness to help.
2Cor 8:20 Avoiding this, that no man should blame us in this abundance which is administered by us: They want to guard against any criticism of them handling of this charitable fund. 2Cor 8:21 Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men. We must make arrangements which shall be right, not only in the eyes of the Lord , but also in the eyes men.We must be above reproach not only from God but also from men . Our aims have to be honourable, not only in God's eyes, but also in the eyes of men. 2Cor 8:22 And we have sent with them our brother, whom we have oftentimes proved diligent in many things, but now much more diligent, upon the great confidence which I have in you. The chosen brother has proven many times to be diligent in many things. He is zealous in the work . His devotion, eagerness, and enthusiasm have been proven on many occasions. 2Cor 8:23 Whether any do inquire of Titus, he is my partner and fellow helper concerning you: or our brethren be inquired of, they are the messengers of the churches, and the glory of Christ. Titus is Paul's partner and fellow helper ,and they work together to help the Corinthians. The brothers who represent the churches are an honour and a credit to Christ . 2Cor 8:24 Wherefore shew ye to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love, and of our boasting on your behalf. Give the proof of your love . Show your love to them and before the churches. Let them
see how genuine is your love. Justify all the nice things that have been said about you.
2Cor 9:1 For as touching the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you:
It is unnecessary for Paul to write them concerning this fund for their fellow believers
at Jerusalem. 2Cor 9:2 For I know the forwardness of your mind, for which I boast of you to them of Macedonia, that Achaia was ready a year ago;
and your zeal hath provoked very many.
2Cor 9:3 Yet have I sent the brethren,lest our boasting of you should be in vain
in this behalf; that, as I said, ye may be ready:
2Cor 9:4 Lest by any means, if they of Macedonia
come with me, and find you unprepared, we (that we say not, ye) should be ashamed
in this same confident boasting.
Paul knows their readiness and willingness to help.Paul has boast of it to the Macedonian
believers , saying that Achaia has been ready ever since last year. They were ready to undertake this service twelve months ago.
The Corinthians has made a pledge to help the believers in Jerusalem. If the folks from Macedonia should come with Paul and find out that they were not ready ,
it would be shameful.
2Cor 9:5 Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your
bounty, whereof ye had notice before,
that the same might be ready, as a matter of bounty, and not as of covetousness.
Paul thought it was neccessary to urge these brothers to go ahead of him and get ready
in advance the gift the Corinthians promised to give.Then it will be ready when Paul arrive.
This will show that they gave because they wanted to give.
2Cor 9:6 But this I say,
He which soweth sparingly shall also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall also bountifully.
He who sows sparingly shall reap also sparingly;
and he who sow bountifully shall also reap bountifully.
2Cor 9:7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly,
or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
Everyone according as he purpose in his heart, so let him give ; not grudgingly , or of
neccessity .Let every person give as his heart tells him to give, not reluctantly or
under compulsion. God loves a cheerful giver.
God loves a person who is glad to give.
2Cor 9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every
good work:
God is able to give you an overflowing amount of all good gifts , so that you always have more than enough in all things to do every good work. God has the power to shower
all kind of blessings upon you. God is able to bless you abundantly so that all your
needs are well supplied at all times .
God has the power to provide you richly with every good gift. You will have enough
and to spare for every good cause.
You will have enough for yourselves and for giving away to other people.
2Cor 9:9 (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the
poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever.
He scatters his gifts to the poor .His charity lasts forever. His uprightness will never
be forgotten He has generously given to the poor.He has lavished his gifts to
the needy . His deeds of charity will never be forgotten . His righteousness remains
for ever.
2Cor 9:10 Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your
food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;
God , who supplies the seed for the sower and bread for your food , will supply you
with seed and multiply it . And God will increase the fruits of your righteousness.
God will increase the crop of your charity .
God will give you the seed of generosity to sow and enlarge the harvest which your
good deeds of love yield.
2Cor 9:11 Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.
The more you are enriched by God , the more generous you will give. And more people
will give thanks to God.
2Cor 9:12 For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many
thanksgivings unto God;
For the rendering of this service not only relieves the needs of your fellow-believers ,
but also yields a rich harvest of thanksgiving in the name of the Lord. 2Cor 9:13 Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your
professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ,
and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men;
While by the evidence and experience of this service , you caused folks to praise God by your obedience in acknowledging the
Good News of Jesus Christ and by the
generosity of your gifts to help them.
2Cor 9:14 And by their prayer for you, which long after you for the exceeding
grace of God in you.
And they will join prayer on your behalf , their hearts will go out to you because the
richness of the grace which God has bestowed on you.
2Cor 9:15 Thanks be unto God for his
unspeakable gift.
Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.
Thanks be unto God for his inestimable gift.
2Cor 10:1 Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ,
who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you:
Paul is making personal appeal to the Corinthians,
by the meekness and gentleness of Christ.
Paul was humble in their presence , but was bold in dealing with them when he was far away.
2Cor 10:2 But I beseech you, that I may not be bold when I am present with that confidence,
wherewith I think to be bold against some,
which think of us as if we walked according to the flesh.
Paul asks them not to drive him to show his boldness when he does come to them. He does not want them to force him to be harsh .
Paul is sure to deal harshly with those folks who say that Paul acts from worldly
motives.He counts on doing some plain speaking to those folks who persist in
reckoning that their activities are from worldly motives.
2Cor 10:3 For though we walk in the flesh,
we do not war after the flesh:
For although we live in the world , it is no worldly warfare that we fighting. We are
indeed human , but we fight our battles not with human strength.
2Cor 10:4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to
the pulling down of strong holds;)
The weapons we used are not merely human .
These weapons are mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds. These weapons
are divinely mighty to demolish strongholds.
2Cor 10:5 Casting down imaginations,
and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience
of Christ;
We use God's weapons to cast down imaginations,
and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God. We destroy speculations.
We bring down deceptive fantasy and pull down every barrier that raised against the knowledge
of God. We demolish all that rears its proud head against the knowledge of God .
We bring into captivity every thought to the
obedience of Christ.We make every human thought
to surrender to Christ's service. We compel mind to surrender in obedience to Christ.
2Cor 10:6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.
Once they have proved their loyalty to the Lord ,
they are prepared to punish those who refuse to obey .
2Cor 10:7 Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? If any man trust to himself that he is Christ's, let him of
himself think this again, that, as he is Christ's, even so are we Christ's.
Open your eyes to see what is before your face.
There may be someone who puff himself up and boasts that he is the champion of Christ .
Let him think this again, that as he is Christ's ,
even so are we Christ's. Let him reflect that we belong to Christ as much as he.
2Cor 10:8 For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord hath given us for edification, and not for your destruction,
I should not be ashamed:
They may have thought that Paul has unduly boast somewhat more of his authority. The Lord has given it to him for building the Corinthian believers up , and not for their destruction. Paul doesn't think he has done anything to be ashamed of. Paul feel quite justified in actions. 2Cor 10:9 That I may not seem as if I would terrify you by letters. Paul doesn't want think to think that he is writing empty threats. 2Cor 10:10 For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.
They say , Paul's letter are weighty and power; but his bodily presence is weak , and his speech is contemptible. His personal appearance is weak and as a speaker he amounts to nothing. 2Cor 10:11 Let such an one think this, that, such as we are in word by letters when we are absent, such will we be also in deed when we are present. Such folks had better understand that when Paul arrives and takes action he will do just as he say he will in his letters when he is far away . 2Cor 10:12 For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise. They do not wish to compare themselves with certain foolish individuals who approve of themselves ; but these false preachers are measuring themselves by their own phony standards. They don't show good sense. They are not wise. 2Cor 10:13 But we will not boast of things without our measure, but according to the measure of the rule which God hath distributed to us, a measure to reach even unto you.
The believers' boasting never go beyond the God's limit . Their goal is to measure up to God's plans for them . And this plan includes their work with the Corinthians. 2Cor 10:14 For we stretch not ourselves beyond our measure, as though we reached not unto you:
for we are come as far as to you also in preaching the gospel of Christ:
They are not overstepping the limit . Since the Corinthians are within those limits , they were not going beyond them when they came , preaching the Good News of Christ to the Corinthians . Their journeys in preaching Christ's Good News took them all the way to them. 2Cor 10:15-16 Not boasting of things without our measure, that is, of other men's labours;> but having hope, when your faith is increased, that we shall be enlarged by you according to
our rule abundantly. To preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man's line of things made ready to our hand. Don't take credit to yourself for what is not your business. Don't take credit for the works of others. Paul would not take credit for the work someone else has done among the Corinthians. Paul hopes that the growing faith of the Corinthians will mean the expansion of their sphere of influence to preach the Good News to regions beyond the Corinthians ,without trespassing on the sphere assigned to others . They don't want to claim credit for the work that someone else has done. 2Cor 10:17 But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. He who boasts , let him boasts in the Lord . 2Cor 10:18 For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth. For a man is proved worthy , not when he approves himself , but he is approved by the Lord . The most important thing is winning the approval of the Lord. 2Cor 11:1 Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me.
Paul wishes they could put up with a little of his foolishness . 2Cor 11:2 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband,that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
He feels a godly jealousy on their behalf for bethrothed the Corinthian church to one husband
so that he may present the church as a chaste virgin to Christ . 2Cor 11:3 But I fear, lest by any means,as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. But he fears , lest by any means , as the serpent beguiled Eve through his craftiness,> so their minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. He does not want their minds to be led astray from a pure and sincere devotion to Christ . 2Cor 11:4 For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached,
or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel,which ye have not accepted, ye might well
bear with him.
For if some new-comer is proclaiming
another Jesus whom Paul has not preached,
or if they receive another spirit ,
which is different from the Holy Spirit,
or another gospel , which you have not
accepted, they would do well , then ,
to be patient with Paul.
2Cor 11:5 For I suppose I was not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles.
Paul thinks that he is not in the least behind the greatest apostles.
2Cor 11:6 But though I be rude in speech, yet not in knowledge; but we have been
throughly made manifest among you in all things.
Yes , though Paul is unskilled in the arts of speech , yet he does possesses knowledge of the Lord .He lacks the skill in rhetoric and is untrained as an orator . He is not a polished speaker but he does know what he is talking about . 2Cor 11:7 Have I committed an offence in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I have preached to you the gospel of God freely?
Has Paul done wrong in talking a humble place to let them have an exalted one , because he has preached to them the Good News of God freely ? 2Cor 11:8 I robbed other churches, taking wages of them, to do you service.
He took money from the other churches as payment for his work , so that he could work with them free of charge .
2Cor 11:9 And when I was present with you,
and wanted, I was chargeable to no man: for that which was lacking to me the brethren
which came from Macedonia supplied:
and in all things I have kept myself from being burdensome unto you, and so will
I keep myself.
And he was penniless when he visited them, but he was not a burden to any of the Corinthians . Whatever he lacked , the brothers from Macedonia supplied , when they came . Thus he kept himself in all things from being burdensome to them . 2Cor 11:10 As the truth of Christ is in me, no man shall stop me of this boasting in the regions of Achaia. As the truth of Christ lives in him , no one shall stop him from being confident in the regions of Achaia . 2Cor 11:11 Wherefore? because I love you not? God knoweth. God knows that Paul loves the Corinthians. 2Cor 11:12 But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion; that wherein they glory, they may befound even as we. Paul intends to keep on doing as he has done, in order to keep the false apostles from having any reason for boasting and saying that their phony work is for real . 2Cor 11:13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. Such men are counterfeits of the real thing. They are deceitful workers. These false
apostles are masquerading as apostles
of Christ. 2Cor 11:14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
No wonder they do; for Satan himself pretends
to be an angel of light.
2Cor 11:15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the
ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be
according to their works.
Therefore it is no surprise if Satan's agents also masquerade as ministers of righteousness. Their doom will answer to their deeds.
2Cor 11:16 I say again, Let no man think me
a fool; if otherwise, yet as a fool receive me, that I may boast myself a little. Paul does not wish any one to think of him as a fool .If they think of him as a fool , then receive him as a fool , so that he may boast a little about himself . 2Cor 11:17 That which I speak, I speak it not after the Lord, but as it were foolishly,
in this confidence of boasting. In acting as a fool , he speaks not in the spirit of the Lord. He speaks like a fool , in this confidence of boasting .
2Cor 11:18 Seeing that many glory after the flesh, I will glory also.
So many folks brag of their earthy distinctions that Paul will do so too . 2Cor 11:19 For ye suffer fools gladly, seeing ye yourselves are wise.
Since they see themselves as wise , they find pleasure in tolerating fools . 2Cor 11:20 For ye suffer, if a man bring you into bondage, if a man devour you, if a man
take of you, if a man exalt himself, if a man smite you on the face.
They tolerate a man , even when he bring them into slavery , when he devour them , when he prey upon them , when he take advantage of them ,when he tyrannize over them ,when vaults his power over them, when he smite them in the face . 2Cor 11:21 I speak as concerning reproach, as though we had been weak. Howbeit whereinsoever any is bold,(I speak foolishly,) I am bold also.
Paul is quite ashamed to say that he was not equal to that sort of foolishness. Let the fools vault as they please . Paul, speaking foolishly, also enjoy the confidence to be bold . 2Cor 11:22 Are they Hebrews? so am I.
Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I.
Are they Hebrews? So is Paul . Are they Israelites ? so is Paul . Are they the seed of Abraham ? so is Paul . 2Cor 11:23 Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. Are they ministers of Christ? Paul , speaking as a fool , thinks he is more than them . Paul has laboured more abundantly . He has been flogged so many times . He has been more frequent in prison . Paul has faced death so often . Cor 11:24 Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.
Five times at the hands of the Jews , Paul has received thirty-nine lashes. 2Cor 11:25 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;
Three times Paul has been beaten with rods . Once he was stoned . Three times he suffered shipwreck . A night and a day he has been adrift in the open sea . 2Cor 11:26 In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; In his travels , Paul has been in danger from dangerous waters , from robbers , from his own countrymen , and from pagans . He has faced the danger in the city streets, the danger in the wilderness , the danger in the sea , the danger among false brothers. 2Cor 11:27 In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.
Paul has known weariness ,painfulness,
long virgils , hunger and thirsts, doing
without food,cold , and nakedness .
2Cor 11:28 Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily,
the care of all the churches.
And , not speaking of other things , there is his burden of responsibility for all the churches
2Cor 11:29 Who is weak, and I am not weak?
who is offended, and I burn not?
Who is weak , and is Paul not weak ?
Who is offended , and is Paul not burn
with indignation.
2Cor 11:30 If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern
mine infirmities.
If Paul must brag and boast , he would rather brag about the things which display my weakness . 2Cor 11:31 The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ , which is blessed for evermore , knoweth that I lie not .
The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ , who is for ever blessed, knows that Paul is speaking the truth . 2Cor 11:32 In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king kept the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desirous to apprehend me:
In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king had the gates guarded, so as to
arrest Paul.
2Cor 11:33 And through a window in a basket was I let down by the wall, and escaped
his hands.
And through a window in a basket was Paul let
down by the wall , and escaped his hands .
2Cor 12:1 It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions
and revelations of the Lord.
It is not profitable for him to boast,
but he must continue boasting . He will
go on to the visions and revelations
of the Lord.
2Cor 12:2 I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body,
I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.
Paul knew a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven . He does not know whether it was an actual physical experience ; only God knows that . 2Cor 12:3 And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body,
I cannot tell: God knoweth;)
And he knew such a man . He cannot tell whether it was an actual physical experience. Only God knows that. 2Cor 12:4 How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
This man was caught up into paradise , and heard sacred secrets which is not lawful for a man to utter . 2Cor 12:5 Of such an one will I glory:
yet of myself I will not glory, but in
mine infirmities.
Of an experience like that he is prepared to boast , yet of himself he will not boast. He will boast only of his weakness . Cor 12:6 For though I would desire to glory,
I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth:
but now I forbear, lest any man should think
of me above that which he seeth me to be,
or that he heareth of me.
If he should choose to boast , he should not be a fool , for he will be telling the
truth . But he will refrain from boasting ,
because he does not want anyone to think of him more highly than when he sees Paul's
deeds and hears Paul's teaching .
2Cor 12:7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn
in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above
measure.
To prevent Paul from thinking too highly of himself ,he was given a thorn in the flesh.
To keep him from being unduly elated by the abundance of the revelations , a thorn was
sent to pierce his body . The thorn was Satan's instrument to discipline Paul ,
so that he should not think too highly of himself.
2Cor 12:8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
Three times Paul begged the Lord to take away the thorn from him.
2Cor 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly
therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
The grace of the Lord is enough for Paul .
The Lord's strength is made perfect in weakness . Most gladly therefore will Paul glory in his weakness in order the power
of Christ may rest upon him.
2Cor 12:10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities,
in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
Therefore he takes pleasure in weakness ,
in ill-treatment,in hardship ,
in persecutions , in distresses for Christ's sake. For , when I am weak , then am I strong
in the Lord Jesus Christ .
2Cor 12:11 I am become a fool in glorying;
ye have compelled me: for I ought to have
been commended of you: for in nothing am
I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be nothing.
He has been making a fool of himself in boasting , but they have forced him to do it , when they ought to have been expressing their
approval of him . Paul thinks that he is nota bit inferior to the very greatest of the
apostles, even if he is a nobody .
2Cor 12:12 Truly the signs of an apostle
were wrought among you in all
patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.
The marks of a true apostle were patiently
shown when Paul was among them in signs,
in miracles , in wonders , in mighty deeds .
2Cor 12:13 For what is it wherein ye were inferior to other churches, except it be that I myself was not burdensome to you?
forgive me this wrong.
What makes the Corinthians feel so inferior to other churches ? Is it because Paul
was not a burden to them ? Is it because Paul has not allow them to support him ?
2Cor 12:14 Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be
burdensome to you: for I seek not yours,
but you: for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents
for the children.
Paul is coming to them for the third time .
And he will not be a burden to them .
Paul desires not their money . Paul seeks them .He wants them for the Lord .
Children should not make provision for
their children . Parents should take care of their children .
2Cor 12:15 And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more
abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.
Paul will very gladly spend his money and himself for their sakes.
Do they love him less because he loves them so
much ?
2Cor 12:16 But be it so, I did not burden you:
nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you
with guile.
Paul was not a burden to them .
2Cor 12:17 Did I make a gain of you by any of them whom I sent unto you?
Paul did not defraud them through any one that he has sent to them. He did not make any money from them.
2Cor 12:18 I desired Titus, and with him I sent
a brother. Did Titus make a gain of you? walked
we not in the same spirit? walked we not in the
same steps?
Paul begged Titus to go , and with him Paul sent
a brother . Titus did not make any money from them . They walked in the same Spirit and walked the same steps.
2Cor 12:19 Again, think ye that we excuse ourselves unto you? we speak before
God in Christ: but we do all things, dearly beloved, for your edifying.
They are trying to justify themselves . They
speak before God in Christ. The only reason for doing so is to help the Corinthians in
their spiritual lives.
2Cor 12:20 For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that
I shall be found unto you such as ye would not:
lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes,
backbitings,whisperings, swellings, tumults:
For Paul fears , when he comes , he should findthem different from what he want them to be .
He is afraid that he will find quarreling, debates, envying , wraths, strife, backbitings,
gossips, swellings , tumults.
2Cor 12:21 And lest, when I come again, my God
will humble me among you, and that I shall
bewail many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication
and lasciviousness which they have committed.
For Paul fears , when he comes , God will humble him in regard to them , and that he may have
to mourn over many who have been sinning, and have not repented of uncleanness and
fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed.
2Cor 13:1 This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or
three witnesses shall every word be established.
This is the third time Paul is coming to them. In the mouth of two or three witnesses
shall every word be established.
2Cor 13:2 I told you before, and foretell you, as if I were present, the second time; and being absent now I write to them which heretofore have
sinned, and to all other, that, if I come again, I will not spare: On his second visit , he has already warned them .
He has told them before , and now tell them both
those who have sinned and to all other , that he
will spare no one if he comes the next time.
2Cor 13:3 Since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking
in me, which to you-ward is not weak, but is
mighty in you.
Since they seek a proof of Christ speaking in Paul .
When Christ deals with them , He is not weak , instead He shows his mighty power among them. 2Cor 13:4 For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God.
For we also are weak in him, but we shall live
with him by the power of God toward you. For though he was crucified through weakness ,he lives by the power of God . He was weak enough to be crucified , but he now lives, by the power of God . In our weakness we, united to Christ , but we shall live with Him by the power of God. 2Cor 13:5 Examine yourselves,
whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that
Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
Examine yourselves , to see whether you are holding the faith . Test yourselves .You ought to know by
this time that Jesus Christ is in you, unless you
are not real believers.
2Cor 13:6 But I trust that ye shall know that we
are not reprobates.
But Paul hope that the Corinthians will recognize that he and his fellow workers can stand the test.
2Cor 13:7 Now I pray to God that ye do no evil;
not that we should appear approved, but that ye should do that which is honest,
though we be as reprobates.
Paul prays to God that they do no evil.
Paul is not concerned to be vindicated himself.
He wants them to do what is right and honest ,
even if he should seem to be discredited.
2Cor 13:8 For we can do nothing against the truth,
but for the truth.
We have no power against the truth . We have power in the service of the truth.The power we have
is used in support for the truth.
2Cor 13:9 For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong: and this also we wish, even your perfection.
For they are glad , when they are weak , and the Corinthian believers are strong. Their ambition
for the Corinthian believers is true spiritual maturity .
2Cor 13:10 Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness,
according to the power which the Lord hath given me to edification, and not to destruction.
Therefore he writes these things , so that when he comes he should not act severely . The power which
the Lord has given to Paul is used for building them up and not for pulling them down.
2Cor 13:11 Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect,
be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.
Finally , brothers , good-bye. Be perfect. Take courage.
Be of one mind. Live in peace . And the God of Love
and peace shall be with you.
2Cor 13:12 Greet one another with an holy kiss.
Greet one another with an holy kiss.
2Cor 13:13-14 All the saints salute you. All of God's people send you their greetings. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ , and the love of God , and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit,
be with you all .
http://www.peoplebible.com -------------------------------------------- Title: The Second Epistle of Paul to the Corinthians Author Anthony Ing Publisher Good News Publishing paperback 1997 ISBN 10 0-921947-60-7 ISBN 13 978-0-921947-60-8 Digitized 2014(html) ISBN-10 0-921947-86-0 ISBN-13 978-0921947-86-6