ELNORA'S BIBLE STUDY WITH FRIENDS, 2 Corinthians, Chapter 2 - October 11, 2024

 

        

Introduction to Chapter 2

Second Corinthians continues uninterrupted from the previous chapter. Paul is explaining why he waited to come to Corinth. He wanted to see if they would side with him, or with the man who challenged his authority. They disciplined the man. He repented. Paul commands restoration and forgiveness. He then tells of failing to find Titus in Troas with news about them before transitioning into teaching that Christians are the aroma of Christ on earth, smelling of death to the perishing and life to those being saved. This will bring Paul back to the subject of his authority which we will see more of in chapter 3.

 (https://www.bibleref.com/2-Corinthians/1/2-Corinthians-chapter-1.html)

An Introduction, Verses 1-4, DESTINY

So I decided that I would not bring you grief with another painful visit. ² For if I cause you grief, who will make me glad? Certainly not someone I have grieved. ³ That is why I wrote to you as I did so that when I do come, I won’t be grieved by the very ones who ought to give me the greatest joy. Surely you all know that my joy comes from your being joyful. ⁴ I wrote that letter in great anguish, with a troubled heart and many tears. I didn’t want to grieve you, but I wanted to let you know how much love I have for you.

^{SECTION QUESTIONS:} 

1. What painful does Paul refer to in verse 1?

2. What is Paul saying in verse 2? 

3. Which verse in this set of scripture do you feel communicates Paul's heart? 

4. What are some WRONG reasons for confronting others? 

THOUGHT QUESTIONS: 

1. How can we develop a heart of love and compassion for others? 

2. What is an example of the correct motivation for correcting others? 

Forgiveness for the Sinner, Part 1, Verses 5-12, KITTY

⁵ I am not overstating it when I say that the man who caused all the trouble hurt all of you more than he hurt me. ⁶ Most of you opposed him, and that was punishment enough. ⁷ Now, however, it is time to forgive and comfort him. Otherwise, he may be overcome by discouragement. ⁸ So I urge you now to reaffirm your love for him. ⁹ I wrote to you as I did to test you and see if you would fully comply with my instructions. ¹⁰ When you forgive this man, I forgive him, too. And when I forgive whatever needs to be forgiven, I do so with Christ’s authority for your benefit, ¹¹ so that Satan will not outsmart us. For we are familiar with his evil schemes. ¹² When I came to the city of Troas to preach the Good News of Christ, the Lord opened a door of opportunity for me. ¹³ But I had no peace of mind because my dear brother Titus hadn’t yet arrived with a report from you. So I said goodbye and went on to Macedonia to find him.

^{SECTION QUESTIONS:} 

1. What can we learn about this person from the fact that Paul was concerned about him being "overcome by discouragement?"

2. What was Paul asking them to be obedient about in verse 9?

3. What is Paul saying in verses 10 and 11? 

^{THOUGHT QUESTIONS:}

1. What can we learn from this passage about forgiveness? How does Paul respond to the pain he endured? 

2. How can pain negatively affect the impact of power the body of Christ has? 

3. How might it affect a brother or sister who repents if their sin is brought up and replayed over and over again? 

Ministers of the New Covenant, Verses 14-17, TBD

¹⁴ But thank God! He has made us his captives and continues to lead us along in Christ’s triumphal procession. Now he uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume. ¹⁵ Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those who are being saved and by those who are perishing. ¹⁶ To those who are perishing, we are a dreadful smell of death and doom. But to those who are being saved, we are a life-giving perfume. And who is adequate for such a task as this? ¹⁷ You see, we are not like the many hucksters^[a] who preach for personal profit. We preach the word of God with sincerity and with Christ’s authority, knowing that God is watching us.

^{SECTION QUESTIONS:} 

1. Who was Paul hoping to find in Troas? 

2. What did Paul say about our Christ-like fragrance? 

3. How are true preachers and evangelists different from peddlers of God's Word?

4. why do you think Paul was teaching the difference between peddlers of God's Word and true preachers and evangelists to the Corinthian church? 

^{THOUGHT QUESTIONS:}

1. How can you identify a peddler pretty quickly? What are some of their tactics? 

2. What are those commissioned by God chosen to do?

3. Do you remember Simon, the sorcerer in Acts 8? 

"To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you." -C.S.Lewis

In chapter 1 we learned that there are advantages sometimes to sending letters instead of face to face communication. Below is a quick review of a few of the reasons why sending letters may sometimes be better than face to face:

• Time to think carefully exactly what needs to be said and how to word it.
• Time for both sides to step back and cool off before responding.
• Helps take some emotion out of it.
• You can erase and re-write parts of letters, but you cannot take spoken words back again.
• Allows you to make your complete case without interruption.
• It can show that you are serious and “mean business” since it is more formal. https://studyandobey.com/inductive-bible-study/2-corinthians/2-corinthians-2-1-11/

Cross-References

Ephesians 4:32 – Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Mark 11:35 – And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”

Colossians 3:13 – Bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.

Proverbs 28:13 – Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.

1 Corinthians 5:5,13 – Hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh,[a][b] so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord. God will judge those outside. Expel the wicked person from among you.

John 8:44 – You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

Ephesians 6:11 – Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.

Application: What kind of a shepherd are you? Do you love the sheep as Paul did? While you may not be a shepherd in the same sense that Paul was you are still surrounded by sheep. They may be your children or family members or Christian friends. When they sin, how do you respond? Do you attack and humiliate them? If so, that is wrong. Are you apathetic, just living your own life and ignoring what others do? That is also wrong. The sin of the sheep around you should cause you anguish. It should cause sadness of the heart. Those reactions show that you really care. And then when you care you will want to pray for that person. And you will want to use Scripture to guide them back to the right path.

Love hurts. It can hurt us when we see those we love living in sin. And it hurts when we confront sin. But it is necessary. Just make sure that when you confront sin, you are doing it out of love! Pray and ask God to reveal to you your own motivations. Source: https://studyandobey.com/inductive-bible-study/2-corinthians/2-corinthians-2-1-11/

Prayer Confession for 2 Corinthians, Chapter 2

“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.” 2 Corinthians 2:3

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your Word. Help me to learn all the lessons that I can from the corrective instructions that Paul gave to the various churches. Keep me from developing a 'holier-than-thou' attitude, help me to recognise my faults, and help me to take steps to correct my actions and attitudes when I am straying away from Your instruction. Use me to help my brothers and sisters, if they should go astray, and use them to correct my faults, should I stray from the path of righteousness. This I ask in Jesus' name, AMEN.

“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.” 2 Corinthians 2:14

Heavenly Father, thank You that no matter what I may have to face in life, in Christ I am always led to victory. I pray that as I rest in Him, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, that I may always be led in triumph to Your praise and glory. May my life be a living sacrifice - a burnt offering that becomes a sweet-smelling perfume of the knowledge of Him in every place You may choose to send me. I pray this in Jesus' name and for His glory, AMEN.

“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?” 2 Corinthians 2:16

Heavenly Father, thank You that I am Your child and that I am being changed from glory to glory by the power of the Spirit. I pray that You would use me to witness Your goodness and grace to both the saved and those who are lost. Shine the light of the glorious gospel into the hearts of those who are dead in their sins - so that they may come to a saving faith in Jesus Christ my Lord, in Whose name I pray, AMEN.

Source: https://prayer.knowing-jesus.com/2-Corinthians/2