2 Corinthians
“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; 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.” — 2 Corinthians 4:8–10 (KJV)
Overview
- Testament: New
- Author: Paul, with Timothy
- Date Written: ~AD 55–56, from Macedonia, after a painful visit to Corinth and the subsequent reconciliation
- Key Themes: The nature of true apostolic ministry, weakness as the vehicle for God’s power, the treasure in earthen vessels, reconciliation, generous giving, the defense of Paul’s apostleship
- Chapters: 13
Summary
2 Corinthians is the most emotionally transparent of Paul’s letters — and among the most personal documents in the NT. It is written in the aftermath of a crisis: a “painful visit” to Corinth (2:1), a “severe letter” written in tears (2:3–4, now lost), and a period of deep personal anguish before Titus arrived with news of reconciliation (7:5–7). The letter reflects the full range of Paul’s pastoral heart — relief, joy, vulnerability, indignation, and fierce defense of the gospel.
The Corinthians had come under the influence of “super-apostles” (hoi hyperlian apostoloi, 11:5) — traveling teachers who prided themselves on impressive rhetoric, letters of commendation, and spiritual credentials. By their standards, Paul was contemptible: unimpressive in person, weak in bodily presence, afflicted, and without a salary. Paul’s defense inverts their criteria entirely: true apostolic ministry is validated by suffering, not success; by weakness through which God’s power is made perfect.
Chapters 1–7 are largely personal and pastoral. Paul explains the change in his travel plans (not fickleness but pastoral sensitivity — 1:15–22). He describes the “treasure in earthen vessels” — the overwhelming power is God’s, not ours (4:7). He expounds the ministry of reconciliation (5:11–21) — the most compact summary of substitutionary atonement in Paul: “He made him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in him” (5:21). He appeals for the Corinthians’ full reconciliation.
Chapters 8–9 address the Jerusalem collection — a generous offering Paul has been gathering from Gentile churches for the poor saints in Jerusalem. These chapters contain the NT’s most developed theology of Christian giving: proportionality, cheerfulness, God’s prior grace as the model and motivation (8:9: “though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor”).
Chapters 10–13 represent a sharp tonal shift — Paul turns polemical. He confronts the false apostles directly, “boasting” ironically in his weaknesses. He gives the most extensive account of his sufferings anywhere in his letters (11:23–29). He shares the experience of being caught up to the third heaven (12:1–4). He reveals the “thorn in the flesh” (12:7–9) — God’s answer: “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” The letter ends with a severe warning: Christ is not weak toward them — he will not spare when he comes.
Key Characters
| Character | Role | Key Passages |
|---|---|---|
| Paul | Author; apostle in suffering; defender of the gospel | 1:1; 11:23–29 |
| Timothy | Co-sender | 1:1 |
| Titus | Key emissary to Corinth; brought the good news of reconciliation | 2:13; 7:6–7; 8:6, 16–23 |
| The “Super-apostles” | False teachers competing with Paul; impressive, financially motivated | 11:5; 11:13–15 |
| The Offender | The man who had caused pain; discipline now sufficient | 2:5–11 |
Key Events
| Event | Reference | Description |
|---|---|---|
| God comforts in all afflictions | 1:3–11 | Comfort in suffering; death-sentence in Asia; deliverance |
| The painful visit and severe letter | 2:1–4 | Written with tears; not to bring grief but to show love |
| Forgive the offender | 2:5–11 | Sufficient punishment; restore; don’t let Satan gain advantage |
| Triumph in Christ | 2:14–17 | Aroma of Christ — to some life, to some death |
| Letters written on hearts | 3:1–6 | No letters of commendation; the Corinthians are Paul’s letter |
| The veil on Moses’ face | 3:7–18 | OT glory fading; NT glory permanent; unveiled faces |
| Treasure in Earthen Vessels | 4:1–18 | Overwhelming power from God; “troubled on every side, yet not distressed”; eternal weight of glory |
| Ministry of Reconciliation | 5:11–21 | New creation; God reconciling world; the great exchange: “He became sin for us” |
| Don’t receive grace in vain | 6:1–10 | Now is the day of salvation; catalog of sufferings |
| Open wide to us | 6:11–7:4 | Affection reciprocated; unequally yoked; “come out from among them” |
| Godly Sorrow and Repentance | 7:5–16 | Titus’s arrival; godly sorrow produces repentance vs. worldly sorrow that produces death |
| The Jerusalem collection | 8:1–9:15 | Macedonian generosity; Christ became poor; cheerful giver |
| Paul’s defense of his apostleship | 10:1–12 | Meek but weighty; weapons not fleshly; measure within limits |
| Thorn in the Flesh | 12:1–10 | Third heaven; thorn given to keep Paul humble; “my grace is sufficient for thee” |
| Final warnings | 12:19–13:14 | Third visit; Christ not weak; examine yourselves; benediction |
Chapter Outline
| Chapter | Section | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Comfort in Affliction | God of all comfort; change of plans explained; faithfulness |
| 2 | Reconciliation & Triumph | Forgive offender; Christ’s triumph; aroma of knowledge |
| 3 | Ministry of the Spirit | Letter on hearts; veil removed; unveiled glory transforms |
| 4 | Treasure in Jars of Clay | Light in darkness; jars of clay; outer man wastes, inner renews |
| 5 | New Creation & Reconciliation | Heaven awaits; walk by faith; ministry of reconciliation; He became sin |
| 6–7 | Wide Open Hearts | Sufferings endured; “come out from among them”; Titus’s good news |
| 8–9 | Generous Giving | Macedonian model; Christ became poor; cheerful giving; God loves a cheerful giver |
| 10 | Spiritual Weapons | Meek in person, bold in letter; demolishing strongholds |
| 11 | Fool’s Speech Begins | Super-apostles exposed; sufferings listed; 5 whippings, 3 shipwrecks |
| 12 | Thorn in the Flesh | Third heaven; kept humble; “my grace is sufficient” |
| 13 | Final Warning | Examine yourselves; Christ not weak; the apostolic blessing |
Cross-References
Old Testament:
- Exodus 34:33–35 — Moses’ veil (3:13–16)
- Isaiah 49:8 — “In an acceptable time I heard you” (6:2)
- Isaiah 52:11 — “Come out from among them” (6:17)
- Genesis 1:3 — “Let light shine out of darkness” (4:6)
New Testament:
- 1 Corinthians — Companion letter; written earlier to the same church
- Romans 5:1–11 — Reconciliation; justification
- Philippians 4:13 — “I can do all things through Christ” (parallel to strength in weakness)
- Acts 18 — Founding of the Corinthian church
Key Verses
“For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life.” — 2 Corinthians 2:15–16
“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.” — 2 Corinthians 4:7
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” — 2 Corinthians 5:17
“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.” — 2 Corinthians 5:21
“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.” — 2 Corinthians 12:9
Notes & Reflections
- The “thorn in the flesh” (12:7) — one of the most discussed personal details in Paul’s biography; candidates include: eye disease (Galatians 4:15), epilepsy, a speech impediment, persistent opposition, sexual temptation. Paul never says. The ambiguity may be intentional
- 2 Corinthians 5:21 — “He made him to be sin” — the most compact statement of penal substitution in the NT; the theological weight is extraordinary: the sinless one became the sin-bearer so that sinners might become the righteousness of God
- The “third heaven” (12:2–4) — Paul uses distancing language (“I know a man”) about himself; the content of what he heard is “unspeakable” — literally arrētos, “not able to be spoken”
- The collection for Jerusalem (ch. 8–9) was arguably the most politically significant act of Paul’s ministry — a concrete demonstration of Gentile-Jewish unity in the church body
- Godly sorrow vs. worldly sorrow (7:10) — one of Paul’s most useful pastoral distinctions: worldly sorrow produces death (mere regret about consequences); godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation
Sequential Connections
- Preceded by: 1 Corinthians — Earlier letter to same church; two (possibly more) letters to Corinth preceded this one
- Written from: Macedonia, after Titus’s report from Corinth
- Followed by: Galatians in canonical order
- Church background: Acts 18–20
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NewTestament PaulineEpistle 2Corinthians Weakness Apostleship Reconciliation Suffering Treasure JarsOfClay FoolsSpeech Giving