class 2 2 nd corinthians & philippians © john stevenson, 2008

Class 2

2nd Corinthians & Philippians

© John Stevenson, 2008

22ndnd Corinthians Corinthians

Defending the Faith

The Second Epistle to the The Second Epistle to the CorinthiansCorinthians

• The most biographical of all of Paul’s writings.

• This epistle is written some time after 1st Corinthians. Some of the problems in that first epistle had been settled; some still remained.– The legitimacy of Paul’s apostleship

had been brought into question.– Another collection for the church in

Jerusalem.

Occasions for the EpistleOccasions for the Epistle• Paul explains why he has not

returned to Corinth (1:15 – 2:4).• Restoration of a repentant

believer (2:5-11).• Encouragement to complete an

offering for the church in Jerusalem (8-9).

• To affirm his apostleship and teachings which have come under attack.

Chapters 1-7Chapters 1-7

A presentation of Paul’s apostolic ministry

Chapters 8-9Chapters 8-9 Chapters 10-13Chapters 10-13

An encouragement

of the Corinthians’

financial ministry

A defense of Paul’s apostolic

ministry

Personal Practical Personal

Outline of 2Outline of 2ndnd Corinthians Corinthians

Introduction (1:1-11)

Travel Plans: Why Paul didn’t come to Corinth (1:12 - 2:13)

Presentation of Paul’s Apostolic Ministry(2:14 - 7:16)

Collection of a Love Gift for the JerusalemChurch (8-9)

Defense of Paul’s Apostolic Ministry(10:1 - 12:10)

Travel Plans: Paul’s upcoming tripto Corinth (12:11 - 13:10)

Conclusion (13:11-14)

2 Corinthians 1:3-4Blessed be the God and

Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort; 4 who comforts us in all our affliction so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

2 Corinthians 1:8-10 8 For we do not want you to be unaware, brethren, of our affliction which came to us in Asia, that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life; 9 indeed, we had the sentence of death within ourselves in order that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead; 10 who delivered us from so great a peril of death, and will deliver us, He on whom we have set our hope. And He will yet deliver us…

2 Corinthians 2:1-31 But I determined this for my

own sake, that I would not come to you in sorrow again. 2 For if I cause you sorrow, who then makes me glad but the one whom I made sorrowful?

3 And this is the very thing I wrote you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow from those who ought to make me rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy would be the joy of you all.

2 Corinthians 2:4For out of much affliction and

anguish of heart I wrote to you with many tears; not that you should be made sorrowful, but that you might know the love which I have especially for you.

2 Corinthians 2:6-86 Sufficient for such a one is this

punishment which was inflicted by the majority, 7 so that on the contrary you should rather forgive and comfort him, lest somehow such a one be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow.

8 Wherefore I urge you to reaffirm your love for him.

2 Corinthians 2:14-1614 But thanks be to God, who

always leads us in His triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place.

15 For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing; 16 to the one an aroma from death to death, to the other an aroma from life to life. And who is adequate for these things?

2 Corinthians 2:17For we are not like many,

peddling the word of God, but as from sincerity, but as from God, we speak in Christ in the sight of God.

2 Corinthians 3:1-31 Are we beginning to commend

ourselves again? Or do we need, as some, letters of commendation to you or from you?

2 You are our letter, written in our hearts, known and read by all men; 3 being manifested that you are a letter of Christ, cared for by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone, but on tablets of human hearts.

2 Corinthians 3:4-64 And such confidence we have

through Christ toward God. 5 Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God, 6 who also made us adequate as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter, but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

Old Covenant

The letter

New Covenant

The Spirit

Tablets of stone Tablets of human hearts

The letter kills The Spirit gives life

If the ministry of the death, in letters engraved on stones, came with glory…

How shall the ministry of the Spirit fail to be even more with glory?

2 Corinthians 3:12-13Having therefore

such a hope, we use great boldness in our speech, 13 and are not as Moses, who used to put a veil over his face that the sons of Israel might not look intently at the end of what was fading away.

2 Corinthians 3:14-1614 But their minds were hardened;

for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remains unlifted, because it is removed in Christ.

15 But to this day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their heart; 16 but whenever a man turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.

2 Corinthians 3:17-1817 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and

where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

18 But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.

2 Corinthians 4:3-53 And even if our gospel is veiled,

it is veiled to those who are perishing, 4 in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

5 For we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants for Jesus' sake.

2 Corinthians 5:10For we must all

appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

2 Corinthians 5:11Therefore knowing

the fear of the Lord, we persuade men, but we are made manifest to God; and I hope that we are made manifest also in your consciences.

2 Corinthians 5:20Therefore, we are

ambassadors for Christ, as though God were entreating through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

2 Corinthians 8:1-2Now, brethren, we wish to make known to you the grace of God which has been given in the churches of Macedonia, 2 that in a great ordeal of affliction their abundance of joy and their deep poverty overflowed in the wealth of their liberality.

Macedonia

● Corinth

2 Corinthians 8:6-76 Consequently we urged Titus

that as he had previously made a beginning, so he would also complete in you this gracious work as well. 7 But just as you abound in everything, in faith and utterance and knowledge and in all earnestness and in the love we inspired in you, see that you abound in this gracious work also.

2 Corinthians 8:8-98 I am not speaking this as a

command, but as proving through the earnestness of others the sincerity of your love also.

9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.

2 Corinthians 9:6-76 Now this I say, he who sows

sparingly shall also reap sparingly; and he who sows bountifully shall also reap bountifully.

7 Let each one do just as he has purposed in his heart; not grudgingly or under compulsion; for God loves a cheerful giver.

2 Corinthians 9:8-98 And God is able to make all

grace abound to you, that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed; 9 as it is written, "He scattered abroad, he gave to the poor, His righteousness abides forever."

2 Corinthians 9:10-1110 Now He who supplies seed to

the sower and bread for food, will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness; 11 you will be enriched in everything for all liberality, which through us is producing thanksgiving to God.

2 Corinthians 10:12-1312 For we are not bold to class or

compare ourselves with some of those who commend themselves; but when they measure themselves by themselves, and compare themselves with themselves, they are without understanding. 13 But we will not boast beyond our measure, but within the measure of the sphere which God apportioned to us as a measure, to reach even as far as you.

2 Corinthians 11:2-32 For I am jealous for you with a

godly jealousy; for I betrothed you to one husband, that to Christ I might present you as a pure virgin.

3 But I am afraid, lest as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds should be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.

2 Corinthians 11:4For if one comes and preaches

another Jesus whom we have not preached, or you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted, you bear this beautifully.

2 Corinthians 12:1-21 Boasting is necessary, though it

is not profitable; but I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord.

2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago-- whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, God knows-- such a man was caught up to the third heaven.

2 Corinthians 12:3-53 And I know how such a man--

whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows-- 4 was caught up into Paradise, and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak.

5 On behalf of such a man will I boast; but on my own behalf I will not boast, except in regard to my weaknesses.

2 Corinthians 12:7-87 And because of the surpassing

greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to buffet me-- to keep me from exalting myself!

8 Concerning this I entreated the Lord three times that it might depart from me.

2 Corinthians 12:9-109 And He has said to me, "My

grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may dwell in me.

10 Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.

Look through these epistles Look through these epistles and look for principles on…and look for principles on…

Groups 3 & 4Groups 1 & 2

The Purity of the Church

The Unity of the Church

What happens when a church What happens when a church moves to one extreme or the moves to one extreme or the

other?other?

Unity Purity

Joy in the Joy in the JourneyJourney

Philippi

GREECEASIA MINOR

Paul’s thanksgiving

in his circumstances

Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4

“I thank my God in all my remembrance of you…” (1:3)

Reason whyPaul is thankful

• “Your participation in the gospel from the first day until now” (1:5).

• “He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus” (1:6).

• “You all are partakers of grace with me” (1:7).

Paul’s Prayer

That your love will abound in real knowledge & all discernment (1:9)

That you may approve the things that are excellent (1:10)

In order to be sincere and blameless in the day of Christ (1:10)

How do we

achieve this?

How do we

achieve this?

By being filledwith the fruit ofrighteousness

…which comesthrough Jesus

Christ

To the glory of God

Philippians 1:12-14

12 Now I want you to know, brethren, that my circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the gospel, 13 so that my imprisonment in the cause of Christ has become well known throughout the whole praetorian guard and to everyone else, 14 and that most of the brethren, trusting in the Lord because of my imprisonment, have far more courage to speak the word of God without fear.

…speak the word of God without fear.

Some, to be sure, are preaching Christ even from envy and

strife (1:15)

…but some also from good will

(1:15)

The latter do it out of love,

knowing that I am appointed

for the defense of the gospel;

the former proclaim Christ out of selfish

ambition, rather than from pure

motives…

Philippians 1:18What then? Only that in

every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and in this I rejoice, yes, and I will rejoice.

Philippians 1:19-2019 For I know that this shall turn out

for my deliverance through your prayers and the provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, 20 according to my earnest expectation and hope, that I shall not be put to shame in anything, but that with all boldness, Christ shall even now, as always, be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.

To Live To Die

…is Christ …is gain

…if I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean

fruitful labor for me

I amhard-

pressedfromboth

directions

…having the desire to depart

and be with Christ, for that is very much better

…yet to remain on in the flesh is more necessary for your sake

Attitudes on Life & DeathAttitudes on Life & Death

• In light of the passages we have seen in Thessalonians, Corinthians, and here in Philippians, what is the believer’s destiny after death?

• What should be our own attitude in this present life?

Attitudes on Life & DeathAttitudes on Life & Death

• What are some other common perspectives people have regarding death, and how does the biblical view differ from them?

Philippians 1:27-2827 Only conduct yourselves in a

manner worthy of the gospel of Christ; so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; 28 in no way alarmed by your opponents-- which is a sign of destruction for them, but of salvation for you, and that too, from God.

Philippians 2:3-4

3 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important than himself; 4 do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.



Chapter 1

Examples of true

servants

Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4

Philippians 2:5-8

5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Philippians 2:9-11

9 Therefore also God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those who are in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Philippians 2:9-11

12 So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.

GODGOD

Worksin you

Workout

SalvationSalvation



• Jesus• Timothy• Epaphroditus

Chapter 1

Examples of true

servants

Chapter 2

Examples of false

servants

Chapter 3

• Paul (before his salvation)

• Enemies of the cross of Christ

Philippians 3:1

Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things again is no trouble to me, and it is a safeguard for you.

Philippians 3:2-4

2 Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the false circumcision; 3 for we are the true circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh, 4 although I myself might have confidence even in the flesh. If anyone else has a mind to put confidence in the flesh, I far more:

Philippians 3:5-6

5 …circumcised the eighth day, of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the Law, a Pharisee; 6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to the righteousness which is in the Law, found blameless.

Philippians 3:77 But whatever things were gain to

me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ.

Philippians 3:8-9

8 More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish in order that I may gain Christ, 9 and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith…

Philippians 3:10-11

10 …that I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; 11 in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.

Philippians 3:12-14

12 Not that I have already obtained it, or have already become perfect, but I press on in order that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.

13 Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Enemies of the cross of Christ(3:18-19)

• Whose end is destruction

• Whose god is their appetite

• Whose glory is in their shame

• Who set their minds on earthly things

Philippians 3:20-21

20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; 21 who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.



• Stand firm• Help Euodia

& Syntyche• Rejoice• Be anxious

for nothing

Chapter 1

Examples of true

servants

Chapter 2

Warnings against

false servants

Chapter 3

Final exhortations

and Rejoicing

Chapter 4

Philippians 4:8Finally, brethren,

whatever is true,

whatever is honorable,

whatever is right,

whatever is pure,

whatever is lovely,

whatever is of good repute,

if there is any excellence and

if anything worthy of praise,

let your mind dwell on these things.

I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at lastyou have revived your concern for me (4:10)

Not that I speak fromwant; for I have learned to be content in whatevercircumstances I am (4:11)

I can do all thingsthrough Him whostrengthens me

I know how toget along withhumble means

I also know how to livein prosperity

A Question of ContentmentA Question of Contentment

To what extent do you wrestle To what extent do you wrestle with this issue of contentment?with this issue of contentment?


What have been some of the What have been some of the steps that have helped you to steps that have helped you to

grow in this area?grow in this area?


Why is it important that we come Why is it important that we come to this place of contentment?to this place of contentment?

class 2 2 nd corinthians & philippians © john stevenson, 2008

Documents

pauls writings

travel plans

pauls upcoming tripto

paul didnt

love gift

excessive sorrow

father of mercies

sentence of death