Introduction to 2 Corinthians

Abingdon Community Church Sunday 4th May 2014

We are therefore Christ’s ambassadorsWe take captive every thought

they have divine power to demolish strongholds

In Christ, all God’s promises are‘Yes’ and ‘Amen’

Where the spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom

But we have this

treasure in jars of clay

Christ’s love

compels us

If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: the old has gone, the new is here!

Do not be yoked together with unbelievers

God

love

s a

chee

rful

giv

er

I was given a thorn in my flesh

Christ’s transformation of usDealing with

hardship/suffering/adversity/oppositionThe nature of discipleship & ‘ministry’Our call to be ambassadors / bring

reconciliationGod’s strength in our weaknessOur call to be cheerful givers

1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,

To the church of God in Corinth, together with all his holy people throughout Achaia:

2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 5 For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. 6 If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer.7 And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.

8 We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about the troubles we experienced in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself. 9 Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. 10 He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, 11 as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favour granted us in answer to the prayers of many.

Who is this?

~AD50-52 Paul plants Corinthian church (there 18 months)

Paul Asia, Cephas (Peter) & Apollos CorinthPaul writes to Corinthians (1st lost letter) & they write

back~AD54/55 Paul writes 1 Corinthians to address their

questions & the problems he has heard about~AD55 Paul makes an emergency, disciplinary visit to

Corinth – his ‘painful visit’Instead of returning, he writes 3rd letter, which is ‘harsh’

but effective as Paul has just heard from TitusA group of ‘ministers’ (teachers/apostles) arrive in Corinth

who are critical of Paul & his ministry~AD55/56 Paul writes 2 Corinthians (his 4th letter ) to

defend himself & prepare them for his 3rd visit...

1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,

To the church of God in Corinth, together with all his holy people throughout Achaia:

2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 5 For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. 6 If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer.7 And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.

Comfort (ˈkʌmfət/ ) noun1. a state of physical ease and freedom from

pain or constraint. "there is room for four people to travel in comfort"

2. the easing or alleviation of a person's feelings of grief or distress. "a few words of comfort"

synonyms: consolation, solace, condolence, sympathy, fellow-feeling, commiseration

Outline of Biblical Usagea calling near, summons, (esp. for help)importation, supplication, entreatyexhortation, admonition, encouragementconsolation, comfort, solace;

that which affords comfort or refreshmentthus of the Messianic salvation (so the Rabbis

call the Messiah the consoler, the comforter)persuasive discourse, stirring address

instructive, admonitory, conciliatory, powerful hortatory discourse

8 We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about the troubles we experienced in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself. 9 Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. 10 He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, 11 as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favour granted us in answer to the prayers of many.