week 9 day 5

2 Corinthians 2
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Corinthians%202&version=NIV
2:1–4 Instead of another visit, Paul had written a stern letter to correct the believers. This letter may have been lost. Some hold that these verses refer to 1 Corinthians, which certainly contains subject matter that caused Paul grief and sorrow. Paul desired to show love, not judgment (1 Cor. 4:21; 12:20–13:1).

2:5–7 Paul’s last words to the Corinthians, probably in 1 Corinthians, were words of sorrow and correction. One problem that may have given rise to Paul’s severe letter was the failure of the church to deal with the gross immorality Paul had rebuked in 1 Corinthians 5:1–13. Now they had responded, and the sinner had been disciplined. Yet they had failed to forgive and restore the repentant offender. They were to avoid sorrow that overwhelmed the benefits of the discipline.

2:8–11 Excessive discipline is one of Satan’s schemes. Paul exhorted the Corinthians to restore the brother to fellowship and thus prevent Satan from using the situation to his advantage.

2:12–13 Paul mentioned his lack of rest in spirit to reinforce his genuine concern for the Corinthians. After leaving Ephesus, Paul traveled north to Troas, a port city on the Aegean (2:12). There he waited for Titus whom he had sent to Corinth (7:6–7). When Titus failed to arrive, Paul departed for Macedonia where the two were reunited (7:5–7).

2:14–17 From 2:14 to 7:4 Paul launched out into a discussion that contrasts true Christian adequacy of the heart and the superficial adequacy of appearances (5:12). Paul used a number of concepts to illustrate this contrast: heart versus appearance, spirit versus stone, new covenant versus old covenant. Paul’s point in 2:14–17 is that victory in his ministry did not equal news of success from Corinth. In earthly victory or defeat, Paul’s success was gauged by his manifestation of Christ, not human response or acceptance.

The concepts of 2:15–16 lead to the broader concept of adequacy. Paul showed his sincere love toward the Corinthians even in his seemingly erratic itinerary. In 2 Corinthians 2:17 Paul both defended himself and attacked the “many” false apostles in Corinth (11:12–15). Second Corinthians 3:1–7:4 reveals the genuine quality of Paul’s ministry. As Paul corrected the misunderstandings created by his change in itinerary, he provided tremendous insight into his own life, ministry, and motivation.

Discussion and reflection question
What is Paul getting at when he states ‘’ the smell of death” and the “fragrance of life (vs 16)?”