2 Corinthians

4 Receive not the grace of God in vain

Analysis of 2 Corinthians

Paul Defends his Conduct towards the Ecclesia (1,2,7)• Salutation (1:1-2)• Fellowship of suffering (1:3-14) • Reasons for Paul's changes of plan (1:15-2:4) • Forgiving the offender (2:5-11)• Disappointment and joy at Troas (2:12-17) • The comfort Titus brought (7:5-16)Treasure in Earthen Vessels (3-5)• The Corinthians – a letter from Christ (3:1-6) • A fading and an abiding glory (3:7-16)• The message of Christ faithfully delivered (3:17-4:6)• Treasure in earthen vessels (4:7-15)• The sustaining hope (4:16-5:10)• The ministry of reconciliation (5:11-6:10)

Analysis of 2 Corinthians

Collection for Poor Saints in Jerusalem (6-9)Receive not the Grace of God in Vain

• Their response to the apostle's labours (6:11-7:4)• The coming of Titus with comforting news (7:5-16)• Generosity encouraged (8:1-15)• Titus and companions sent to Corinth (8:16 – 9:5) • Results of generous giving (9:6-15)

In much In much patience 4,5patience 4,5

Armour of Armour of God 5-7God 5-7

Contrasting attitudes 8-10Contrasting attitudes 8-10

Tribulations Purity Honour Dishonour

Needs Knowledge Evil Report Good Report

Distresses Longsuffering Deceivers True

Stripes Kindness Unknown Well-known

Imprisonments Holy Spirit Dying Living

Tumults Sincere love Chastened Not killed

Labours Word of truth Sorrowful Rejoicing

Sleeplessness Power of God Poor Enriching

Fastings Righteousness Having nothing

Possessing everything

Appeal for openness

• We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians; our heart is wide open.

• You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted in your own affections.

• In return (I speak as to children) widen your hearts also. – (2Co 6:11-13)

Be not unequally yoked

Frankly speaking

• Make room in your hearts for us. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have taken advantage of no one.

• I do not say this to condemn you, for I said before that you are in our hearts, to die together and to live together.

• I am acting with great boldness toward you; I have great pride in you; I am filled with comfort. In all our affliction, I am overflowing with joy. – (2Co 7:2-4)

Macedonia generosity

• For in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part.

• For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own free will, begging us earnestly for the favour of taking part in the relief of the saints-- and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us.

• Accordingly, we urged Titus that as he had started, so he should complete among you this act of grace. – (2Co 8:2-6)

Practical fellowship

Generous giving to support Paul’s work:

• Phil 4:15-17 - 2 x in Thessalonica

• 2 Cor 11:9 – when he was in Corinth

• Phil 2:25; 4:18 – through Epaphroditus when he was in Rome

Fulfil your good intentions

• And in this matter I give my judgment: this benefits you, who a year ago started not only to do this work but also to desire to do it.

• So now finish doing it as well, so that your readiness in desiring it may be matched by your completing it out of what you have.

• For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have. – (2Co 8:10-12)

Be prepared

• But I am sending the brothers so that our boasting about you may not prove vain in this matter, so that you may be ready, as I said you would be.

• Otherwise, if some Macedonians come with me and find that you are not ready, we would be humiliated--to say nothing of you--for being so confident.

• So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to go on ahead to you and arrange in advance for the gift you have promised, so that it may be ready as a willing gift, not as an exaction. – (2Co 9:3-5)

Giving generously

• If among you, one of your brothers should become poor, in any of your towns within your land that the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart or shut your hand against your poor brother, but you shall open your hand to him and lend him sufficient for his need, whatever it may be. – (Deut 15:7-8)

Generosity rewarded

• 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.

• You will be enriched in every way for all your generosity, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. – (2Co 9:10-11)

An inexpressible gift!

• For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints, but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God.

• By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission flowing from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others, while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you. – (2Co 9:12-14)

How well did they respond?

• Acts 20:2-6– The Judaisers were still giving him grief– Presumably Titus was the representative from

Corinth– If he was Luke’s brother, explains why he is

not mentioned.– v.6 “We sailed away…” – Luke re-joins Paul,

having stayed in Philippi to develop the ecclesia>