• Exegesis• Synthesis•Analysis

Overview of 2 Corinthians

Exhortations from Church Age Ministers (Servants)

Dr Christopher Cone

Background and Context• Paul had founded the Corinthian church, and spent time

there teaching– “and he settled there a year and six months, teaching the word of

God among them” (Acts 18:11).

• 1 Corinthians was very personal, and addressed error and immaturity; from Ephesus, 54 AD, during 3rd Missionary Journey (1 Cor 16:8, Acts 19)

• 2 Corinthians was written by Paul from Macedonia, 55 AD, after leaving Ephesus during the 3rd Missionary Journey (2 Cor 2:12, Acts 20)

Background and Context

Background and Context• 2 Corinthians was a “missionary letter” that served several

major purposes

– Paul seeks to comfort, encourage the church (note “comfort,” various forms of παρακαλέω 10 times in chapter one, alone)

– Paul commends the church, for receiving the previous letter and responding well, and recommends forgiveness and restoration to repentant offenders (2:1-11)

– Paul defends his apostleship against those who would discredit him (11:22, chs. 10-13)

Structural Keys• As is common in Paul’s epistles, the words

therefore, but, and for are structural keys that move the argument from one thought to the next.

Structural Keys / Outline• From structural keys, the

letter can be outlined:• 1-7 Success in Ministry– 1:1-11 Comfort in Affliction– 1:12-24 Co-workers in Christ– 2:1-17 Restoration– 3:1-4:15 Ministry of the

Gospel– 4:16-5:19 Eternal Significance– 5:20-6:18 Reconciliation– 7:1-16 Ministry of Comfort

• 8-9 Glory and Generosity in Ministry

• 10-13 Answering Opposition in Ministry– 10:1-17 Authority of the

ministers– 11:1-12:13 Authority of

Paul– 12:14-13:14 Preparation

for Paul’s Visit

Grammatical and Syntactical Keys

• Note the “we” “you” distinction.– “we” = usually, Paul and Timothy, or Paul and the

other apostles– “you” = usually, the Corinthians

Grammatical and Syntactical Keys

• 13:11 Finally, brethren, rejoice, be made complete, be comforted, be like-minded, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.

• Λοιπόν, ἀδελφοί, χαίρετε, καταρτίζεσθε, παρακαλεῖσθε, τὸ αὐτὸ φρονεῖτε, εἰρηνεύετε, καὶ ὁ θεὸς τῆς ἀγάπης καὶ εἰρήνης ἔσται μεθʼ ὑμῶν.

Lexical Keys

• διακονία (service,ministry) used 10 times in chapters 3-9– 3:7-9 (x4), 4:1, 5:18, 6:3, 9:1, 9:12-13 (x2)

• διακονos (ous) (servant[s]) used 6 times in chapters 3-11– 3:6, 4:5, 6:4, 11:15 (x2), 11:23

• Forms of παρακαλέω (comfort, encourage) appear 10 times in chapter 1, and 19 times in the letter– 1:3-7 (x10), 2:7, 7:4-13 (x7), 13:11

Biblical and Theological Context

• A Few Key Issues/Highlights:– The ministry of the New Covenant (3:6)– The eternal state vs. the temporal, simply stated (5:6-10)– Church age giving, different from the tithe (9:6-8)– Spiritual warfare (10:3-5)– Paul’s unique relationship with God, and lessons we

learn about God’s character (12:1-10)