II Corinthians
Purpose
Second Corinthians is the most personal of Paul's letters, a window into the apostle's heart as he defends a strained relationship with the church he founded in Corinth. After a painful visit and a severe letter that grieved them, Paul writes to celebrate a repentance God has worked, to prepare for his coming, and above all to vindicate his apostolic ministry against visiting preachers who boasted of spectacular credentials while dismissing Paul as weak and unimpressive. In answering them, Paul lays bare the theology of Christian ministry as he nowhere else does: the treasure of the gospel is carried in "jars of clay," so that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us; the apostle is an ambassador of reconciliation, whose sufferings echo the dying of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may be displayed. The letter also contains Paul's most sustained appeal for the collection for the impoverished saints in Jerusalem, grounded in the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, who "though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor." Through tears, boasting, and exhortation, the weak apostle displays the power of the crucified Christ.
Author
Paul the apostle
Time Period
Written c. 55-56 AD from Macedonia during the third missionary journey
Key Themes
- Suffering and the cross in ministry
- Reconciliation
- Generosity and grace
- Apostolic authenticity
- Weakness and power
Outline
Comfort in affliction and the changed situation (ch. 1–7): the God of all comfort, Paul's change of travel plans, the severity and the joy of repentance, and the triumph in Christ. The collection for the saints (ch. 8–9): the grace of giving modeled on Christ, the Macedonians' generosity, and God loving a cheerful giver. The apostolic defense (ch. 10–13): Paul's boldness against the "super-apostles," his foolish boasting in weakness, the thorn in the flesh, and the impending visit with discipline.