2 CORINTHIANS: A LETTER OF ENCOURAGEMENT TO A DISCOURAGED CHURCH

1
2 CORINTHIANS A LETTER OF ENCOURAGEMENT TO A
DISCOURAGED CHURCH

• Lesson 2 Comfort Amid Affliction
• Chapters 11-24
• Blessed be the father of mercies and God of all
  comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction

2
Good morning, and welcome to our class!

• Do you remember
• What were the demographics of the Corinthian
  church and why?
• Why we say that 2nd Corinthians is actually 3rd
  Corinthians?
• In what sense the Corinthian church was weaned
  amid sin after being born in controversy?
• Why is it fitting that Paul begins with a lesson
  on Comfort in Affliction

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Setting the stage 11-2

• V. 1a Why start with, Paul, an apostle?
• Establishes his credentials, foreshadowing a
  major issue to be addressed
• V. 1b To the church of Godat Corinth and
  the whole of Achaia
• Not a sectarian title, but a description of a
  relationship between the saved and the Savior
• Letter was distributed throughout churches in
  region (cf. Col. 416)

4
Comfort amid affliction The God of all comfort
(13-7)

• V. 3a Godthe Father of mercies compassion
  NIV
• What if there is no God?
• What if God is not our God?
• V. 3b He is God of all comfort Where else
  could Paul, the Corinthians we go in
  challenging times (cf. Jn. 668-69)

5
Comfort amid affliction Shared afflictions
(13-7)

• V. 4 Those who have suffered can best comfort
  those who are also in affliction
• V. 5 God promises rest to those who are
  afflicted for His sake
• V. 6 Pauls suffering resulted in their
  salvation (cf. Acts 185-9, 12)
• V. 7 Despite all the problems, trials,
  heartaches, Pauls hope for them remains
  unshaken!

6
Comfort amid affliction The example of Pauls
endurance (18-11)

• A powerful persuasive device! You can do thisI
  have!
• ..we were so utterly, unbearably crushed that we
  despaired of life itself (8)
• Affliction can have purpose, if we allow it..
• to make us rely not on ourselves but on God (9)
• Compare message of Job Affliction can drive us
  from or to Godits our choice
• V. 10 A ringing affirmation of faith and
  confidence in the face of affliction what about
  us? (cf. Paul in Acts 2725)

7
Comfort amid affliction Pauls sincerity and
constancy (112-24)

• Pauls enemies at Corinth Cant trust Paul or
  his words he is fickle, unreliable,
  vacillatinglike a worldly man (17) due to his
  change in plans to visit them
• Paul 2-point refutation
• His track record of integrity before the
  Corinthians (12-14)
• The logic behind his change in itinerary, and how
  that was to their benefit (15-21, 23-24 21-4)
• Lets trace Pauls defense

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(1) Pauls track record of integrity (112-14)

• V. 12a Paul asserts a clear conscience in his
  behavior
• in the world i.e., toward outsiders
• toward you i.e., during his 18 months in
  Corinth
• Paul does not shrink from close public inspection
  of his actions, by outsiders and Christians
  alike, having behaved with holiness and godly
  sincerity at all times (12b)
• The result?
• The Corinthians can be as proud of Paul as he
  is of them, and have full confidence in the
  soundness of his life and message (13-14)

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(2) Pauls change in plans Compassion not
vacillation (15-21, 23-24 21-4)

• Vv. 15-16 -- Pauls original plan
• Come to Corinth from Ephesus (cf. Acts 1819),
  thence to Macedonia
• Return to Corinth on return trip
• Hence, double pleasure (second benefit --
  NKJV) (15)
• News from Chloe's people (1 Cor. 11) changed
  Pauls plans
• A quick painful visit to address problems,
  cancellation of second visit to spare them more
  pain (21) (more on this later)

10
Was I vacillating? Paul continues his defense

• Vv. 18-19 Paul reminds them of his message
  Gods yes the unchanging, absolute Truth that
  converted them and then edified them for 18
  months
• Vv. 20-21
• Pauls message told them of the Promises of God
  that deserves their Amen, not their doubts
• Pauls commission came not from men but directly
  from God Himself (Acts 9)

11
Compassion, not vacillation Pauls closing
defense (123 24)

• Failure to adhere to his original plan A mark
  of unreliability, indecisiveness?
• No, a sign of Pauls desire to spare you (v.
  23) another painful visit full of rebuke (21)
• Even Pauls earlier letters and visit were not
  intended to cause you pain, (22) but
• To express his joy over and confidence in their
  response to his words (23)
• To tell them of his abundant love that he bore
  toward them (24)

12
Comfort amid affliction The spirit in our
hearts as a guarantee (122)

• He has put his seal upon us and given us his
  Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.
• An oft-repeated theme from God through Paul 2
  Corinthians 55, Ephesians 113-14 (cf. also
  Romans 55 and Ephesians 430b)
• What does Gods frequent reiteration of this idea
  tell us?

13

• It tells us that this is a vital concept and we
  can and must understand it!

14
Renderings of 2 Corinthians 122

• RSV He has put his seal upon us and given us
  his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.
• NIV he set his seal of ownership on us and
  his spirit in our hearts as a deposit,
  guaranteeing what is to come.
• NASB Hesealed us and gave us the spirit in
  our hearts as a pledge (fn down payment)
• NKJV Hehas sealed us and given us the Spirit
  in our hearts as a guarantee.

15
Renderings of 2 Corinthians 55

• RSV Godhas given us the spirit as a
  guarantee
• NIV Godhas given us the spirit as a deposit,
  guaranteeing what is to come.
• NASB God, who gave to us the spirit as a
  pledge. (fn down payment)
• NKJV Godhas given us the Spirit as a
  guarantee. (fn down payment, earnest)

16
Renderings of Ephesians 113-14

• RSV youwho have heardand believedwere
  sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, which is
  the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire
  possession of it
• NIV you heardhaving believed, you were
  marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy
  Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our
  inheritance until the redemption of those who are
  Gods possession
• NASB youafter listening to the
  messagehaving also believedwere sealedwith the
  Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge
  of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption
  of Gods own possession
• NKJV having believed, you were sealed with
  the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee
  of our inheritance until the redemption of the
  purchased possession

17
What Two ComfortingThings Are Promised to Us?

• The Seal of God
• The Holy Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee of
  our salvation

18
Comfort Amid Affliction The Seal of God

• Seal an identifying mark that shows all to
  whom we belong
• To Satan Revelation 149 162 1920
• To God Revelation 94 (cf. 1 Peter 29)
• Obedient believers bear the mark or seal of
  God as belonging to Him no need to worry, fret,
  wonder about our status or future
• Pauls point
• You share with me in this assurance of Gods seal
  of approval and ownership as obedient partakers
  in gospel message I preached among you
• So, look boldly to the future, laying aside the
  afflictions of the past and present

19
Comfort Amid Affliction The Holy Spirit in Our
Hearts

• Something miraculous?
• No (1 Cor. 138)
• What then? Wherein the comfort?
• The answer is in Romans 8

20
Comfort Amid Affliction The Holy Spirit in Our
Hearts

• Romans 816-17 The spirit of God bears
  witness with our spirit that we are children of
  God and hence His heirs
• Provided that we suffer with him in order that
  we may also be glorified with him
• Galatians 516, 22 Walking by the Spirit
• Miraculous abilities?
• Feelings?
• Bearing the fruit of the spirit!
• Testimony of H.S. Gospel message
• Testimony of our spirit A life-walk led by the
  Spirits revealed message
• The two together give us confidence to claim our
  future in Heaven, our heritage as His heirs.

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Pauls Offer of Comfort to the Corinthians

• Be bold, be confident, be assured of your future
  in Gods hands, regardless of the problems of the
  past and the present, for, by your obedient faith
  you bear Gods seal as his people, and you
  testify with His spirit that you are his children
  and will inherit His promised salvation.

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A Vital Question

• Do you have the Holy Spirit in your heart?
• Answer Absolutely!