* The artwork depicting St. Paul of Thebes in sackcloth (also known as Paul the First Hermit or Paul the Anchorite), who lived in Egypt during the 3rd and 4th centuries. According to Christian tradition, he fled into the Egyptian desert as a young man to escape Roman persecution and lived alone in a cave for roughly 90 years. He is widely venerated as the very first Christian hermit (monk) to live an ascetic, solitary life in the desert.
The artwork is from a book titled "Histoire des Ordres Religieux et Militaires" (The History of Religious and Military Orders), by Pierre, Giffart (1643-1706), a prominent French copperplate engraver and royal printmaker to King Louis XIV. The French title at the bottom in English is "Saint Paul, the First Hermit". The artwork is now in public domain. T.1.P.67. in the upper left, T.1. told the bookbinder that this specific portrait belongs tucked into Volume 1, and P.67. indicated that it is the 67th full-page illustration featured in that volume. The artist and engraver's names are in the lower right.
Courtesy of the Digital Image Archive, Pitts Theology Library, Candler School of Theology, Emory University.
>1. What does the word apostle mean and what confirmed them as true? (11-12; Matt. 10:1; Mark 3:14-15; Luke 11:49)
* 2 Corinthians 12:11-12 "I have made a fool of myself, but you drove me to it. I ought to have been commended by you, for I am not in the least inferior to the "super-apostles," even though I am nothing. The things that mark an apostle--signs, wonders and miracles--were done among you with great perseverance."
* Matthew 10:1 "He called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness."
* Mark 3:14-15 "He appointed twelve--designating them apostles--that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons."
* Luke 11:49 "Because of this, God in his wisdom said, 'I will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom they will kill and others they will persecute.'"
* See also Mark 16:16-17, Acts 2:22, and Romans 15:19.
* "I have made a fool of myself" -His boasting, many paragraphs of boasting.
* "but you drove me to it." -They refused earlier rebukes to stop listening to the false apostles. They did not defend him when the false apostles belittled him when he was absent.
* "I ought to have been commended by you" -They should have defended him with the things he boasted about. What he is saying he didn't need to boast. They already knew these things and they should have commended him and bragged about him to other people. But they did not. The false apostles made them ashamned of him.
* "for I am not in the least inferior to the "super-apostles," (11:5) even though I am nothing." -Knowing self, but being humble by it. (10:17; 1 Corinthians 15:9-10)
* "The things that mark an apostle--signs, wonders and miracles" -Unique in the first generation and Paul was included. (9:1) Never again repeated as far as history has recorded. The apostles have no literal successors because who is taught directly by Jesus? (Acts 1:21-22)
* "signs, wonders and miracles" -Romans 15:18-19 and Galatians 3:5.
* "were done among you with great perseverance." -By Paul alone, not the false apostles.
>What seems to have been one of the reasons the Corinthians accepted the self proclaimed "super-apostles" words and help? (13)
* 2 Corinthians 12:13 "How were you inferior to the other churches, except that I was never a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong!"
* "How were you inferior to the other churches" -Meaning, how were they treated with less consideration by Paul than other congregations? Perhaps people from other congregations came to visit. These people had more knowledge of religious things than Corinthians, or so it appeared which convinced the Corinthian congregation to hire these self titled apostles to teach them. All this after Paul left. Also, Paul was gone awhile teaching in Ephesus. So perhaps they felt left out.
* "except that I was never a burden to you?" -Paul, in the first letter, did say that they were not ready for deeper truths for they were acting like infants. Here he asked a rhetorical question, "How were you inferior.." then implying his biggest hold back was being a burden financially and practically. (11:9-11)
* "Forgive me this wrong!" -Satire, sarcasm, and irony.
*
Signs, Wonders, Miracles.
Many decades ago, before I came to faith in Jesus as Lord and Savior, I thought, "If only God would show me miracles. Then I would believe. Yes, a clear miracle. Why doesn't he do miracles? Then people would believe." I was ignorant of the power of the sinful nature.
Even if God does a miracle, faith does not immediately and permanently follow. Jesus and the apostles performed miracles that even the greatest sceptic could not rationalize as being a natural occurrence. Yet, many did not believe. Signs, wonders, and miracles accompanied Paul and the other apostles' message, and people did not believe. Or perhaps they did for a while, then later they fell away from the truth.
Signs, wonders, and miracles accompanied Paul's ministry of reconciliation. However, while he was away, some split-tongued self-proclaimed snakes came into their congregation, discredited Paul and the gospel he preached, and led them astray. No. Witnessing miracles does not lead to a lifetime of humble faith and obedience. There may be some rare occurrences of this. But after all the miracles Israel witnessed through Moses, the prophets, and then Jesus, wasn't enough, why ask for a miracle as proof now?
Listen to the above comments on 12:11-13.
>2. What good human trait is also true in God's spiritual family? (14)
* 2 Corinthians 12:14 "Now I am ready to visit you for the third time, and I will not be a burden to you, because what I want is not your possessions but you. After all, children should not have to save up for their parents, but parents for their children."
* "Now I am ready to visit you for the third time" -The first time is considered when the congregation was founded. (Acts 18) The second time is not documented in any other place other than here and perhaps 2:1-5. Apollos followed up to Paul's initial visit (Acts 18:24-28) So, the second visit must have been after Apollos left.
* "I will not be a burden to you," -Paul is not just talking about financially.
* "because what I want is not your possessions but you" -Paul wants the Corinthian congregation to return to the gospel he initially preached, which they initially believed.
* "After all, children should not have to save up for their parents, but parents for their children." -Paul is prone to consider himself a spiritual Father to the congregations he founded.
>What is the motivation for sacrificial living? (15)
* 2 Corinthians 12:15 "So I will very gladly spend for you everything I have and expend myself as well. If I love you more, will you love me less?"
* "So I will very gladly spend for you everything I have" -Again, not just referring to money and worldly wealth.
* "If I love you more, will you love me less?"
>Does sacrificial living include exploitation? (16-17)
* 2 Corinthians 12:16-17 "Be that as it may, I have not been a burden to you. Yet, crafty fellow that I am, I caught you by trickery! Did I exploit you through any of the men I sent you?"
* "I have not been a burden to you." -Financially.
* "crafty fellow that I am, I caught you by trickery!" -He is again being sarcastic and using irony. He did not trick them out of their money and wealth. Rather, he spent everything he had to win them to Christ. He gained nothing, but lost a lot.
* "Did I exploit you through any of the men I sent you?" -Paul may have been the one who funded the excursions. Traveling is not cheep.
>Who else besides Paul did not exploit the Corinthian believers? (18)
* 2 Corinthians 12:18 "I urged Titus to go to you and I sent our brother with him. Titus did not exploit you, did he? Did we not act in the same spirit and follow the same course?"
* "I urged Titus to go to you and I sent our brother with him." -Paul indicated that Titus' labor was also free of charge.
* "Titus did not exploit you, did he?" -The false apostles exploited them. However, Paul, Titus, and others did not. Neither did Jesus or the other apostles, though on occasion people donated food and stay.
* "Did we not act in the same spirit and follow the same course?" -Paul is saying the true Christians acted the same, which was different than the false Christians.
>Is this cult like practice still being practiced by some religious groups who claim to be from Jesus? (2 Tim. 3:1-5)
* 2 Timothy 3:1-5 "But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God-- having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them."
* False Christians, aka cults, have leadership which get rich while their congregations struggle.
*
Do Not Exploit.
"Do not exploit the poor because they are poor and do not crush the needy in court, for the LORD will take up their case and will plunder those who plunder them." (Proverbs 22:22-23) This proverb perhaps sums up Paul's attitude toward the mission Christ gave him, bringing the gospel to the Gentiles. Not that the members of the Corinthian congregation were financially poor and needy. They were actually one of the wealthiest congregations. They were, however, spiritually poor and needy.
Paul confidently asks them the sarcastic question, "Did I exploit you through any of the men I sent you?" The answer is no. He even promised, "I will not be a burden to you," when he returned.
This is the way of the servants of Christ, which is in stark contrast to fake Christian teachers, the very likes of Paul's opponents. Apostle Peter says of them, "In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping." (2 Peter 2:3)
Jesus did not charge for his teaching, though people did invite him to lunch and supper and to have a place to rest. The apostles did not charge for passing on Jesus' teaching. The first church lived communally until Stephen was stoned to death. Then they scattered and became self-supporting house churches. Paul and many others maintained an occupation most of the time as they spread the gospel into new lands. What Jesus started, I will continue. I live by faith, not by sight.
>3. What should be the result of our actions towards fellow believers? (19)
* 2 Corinthians 12:19 "Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves to you? We have been speaking in the sight of God as those in Christ; and everything we do, dear friends, is for your strengthening."
* "Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves to you?" -Paul asks a valid question. He called it boasting. Putting it another way, was he pleading his cause and giving a genuine defense of himself?. So we ask, why was he boasting? (Some would say defending.) Paul asks the obvious question. Is this what you are thinking?
* "We have been speaking in the sight of God as those in Christ" -Paul was in Christ and therefore inspired by Christ through the living union which all Christians have access. He was speaking knowing God was watching.
* "everything we do... is for your strengthening." -Even his boasting. He preached not to make a profit. He taught not to make a profit. He put up with hardship and dangers for them.
* "dear friends" -Paul has referred to them as brothers, children, and now friends.
>What happens in congregations when the member's motivations are impure? (20)
* 2 Corinthians 12:20 "For I am afraid that when I come I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be. I fear that there may be quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, factions, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder."
* "For I am afraid that when I come I may not find you as I want you to be" -Unchanged.
* " you may not find me as you want me to be" -Rebuking and disciplining them.
* "I fear that there may be quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, factions, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder." -Galatians 5:19-21 states that such as these will not inherit the Kingdom of God. Bible Background Commentary says, "One standard theme of Greco-Roman moralists was "harmony"; they commonly attacked strife, envy and so forth. Ancient writers also attacked anger, among other attitudes. The Corinthians cannot possibly defend their behavior even on the basis of their own culture's ethics."
>What does it Paul mean that God will humble him for the Corinthian's sins? (21)
* 2 Corinthians 12:21 "I am afraid that when I come again my God will humble me before you, and I will be grieved over many who have sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual sin and debauchery in which they have indulged."
* "I am afraid that when I come again my God will humble me before you," -Paul's previous visit had been painful. (2:1) He had boasted about them to Titus and proved right. He had boasted of them to other congregations. Now they were coming for a visit. If they did not see what Paul boasted about, but the opposite, Paul would be humiliated. (12:20, 9:3)
* "I will be grieved over many who have sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity" -Like a father over a unchanged child.
* "sexual sin and debauchery in which they have indulged." -Paul wrote about these sins in his first letter to them.
>What does this show us about who is responsible when congregations go wrong? (Num. 32:9-13; Rom. 2:17-24)
* Numbers 32:9-13 "After they went up to the Valley of Eshcol and viewed the land, they discouraged the Israelites from entering the land the LORD had given them.
10 The LORD's anger was aroused that day and he swore this oath:
11 'Because they have not followed me wholeheartedly, not one of the men twenty years old or more who came up out of Egypt will see the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob--
12 not one except Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite and Joshua son of Nun, for they followed the LORD wholeheartedly.'
13 The LORD's anger burned against Israel and he made them wander in the desert forty years, until the whole generation of those who had done evil in his sight was gone."
* Romans 2:17-24 "Now you, if you call yourself a Jew; if you rely on the law and brag about your relationship to God;
18 if you know his will and approve of what is superior because you are instructed by the law;
19 if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light for those who are in the dark,
20 an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of infants, because you have in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth--
21 you, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal?
22 You who say that people should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples?
23 You who brag about the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law?
24 As it is written: "God's name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you."
* The leader is responsible to teach the student. The parent is responsible to teach their children. Even the best spiritual leader and parent will see the student and child fail. Still, it is their responsibility.
*
Teach Them Well.
Paul has called the Corinthian congregation his brothers, friends, and children. Paul's love for them is evident because he did not give up on them. Though they wronged him, did not defend him when he was away, and said they would change their evil ways and then, when he was away, reverted to their sinful lives (20), Paul did not stop helping them keep to the straight and narrow path to the kingdom of God. This is love.
After his initial visit, which launched the congregation, Paul visited them once (soon to be twice) and sent several letters, of which we have three. Paul also sent delegations of well-gifted teachers like Titus. Paul never gave up on them. He never exploited them. He never lorded his authority over them. These are the marks of a disciple of Christ Jesus, one who teaches them well, one who strengthens them. (19)
Paul's last visit to them was an embarrassment, a painful visit. (2:1) He was hoping for no repeat. He would be humbled because he had bragged about them to other congregations. He feared that if they arrived and were worse than even pagans, he would look foolish for bragging. So, Paul pleaded with them to change their ways and walk the straight and narrow as Jesus taught. These are the marks of a selfless shepherd of God's people.
II. Warnings (13:1-10)
>4. How should someone who preaches or teaches the word of God be confirmed? (1)
* 2 Corinthians 13:1 "This will be my third visit to you. "Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses."
* "This will be my third visit to you." -The first led to their conversion to Christ and the founding of the congregations. (Acts 18) The second is not recorded anywhere else.
* "Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses." -Accusations against Paul and any member in the congregation.
* Deuteronomy 19:15 is quoted.
>What should be done when someone who confesses Jesus and yet continually refuses to repent from sinful ways? (2)
* 2 Corinthians 13:2 "I already gave you a warning when I was with you the second time. I now repeat it while absent: On my return I will not spare those who sinned earlier or any of the others,"
* "I already gave you a warning when I was with you the second time." -Indicated the second visit was after the first letter which we have. There might have been other letters which which we do not have.
* "I now repeat it while absent" -He regrets leaving after the first and second visits.
* "On my return I will not spare those who sinned earlier or any of the others," -Paul must have not been very harsh upon earlier visits. This seems to be implied by the words of his opponents.
>5. How will God deal with people who do not respect his established authority? (3)
* 2 Corinthians 13:3 "since you are demanding proof that Christ is speaking through me. He is not weak in dealing with you, but is powerful among you."
* "since you are demanding proof that Christ is speaking through me." -The marks of an apostle is demanded. Strange because Paul says that they witnessed these during his 18 month initial visit.
* "He is not weak in dealing with you, but is powerful among you." -Paul implies that Jesus is already dealing directly with them. This would be the constant divisions for sure.
>What is easy to forget about Jesus' authority? (4)
* 2 Corinthians 13:4 "For to be sure, he was crucified in weakness, yet he lives by God's power. Likewise, we are weak in him, yet by God's power we will live with him to serve you."
* "he was crucified in weakness," -Jesus willfully laid down his life. He did not act in power, though he could have if he wanted to.
* "yet he lives by God's power." -Not only did Jesus raise from the dead, but his power is exercised to this very day. His power is not as the world, but as God's power.
* "by God's power we will live with him to serve you." -The source of our power is Christ.
* Trial, Judgment, Punishment.
The apostle Paul reveals that when he arrives in Corinth, if he finds misconduct, as he fears (13:20), they will all partake in church discipline actions and perhaps some meetings too. Church discipline usually includes a trial (of sorts), judgment, and, if someone is found at fault, correction, rebuke, and even punishment. (1 Corinthians 5:3-5, 13, 11:34; 1 Timothy 1:3, 20; Titus 1:13)
Church discipline is similar to that which was established in the Old Testament and still practiced in synagogues in Paul's day. Paul quotes Deuteronomy 19:15 regarding the need for two or three witnesses as a reference for church discipline protocol. (1)
The congregation elders' authority to settle matters within the local congregation is the power of Christ at work among his people, the power of God that also raised Jesus from the dead. (3b-4a) Jesus' power, Paul insists, was at work within the congregation even before Paul arrived, for he wrote, "...is powerful among you."
Already in the first letter, Paul instructed that they deal with a man who continued in a terrible sin within church authority. Later, after the man repented, Paul asked that they bring him back into the congregation. (1 Corinthians 14:34) This is an example of church discipline. Paul also told them in that letter to use church authority to make their worship services orderly. (1 Corinthians 14:26-40)
Unfortunately, because the sinful nature is still at work, church discipline will remain necessary until Jesus comes again. Hebrews 13:17 says, "Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you."
>6. What does it mean to examine ourselves? (5)
* 2 Corinthians 13:5 "Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you--unless, of course, you fail the test?"
* "Examine yourselves... test yourself... fail the test" -
* "to see whether you are in the faith" -
* "Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you" -
*
Examine Yourselves
Paul wrote, "Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you-unless, of course, you fail the test?" How can I examine and test myself?
Self-examination can be a foreign idea to many even though Jesus taught that prayer and meditation are important. The idea of it certainly was for me in the early days of my relationship with Jesus. Though the idea of self-examination was new to me when I first came to believe in Jesus, I now see that the human mind is examining self motives and state of being all the time. The results vary depending on my spiritual health and relationship with Jesus.
A difference exists between self-examination in Christ and self-examination in the flesh (outside of Christ). When I allow it and I am in the right mindset the Holy Spirit will reveal to me my heart, motives, will, and mind for good change.
Several years ago I discovered the Christian Examen meditation that is believed to originate from the apostles and the Benedictines. It is based on the truth that Christ is in me all the time and always active in me and my life. I have found Examen important in my spiritual walk with Jesus.
The Examen contains 5 simple steps that are similar to these. They can be modified a little to your personality.
Have a heart of gratitude, examining and thanking God for specific things that he did in the last 24 hours.
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal what he was doing in my life and character for the last 24 hours.
Think about all that I said and did in the last 24 hours, examining what motivated me to say and do those things.
Ask the Holy Spirit to forgive me where needed, change my character where needed, and help me change behavior where needed, and make amends where needed and is appropriate.
Thank the Holy Spirit for all he will do for and in me in the next 24 hours and help me see, understand, and accept it.
Listen to the above comments on 13:5.
>What test is Paul talking about? (6-7)
* 2 Corinthians 13:6-7 "And I trust that you will discover that we have not failed the test. Now we pray to God that you will not do anything wrong. Not that people will see that we have stood the test but that you will do what is right even though we may seem to have failed."
* "And I trust that you will discover"
* "that we have not failed the test"
* "Now we pray to God that you will not do anything wrong."
* "Not that people will see that we have stood the test"
* "but that you will do what is right"
* "even though we may seem to have failed."
>7. What is the truth? (8; John 1:17, 8:31-32, 14:6, 17:17)
* 2 Corinthians 13:8 "For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth."
* John 1:17 "For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ."
* John 8:31-32 "To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
* John 14:6 "Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
* John 17:17 "Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.'
* "For we cannot do anything against the truth"
* "but only for the truth."
>How does the truth perfect us? (9)
* 2 Corinthians 13:9 "We are glad whenever we are weak but you are strong; and our prayer is for your perfection."
* "We are glad whenever we are weak"
* "but you are strong"
* "nd our prayer is for your perfection."
>How was Paul's absence from the Corinthians and return like Jesus' absence and return for us? (10; Rev. 22:7, 12-13)
* 2 Corinthians 13:10 "This is why I write these things when I am absent, that when I come I may not have to be harsh in my use of authority--the authority the Lord gave me for building you up, not for tearing you down."
* Revelation 22:7 "Behold, I am coming soon! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy in this book."
* Revelation 22:12-13 "Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End."
* "This is why I write these things when I am absent"
* "that when I come I may not have to be harsh in my use of authority"
* "the authority the Lord gave me for building you up"
* "not for tearing you down."
*
*
For the Truth.
The apostle Paul had instructed the Corinthian congregation to examine themselves. (5) He hoped that they would accept the truth, confess the truth of their sins, fully submit to God's authority, and change their ways by living in the truth of Christ. (7) This is walking in God's truth. (1 John 1:6, 2:4, 3:18-20; 2 John 1:4; 3 John 1:3-4) If these were to happen, Paul would not need to be harsh in the use of the apostolic authority granted him, the authority for building them up. (10)
Truth is reliable and trustworthy. The Bible uses truth in the general factual sense. Truth may designate the fact over appearance, pretense, or assertion. The Lord said through the prophet Zechariah, "These are the things you are to do: Speak the truth to each other, and render true and sound judgment in your courts; do not plot evil against your neighbor, and do not love to swear falsely. I hate all this." (Zechariah 8:16-17)
Several decades ago, the gospel of reconciliation found in Christ was made clear to me. I accepted it and asked Jesus to be my Savior and Lord, taking total control of my life. Asking Jesus to save me from sin and hell was easy. However, asking Jesus to take total control of my life was scary. I prayed for these, but in my heart I knew that when I asked him to take total control of my life, I was holding back. So I asked him a second time, and I did not hold back any control over my heart and life. I completely stepped into the truth, and I was made perfect that very instant.
III. Final Greetings (13:11-14)
>8. What is the result when Christians practice Jesus' words, "Love one another as I love you"? (11)
* 2 Corinthians 13:11 "Finally, brothers, good-by. Aim for perfection, listen to my appeal, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you."
* John 13:34-35 "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
* "Aim for perfection"
* "listen to my appeal"
* "be of one mind"
* "live in peace"
* "And the God of love and peace will be with you."
>9. What is a holy kiss? (12)
* 2 Corinthians 13:12 "Greet one another with a holy kiss."
* "a holy kiss."
>How might this be misused? (2 Tim. 3:6)
* 2 Timothy 3:6 "They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over weak-willed women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires,"
* "They are the kind who worm their way into homes"
* "gain control over weak-willed women"
* "who are loaded down with sins"
* "are swayed by all kinds of evil desires,"
>What does saint mean? (13)
* 2 Corinthians 13:13 "All the saints send their greetings."
* "saint" -The original Greek adjective is "hagios" (a transliteration) from "hagos". The meaning is "sacred (physical pure, moral blameless or religious, and ceremony consecrated)". It is also translated "holy".
>10. What three prayer topics does Paul conclude with? (14)
* 2 Corinthians 13:14 "May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all."
* "May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ"
* "and the love of God"
* "and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit"
* "be with you all.""
>When was the last time you prayed this for a fellow believer?
