Interpretive Study of 2Corinthians

Epistle theme: Spirit led life vs Fleshly life

God's Way to Study His Word:

In 2Timothy 2:15 we read: Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. The true definition of the word dividing is: 'a Mathematical function whereby we separate pre-defined units according to a precise procedure which produces a precise result'. However, while most people understand that 'there is one interpretation but many applications of the word of God', they fail to separate the procedures of each. And, as a result, they fail to separate the 'one interpretation of the word of God' from the 'many applications of the word of God'. This leads to many errors which people blame on the perfect word of God instead of their using the wrong procedure.

The result, of men using the wrong way, is that men claim that there are errors and conflicts in God's word. In Isaiah 28, God tells us how to understand His word. In addition, God preserved the message of His word; He preserves every word of His sentences; and God preserves every punctuation mark (jot and title) of His sentences. Therefore, God preserved what He wanted us to understand and God told us how to understand His word so that we have no errors and no conflicts. Unfortunately, for at least one hundred and fifty (150) yeare, men have been taught to use the wrong way to interpret God's word instead of using God's way.

In Isaiah 55:9 we are told For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. Thus, God warns us that our ways are wrong and that using God's way produces better results, which have no errors and no conflicts.

In addition, 1Corinthians 2:14 tells us: But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. Therefore, we can not properly understand the spiritual word of God using man's way. We must use God's way to understand God's preserved word of God. And, the basics of God's way is to understand His preserved word of God using the sentence format and true Biblical definitions for Bible words.

This Study follows the Biblical Way to understand God's Word. It applies precepts ('truths that never change for any circumstance'). It then goes through the epistle sentence-upon-sentence (line upon line [Isaiah 28 ]). This is different from the ways of men which use verse-upon-verse or some other method which generates errors. God's sentence-upon-sentence method also pays attention to what 'the word of God' tells us that God preserved, which are the true Biblical meanings of words and the Biblical usage of punctuation. (These two are the components of sentences and do not give us verses.) the 'the word of God' tells us that God preserved punctuation (one jot or one tittle) in Matthew 5:18 and Luke 16:17. And 'the word of God' tells us that God preserved every word when he wrote: Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God (Deuteronomy 8:3; Matthew 4:4 and Luke 4:4).

The summary of the epistle comes from the summary of each chapter and each chapter summary within that book. Every chapter summary comes from the summary of each sentence within that chapter. And, the sentence summaries come from analysis using the punctuation and true word definitions, as already explained. As a result, we have what God literally had written and see that there are no conflicts even when we consider the smallest part of a sentence compared to the entire Bible book. God is consistent from the start of a Bible book to the end and is consistent in His doctrines and word definitions across the entire Bible. What we have is an integrated whole (single) message, with no errors and no conflicts. This particular book Study is part of a detailed analysis of the entire New Testament which shows this truth.

Other than cults, all claims of errors and conflicts are based upon the New Testament. This Study is part of a series which interprets the preserved word of God using God's way and proving that there are no errors, nor any conflicts, if we obey God and use His way to interpret His word. And, this series concentrates on the New Testament, since that is the basis of these lies about the perfect word of God.

I have read, or at least skimmed, every book which has been written in the last hundred and fifty (150) years and which claims to teach people how to study and understand the word of God. In every case, they use a method which comes from man and do not use God's way (Isaiah 55:8) to study and understand the word of God. And, while there are variations from one man-written method to another man-written method, every one of them ends up with problems. The end result of those problems is that people blame God's perfect word for their own problems and either turn to a man-written 'bible' or skip verses. (By skipping the interpretation of certain verses, they can hide the conflict which their method has produced.)

Now, many people find that the Detail Studies to be overwhelming because they have everything required to prove that there are NO errors in the perfect word of God. This summary level is easier to understand for most people. At the same time, if someone has an argument with what is presented here, the matching Detail Study provides all of the proof required in order to show that what is here matches exactly what God wrote in His word. Again, this is not a matter of my opinion versus their opinion. I have over thirty (30) years’ experience as a professional Systems Analyst with an international reputation for accuracy in how to prove things. And, this series of books are the result of using recognized methods of analysis to prove what God actually wrote. This series does not present a religious opinion. Therefore, a religious opinion, which was arrived at from using wrong methods, is not superior to a true analysis of what God wrote.

People have looked for over twenty (20) years and failed to find any other work that covers everything this series cover. In addition, no one has found any other work which covers the level of detail found in the Detail Studies. Further, the Detail Studies literally have several million Bible references to support the interpretation provided and to show that the perfect word of God is consistent all across it for word definitions and doctrines. Again, no one has found any other work which has this quantity of Bible references supporting what is presented. I do not write this to brag but to inform the reader the depth of study which supports what is presented in this series.

Let any who disagree show their method and the results of their method and try to explain how their method, which produces errors, is greater that God's way which produces no errors and no conflicts.

Overview of 2Corinthians

Epistle theme: Spirit led life vs Fleshly life

Click on the following links to jump to a chapter within this study: Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4, Chapter 5, Chapter 6, Chapter 7, Chapter 8, Chapter 9, Chapter 10, Chapter 11, Chapter 12, Chapter 13, God.

Many people have written all kinds of commentaries on this epistle. You can find many disagreements between these commentaries. The commentaries that teach doctrinal error ignore the context as they try to justify their doctrine. Such action is motivated by devils and the resulting doctrinal error can bring the judgment of God upon His people instead of the blessings that God wants to give. 1John 4:1 tells us Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.. The commentaries which do base their comments upon what is actually written, with consideration of context and proper methods of interpretation, will agree on doctrine even while presenting different views of that doctrine.

This epistle is written to a church where some of the people had spiritually matures, as taught by the Gospel of Christ, but also had people who had not spiritually matured that way. in this epistle we see the application of the Gospel of Christ to a person's life. The result is a Holy Spirit led life which displays the character of Christ and shows an ever decreasing control by the flesh. There are sixty nine (69) references to this epistle in the Word Study on the Gospel of Christ. Please use the links, found in the sentence outlines throughout this Study, to reference that other Study for how it applies to the sentences within this Study.

Paul wrote his first letter to this church telling them that they were really spiritual babes when they thought they were spiritually mature. They were using the wrong standards to measure spiritual maturity. As a result, they had a lot of sin going on in the church and they had not received the spiritual blessings which God wanted to give them to help them to mature spiritually. That letter caused many members to mature spiritually. Now Paul is having to write a second letter and the main source of problems is people who are still using a wrong standard for measuring spiritual maturity. Only now they have some ministers of Satan in there criticizing Paul and teaching doctrinal error. Those liars were also claiming that their religious credentials make them a better spiritual teacher than Paul was. They apostles, with greater authority than Paul had, but, in this epistle, Paul explains that they are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ, who, in reality, are ministers of Satan. Paul defends his apostleship, gives his worldly credentials and proves that his are better than those held by his critics, and then explains why those credentials are the wrong thing to use when determining if someone's doctrine is Godly.

What we really need to do is look at their life and the spirit their life displays and see if it matches the Spirit of Christ (1John 4:1). In particular, we need to see if they are willing to suffer for the brethren and for the ministry and if they are willing to be weak in the flesh so that Christ can be strong through their life.

In our first chapter we see Paul's standard opening salutation and then Paul immediately gets into a problem at this church. Some people at this church were believing lies about Paul, his reliability, and the reliability of what he preached. Paul had wanted to go there but was delayed because a door was opened unto me of the Lord. However, before he talks about that in chapter 2, he explains how he was suffering persecution and why that was for their benefit. The false apostles would not suffer for the ministry and this was one way to tell the difference between the false apostles and a true minister of Christ. Paul also reminds them of his testimony, which they personally knew, and asked them to consider if his personal testimony matched the character of the man that these liars were claiming he was. They should have known that what they were being told was lies.

After Paul corrected wrong attitudes, which would have led some people to misunderstand what he had to say, he explained what was going on. Part of his delay was to give people, who were sinning, time to get right with God after reading his first letter. In addition, he told them a door was opened unto me of the Lord. A truly Godly minister puts commandments from the Lord first in his life. If he had put their immature fleshly desires first then he would not be a true minister of Christ. Paul ended the chapter with For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.

Then in his third chapter Paul makes reference to Old Testament truth and explains that what we should truly glory in is having evidence of having God in our life. He told them ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart. Therefore, the changes that God brought in their own lives showed the power and authority that Paul had while these false apostles only had what came from tables of stone (the ten commandments and rules of religion). Following religious rules is never as good as maintaining a personal relationship with Christ, which is the teaching of the gospel of Christ. And, the gospel of Christ is what they should have been using as their standard for true spiritual teaching.

Now that Paul has established the true Biblical basis of doctrine, he starts to tell how that gives us a ministry. We are to renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. Our life is to display the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ and not our own desires. We are to have faith in God because our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.

After having established the Biblical standard for true doctrine and that true doctrine resulted in the glory of God being seen in the lives of people, Paul then explained that saved people have a ministry of bringing this truth to the lost. And, in chapter five (5), he reminds us about why this needs to be the main purpose of our life when he explains For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. Of course, false apostles, deceitful workers insist that this is a 'Bema Seat', and use the 'Greek' to 'correctly and deny' what our Bible literally says even while they condemn other 'Bible Deniers'. Our chapter literally says that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad and goes on to tell us that some saved people, after they get to Heaven will experience the terror of the Lord. The conclusion is that saved need to have a life which shows that the love of Christ constraineth us. Paul ends this chapter with Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. This was not written to lost people but to saved church members who had turned their back on the personal relationship with God which is Biblically identified as Christ. The message from God to such backslidden saved people is be ye reconciled to God.

Chapter 6 starts with 'Don't personally receive...the grace of God in vain' and ends with Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate. In between Paul explains why we need to be separate on a personal level (ye) and how to do it. The last half of the chapter is asking questions to make us think and realize that nothing of God is yoked with anything of the devil. Therefore, if we are to be yoked with God then we need to remove any yoke with the things of Satan. This then is the message to backslidden saved people about how they are to be ye reconciled to God. Where prior chapters were talking in general terms this one puts it on a personal level.

Having delivered the message of the need for us to be personally responsive to the gospel of Christ and have the glory of God show in our life, Paul now reminds them about how they had done this in the past. He tells them Receive us; we have wronged no man, we have corrupted no man, we have defrauded no man. Then Paul reminds them that they had the working of God in their personal lives because they responded to God working through his life and ministry. After that he talks about their relationship with him and how that relationship was the basis for Titus going to them and of Titus having a good relationship with them. Thus, we see that the true result of a Godly relationship is the extension of that relationship to others.

After laying this groundwork, Paul tells them how to go beyond (moreover) what they have done in the past and he uses the poor saints from the churches of Macedonia as an example and motivator to them. Lots of people will tell you how spiritual they are until you tell them to 'Put up or Shut up' by pulling out their money and start supporting missions and the ministry to people whom they have never met. Lots of people will define charity as love but the truth is that love is given to people who you know while charity is given to strangers. The Bible lifts charity, the ministering to unknown people, above love because charity is showing God's love to others regardless if you know them or not.

Our chapter tells us For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich. It goes from there to tell us that we also must be willing to become poor, that (others) through (our) poverty might be rich. With the establishment of this Biblical principal, Paul goes on to tell them his plan for them to participate in the charitable help for the poor saints in Jerusalem.

After explaining his plan, Paul gives them the spiritual reasoning behind it. He starts by writing that they already understand all that they need to understand about ministering. Based upon their prior understanding, Paul wants them to understand that the collection is to be of bounty, and not as of covetousness. He then gives them the law of sowing and reaping and the proper attitude to have about giving. After that he tells them the results of our giving and explains that receiving these results is to be the motivation of our giving. Paul ends with Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift. God gave to us that He might receive us and expects us to also give based upon the promised reward.

at this point Paul has ended giving new instruction to this church and finished telling them how they are to personally act in order to get God's blessings in their life. Now he is going to deal with the false apostles, deceitful workers. He is going to show that, in spite of their lies, he actually had better credentials that those false apostles, deceitful workers had. However, he didn't mention the credentials because they were the wrong standard to use and he didn't want to cause confusion. And, now that they have been deceived, Paul will tell them how to avoid further deception. He tells them For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh and goes on to explain that we are not to look on things after the outward appearance but are to concentrate on spiritual things because we are in a spiritual war. Paul tells them that his true authority comes from the Lord. Paul ends chapter 10 with: For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth. That is: having religious and worldly commendations does not make a person approved but having evidence that the Lord commendeth them is what matters.

Paul started out dealing with immediate concerns that members of this church had and with the specific criticisms which were made against him and his ministry. In particular, those criticisms were designed to destroy Paul's authority within this church so that false apostles, deceitful workers could take his place of authority and lead these people into doctrinal error. After dealing with those concerns Paul then told them how to separate a truly Godly messenger from the false apostles, deceitful workers. He pointed out the difference in the character and message of the two, he pointed out how their own experiences confirmed this difference. He then challenged them to apply the gospel of Christ in their own lives so that they could have the blessings from God including avoiding being deceived again. This required that they come out from among them, and be ye separate. Once he had laid the foundation he told them to go beyond (moreover) what they had done and used the poor in the churches of Macedonia as an example. The specific application that he gave them was using the money of this world to lay up treasure in Heaven based upon 'the Law of Sowing and Reaping'. Based upon this doctrine, Paul gave them a specific plan to follow and old them the expected rewards and the Biblical basis for expecting those rewards.

Having told them that his true authority comes from the Lord, Paul will now give his worldly religious credentials and prove that his credentials are better than his critics. Paul tells them to not listen to someone with the wrong credentials because if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him. He says that they criticized him for boasting about how God had worked in the lives of other saints but no man shall stop me of this boasting in the regions of Achaia. Then he says But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion. That is: they didn't want anyone boasting about how God works in the lives of His people because Satan can't match the work of God. If they can get God's people to shut up then the work of Satan is appealing because it is more than we can do in the flesh. However, if God's people will boast about the work of God then they will cut off occasion from them which desire occasion because their claims can't match the truth.

Paul starts chapter 12 by saying that It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory, but he is going to explain things for the good of others. He then explains how the Lord gave him special visions and revelations and then goes on to explain how the Lord also gave him a thorn in the flesh to keep him from being lifted up in pride. These other people who claimed to have visions and revelations from the Lord did not also have the balancing thorn in the flesh. As a result, they were prideful liars. Where Paul concludes Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. False teachers are not willing to do this. Paul then explains that he is not looking to get anything from them, like the false teachers are seeking but he is after them for the Lord. Paul summarizes this truth with: we speak before God in Christ: but we do all things, dearly beloved, for your edifying.

Paul starts chapter 13 with a warning that if these people (them which heretofore have sinned) will not get right then, when he gets there, he will not spare. Paul then asks: Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? If we do not have evidence, which others can see, that shows that Jesus has changed our life, and that Christ has changed our life, then we are reprobate ('we have failed the test'). We either never were saved or we are backslidden. Paul then goes on and gives a simple test so that people will know if they themselves are reprobate. Finally, Paul says farewell and tells them the simple way to have The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all.

At the beginning of this summary it was said: 'in this epistle we see the application of the Gospel of Christ to a person's life. The result is a Holy Spirit led life which displays the character of Christ and shows an ever decreasing control by the flesh'. This summary then went through a summary of each chapter showing how Paul started with the problems in that church; showed them that those problems were due to them following false apostles; told them the truth about how to apply the gospel of Christ and how their own experiences with God verified what Paul told them; told them how to tells a true Godly message and messenger from a minister of Satan telling them lies; told them that he had better credentials than his critics but did not use those credentials because they were the wrong standard to use and ended the epistle by telling them that they needed to do things God's way if they wanted The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all.

What we see here is a letter written to God's people who were led into doctrinal error because they were using the wrong standard to determine what teachers to follow and they were using the wrong way to try and get God's blessings. Our epistle tells us that if we apply the gospel of Christ to our lives then we will have the blessings of God and will avoid being deceived and led into doctrinal error. However, the opposite is also true. When saved people refuse to apply the Gospel of Christ to their lives, and refuse to do things God's way, they will believe the lies from ministers of Satan and will be led into doctrinal error.

Word Counts in 2Corinthians.

YOU (116), GOD (74), YE (60), BY (58), AS (56), WHICH (56), HAVE (44), ALL (43), CHRIST (43), this (38), US (36), YOUR (36), OUR (32), ME (31), IF (29), ALSO (28), HATH (28), thINGS (28), LORD (26), WILL (23), HIM (22), MAN (21), JESUS (20), SHOULD (20), GLORY (19), MAY (19), SO (19), thEM (19), NO (18), NOW (18), OR (18), FROM (17), MADE (17), MY (17), OURSELVES (17), MORE (16), thOUGH (16), WERE (16), WHEN (16), WHO (16), YET (16), MIGHT (15), AM (14), ANY (14), SAME (14), SPIRIT (14), thEREFORE (14), WHAT (14), YEA (14), DO (13).

The only significant words within this list all identify people, including God. Our epistle deals with the relationship between God and man.

Chapter Outlines by sentence format.

Chapter 1 The Chapter theme is: Why Paul is writing.

Here we see a standard opening salutation and then Paul immediately gets into a problem at this church. They were believing lies about Paul, his reliability, and the reliability of what he preached. in this first chapter Paul makes it clear that what he preached came from God. The people who fought against his preaching were actually fighting God and anyone who followed them was daring God to bring judgment upon themselves.

Remember that in 1Corinthians Paul told them that they were spiritual babes, even though they thought they were spiritually mature. The evidence is their instability with their faith in God being constantly up and down. Now, after writing his first letter, he gave them time to get right with God and to stabilize. Instead of being thankful of the 'breathing space', they believed people who went there and old lies about Paul. Instead of thinking about Paul's spiritual motives when he was there and started that church, and instead of considering Paul's personal testimony with them, they believed the lies that strangers told them about Paul.

After his opening salutation, Paul immediately talks about the characteristic of God whereby God consoles us in our troubles. Paul needed consolation because of all that the devil put him through. Paul says that we had the sentence of death in ourselves. He goes on and says that God allowed it for their sake, and yet these people turned on him. One evidence that a man is a true man of God is that he stays consistent to his message, which is from God, regardless of what circumstances he must endure. Paul received this consolation because he was in Christ and then Paul turned around and gave it to these people who turned on him.

One of the first things that he does is inform them of facts about his circumstances which they may not have been aware of. He then reminds them that no matter what circumstances he is in, his conversation in the world is by the grace of God. Then Paul reminds them of their personal relationship and asks them if the things that he was accused of matched his testimony. He again reminds them of his testimony and then explains the real reason why he did not come.

Paul's failure to show up was what other people used to turn this church against Paul. When we do something unexpected, or don't do what is expected, sometimes people try to use that to turn our friends and acquaintances against us. When they do that, we should follow Paul's example for how to fix the resulting problems in our relationships.

C1-S1 Who God used to write the epistle, whom it is to and the blessings for obedience.
1. Please also see the Message called Called to be Saints for the application of these verses in the life of the believer.
2. This letter was from Paul, and Timothy, with all the saints which are in all Achaia. That is: these other people backed the doctrine of this epistle.
3. Paul was an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God. That is: 'Paul had the highest human authority in the church and God gave that position to him'. His critics could not match that claim.
4. Paul offers Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. Only a true God's appointed apostle can make such an offer.
C1-S2 Praise God for Who He is and for what He does for us and through us.
1. God the Father is the true source of mercies, all comfort and Who comforteth us in all our tribulation.
2. God gives these things to His people that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. This means that if we are not willing to fulfill the purpose of God, then God has no reason to comfort us.
C1-S3 tells us that our own consolation by Christ is directly proportional to how much we are willing to have the sufferings of Christ abound in us.
C1-S4 God had Paul suffer affliction for the consolation of others. What they saw God doe for Paul through his troubles, they could expect the same through their troubles.
C1-S5 Paul warns that they will also suffer.
1. The phrase as the sufferings of Christ abound in us means: 'As we mature spiritually, devils will cause us to have problems'.
2. The phrase so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ means: 'We must stay in relationship to Christ in order to receive God's consolation'.
C1-S6 Paul explains what he went through and why and how their prayers helped.
C1-S7 Paul testifies that his conversation (lifestyle ) in the world is by the grace of God.
1. His lifestyle was testified by his conscience and by Godly sincerity and by the lack of fleshly wisdom.
2. His lifestyle was showing the grace of God.
3. His lifestyle was more abundantly providing a witness to the church.
4. His lifestyle caused Paul to have rejoicing.
C1-S8 Paul calls on them to acknowledge his testimony and their relationship.
1. He would be rejoicing when they faced the Lord Jesus.
2. They would be rejoicing about knowing Paul and his doctrine when they faced the Lord Jesus.
3. Paul was adding no new commandment to them in this letter. He was just telling them to do what he instructed in the past. Thus, what appears to be new in this epistle, Paul had preached to them, in person, in their past.
C1-S9 Pl and that Paul made in the past which he was not able to do.
C1-S10 says: When I therefore was thus minded, did I use lightness?. Later in this epistle it becomes evident that liars were accusing Paul of this attitude because he could not keep his plans.
C1-S11 Paul asks if his testimony is that of someone acting in the flesh.
C1-S12 Paul states that he did not act in the flesh.
C1-S13 His preaching of the Son of God, Jesus Christ was not in the flesh. This was the true concern. Paul was not worried about his reputation but was worried about people using this lie to destroy the credibility of his preaching.
C1-S14 God's promises are not in the flesh and can be relied upon.
C1-S15 God has done all of the spiritual work in and through Paul and this church.
C1-S16 Paul says that he did not change his pl and for reasons of the flesh but did it to spare you.
C1-S17 Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.

Chapter 2 The Chapter theme is: What has been going on.

This chapter has what Paul usually puts in his first chapter. However, before he could explain the circumstances which led to his epistle, he first had to deal with wrong attitudes, which is what he did in his first chapter. Now that the attitudes are assumed to be fixed, Paul explains his circumstances and why he delayed his return to them. Part of the reason was to give them time to correct certain things. And, part of the reason was circumstances in Paul's live. Some of what was going on in Paul's life might not have been understood by some people at Corinth but he assures them that he is not being dishonest. He is following commands from God which come through his personal relationship with Christ. If some people don't understand that, Paul wants them to remember that God does things which are beyond our understanding. Therefore, since God is the one doing things, they shouldn't be upset about not understanding everything.

C2-S1 Paul's reaction to their turning against him. Our sentence says: But I determined this with myself, that I would not come again to you in heaviness. He responded to their wrong reaction in love.
C2-S2 Paul's reasoning for his reaction.
C2-S3 Paul's reason for writing this epistle.
1. Paul wrote to them to assure them of his reaction so that they would look forward to his return and not dread it.
2. Paul wrote to them to assure them of his confidence in you all, that they would react Godly to his letter.
3. Paul wrote to them because he was sure that the source of his joy was also the source of their joy (that my joy is the joy of you all.).
C2-S4 Paul's feelings and motivation for writing the prior epistle.
1. How he felt: For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears.
2. Why he wrote anyway: not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you. True correction is an act of love.
C2-S5 Paul's assurance that he is not upset with anyone.
C2-S6 Paul tells them that they have gives sufficient punishment to the man whose sin led to Paul's first letter.
C2-S7 How they are to treat that man now that he has truly repented.
1. The new actions: ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him.
2. Why: lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow.
C2-S8 Paul begs them to do right.
C2-S9 their action in this matter proves if they are obedient in all things.
C2-S10 If we don't act right then Satan should get an advantage of us.
1. When they forgave the man, Paul also forgave it in the person of Christ. Only a true apostle could do this but he is showing us how Christ acts.
2. Why: Lest Satan should get an advantage of us.
3. The warning: for we are not ignorant of his devices. Satan uses wrong emotions to get God's people to turn to error and sin.
C2-S11 Other causes of Paul's delaying his going to Corinth.
1. Please see the Message called: A sweet savour of Christ.
2. Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ's gospel, and a door was opened unto me of the Lord. The primary spiritual job of all saved is to spread the true gospel.
3. I had no rest in my spirit, because I found not Titus my brother. Paul had a greater worry about Titus than he had about them.
4. What Paul did: but taking my leave of them, I went from thence into Macedonia.
C2-S12 God...always causeth us to triumph in Christ. Paul obeyed Christ and received the triumph.
C2-S13 God uses our life one way to help the saved and another way to condemn the lost.
1. For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ Our lives allow Christ to operate in this world when we obey Christ.
2. Christ deals with everyone according to their relationship to Him (in them that are saved, and in them that perish).
3. The phrase To the one we are the savour of death unto death means: 'When lost people (death) reject the Gospel, it becomes harder for them to accept it if they ever hear the gospel again (death unto death)'.
4. The phrase and to the other the savour of life unto life means: 'When saved people (life) accept the message of the Gospel, it increases their own spiritual life (life unto life)'.
C2-S14 We can't always understand what God does if we try to use our own natural reasoning.
C2-S15 Why the prior doctrine is true.
1. The phrase For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God means: 'We are to accept what the word of God says, even when we do nor understand it'. People who try to make the word of God fit within their own understanding end up corrupting the word of God.
2. The phrase but as of sincerity, but as of God means: 'true believers sincerely believe that the word of God comes from God, Who knows and understands things beyond our own knowing and understanding'.
3. The phrase in the sight of God speak we in Christ means: 'Godly people are not trying to explain what God did not clearly explain but are concentrating on helping others to mature spiritually (speak we in Christ)'.

Chapter 3 The Chapter theme is: the Spirit of the Lord used Paul to change their lives.

Paul now starts to deal with the people who are trying to turn this church against him. First he asks them if he needs letters of commendation. He then reminds them that he led them to salvation and stared their church. Therefore, they should be ashamed for turning against him. Then Paul attacks the basis of the claims of these people who turned members of this church against him. Those people were preaching sanctification through keeping the works of the Law. in this chapter Paul establishes that our personal relationship that is spiritual and in Christ has glory that excelleth and makes the glory of the Law seem like nothing. He finishes with But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. It is the Spirit of the Lord Who provides all glory. The Holy Spirit gives more glory to people who have the image of the Lord than He gives to people who keep rules while refusing that same image.

The first two sentences of our chapter Paul ask the rhetorical question of: 'Why do I need letters of commendation from men when I have them from God?' He also asks 'Why are you believing these lies about me? Your knowledge of means my knowledge of you should carry more weight than any written recommendation (letter, Doctorate, etc) that anyone else has.' then follow several sentences which are all tied together and provide the doctrinal basis for Paul saying why these people should believe him and not the liars who were trying to steal this ministry from Paul.

All of the sentences of this chapter are tied together by starting with the connecting words. Nothing in this chapter can be properly understood without considering the context.

For example, after Paul's sarcastic opening sentences, he answers those questions. And, Paul starts his answer with things which they each personally (ye) had in their life because of the ministry of Paul. He then adds to that sentence by starting the next sentence with the word And. Then, the sentence after that starts with the word: But, which provides an exception to what was said before within Paul's answer. After that, the next three sentences start with the word For ('here's why'), which provide the doctrinal basis that supports what Paul has been saying in his answer. After that we have a sentence starting with the word: seeing, which provides a conclusion for all of these sentences. The next sentence is tied to the prior by starting with the word: But. And, the one after that is also tied in by starting with the word: Nevertheless. Finally, our second last sentence provides a conclusion to the chapter by starting with Now ('after you understand all that has been said up to this point' and our final sentence provides an exception to the conclusion by starting with the word But.

Thus, while we look at the details of each sentence, please keep in mind the contextual requirement to consider how each fit within the message of the entire chapter.

C3-S1 Paul asks if he must introduce himself as a stranger might have to do. This is obvious sarcasm since he started the church.
C3-S2 Paul asks if they will insist on letters of commendation. This is even more obvious sarcasm.
C3-S3 Paul reminds them that, as saved believers, they personally are the epistle of Christ ministered by us.
1. Paul reminds them of his love for them and how others saw his love for them (Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men).
2. Next, Paul reminds them that each personally (ye) are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us. That is: 'Christ had personally changed their life by working through the ministry of Paul and their changed life was revealed to others (manifestly declared)'.
3. Next, Paul reminds them that the changes were written not with ink, nor in tables of stone (the Ten (10) Commandments), but (were written) with the Spirit of the living God in fleshy tables of the heart.
C3-S4 God made Paul a minister...of the spirit and Paul expects that spirit from God to remind them of their relationship with Paul.
1. First, Paul writes that his is in God through Christ because but our sufficiency is of God. Paul and his team went there to do the work of God and God did the true spiritual work through them. Therefore, Paul expects God to maintain the relationship between Paul and the members of this church.
2. Paul was not relying on his own ability to maintain the relationship (Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything as of ourselves).
3. Paul reminds than that he and his team were ministers of the new testament, not of the old Mosaic Law, and that it was God Who also hath made us able ministers.
4. Finally, Paul reminds them why God switched from the Mosaic Law to the New Testament when he writes: not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.
C3-S5 Paul tells us that the ministration of the spirit (are more) glorious than even the Old Testament Law when Moses brought it from the mount.
1. Paul calls the Mosaic Law the ministration of death because it could not save but could only condemn.
2. Paul then writes that it still had so much glory that he children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance.
3. Paul then reminds us that which glory was to be done away.
4. And, upon that basis, Paul asks: How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious?.
C3-S6 Paul then repeats the same question using different words.
C3-S7 Paul then explains why the ministrations of God's Holy Spirit has more glory.
C3-S8 the New Testament is more glorious than the Old Testament.
C3-S9 the New Testament reveals things which were behind a vail in the Old Testament.
1. The phrase Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech means that the New Testament reveals things which were hid in the Old Testament.
2. The phrase And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished means that the Jews had limited understanding of the things given in the Old Testament.
3. The phrase But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament means that even today, Jews, and Others, who reject the New Testament have blinded minds and can not understand the truth.
4. The phrase which vail is done away in Christ means that we only get spiritual understanding from our relationship that is in Christ. Saved people who do not mature spiritually do not get the spiritual understanding.
C3-S10 the religious Jews still have that vail on their heart. They still can not understand the spiritual truths.
C3-S11 If their heart shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away. Spiritual blindness can only be removed by accepting, by faith, that whatever the Lord says is true.
C3-S12 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. Only the Lord gives true liberty.
C3-S13 the Spirit of the Lord is Who changes us and gives us our glory. The more we become like the Lord, the more glory we will have

Chapter 4 The Chapter theme is: Basics of ministry for all saved people.

Paul is now dealing with the people who are trying to turn this church against him. First he asks them if he needs letters of commendation. He then reminds them that he led them to salvation and stared their church. Therefore, they should be ashamed for turning against him. Then Paul attacks the basis of the claims of these people who turned members of this church against him. Those people were preaching sanctification through keeping the works of the Law. in this chapter Paul establishes that our personal relationship that is spiritual and in Christ has glory that excelleth and makes the glory of the Law seem like nothing. He finishes with But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. It is the Spirit of the Lord Who provides all glory. The Holy Spirit gives more glory to people who have the image of the Lord than He gives to people who keep rules while refusing that same image.

C4-S1 We are to walk honestly because we have this ministry to show the world the image of the Lord.
1. The word: Therefore means that this sentence and chapter is based on what came before it.
2. The phrase seeing we have this ministry means that every saved person has been given This ministry.
3. The phrase as we have received mercy, we faint not means 'Since we did not receive the punishment which we deserved, we are to spend our life serving God'.
4. The phrase But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty means we are to stop doing dishonest things.
5. The phrase not walking in craftiness means we are to stop doing deceitful things.
6. The phrase nor handling the word of God deceitfully means we are to not add to God's word, nor take away from it, nor take part of it out of context, nor do anything else to misrepresent the true message of the word of God.
7. The phrase but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God means we are to live a life which reveals the truth of the word of God in every way possible.
C4-S2 Our life is to show the light of the glorious gospel of Christ because the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not and they will not believe God's truth without the witness of our changed life.
1. The phrase But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost means that Satan has hid the truth of the Gospel to the lost.
2. The phrase In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not means that Satan has blinded the minds of lost people by making them think the wrong way. The fool has said in his heart: 'I know what I believe, don't confuse me with the facts!'. Many lost people are so sure of their foolishness that they refuse to even consider that they have been convinced to believe a lie.
3. The phrase lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them means that the true Gospel includes our receiving the image of God. Many lost believe they can be saved by saying a prayer while refusing to obey and refusing to receive the image of God.
C4-S3 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.
1. The phrase For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord means that we are to not preach our opinion, nor our religion, but we are to preach that Christ Jesus is Lord and that all saved will be judged by our Lord for how much they let Christ mature them spiritually and how much they followed the example of Jesus for how to live in the flesh.
2. The phrase and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake means that the spiritually mature are to serve Jesus by teaching the less spiritually mature how to act like Jesus.
C4-S4 We are to follow the example and leading of Jesus Christ...to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God to lost people who are in darkness.
1. The phrase For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness means that God the Father commanded the light, of the Gospel, to shine out of darkness and bring the understanding of true salvation to lost people.
2. The phrase hath shined in our hearts means that the light of the true Gospel has brought us salvation. .
3. The phrase to give means this is why we were saved.
4. The phrase the light of the knowledge means We are to bring this knowledge to the lost world.
5. The phrase of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ means that God's glory is found only the face of Jesus Christ. Therefore, we are to look to Him, and obey Him, in order to receive the glory of God.
C4-S5 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
1. The phrase But we have this treasure in earthen vessels means: 'We have God's life in corrupt human bodies'.
2. The phrase that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us means: 'here's why'. There is no way that our corrupt human physical bodies can produce spiritual salvation. Therefore, if we point out the truth, it should be obvious that true spiritual salvation can only come from God, Who works through us to offer His salvation to the lost.
C4-S6 We have all of these problems in life, and the protection of God, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.
1. The phrases: We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed describes the ways that we have all of these problems in life.
2. The phrase Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus means that we are to always remember that the Lord Jesus died to pay for our sins. And, we are to tell others that He died to pay for their sins also.
3. The phrase that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body means that our physical life is to manifest the true changed life which results from true spiritual salvation.
C4-S7 this is so that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.
1. The phrase For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake means that our entire life in this physical reality, and even our death, is to be for Jesus' sake.
2. The word: that means: 'here's why'.
3. The phrase the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh means that the main reason for our going on living, after our initial salvation, is to manifest the life also of Jesus in our mortal flesh. Our life is to be an example of how Jesus shoes us how to live using the power of the Holy Ghost.
C4-S8 So then death worketh in us, but life in you. this means that while our life is dedicated to not responding to the temptations of this physical life (death), True spiritual life is offered to the lost and increased spiritual life is offered to the carnal.
C4-S9 We are to speak and live a life which shows our true belief that we know he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus.
1. This sentence has a prophecy and tells us how to act based upon the prophecy. Please see the Doctrinal Study called: Significant Events - New Testament for other links to New Testament prophecies. This sentence is part of our promise of resurrection.
2. The phrase We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written means that Paul had the same spirit of faith as the Old Testament prophets (as it is written). That is the basis of this prophecy.
3. The phrase I believed, and therefore have I spoken quotes Psalms 116:10. Please see the detail note for how all of that Psalm relates to this chapter.
4. The phrase we also believe, and therefore speak means that Paul gave this prophecy based upon his belief of scripture. It also means that we are to speak based upon our belief of scripture.
C4-S10 We have the abundant grace so that we will be thankful and manifest the glory of God. This means that we are we receive the abundant grace through the thanksgiving of many. And, that we are given this grace so that we will yell others about the glory of God.
C4-S11 For which cause we faint not no matter what circumstances God puts us into.
C4-S12 Paul calls our worst circumstances our light affliction and goes on to say that it worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.
1. The phrase For our light affliction, which is but for a moment tells us the attitude we are to have about all of the problems of this physical life.
2. The phrase worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory means that the more we have to suffer in order to serve God, the greater our everlasting rewards will be. The amount of rewards are given in proportion to our amount of suffering for the kingdom of God.
3. The phrase While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen means that we are to stop looking at look at the circumstances of life from a physical perspective and look at the circumstances of life from a spiritual perspective.
4. The phrase for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal means 'Here's why'. The things of this physical reality will go away but the things of the spiritual reality are eternal.

Chapter 5 The Chapter theme is: the purpose of our current life.

Many people use parts of some of the verses within this chapter to support doctrine which is completely out of context for this chapter. They justify it based upon how popular the error is and on how they can produce short-time results from the error. Satan does not fight them, and I imagine he laughs about their using the error, because it justifies others using the same method to produce far worse errors.

The context of this entire chapter is about God working through Christ to change us. In fact, the three most used words within this chapter are: God, us and Christ. This chapter is not about the saved reaching out to the lost but the spiritually mature saved people reaching out to spiritual babes and saying 'Grow Up!'. Our chapter starts with how we will get a new body in Heaven and uses that as a basis to tell us to stop worrying about bad circumstances in this world. The bad circumstances here only increase our reward in eternity. Dying only makes us to be present with the Lord.

Our main focus needs to be on the judgment seat of Christ (Romans 14:10; 2Corinthians 5:10-11). with the realization that we will receive the terror of the Lord if we don't persuade men. Part of our job to persuade men is to persuade spiritual babes to 'Grow Up!'. The end of this chapter is telling us how God made it possible for us to 'grow up' and how He wants us to help spiritual babes to 'grow up' using the same methods. That is what is truly meant when our chapter says we are ambassadors for Christ who are telling spiritual babes: be ye reconciled to God. We see this in the reason that ends our chapter with: For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. please notice that it does not say 'that we might get saved' but says that we might be made the righteousness of God in him, which happens after we get saved (John 1:12-13).

C5-S1 We don't have to worry about problems in this world, even ones that end in death, because God has prepared a new body for us.
1. The word: For lets us know that this sentence and chapter is telling us why the prior chapter, and especially the prior sentence, is true.
2. The phrase we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved means: 'We know that if our physical body dies'.
3. The phrase we have a building of God means: 'We are going to get a new spiritual body'.
4. The phrase an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens means: 'God will give us a body that is fit to live in heaven'.
C5-S2 We want that new body so much that we groan in this one.
1. The phrase For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven means Our new spiritual body will not have all of the corruption and problems that our current physical body has.
2. The phrase If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked means that we will not be spirits without a body such as: the souls of them that were slain for the word of God found in Revelation 6:9.
C5-S3 we...do groan...that mortality might be swallowed up of life.
1. The phrase For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened means that this physical corrupt body has problems.
2. The phrase not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon means that people aren't looking forward to being something like a ghost.
3. The phrase that mortality might be swallowed up of life means that people want a better body.
C5-S4 We have the earnest of the Spirit in this life as an assurance of our new body in Heaven.
1. The phrase Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God means that God put us in this physical body for His own purpose.
2. The phrase who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit means that God gave the saved His Holy Spirit to teach us what kind of person we need to become while we are still in this temporary physical body. We make the mistakes in this body and don't have to live with those consequences when we get our spiritual body.
C5-S5 We are...willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
1. The phrase Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord means: 'While we are physically alive we are not in Heaven, with the Lord, in our new spiritual body'.
2. The phrase For we walk by faith, not by sight means: 'This is how we know this truth'.
3. The phrase We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord means that the truly spiritually mature are ready to die, physically, and go to their reward in Heaven.
C5-S6 that's why all of our labour has a goal of being accepted of him. The abilities of our new spiritual body is dependent upon how we labour for God. The person who is still a spiritual babe, when he dies physically, will not have the abilities in Heaven that a spiritually mature person will have. And, this difference will never change after we get to Heaven.
C5-S7 forwe must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
1. The phrase For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Chris means: 'Here's why the saved want to spiritually mature before they die physically'. This is not a 'Bema Seat', but is a judgment seat. People who claim to be 'good, Godly, fundamental, KJV only' people prove themselves to be liars when they preach about a 'Bema Seat' because the KJV is English and the word 'Bema' is Greek. In addition, that doctrine claims that the rest of this sentence, and the doctrine found throughout the word of God, is a lie because the doctrine associated with the 'Bema Seat' denies punishment in Heaven and our sentence, and the next sentence, literally tell us different.
2. The phrase that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done means that our judgment will be based upon what we do, while we are still physically alive, and after we get saved. The word according means: 'the result will be in harmony with the deeds'
3. The phrase whether it be good or bad means: 'Some saved people will get good results and some saved people will get bad results'. This is the source of tears that God does not wipe away until after the great white throne judgment (Revelation 21:4). And, God can not shall wipe away all tears from their eyes if there are 'no tears in Heaven'. (In addition, Isaiah 66:23-24 makes it clear that the cause of these tears will occur more than an average of twice a week for more than 1,000-years.
C5-S8 Saved people who don't use this life to prepare for the judgment seat of Christ (Romans 14:10; 2Corinthians 5:10-11). are going to experience the terror of the Lord.
1. The phrase Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord means that the saved are to know that they, personally, can receive the terror of the Lord. And, terror is far worse, and longer lasting, than fear.
2. The phrase we persuade men means that we do 'the Great Commission', which is our main duty to God, while we are still physically alive.
3. The phrase but we are made manifest unto God means that what we do and why we do it is fully revealed to God in every way (made manifest).
4. The phrase and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences means that our changed life, character, and purpose of life is to be revealed in every way (made manifest) to the people around us.
C5-S9 Paul is telling them about how God blessed him, not to lift himself up, but to give them an answer for the people who are lying about Paul.
1. The phrase For we commend not ourselves again unto you, but give you occasion to glory on our behalf means that Paul is not telling them about himself in order to brag.
2. The phrase that ye may have somewhat to answer them which glory in appearance, and not in heart means that Paul is giving them evidence to use against the people who claim that we can be saved and not have to change inside so long as we have the appearances of being religious.
C5-S10 Paul and others are beside ourselves...to God and sober...for your cause. This sentence tells us that it does not matter if someone is quite emotional and forceful in their presenting their message, or if they are very calm in their presentation, what matters is that the message delivers what the people need to know about God.
C5-S11 For the love of Christ constraineth us...that (we)...should not henceforth live unto (ourselves), but unto (Christ).
1. The word: For means: 'Here's why the prior sentence is true'.
2. The word: constraineth means 'to compel or force; to urge with irresistible power and to do it as an ongoing lifestyle force'. Therefore, the phrase the love of Christ constraineth us means: 'our love for the ongoing spiritual maturity produced by our ongoing personal relationship to God that is in Christ forces us, in an ongoing way'.
3. The phrase because we thus judge means: 'Here's how we determine our doctrine'.
4. The phrase that if one died for all, then were all dead means that, since Christ died to pay for our sins that we do after our initial profession, the saved are to dead ('non-responsive to the temptations of this physical life').
5. The phrase And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves means: 'Here's why we should not live for our own physical pleasure'.
6. The phrase but unto him which died for them, and rose again means: 'should life to serve God through obedience to Christ which causes us the live the resurrected life'.
C5-S12 Wherefore, don't know people according to the flesh.
1. The phrase Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh means that we aren't to know people according to the things of the flesh but are to know them according to the things of the spirit.
2. The phrase yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more means that even though Paul and others had met Jesus Christ in the flesh, they were to not know Him according to the things of the flesh but are to know Him according to the things of the spirit.
C5-S13 Let Christ make you into a new creature.
1. The word: Therefore means: 'As a direct result of the doctrine in the prior sentence'.
2. The phrase if any man be in Christ means that this is a conditional position for saved people. Some saved people will be in Christ and some will not be in Christ. Those saved who are not in Christ do not have this have the promises of this sentence (old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new).
3. The phrase he is a new creature means that his ongoing existence (is) must be different (a new creature).
4. The phrase old things are passed away means his lifestyle of sin died and he no longer responds to the temptations of sin.
5. The phrase behold, all things are become new means that he lives a new lifestyle . (Romans 6).
C5-S14 God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, therefore we do the same because God hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
1. The phrase And all things are of God means that God created everything. Therefore, everything belongs to God including us.
2. The phrase who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ. The word: reconcile means 'To conciliate anew; to call back into union and friendship the affections which have been alienated; to restore to friendship or favor after estrangement; as, to reconcile men or parties that have been at variance'. When we sin we become 'at variance with God' and we lose our 'union and friendship with God'. God hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ when He initially saved us by Jesus and when He changed us to stop our sinning Christ and when God showed us how to live in the flesh using the power of the Holy Spirit by Jesus. (Please also see the Doctrinal Study called: What Did Jesus Do?).
3. The phrase and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation means that God reconciled us to himself so that we could do a job for His kingdom. If we refuse to do the job that God gives us, then we prove that God wasted His reconciliation on us.
4. The phrase To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself means 'here is wisdom To wit'. God worked through Christ (was in Christ). And God was reconciling the world unto himself ('bringing the world back into fellowship with God'). However, since this action is in Christ, we will not receive this reconciliation if we do not maintain our ongoing personal relationship with God that is in Christ.
5. The phrase not imputing their trespasses unto them means that God does not record the sins ('violations of God's law') for the saved people who are truly in Christ. However, this promise does not apply to saved people who do not remain in Christ.
6. The phrase and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation means that, after we have received reconciliation, God expects us to tell other saved people how they also can receive reconciliation.
C5-S15 We are ambassadors for Christ encouraging the saved to be ye reconciled to God.
1. This sentence is almost always preached wrong. It is preached as: 'The saved are ambassadors, from God, to the lost'. An ambassador has power and authority that the regular citizen does not have. Likewise, an apostle has power and authority that the regular saved person does not have. In addition, Christ never deals with the lost. Therefore, this sentence is telling us what the apostles were doing in order to get carnal saved people to be reconciled to God.
2. The word: Now then means 'After you understand what came before this sentence'. It is doctrinal error, and using the way of Satan to interpret the word of God, to ignore the context of this sentence.
3. The phrase we are ambassadors for Christ means that the apostles were speaking with an authority that the regular saved person does not have. They were speaking to saved carnal people and giving commandments from God which will be used as the basis for our personal judgment. (Remember that the judgment seat of Christ is in the context leading up to this sentence.)
4. The phrase as though God did beseech you by us means that they were the direct representatives of God. They were speaking the words of God and begging the people to obey so that God did not have to punish the saved people.
5. The phrase we pray you in Christ's stead means that Christ is God and that Christ sent then to deliver this message.
6. The phrase be ye reconciled to God is the message from Christ. It means: 'each and every one of you personally {ye} need to be brought back into fellowship with a holy and righteous God'.
C5-S16 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
1. The word: For means 'Here's why the prior sentence is true'.
2. The phrase he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin means: 'God the Father made Jesus Christ to be sin even though he never sinned'.
3. The word: that means 'here is the result that God expects from His action'.
4. The phrase we might be made means that this in not guaranteed (might). In addition, the word be is: 'a verb of ongoing existence'. Thus, our phrase means that: 'our ongoing existence might show'.
5. The phrase the righteousness of God in him means that is we are truly in Christ, then our 'our ongoing existence' is to show the righteousness of God. However, if 'our ongoing existence' does not show the righteousness of God, then that is evidence that we truly are not in Christ.

Chapter 6 The Chapter theme is: Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord.

Our chapter starts with 'Don't personally receive...the grace of God in vain' and ends with Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate. In between Paul explains why we need to be separate on a personal level (ye) and how to do it. The last half of the chapter is asking questions to make us think and realize that nothing of God is yoked with anything of the devil. Therefore, if we are to be yoked with God then we need to remove any yoke with the things of Satan.

C6-S1 Don't personally receive...the grace of God in vain.
1. The phrase We then means: 'as a result of what we were told in the prior chapter and especially in the last sentence of the prior chapter'.
2. The phrase as workers together with him means Paul and the others were working with God. This was / is God's work.
3. The phrase beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain means: 'don't you personally receive not the grace of God with only an outward show which does not change the inward person'.
C6-S2 Because now is the day of salvation: now is the day to increase our spiritual life by growing up spiritually.
1. The phrase For he saith means this is a paraphrase of Isaiah 49:8.
2. The phrase I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee means that God heard our cry for salvation and not only gave us spiritual life (in the day of salvation), but God succoured thee ('run to support; hence, to help or relieve when in difficulty, want or distress'). With new-born babies, this means to help them to grow.
3. The phrase behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation. The word: salvation means: 'God's life in us' and includes the ongoing growth of 'God's life in us'. Thus, for saved people, this means: 'now is the time to grow up spiritually'. Please look at the context and carefully consider the context before you disagree with this interpretation.
C6-S3 Details of how to grow up spiritually.
1. The phrase Giving no offence in anything means that the way that we do things should not offend, if possible, even if the truth that we tell causes offense.
2. The phrase that the ministry be not blamed means: 'Here's why'.
3. The phrase But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God means how we do the ministry of God must receive God's approval.
4. The phrase in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings means 'we are to do this in every condition that you can think of'. Please see the detail note for more details on these words
5. The phrase By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned, By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report means 'Here's all of the ways that we are to do the ministry'. Please see the detail note for more details on these words.
6. The phrase as deceivers, and yet true means that we are to be true ministers of God even while people call us deceivers.
7. The phrase As unknown, and yet well known means that even if people don't know us personally, they should well know how all ministers of God should act.
8. The phrase as dying, and, behold, we live means that even as we suffer and die physically, we live spiritually because we know where we will go when we truly die physically.
9. The phrase as chastened, and not killed: Hebrews 12:6-7 says: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?.
10. The phrase As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing means that even as we have sorrow, in this physical world, we are to rejoice because of how God uses that sorrow to give us everlasting spiritual rewards.
11. The phrase as poor, yet making many rich means that we may be poor, in this world, but we can still make many rich spiritually.
12. The phrase as having nothing, and yet possessing all things means we may not have anything in this world but we know that God can give us everything that we need when we need it.
C6-S4 Paul is encouraging them to do this for their own good.
C6-S5 Paul tells them that they are not causing him problems but are causing themselves problems.
C6-S6 Paul is telling them to grow up, spiritually, so that you can be blessed by God.
C6-S7 avoid what keeps you from growing up spiritually.
1. The word: unbelievers includes saved, but carnal, people who refuse to mature spiritually. The context of these two epistles to this church should make that truth obvious.
2. The word: yoked means 'bound together' as in marriage, business or ministry.
3. The phrase Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers means: 'If the other person is not at your spiritual level, and willing to mature more spiritually, then do not get yoked with them'.
4. The phrase for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? means 'Here's why'. You can not have fellowship with someone who insists on living unrighteously.
C6-S8 And what communion hath light with darkness?
1. The word: communion means 'sharing together in a lifestyle '.
2. The word: light, symbolically, means 'the spiritual lifestyle that comes from God'.
3. The word: darkness, symbolically, means 'a sinful lifestyle that is directed by the lusts of our flesh or the dictates of a sinful world or the doctrines of devils'.
C6-S9 And what concord hath Christ with Belial?
1. The role of Christ is used by the Son of God to cause saved people to mature spiritually.
2. The name: Belial is a name for Satan which denotes: 'all anti-Christian pollutions personified' thus, this is the identification of all methods used to convince saved people that they do not have to mature spiritually.
C6-S10 or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
1. the Morrish Bible Dictionary defines infidel as: 'The Greek word is pisto, 'not believing,' and hence an 'unbeliever.' 2Co 6:15; 1Ti 5:8. the word is translated 'unbeliever' in Lu 12:46; 1Co 6:6; 14:23; 2Co 6:14; and 'unbelieving' in 1Co 7:14-15; Tit 1:15; Re 21:8. thus, the scriptural use of the term does not imply the denial of the truth of Christianity, as it is now commonly understood'. Thus, our sentence is asking us means 'How can a true believer have any ongoing personal relationship with someone who refuses to believe?'
C6-S11 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? Anyone who knows even the simplest of Bible doctrine knows that God condemns everything related to idols and curses anyone who is dealing with them.
Please also see the Message called Identifying the Godly for the application of these verses in the life of the believer.
C6-S12 We personally are the temple of the living God and should have nothing to do with any of the things mentioned which are against God. This sentence is stating the basic doctrine of the saved during the 'Church Age'. Please see the detail note for Bible references which give us this doctrine.
C6-S13 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and ouch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
1. The word: Wherefore means 'This is the conclusion that should be evident in the believers' lives wherever and whenever anyone looks at their life'. .
2. The phrase come out from among them, and be ye separate means that we are to leave our former life and live a different life from what unbelievers live.
3. The phrase saith the Lord means that we will be judged for how well we obey this command. This is another reference to the judgment seat of Christ.
4. The phrase and ouch not the unclean thing means 'do not have even the slightest thing to do with anything that the word of God calls unclean'. Please note that this is different from what religion calls unclean.
5. The phrase and I will receive you means that God will let us go to Him with our requests and needs.
6. The phrase And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters means that God is offering us a very personal relationship which includes His protection, Hos provision and His personal love.
7. The phrase saith the Lord Almighty means that this is a promise from the most powerful Being that exists anywhere.
8. Please see the Doctrinal Study called: Significant Events - New Testament for other links to New Testament promises.

Chapter 7 The Chapter theme is: Godly repentance changes relationships.

Our chapter starts with let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit and goes on to tell them how they encouraged Paul and Titus by the cleansing that they had already done. In the middle Paul says that he is not putting them down but encouraging them to do even more because of love. He admits making them feel bad with his prior letter but is not sorry about doing so because it led them to Godly repentance. Basically, they were doing wrong, Paul corrected them, they repented and stared doing right, their change encouraged the preachers and they are encouraged to do even more changes towards righteousness.

This chapter seems to start out presenting a doctrinal lesson but then, instead of presenting and explaining the lesson, Paul gives a testimony. While this might seem to be confusing or at least an abrupt change in topic, what this chapter actually does is show us the application of this doctrine within the life of Paul, Timothy and of Titus.

In our first sentence Paul tells them let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. Then Paul spends several sentences telling them how he was honest and true with them even when he was afraid that he would upset someans was sure that his message would be rejected by many. However, when we consider the message of the first sentence, we see that this type of behaviour is the only way to be perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

In C7-S4 Paul tells how he had boldness before he had evidence because he was walking in faith. In the sentences following that we see how God rewarded his faith and how he ended up rejoicing the more. This testimony is there to encourage God's people to also act in faith with the expectation that God will do what we can not do in our own flesh. Then, starting in C7-S7 Paul starts talking about how he made you sorry with a letter, and risked rejection by them, but did it at God's command in order to correct their error which would have brought great judgment from God. In C7-S11 Paul says In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter., which shows us how God leads His people to do right even when the natural fleshly reaction is the opposite. Finally, starting in C7-S13 Paul gives us the conclusion of this testimony which was that Titus found them to be everything that Paul claimed and Paul was able to send Titus to be their pastor and not worry about their future spiritual health.

Thus, in this chapter we see Paul start with a spiritual truth which he explained by means of using his testimony in order to show us the application of this truth in the lives of people. By following the pattern found here we learn how to apply spiritual truths in our own life and how to help others to apply these truths in their lives.

C7-S1 says: let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit because we have promises which can only be received after we do the cleansing.
1. The phrase Having therefore these promises means 'As a direct result of the promises given in the prior chapter'. Please see the Doctrinal Study called: Significant Events - New Testament for other links to New Testament promises.
2. The phrase dearly beloved means that this commandment is given to saved people because of Godly love.
3. The phrase let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit means this is what we are to do and our chapter explains how to do this. The word: filthiness is speaking about spiritual filthiness which we do in the flesh and spirit. This is talking about following any direction not received from God.
4. The word: perfecting 'becoming spiritually mature'. The word: holiness speaks about 'receiving God's character and having that become our character'. The phrase perfecting holiness in the fear of God means 'We are to do this with the absolute certainty that God will hurt us worse than we can imagine if we do not obey this command'.
C7-S2 Paul tells them that they have no reason to reject what he says.
C7-S3 Paul says I speak not this to condemn you and goes on to say that he is speaking in love. True Biblical love is: 'doing what will cause the other person to receive the greatest long-tern results'. That includes correcting someone when they are doing wrong. in this case, Paul is telling this church how to avoid punishment from God and how to receive the greatest everlasting spiritual rewards.
C7-S4 Paul says that he is speaking out of his confidence in their response.
1. The phrase Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you means that Paul was greatly encouraged by their response to his prior epistle and he told others of that fact.
2. The phrase I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation means that, even though Paul suffered in the flesh and in this world (in all our tribulation), he was spiritually comforted and made exceeding joyful. The reader needs to separate the physical from the spiritual in order for this sentence to make sense.
C7-S5 Paul had a lot of problems in his flesh when he was come into Macedonia.
C7-S6 Nevertheless God...comforted us by the coming of Titus and by his report on the doings of the church in Corinth.
1. The phrase Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus tells us how God comforted Paul in spite of the circumstances that he was in.
2. The phrase And not by his coming only, but by the consolation wherewith he was comforted in you means that Paul was comforted by how they took care of Titus and how they helped Titus with his problems in this world.
3. The phrase when he told us your earnest desire, your mourning, your fervent mind toward me; so that I rejoiced the more lets us know that Titus reported their response to Paul's prior epistle.
C7-S7 Paul knows that he upset them with his prior letter but I do not repent. Paul was not sorry after he sent the prior epistle because, I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though it were but for a season. That is: they were made sorry only long enough to cause them to change their attitudes and actions.
C7-S8 the reason is ye sorrowed to repentance. That is: they quit their sin. They stopped doing what the world said would show their tolerance and did what God demanded that they do to blatant sin as a testimony of what God will do with sinners who refuse to truly Biblically repent.
C7-S9 For Godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. Here, we are told that there are two different types of sorrow and that they produce two different results. This is not of the things that the world tries to get us to ignore the difference between what they say and what God says so that they can convince us to believe their lie that the Bible tells us to do what they claim.
C7-S10 Paul boasts about how much they had changed due to true Godly repentance. Please see the detail note for more details on this sentence.
C7-S11 their change in attitude and action proved their change of heart. (ye have approved yourselves).
C7-S12 the only reason that Paul wrote what he did was that our care for you in the sight of God might appear unto you. Please pay attention to the doctrine of this sentence because it is very important and can be easily overlooked.
1. The phrase I did it not for his cause that had done the wrong, nor for his cause that suffered wrong means that Paul did not correct their attitudes and actions because of the results on the people involved.
2. The phrase but that our care for you in the sight of God might appear unto you means that Paul was God's pastor to this church. As such, he had to show them God's love that came through his ministry. His God-given job was: the care for you in the sight of God. This means that Paul was teaching them how a truly Godly pastor cares for God's people in the way that God demands.
C7-S13 Paul explains the reaction to the report of their submission to God's doctrine.
1. The phrase Therefore we were comforted in your comfort means that Paul, and others, were comforted because God did not have to discipline this church in this matter.
2. The phrase and exceedingly the more joyed we for the joy of Titus means that the report from Titus, and the fact that He had joy from this church, gave joy to other Godly people.
C7-S14 Titus found that what Paul said about the church was true.
1. The phrase because his spirit was refreshed by you all means 'Here's the cause of all of the joy'. Please notice that it was his spirit (which) was refreshed by you all and not because of physical care, even though that was, apparently, also provided.
C7-S15 Titus feels more care for them because of the way that they treated him and because he remembereth the obedience of you all. Before Titus went to this church, Paul had boasted about them to Titus. And, Titus found that the things which Paul had reported were true.
C7-S16 All of this causes Paul to rejoice.

Chapter 8 The Chapter theme is: Live the example of Christ faithfully.

This entire chapter is about keeping a promise to help other saints financially. The church at Corinth made promises to help. The very poor churches in Macedonia gave far more than could have been reasonable expected of them. Titus already went there to help them gather their offering so that it is ready when the men arrive to collect it for the poor saints. Paul sent them warning so that they won't be offended by looking cheap in comparison to the poor of Macedonia. Paul also warns the better off within the church to not dump the burden of the entire church on the poorest members of the church. Paul also explains how the money will be handled by three men of good repute so that there is no question of wrong doing.

C8-S1 is starting a new subject (Moreover), which is 'above and beyond' the prior chapter. Paul wants to tell them about how the grace of God was bestowed on the churches of Macedonia because of their liberality in spite of a great trial of affliction...and their deep poverty. This sentence is well preached and more details can be found in the Detail Study.
C8-S2 they gave beyond their power for the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.
1. The phrase For to their power, I bear record means that Paul personally provided a legal record of their power, which came from God, and is recorded in the first three (3) sentences / five (5) verses.
2. The phrase and beyond their power they were willing of themselves is speaking of their leaving homeans going to Corinth with Paul (2Corinthians 11:9) and getting jobs there to financially support the mission work since they could not earn enough money at home.
3. The Second Step, of our sentence, says: Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. This is a second thing which they did to financially support missions. That's why Philippians 4:19 says: But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. And, as explained for the note for that sentence, people who do not sacrifice as much for the support of missions can not 'claim' the promise of that verse.
C8-S3 they first gave their own selves to the Lord.
1. The phrase And this they did, not as we hoped means that they went beyond all that Paul's missionary team hoped.
2. Please also see the Message called Non-Preachers involved in Missions for the application of these verses in the life of the believer.
3. The phrase but first gave their own selves to the Lord means: 'they committed their lives to go anywhere and do anything which the Lord required of them'.
4. The phrase and unto us by the will of God means: 'they committed their lives to do whatever the pastor directed so long as it was by the will of God'.
C8-S4 Paul sent Titus to make sure they were also prepared. Paul is using the example from the churches of Macedonia to motivate the rich people in Corinth to make an equal sacrifice.
C8-S5 Therefore, as ye abound in every thing...see that ye abound in this grace also. Paul mentions several spiritual things that this church did abound in. (Please see the note in the Detail Study for more details on these things. Paul is telling them that their abounding in other spiritual things is not enough. (Please see 1Corinthians 13 about Charity.)
C8-S6 this is not a command but a test of the sincerity of your love. All throughout this life we are receiving tests from God and how we respond to the tests determines what type of rewards, and how much rewards, we receive in Heaven.
C8-S7 Our Lord Jesus Christ set the example when He proved His love.
1. The phrase For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ is speaking about before He was conceived in Mary. He was God with the power as the Creator. He lived in Heaven and had the worship of angels. He had many other things but set them all aside in order to be conceived as a weak literal human being. (He had to die as a weak literal human being because Death always loses to the Resurrection. Therefore, the Son of God had to set aside His own power and position in order to die for our sins.)
2. The phrase that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor speaks about part of the sacrifice that the Son of God made in order to save us.
3. The phrase that ye through his poverty might be rich tells us: 'Here's why'. True riches are spiritual, according to the Bible. The Son of God did this so that we could become God's children and have an account in Heaven were we could lay up treasure in Heaven. (Please see Hebrews 12:2-LJC and the Message called: Laying up Treasure in Heaven.)
C8-S8 You bragged a year ago about what you were going to do.
1. The phrase And herein I give my advice lets us know that this is not a commandment but is necessary if we want treasure in Heaven.
2. The phrase For this is expedient for you tells us why obeying this advise is for our own good.
3. The phrase who have begun before, not only to do, but also to be forward a year ago means 'You agreed to do this a year ago and started it'.
C8-S9 So make good on those promises now.
C8-S10 Let each give according to what he has.
C8-S11 No one should be put into poverty but there should be an equality of what people have left. God always counts money in percentage such as the tithe is ten (10) percent of income. Therefore, the burden is the same on each person.
1. The phrase For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened: But by an equality tells us God's plan for supporting His ministry.
2. The phrase that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want. These people had an abundance of money while the saints in Jerusalem had a need for money.
3. The phrase that their abundance also may be a supply for your want the saints in Jerusalem had an abundance of spiritual grace and ability to pray. The church in Corinth needed their spiritual abundance.
4. The phrase that there may be equality means that each provided for the need of the other.
5. The phrase As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack. This is a quote of Exodus 16:18 and Jesus applied this truth in Luke 22:35.
C8-S12 thank God that Titus wants to help you.
C8-S13 Titus had already left to help that church.
C8-S14 A second man went with Titus so that there is no accusation of wrong doing. Here we see why the pastor should not directly handle the money but should give directions to the person who actually handles the money. This is what Paul is doing here. At least Paul and this other man, and Titus while Titus is with them, are all accountable for the handling of the money even while Paul, as the preacher, is not directly handling the money
C8-S15 A third man also went as another witness of the handling of money.
C8-S16 the credentials of Titus and the other two men.
C8-S17 Now give what you promised to give a year ago. God believes in: 'Put Up Or Shut Up'. That is: live what you preach.

Chapter 9 The Chapter theme is: the blessings of giving.

This chapter provides the proper attitudes and motivations for giving to the needs of the church. It has 'the law of sowing and reaping'. It explains the responsibility of giver and receiver to thank God. The receiver is to pray for God's grace to be given to the giver while thanking God for having his needs and wants supplied. The giver is to thank God for the bounty and the chance to help his brother and for the promise that God will provide increase to the giver according to their level of cheerful giving.

Please see the Doctrinal Study called: Godly Financial principals for the Law of Sowing and Reaping and How to Become a Cheerful Giver.

C9-S1 Paul does not need to explain why and how they should help other saints because they understood the previous year and made promises at that time.
1. The word superfluous means: 'More than necessary or wanted'. Thus, the first phrase of our sentence says that Paul writing about the ministering to the saints, was 'More than necessary or wanted'.
2. The Second Equivalent Section tells us why this was true.
C9-S2 Paul sent people ahead to be sure that they were ready so that, after he bragged about them to the churches in Macedonia, they would be embarrassed by not being ready.
1. The phrase Yet have I sent the brethren, lest our boasting of you should be in vain in this behalf; that, as I said, ye may be ready means that Paul was being careful to verify that they did as they promised and as Paul had bragged about their promises.
2. In the Second Equivalent Section, Paul writes that he would be embarrassed along with them if they did not do as they promised.
C9-S3 Paul wants them to understand that the collection is to be of bounty, and not as of covetousness.
1. The phrase Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they would go before unto you tells why Paul sent men to them with instructions about the collection.
2. The phrase and make up beforehand your bounty means that this collection was not to cause anyone to give up what they needed to live.
3. The phrase whereof ye had notice before, that the same might be ready means that Paul is reminding them of their promises.
4. The phrase as a matter of bounty, and not as of covetousness means that everyone is to keep the right attitude about this money.
C9-S4 is 'The law of Sowing and Reaping', which is: He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. The attributes of this law are:
1. We will all reap what we sow.
2. You will reap the same kind of thing that you sow (rice, trouble, etc).
3. You will reap later than you sow.
4. You will reap more than you sow.
C9-S5 Tells us the proper attitude to have about giving to God's ministry.
1. The phrase as he purposeth in his heart means that we are to pray and seek what God puts in our heart.
2. The phrase so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity tells us the limits on our giving.
3. The phrase for God loveth a cheerful giver tells us why we are to have this attitude.
C9-S6 the promise of blessings in this life that are based upon our giving.
1. Please also see the Message called Blessings According to Obedience for the application of these verses in the life of the believer.
2. The phrase And God is able to make all grace abound toward you reminds us that God is Who rewards true acts of faith.
3. The phrase that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work reminds us that God gives sufficiency in all things and does so that ye...may abound to every good work.
4. The phrase As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever. Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness tells us:
  1. This quote is from Psalms 112.
  2. The phrase He hath dispersed abroad is speaking about supporting foreign missions.
  3. The phrase he hath given to the poor is clear on the surface but mainly applies to the poor missionary going to the poor in foreign lands.
  4. The phrase his righteousness remaineth for ever is the promise from God for doing the earlier part of this sentence.
  5. The word: Now means: 'After you understand what was just written'.
  6. The phrase he that ministereth seed to the sower means 'the person who teaches true lessons from the Bible (seed) to the missionaries and workers in God's field (sowers)'.
  7. The word: both means they are accomplishing two results.
  8. The phrase minister bread for your food means that he is giving spiritual food to the sowers.
  9. The phrase multiply your seed sown means that this is producing multiplied results and not just additional results. God adds to our Heavenly account when true lessons which we give are passed on and God counts this to the third and fourth generation.
  10. The phrase and increase the fruits of your righteousness speaks of the change in the life of the teacher.
5. The phrase Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness tells us what God provides so that we can do the work in His kingdom.
6. The phrase which causeth through us thanksgiving to God means that all givers and receivers are to give thanksgiving unto God.
C9-S7 this service not only not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God and prayers for the givers by the receivers.
1. The phrase For the administration of this service speaks about the people actually doing this work in God's kingdom.
2. The phrase not only supplieth the want of the saints means: this is how God decided to provide for the physical needs of His workers.
3. The phrase but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God means that both the giver and the receiver are to thank God.
4. The phrase Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection into the gospel of Christ means that the receiver is to thank God for the professed subjection into the gospel of Christ of the giver.
5. The phrase and for your liberal distribution unto them means that the receiver is to thank God for their liberal distribution and for God having it directed to the receiver.
6. The phrase and unto all men means that the receiver is to thank God for the giver participating in support of missions in general.
7. The phrase And by their prayer for you, which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you means that the receiver is to long for God to continue to provide the exceeding grace of God in the receiver.
C9-S8 says: Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift. This is the summary of the entire chapter. What God provides to the giver and to the receiver is beyond our ability to adequately express it.

Chapter 10 The Chapter theme is: Paul's authority is from the Lord.

in this chapter Paul is dealing with his critics. They had gone to this church while Paul was not around and criticized Paul to turn the heart of these people from Paul and owards themselves. They did not make their own converts but sought to steal the converts from Paul so that this church would pay then and provide for their physical desires. Paul was dealing with these lazy critics who would lead this church into error. He also makes it clear that instead of providing for these false teachers they should be supporting his efforts the take the gospel of Christ to other people who had not yet heard it.

C10-S1 Paul begs them by the meekness and gentleness of Christ that they don't force him to be bold when he comes to see them face-to-face.
1. The phrase Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ means that Paul is not using his own authority but the authority of Christ.
2. The phrase who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you means that Paul recognizes that his physical presence is not impressive but that he can be bold in his letters.
3. The phrase But I beseech you, that I may not be bold when I am present with that confidence means Paul is begging them to remember that he represents Christ and not judge his message based upon his physical presence.
4. The phrase wherewith I think to be bold against some, which think of us as if we walked according to the flesh means Paul is going to correct some and everyone needs to remember that he is not doing so based upon the authority of his flesh. He represents Christ.
C10-S2 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh.
1. The phrase For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh means that our war is spiritual even though we are in this physical world (flesh).
2. The phrase For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds means that our weapons are not of this physical world but that God does the spiritual battle for us.
3. The phrase Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God tells us what we fight against.
4. The phrase and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ tells us what we fight for.
5. The phrase And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience tells us how far we are to take the fight.
6. The phrase when your obedience is fulfilled tells us the minimum requirement to be in this spiritual war.
C10-S3 Don't judge things by the outward appearance
C10-S4 If anyone claims to be Christ's then they need to realize that Paul and other preachers are also Christ's. Therefore, the people need to acknowledge that the message is from Christ and not from Paul.
C10-S5 Paul will not be ashamed of his claiming authority from the Lord.
1. The phrase For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord hath given us means that Paul did not do enough to emphasize that his authority came from the Lord. As a result, others claimed that Paul's authority came from religious credentials and that they had better religious credentials.
2. The phrase for edification, and not for your destruction tells us why the Lord gave Paul this authority. Paul spoke with the purpose of edification while his opponents, who taught doctrinal error, spoke for your destruction.
3. The phrase I should not be ashamed means that Paul is not ashamed of where his authority comes from.
4. The phrase That I may not seem as if I would terrify you by letters means that Paul is not writing letters to terrify them but to correct and edify them.
C10-S6 Paul repeats the criticism leveled against him which is that he is not imposing when present in person. People used this criticism to try and undermine his authority. However, the criticism did nothing to Paul's true authority, which came from the Lord.
C10-S7 Paul warns the critics that he will be as imposing in person as he is in his letters.
C10-S8 People who are comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.
1. The phrase For we dare not make ourselves of the number means that Paul and other preachers dare not pretend that they are like everyone else and have no more authority than anyone else.
2. The phrase or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves means that Paul and other preachers dare not pretend that their authority comes from the flesh like others do.
3. The phrase but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise because all true wisdom comes from God.
C10-S9 Paul's authority is according to the measure of the rule which God hath distributed to us. And, that measure reaches even unto you because the Lord said that it did.
C10-S10 Paul does not steal the converts of others, like his critics are trying to do, but uses the authority given to him by God and he is planning on having them help him take the gospel of Christ to other people.
1. The phrase For we stretch not ourselves beyond our measure means that Paul, and his company, were not exceeding their true authority.
2. The phrase as though we reached not unto you: for we are come as far as to you also in preaching the gospel of Christ means that Paul, and his company, were not trying to steal the converts of someone else because they had led the members of this church to salvation.
3. The phrase Not boasting of things without our measure, that is, of other men's labours means they were not doing what those other preachers were doing.
4. The phrase but having hope, when your faith is increased, that we shall be enlarged by you according to our rule abundantly means that Paul, and his company, were hoping that they would get involved in the ministry when they matured more spiritually.
5. The phrase To preach the gospel in the regions beyond you is how Paul wanted them to be involved in the ministry.
6. The phrase and not to boast in another man's line of things made ready to our hand is what Paul, and his company, were not going to do.
C10-S11 Let everybody glory in the Lord and not in themselves.
C10-S12 says: For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth. This tells us why we need to rely on whom the Lord commendeth and not on worldly commendations.

Chapter 11 The Chapter theme is: Paul's Worldly Credentials.

Paul starts this chapter with Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly and ends it with his testimony of his religious credentials and many of the things that he suffered in the flesh so that he could bring them the gospel. Paul's critics claimed greater authority than Paul had because of their religious credentials. Within this chapter Paul shows that he has more of the religious credentials than his critics have. He also shows how his testimony is different than theirs. While they sought to use the church to provide things for their flesh, Paul never did that but had others provide for him while he gave them the gospel. Thus, Paul shows them that his critics want the people of Corinth to support their physical lusts while Paul wanted to get them the blessings of God.

In addition, to this, the people in this church were upset because their pride was stepped on. Paul had been supported by the brethren which came from Macedonia when their church was a mission effort and Paul is bragging about how these poor people supported his mission effort. Instead of taking up the mission effort and helping to support Paul's work, these people got upset about the appearance of the rich having to be supported by the poor. They were considered to be rich and other rich people were insulting them for relying upon the poor. They were more concerned about their worldly image than they were about the work of God. Because of their wrong concern, they were taken in by false apostles, deceitful workers who gave them the 'right image' in the world but who, in truth, were ministers of Satan that only wanted their money.

C11-S1 Paul asks that we bear with me a little in my folly. What Paul calls folly is his giving his religious credentials. He does so, in this chapter and elsewhere, because critics claimed that he did not have any. In face, Paul had better religious credentials than any of his critics. However, as Paul writes more than once, credentials come from men and are the wrong way to determine if someone truly is a messenger from the Lord. Therefore, Paul did not speak about his credentials but spoke about how the Lord worked through Paul and others.
C11-S2 He asks that we bear with me a little in my folly because he wants us to be presented as a chaste virgin to Christ.
1. The phrase For I am jealous over you with Godly jealousy lets us know that, while jealousy is usually sin, it is not always so.
2. The phrase for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ means: 'Here's why Paul has a Godly jealousy'. He wants us to be free from any spiritual entanglements with devils (a chaste virgin) and free from the doctrines of devils (1Timothy 4:1). The phrase I have espoused you to one husband, symbolically, means that Paul made them part of the church / bride of Christ.
C11-S3 Paul is worried that our minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
1. The phrase But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty is a reference to Genesis 3:1-6. where Satan first questioned Eve about what God said and made her doubt the word of God.
2. The word: so tells us that what follows it is the result of what preceded it. That is: doubt the word of God will cause the saved person to experience our next phrase.
3. The phrase your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ means our way of thinking (mind) will be come so (corrupted) that the person will find it impossible to accept the simplicity that is in Christ. They will refuse to accept that all they have to do is believe and obey in order to have God work in and through their life.
C11-S4 Our sentence warns us about a result of having our minds...corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. That is, if we let our minds be corrupted then we probably will also do the things of this sentence. (For if...ye might well bear with him).
1. The phrase he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached. We see this everywhere with many people preaching a Jesus who does not match the character of the Son of God Who is presented in the Bible. The true Biblical Jesus said: follow me (Mark 2:14), and expected truly saved people to obey that command. (Please see the Doctrinal Study called: What Did Jesus Do? for the example that we are expected to follow.)
2. The phrase or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received means 'a devil' because the word is spelled as a lowercase noun, which is either e devil or a human. (Please see the Word Study on spirit for more details and an explanation of every usage within the Bible.)
3. The phrase or another gospel, which ye have not accepted is a perversion of God's truth. Please use the link provided to find this phrase in the Word Study on the word gospel.
4. Please notice that every one of these are lies and doctrines of devils (1Timothy 4:1) which are designed to replace true salvation with a lie that will send people to Hell
C11-S5 However, Paul has as much authority as the very chiefest apostles.
C11-S6 Paul isn't a good speaker but he knows a lot of Bible truth.
1. The phrase But though I be rude in speech means Paul wasn't the fancy speaker that preachers then, and oday, claim that a person must be in order to be a true preacher.
2. The phrase yet not in knowledge means that Paul knew, and understood, the true doctrines of the word of God. Most preachers then, and oday, know the doctrine that their religion preaches but can not truly defend it from the word of God and can not tell you God's way to interpret the word of God.
3. The phrase but we have been thoroughly made manifest among you in all things means that Paul revealed his doctrine every possible way. He let them see how he truly lived what he preached.
C11-S7 Paul wonders if they were offended because I have preached to you the gospel of God freely?
1. The phrase Have I committed an offence in abasing myself that ye might be exalted tells us the true reason that Paul abased himself. This action was, and still is, required in order for God to work through his life and save them (that ye might be exalted).
2. The phrase because I have preached to you the gospel of God freely? this phrase is explained more in the next sentences. However, it lets us know that the devil-motivated preachers claimed that anyone who preached for free must be a liar. That is, they accused Paul of doing their own sin.
C11-S8 Paul says that other churches supported him while they were a mission. The next sentence tells us what churches Paul robbed in order to start the mission work in Corinth and not have the locals support him before they organized as an independent church.
C11-S9 Paul says that the brethren which came from Macedonia supplied all of his needs.
1. The phrase And when I was present with you, and wanted, I was chargeable to no man means that no man, in Corinth, paid for Paul's needs.
2. The word: for means: 'Here's why'.
3. The phrase that which was lacking to me the brethren which came from Macedonia supplied means that non-preachers came from Macedonia for the specific purpose of getting jobs and being the missionary helpers who provided the physical needs of the preachers. This is lost in our Missions programs of today and there are even people who preach against this Bible truth.
4. The phrase and in all things I have kept myself from being burdensome unto you means that Paul did not ask them to financially support the ministry before it was organized as an independent church. The Bible does not say that this is required but presents it as a good idea.
5. The phrase and so will I keep myself tells us that, while this church should have been supporting Paul as their missionary, they had liars in the church perverting God's way to handle money and teaching people lies about supporting Paul. Therefore, Paul chose to not accept the support which he should have received and he did this to stop the mouths of the liars. (See C11-S14 for Paul writing this explanation.)
C11-S10 Paul says that he will continue to boast about how the poor people from Macedonia paid to support his mission efforts. The proud people of Corinth were upset because it made them look cheep. And, they could have corrected that error by starting to support Paul, but, apparently, they didn't. Therefore, they were more worried about their reputation before men that they were about receiving God's blessings after they started doing right.
C11-S11 Paul asks Wherefore? to ask 'Why should he ever stop boasting about people who obeyed God and became missionaries?'.
C11-S12 Paul asks because I love you not? these people were concerned with their own pride instead of being concerned with giving credit where it is due.
C11-S13 Paul answers these questions with God knoweth. Lots of people claim this phrase as a way to excuse sin but Paul uses it to warn his readers that nothing is hid from God and God will judge everything.
C11-S14 Paul explains that he is not trying to step on their pride but that he may cut off occasion from them who are trying to take advantage of his converts. Paul is providing evidence that they are liars when they claim to be more spiritual (that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we).
C11-S15 Paul warns them that such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. They claim to be more spiritual but are not willing to forego financial support like Paul did. Paul called them: false apostles, deceitful workers because they claimed to be dependent on Christ but were truly dependent upon money from the church people. They did not live what they claimed that is why Paul wrote that they were transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. Only Christ can truly make someone an apostle of Christ.
C11-S16 Paul also warns that Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore, they should not be surprised at what the ministers of Satan did. This truth is literally written by Paul in the next sentence.
C11-S17 Paul warns us to not marvel when the ministers of Satan are accepted as he ministers of righteousness. They are only following the leading of Satan, as explained in the prior sentence. This sentence is also a prophecy of their destruction.
C11-S18 Paul says Let no man think me a fool and goes on to say that if someone will consider him as a fool (someone to be judged By this world's methods), then let him boast about his worldly credentials.
1. The phrase I say again is a direct reference to the start of this chapter (11:1).
2. The phrase Let no man think me a fool; if otherwise, yet as a fool receive me means that Paul truly is not a fool. Yet, He will act like a fool, in the3 following sentences, in order to show that he really does have better religious credentials than the ministers of Satan. Therefore, according to their method of measurement, Paul is a greater authority. However, Paul follows this section, and ends the chapter, with how he has suffered at the hands of people doing the work of Satan. And, he suffered these things so that he could continue to bring us God's truth. However, no minister of Satan would continue in spite of such suffering.
C11-S19 Paul says that boasting about worldly accomplishments is not after the Lord.
C11-S20 Paul now says that he will glory after the flesh because that is all that some people will listen to.
C11-S21 Paul says ye suffer fools gladly and think you are wise while they actually were what God calls fools. This sentence is obvious sarcasm. Truly wise people do not suffer fools gladly, especially when they refuse correction and insist that their foolishness is greater than true wisdom. Therefore, the phrase of: seeing ye yourselves are wise is obvious sarcasm since they considered themselves to be wise while reusing to act that way.
C11-S22 Paul names several ways that people can suffer in this physical world. He is relating this to the prior sentence where he said: ye suffer fools gladly. And, while they might not suffer physically, because of their attitude and actions, they will suffer spiritually because of them. Further, the next sentence explains this more.
C11-S23 Paul says I speak as concerning reproach, as though we had been weak with the indication that he did not have to suffer reproach but had done so, in this world, for their sake. However, he also is implying, with the context, that they will suffer reproach in Heaven if they continue in their attitudes and actions.
C11-S24 Since they think he could not answer, and refuse to believe that he could but choose to not do so, Paul will now give an answer.
C11-S25-30 Paul says that he has the same credentials as his critics claim.
C11-S31 Are they ministers of Christ? Our next sentence makes it clear that this question is different from the prior questions when Paul writes: I am more. A true minister of Christ i: 'a servant who teaches the spiritually maturing lessons from Christ'. However, since these people were teaching lessons from religion which go directly against the 'spiritually maturing lessons from Christ', they were proven to be liars when they made this claim. And, while that was true, Paul did not point it out because that would let them argue against the truth wit the lies that they had prepared. Instead, starting in the next sentence and continuing through the end of the chapter, Paul writes how he personally suffered fir the ministry of Christ, which these liars had not done. Therefore, they could not dispute Pail's claim of: I more so
C11-S32 Christ suffered for the lost and Paul suffered, like Christ did, more than any of his critics did. And, a true minister of Christ would also suffer like Christ.
1. The phrase I speak as a fool means that Paul is giving physical evidence in this world for a spiritual claim.
2. The phrases: I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft spake of how Paul suffered for the ministry while his critics refused to do the same.
11:24-27 Paul describes some of the physical suffering that he endured because of the ministry of Christ.
11:28 Paul mentions some of the spiritual burdens that he endures because of the ministry of Christ.
11:29 Paul mentions some of the personal level things that he endures because of the ministry of Christ.
11:30 Paul says that he will only glory of the things which concern mine infirmities because those make it obvious that what was done must have been done by God and not by Paul.
C11-S39 Paul calls on God as his witness while knowing tat he will be judged by God if he lies (The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not.)
C11-S40 Paul gives his testimony of God preserving him in Damascus. This supports his claim that God is his witness.

Chapter 12 The Chapter theme is: the spiritual evidence of Paul's ministry.

Paul had exceptional spiritual revelations given to him. He also had a thorn in the flesh to keep him from becoming overly proud because of the spiritual blessings. Therefore, he reveals them in this chapter using a third-person voice instead of saying I. In addition, he makes it clear that the only reason why he revealed these things was because people in this church thought he had less authority than these false prophets. As he says in this chapter, for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be nothing. Paul also makes it clear that he is not after their money, like the false prophets were, but he was seeking you and he was doing that to turn people to Christ so that they would get blessings. Paul ends this chapter stating his fear that when he gets there he will have to be harsh in order to straighten out problems because these people turned from truth to error.

C12-S1 Paul says that It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory that is, Paul will gain nothing from what he writes in this chapter but he is going to explain things for the good of others.
C12-S2 Paul is going to tell how the Lord gave him special visions and revelations.
C12-S3 Paul switches to third-person speech (a man in Christ) to describe what happened to him. This is to reduce the accusations of Paul bragging.
C12-S4 Paul talks about going to paradise and hearing things which it is not lawful for a man to utter. Notice that he also writes: whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth. Paul is telling us that true prophetic experiences are so real that the prophet, often, can not tell if he experiences it physically or only in his spirit.
C12-S5 Paul will glory in a un-named person who is spoken about in the third-person, but he will not glory about himself personally except in mine infirmities. That is, he will explain the spiritual experience but not take any personal glory for experiencing it.
1. The phrase Of such an one will I glory means that Paul is writing in the third person to make it non-personal. He is telling how God used him so that people would put their trust in God.
2. The phrase yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities means that Paul would only glory in mine infirmities because they proved that Paul did not do this with his own ability and, by doing so, he proved that it was God Who did this. If someone wants to complain or object, then they have to do so to God.
C12-S6 Paul wanted to glory but refused to do so.
1. The phrase For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool that taking credit for what God does through us makes us a fool.
2. The phrase for I will say the truth: but now I forbear means that Paul will; tell the complete truth, in the future, but will only write part of the truth in this epistle.
3. The phrase lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me means this is why Paul is writing like he is in this chapter. He doesn't want anyone thinking that he is taking credit for what God did through him.
C12-S7 God gave Paul a thorn in the flesh to keep him from being lifted up in pride. Paul makes it very clear that his thorn in the flesh was to prevent pride because of all of the revelations which God gave to Paul. Yet, there are foolish and prideful people who claim that God gave them a thorn in the flesh just to prove how spiritual they are. And, every such instance of this that I have heard of, the so-called thorn in the flesh was actually the result of their ongoing personal pride and ongoing sin. Therefore, people need to be careful of anyone making this type of claim.
C12-S8 three times Paul prayed for God to remove it. And, God refused to do so. Thus, there are times that God wants us to suffer in the flesh for our own spiritual good. And, the next few sentences tell us that this is what Paul concluded.
C12-S9 the answer that he received was: My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Many preachers have made messages from this sentence and it is one of those things that are easy to say and hard to live. However, the next sentence tells us the only attitude that will let us truly live with this type of answer from our Lord. When we are truly so weak that everyone has to acknowledge it, then it becomes obvious that it is truly our Lord Who enables us to overcome our situation. And, I write this from personal experience. More than one time and more than one doctor has confessed that I had 'undeniable multiple miracles'. People are forced to make that type of confession only when there is absolutely no way that a person could get out of their circumstances by using their own fleshly abilities.
C12-S10 Paul was glad for anything which would cause the power of Christ may rest upon me.
1. The phrase Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities gives us the attitude to have when we are in circumstances which are called impossible. And, notice that this phrase has the action verb of: glory. If you are not willing to actively tell others how God is going to protect you and provide for you, then why should God give you a miracle?.
2. The phrase that the power of Christ may rest upon me tells us what most saved people don't like and that many deny. When most saved people are in these circumstances they pray: 'God, get me out of these circumstances' instead of praying; 'God, use these circumstances to display your power and love so that others turn to you for salvation and other blessings'.
C12-S11 We are to take pleasure in what makes us weak in the flesh but powerful in Christ.
1. The phrase Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake means that Paul took pleasure in circumstances which made it obvious that he could not get himself out of them using his own power. He openly displayed this attitude for Christ's sake. That is, so that people could not deny that it was Christ working in and through his life to deal with the circumstances. And, as I already wrote, he had to be loudly proclaiming what God could do before he received the miracle.
2. The phrase for when I am weak, then am I strong. means: 'when I am weak in the flesh then I am strong in the spiritual power of Christ'.
C12-S12 Paul is writing that he acted like a fool and tell them of his fleshly attributes because they refuse to recognize his spiritual abilities.
1. The phrase I am become a fool in glorying is speaking about his writing his fleshly, and religious, attributes.
2. The phrase ye have compelled me means 'each and every one of you personally forced me (Paul) to do this'. All of them knew Paul and knew how he had led them to their salvation. Therefore, each of them should have stood up for Paul. Their failing to do so was a personal failure on their part. Thus, they compelled Paul to tell his fleshly, religious, attributes by refusing to consider his spiritual attributes.
3. The phrase for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles means that they had the highest human authority to lead them to salvation. They should have refused to listen to anyone who had a lesser authority.
4. The phrase though I be nothing means that it did not matter what his fleshly, religious, attributes were. His spiritual attributes were all that mattered when it came to representing God.
C12-S13 Paul tells them that they had the true evidence of his authority when the signs of an apostle were wrought among you.
1. The phrase Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you means that Paul gave them all of the evidence required to prove that he was a true Apostle. Those signs were what they were supposed to look at because those signs were the true evidence that Paul, truly, represented God. They were not supposed to look at Earthly things like religious credentials.
2. The phrase in all patience means that Paul took his time to make sure that they all saw the sighs and understood what they were seeing. He did not do something so fast that they were not sure what they saw and then claimed that he did something that he did not do. That is how liars work.
3. The phrase in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds means they saw God do miracles through Paul and saw more than one evidence of God working through the ministry of Paul. And, they saw God work more than one way so that they knew Paul was not doing some trick multiple times in order to convince them of a lie.
C12-S14 Paul asks how they received anything less than other churches other than their not supporting him.
C12-S15 says: forgive me this wrong. this is obvious sarcasm. If they were truly upset about this thing then they could have started supporting Paul as their missionary. However, they refused to support Paul, even though he was still their apostle, and they claimed to be offended that he did not make them support him earlier. Is not their inconsistency obvious? Yet, wrong religious doctrine always makes people inconsistent.
C12-S16 Paul is going to visit them again and he does not want their money but wants them (their souls) for Christ. In addition, Paul gives them the doctrinal basis of his pl and when he writes: for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children (Proverbs 13:22; Proverbs 19:14).
C12-S17 Paul is willing to be spent for you regardless of how they react to his love. This demonstrates God's love.
C12-S18 Paul says that he did not burden you but used guile (to) catch you. Paul knew that they devoted their lives to money and things of the flesh. When they were lost, they were suspicious of people trying to trick them out of money by doing things like claiming to represent God but charging them for miracles from God. Therefore, Paul did not charge them and, that way, got them to listen to the true Gospel.
C12-S19-24 Paul and everyone that Paul sent acted in the same spirit and did not seek to make a gain. They gave the truth and did not charge for it. Paul asks them to verify this truth about his messengers such as Titus.
C12-S25 Paul calls God as his witness that we do all things, dearly beloved, for your edifying. The fact that Paul, and others, did not charge for their service was evidence that they relied on God for their needs and, thereby, proved that they truly were messengers from God.
C12-S26 Paul is afraid of the fighting he will find when he goes there and what he will have to do in order to correct problems. Therefore, Paul is writing this epistle so that the sinners can get right with God before he goes there and has to publically correct them in front of all of the church.
1. The phrase For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would means that Paul is afraid that he will find some church members living in sin. Therefore, he is writing this epistle to warn them to stop their sin before he gets there.
2. The phrase and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not means that Paul will not be the weak person that those sinners thought that he was.
3. The phrase lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults tells us the specific types of sins which were ongoing. Please note that these are all results of sinful attitudes.
4. The phrase And lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall bewail many which have sinned already, and have not repented means that God is who will require Paul to bewail many which have sinned already, and have not repented. In addition, God will humble Paul just like a parent should be humbled by a child acting up in a public place. That type of activity, by the child, shows that the parent failed to properly train the child.
5. The phrase of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed names the motivating sins which prompt people to do the other things mentioned in this sentence.

Chapter 13 The Chapter theme is: Beware, Judgment is Coming.

In his closing chapter Paul warns them what he will do to church members who keep sinning. He is planning to visit them and he will deal with anyone who refuses to stop sinning at that time. Paul makes it clear that he doesn't want to do this and is writing them before he shows up in person. He also warns that he has the power of God working in him. In addition, Paul says that if Jesus Christ is not in us then we are reprobates. This is our test for our ongoing walk with God. Paul finishes with a final blessing, as he always does.

C13-S1 This is the third time I am coming to you.. This is a repeat of C12-S16.
C13-S2 Paul is going to establish the truth using procedures which are required in God's court. (In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established).
C13-S3 this is the last warning to church members who are still sinning: I will not spare.
1. The phrase I told you before, and foretell you, as if I were present, the second time means that Paul has given them the legal warning. Any, and all, who ignore the warning will be judged by God.
2. The phrase and being absent now I write to them which heretofore have sinned, and to all other is identifying the people that Paul is sending this legal warning to.
3. The phrase if I come again, I will not spare means no more mercy and no more grace for ongoing sin.
4. The phrase Since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, which to you-ward is not weak, but is mighty in you means. 'here is why there will be no more mercy and no more grace for ongoing sin'.
C13-S4 Christ works by the power of God and through Paul. The phrase For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God means that Jesus Christ overcame death by the power of God and that He current liveth ('has a never-ending life'). No one else has this level of proven power. Only fools look at the past when he was crucified through weakness. Wise people look at the current power that Jesus Christ proved that He has.
C13-S5 Paul is personally weak but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you. Therefore, since the power of God is working through Paul, only a fool will ignore this warning.
C13-S6 Prove whether ye be in the faith.
1. The phrase Examine yourselves tells us to do what most people refuse to do. Most people assume that they are OK without verification. That is why religious people go to Hell.
2. The phrase whether ye be in the faith means 'here is what you need to verify'. The word: the means 'there is only one and here it is'. The phrase the faith means 'the only true faith is defined by the word of God'. Trusting anything else will send people to Hell.
C13-S7 If Jesus Christ is not in us then we are reprobates.
1. The word: reprobate means 'that which is rejected on account of its own worthlessness (Jer 6:30; Heb 6:8; Gr. adokimos, "rejected"). this word is also used with reference to persons cast away or rejected because they have failed to make use of opportunities offered them (1Co 9:27; 2Co 13:5-7)'.
2. If a person is not following the example of Jesus, for how to live in the flesh, or if they are not allowing Christ to spiritually mature them, then they are not in a proper relationship to Jesus Christ and He is not in them. Thus, such people are reprobates and are rejected by God. As taught many places in the Bible, they are heading for more than 1,000-years of tears if they are truly saved.
C13-S8 But I trust that ye shall know that we are not reprobates the life that Paul, and his fellow missionaries lived, proved this truth.
C13-S9 Paul prays that we will always be honest regardless of what people think about Paul personally.
C13-S10 For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth. No one has the power to change the truth because it is defined by God and personified in Jesus Christ. (Please use this link - Truth, to see the Word Study on Truth which has very place in the word of God where any form of the word is used, along with the true Biblical definition and an explanation of all of the true Biblical applications of the word.
C13-S11 Paul's wish is that others be strong. Paul, and all true parents and pastors, are more concerned with the maturing of their children than they are concerned about themselves.
C13-S12 Paul is writing before going in person so that he can avoid sharpness.
1. The phrase Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness tells us why Paul wrote this epistle. The phrase according to the power which the Lord hath given me to edification, and not to destruction means that the Lord gave this power to Paul for edification. He does not want to use it for destruction.
C13-S13 Finally, brethren, farewell.
C13-S14-18 Final blessings of this epistle. Paul wishes them to receive these blessings but they must submit, and obey, the commandments of this epistle in order to receive these blessings.

Start of Book Study, Start of web page, Start of Chapter

God in 2Corinthians

from God:
grace	1:2, 1:12, 9:8
of God:
will	1:1
church	1:1
comfort	1:3, 1:4
Son	1:19
promises	1:20
word	2:17, 4:2
sight	2:17, 4:2, 7:12
we are	2:17
our sufficiency	3:5
power	4:7, 6:7, 13:4
glory	4:15
building	5:1
temple	6:16
all things	5:18
righteousness	5:21
grace	6:1, 8:1, 9:14
ministers	6:4
fear	7:1
will	8:5
knowledge	10:5
gospel	11:7
love and peace	13:11
love	13:14
God did / do:
raiseth the dead	1:9
stablisheth us in Christ	1:21
commanded the light to shine out of darkness	4:6
wrought mortality swallowed up of life	5:5
living	6:16
hath said	6:16
comforts	7:6
loveth a cheerful giver	9:7
distributed to us	10:13
knoweth	11:11, 11:31, 12:2, 12:3
humble Paul	12:21
unto God:
thanks	2:14
we are a sweet savour of Christ	2:15
we are made manifest	5:11
man - God:
call on God	1:23
we be beside ourselves...to God	5:13
I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people	6:16
glorify God	9:13
pray	13:7
thank God:	8:16, 9:11, 9:12, 9:15
God is:
blessed	1:3
true	1:18
living	3:3
God in Christ:
reconciling the world unto himself	5:19
hears us	12:19
mighty through God	10:4
Would to God	11:1

Start of Book Study, Start of web page

Interpretive Study of 2Corinthians

Epistle theme: Spirit led life vs Fleshly life

God's Way to Study His Word:

Overview of 2Corinthians

Epistle theme: Spirit led life vs Fleshly life

Chapter Outlines by sentence format.

Chapter 1

The Chapter theme is: Why Paul is writing.

Chapter 2

The Chapter theme is: What has been going on.

Chapter 3

The Chapter theme is: the Spirit of the Lord used Paul to change their lives.

Chapter 4

The Chapter theme is: Basics of ministry for all saved people.

Chapter 5

The Chapter theme is: the purpose of our current life.

Chapter 6

The Chapter theme is: Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord.

Chapter 7

The Chapter theme is: Godly repentance changes relationships.

Chapter 8

The Chapter theme is: Live the example of Christ faithfully.

Chapter 9

The Chapter theme is: the blessings of giving.

Chapter 10

The Chapter theme is: Paul's authority is from the Lord.

Chapter 11

The Chapter theme is: Paul's Worldly Credentials.

Chapter 12

The Chapter theme is: the spiritual evidence of Paul's ministry.

Chapter 13

The Chapter theme is: Beware, Judgment is Coming.

God in 2Corinthians

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