Paul and the False Apostles (Part 1)

Introduction:

In this passage, Paul continues to defend his position as the spiritual authority in the Corinthian church.

Generally speaking, it’s wrong to boast.

There is a Time for Boasting, if it is Done Correctly.

Paul continues to boast (in the Lord) in this passage.

In order to compare his own ministry with that of the false apostles who have invaded the Corinthian church, Paul has to speak about himself, which inevitably seems like foolish boasting.

2 Corinthians 11:1-6 NLT
Paul and the False Apostles (Part 1)
¹ I hope you will put up with a little more of my foolishness. Please bear with me. ² For I am jealous for you with the jealousy of God himself. I promised you as a pure bride to one husband—Christ. ³ But I fear that somehow your pure and undivided devotion to Christ will be corrupted, just as Eve was deceived by the cunning ways of the serpent. ⁴ You happily put up with whatever anyone tells you, even if they preach a different Jesus than the one we preach, or a different kind of Spirit than the one you received, or a different kind of gospel than the one you believed.
⁵ But I don’t consider myself inferior in any way to these “super apostles” who teach such things. ⁶ I may be unskilled as a speaker, but I’m not lacking in knowledge. We have made this clear to you in every possible way.

Examine the scriptures:

2 Corinthians 11:1-6 NLT
Paul and the False Apostles (Part 1)
¹ I hope you will put up with a little more of my foolishness. Please bear with me. 

Generally speaking, it’s wrong to boast.

However, if necessary, Paul will boast about his ministry (Paul’s boasting was in the Lord.)  to keep the Corinthian church from becoming corrupted. (“Put up with my foolishness.”) There is a Time for Boasting, if it is Done Correctly.

In order to compare his own ministry with that of the false apostles who have invaded the Corinthian church, Paul has to speak about himself, which inevitably seems like foolish boasting.

• If necessary, Paul will boast about his ministry to keep the Corinthian church from becoming corrupted.

² For I am jealous for you with the jealousy of God himself.

One definition of jealous.

Fiercely protective or vigilant of one’s rights or possessions.

• Paul could not bear the thought that there might be any rival to Christ and his gospel.

I promised you as a pure bride to one husband—Christ. 

I promised you as a pure bride to one husband—Christ.

In Jewish culture, when a daughter was betrothed, her father would guarantee that he would present her as a pure virgin at her wedding.

• The Church is called to be a pure bride to one husband – Christ.

A pure bride exhibits exclusive devotion to Christ.

Ephesians 5:23-27 NLT
²³ For a husband is the head of his wife as Christ is the head of the church. He is the Savior of his body, the church. ²⁴ As the church submits to Christ, so you wives should submit to your husbands in everything.
²⁵ For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her ²⁶ to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word. ²⁷ He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault.

• Paul viewed himself as the spiritual father of the Corinthian church.

1 Corinthians 4:15 NLT
¹⁵ For even if you had ten thousand others to teach you about Christ, you have only one spiritual father. For I became your father in Christ Jesus when I preached the Good News to you.

• As the spiritual father of the Corinthian church, Paul wanted to present the Corinthian believers to Christ as pure virgins, undefiled by the doctrines of false teachers.

³ But I fear that somehow your pure and undivided devotion to Christ will be corrupted, just as Eve was deceived by the cunning ways of the serpent. 

The false teachers were pulling the Corinthian believers away from pure and undivided devotion to Christ.  In this, they were doing the work of Satan, just as the serpent did in Eden.

• The false teachers were doing the work of Satan by corrupting the Corinthian church. (Keeping her from being a pure bride.)

⁴ You happily put up with whatever anyone tells you, even if they preach a different Jesus than the one we preach, or a different kind of Spirit than the one you received, or a different kind of gospel than the one you believed.

Paul uses repetition, so it should be o.k. for me to use repetition.

• • Don’t be fooled by false teachers.

Colossians 2:8 NLT
⁸ Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ. 

• • False teachers are good at what they do.

Romans 16:17-18 NLT
¹⁷ And now I make one more appeal, my dear brothers and sisters. Watch out for people who cause divisions and upset people’s faith by teaching things contrary to what you have been taught. Stay away from them. ¹⁸ Such people are not serving Christ our Lord; they are serving their own personal interests. By smooth talk and glowing words they deceive innocent people.

• • Stay away from false teachers.

2 John 10-11 NLT
¹⁰ If anyone comes to your meeting and does not teach the truth about Christ, don’t invite that person into your home or give any kind of encouragement. ¹¹ Anyone who encourages such people becomes a partner in their evil work.

• • People look for teachers who tell them what they want to hear.

2 Timothy 4:3-4 NLT
³ For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. ⁴ They will reject the truth and chase after myths.

• • It is possible to identify false teachers.

Matthew 7:15-17 NLT
¹⁵ “Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves. ¹⁶ You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? ¹⁷ A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit.

• • Don’t take false teaching lightly.

Galatians 1:7-8 NLT
⁷ (false teaching) is not the Good News at all. You are being fooled by those who deliberately twist the truth concerning Christ.
⁸ Let God’s curse fall on anyone, including us or even an angel from heaven, who preaches a different kind of Good News than the one we preached to you.

• • Study the scriptures daily.

Acts 17:11 NLT
¹¹ And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul’s message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth.

⁵ But I don’t consider myself inferior in any way to these “super apostles” who teach such things. ⁶ I may be unskilled as a speaker, but I’m not lacking in knowledge. We have made this clear to you in every possible way. 

2 Corinthians 10:10 NLT
¹⁰ For some say, “Paul’s letters are demanding and forceful, but in person he is weak, and his speeches are worthless!”

I may be unskilled as a speaker, but I’m not lacking in knowledge. 

• What we say is more important than how we say it. 

Ephesians 4:14-15 NLT
¹⁴ … we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. ¹⁵ Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, …

There is a Time for Boasting, if it is Done Correctly.

In this passage, Paul continues to defend his position as the spiritual authority in the Corinthian church.

Generally speaking, it’s wrong to boast.

1 Corinthians 13:4 NLT
⁴ Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud.

However

Paul boasted.

There is a time for boasting if it is done correctly.

 

2 Corinthians 10:13-18 NLT
Paul Defends His Authority (continued)
¹³ We will not boast about things done outside our area of authority. We will boast only about what has happened within the boundaries of the work God has given us, which includes our working with you. ¹⁴ We are not reaching beyond these boundaries when we claim authority over you, as if we had never visited you. For we were the first to travel all the way to Corinth with the Good News of Christ.
¹⁵ Nor do we boast and claim credit for the work someone else has done. Instead, we hope that your faith will grow so that the boundaries of our work among you will be extended. ¹⁶ Then we will be able to go and preach the Good News in other places far beyond you, where no one else is working. Then there will be no question of our boasting about work done in someone else’s territory. ¹⁷ As the Scriptures say, “If you want to boast, boast only about the Lord.”
¹⁸ When people commend themselves, it doesn’t count for much. The important thing is for the Lord to commend them.

Examine the scriptures:

2 Corinthians 10:13-18 NLT
Paul Defends His Authority (continued)
¹³ We will not boast about things done outside our area of authority. We will boast only about what has happened within the boundaries of the work God has given us, which includes our working with you.  

• Paul only boasted about what had happened within the boundaries of the work God had given him. 

Paul knew that God had given him a job to do.

Galatians 1:1 NLT
¹ This letter is from Paul, an apostle. I was not appointed by any group of people or any human authority, but by Jesus Christ himself and by God the Father, who raised Jesus from the dead. 

1 Corinthians 1:1 NLT
¹ This letter is from Paul, chosen by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus,

Acts 18 NLT
¹ Then Paul left Athens and went to Corinth.  

⁹ One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision and told him, “Don’t be afraid! Speak out! Don’t be silent! ¹⁰ For I am with you, and no one will attack and harm you, for many people in this city belong to me.” ¹¹ So Paul stayed there for the next year and a half, teaching the word of God. 

1 Corinthians 3:6 NLT
⁶ I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow. 

• Paul knew his ministry in Corinth was given to him by God.

We will limit our boasting to the work God gave us, 

Romans 15:18 NLT
¹⁸ Yet I dare not boast about anything except what Christ has done through me, bringing the Gentiles to God by my message and by the way I worked among them.

• Do not boast about anything except what Christ has done through you.

¹⁴ We are not reaching beyond these boundaries when we claim authority over you, as if we had never visited you. For we were the first to travel all the way to Corinth with the Good News of Christ.

Paul was the first person to share the good news of Christ with the Corinthians.  His opponents visited the church much later, so their claim to Corinth as their territory was empty.

Romans 15:20 NLT
²⁰ My ambition has always been to preach the Good News where the name of Christ has never been heard, rather than where a church has already been started by someone else.

• Paul knew that he was the first person to share the good news of Christ with the Corinthians.

1 Corinthians 4:15 NLT
¹⁵ For even if you had ten thousand others to teach you about Christ, you have only one spiritual father. For I became your father in Christ Jesus when I preached the Good News to you.

Paul was defending his spiritual authority in the Corinthian church. (continued)

¹⁵ Nor do we boast and claim credit for the work someone else has done.

The false teachers in Corinth

2 Corinthians 11:4 NLT
⁴ You happily put up with whatever anyone tells you, even if they preach a different Jesus than the one we preach, or a different kind of Spirit than the one you received, or a different kind of gospel than the one you believed.

Apparently the false teachers were taking credit for the work Paul had done.  Paul was saying that he would never take credit for something someone else had done.

• Don’t boast and claim credit for the work other people have done.

Instead, we hope that your faith will grow so that the boundaries of our work among you will be extended.  

1 Corinthians 11:1 NLT
¹ And you should imitate me, just as I imitate Christ.

Paul wanted the Corinthians to be more mature in their faith.

1 Corinthians 3:1-3 NLT
¹ Dear brothers and sisters, when I was with you I couldn’t talk to you as I would to spiritual people. I had to talk as though you belonged to this world or as though you were infants in Christ. ² I had to feed you with milk, not with solid food, because you weren’t ready for anything stronger. And you still aren’t ready, ³ for you are still controlled by your sinful nature. You are jealous of one another and quarrel with each other. Doesn’t that prove you are controlled by your sinful nature? Aren’t you living like people of the world?

¹⁶ Then we will be able to go and preach the Good News in other places far beyond you, where no one else is working. 

After the crisis in Corinth was resolved, Paul could, with the help of the Corinthians, move on to new areas. 

Then there will be no question of our boasting about work done in someone else’s territory. ¹⁷ As the Scriptures say, “If you want to boast, boast only about the Lord.”

There is a place for boasting if it is done correctly.

Jeremiah 9:23-24 NLT
²³ This is what the Lord says:
“Don’t let the wise boast in their wisdom,
or the powerful boast in their power,
or the rich boast in their riches.
²⁴ But those who wish to boast
should boast in this alone:
that they truly know me and understand that I am the Lord
who demonstrates unfailing love
and who brings justice and righteousness to the earth,
and that I delight in these things.
I, the Lord, have spoken! 

1 Corinthians 1:30-31 NLT
³⁰ God has united you with Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made him to be wisdom itself. Christ made us right with God; he made us pure and holy, and he freed us from sin. ³¹ Therefore, as the Scriptures say, “If you want to boast, boast only about the Lord.”

This doesn’t leave much for us to say about ourselves.

• If you want to boast, boast only about the Lord.

Psalm 78:4
We will tell the next generation
about the glorious deeds of the Lord,
about his power and his mighty wonders.

Tell what Christ has done for you.

Romans 5:6-11 NLT
⁶ When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. ⁷ Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. ⁸ But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. ⁹ And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. ¹⁰ For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. ¹¹ So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God. 

¹⁸ When people commend themselves, it doesn’t count for much. 

Proverbs 27:2 NLT
² Let someone else praise you, not your own mouth—
a stranger, not your own lips.

Proverbs 26:12 NLT
¹² There is more hope for fools
than for people who think they are wise. 

The important thing is for the Lord to commend them.

2 Corinthians 5:10 NLT
¹⁰ For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body.

Matthew 25:23 NLT
²³ “The master said, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’

• What people say about themselves means nothing. What counts is whether the Lord says they have done well.

Paul Defends His Authority (Ministry) (continued)

Learning, From Paul’s Example, How to Defend Your Ministry.

Defending your ministry.

Knowing that you in fact have a ministry.

2 Corinthians 10:7-12 NLT
Paul Defends His Authority (continued)
⁷ Look at the obvious facts. Those who say they belong to Christ must recognize that we belong to Christ as much as they do. ⁸ I may seem to be boasting too much about the authority given to us by the Lord. But our authority builds you up; it doesn’t tear you down. So I will not be ashamed of using my authority.
⁹ I’m not trying to frighten you by my letters. ¹⁰ For some say, “Paul’s letters are demanding and forceful, but in person he is weak, and his speeches are worthless!” ¹¹ Those people should realize that our actions when we arrive in person will be as forceful as what we say in our letters from far away.
¹² Oh, don’t worry; we wouldn’t dare say that we are as wonderful as these other men who tell you how important they are! But they are only comparing themselves with each other, using themselves as the standard of measurement. How ignorant!

Examine the scriptures:

2 Corinthians 10:7-12 NLT
Paul Defends His Authority (continued)
⁷ Look at the obvious facts. Those who say they belong to Christ must recognize that we belong to Christ as much as they do.  

We can know that we belong to Christ.

Romans 10:9-10 NLT
⁹ If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰ For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved.

Romans 10:13 NLT
¹³ For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

John 3:16 NLT
¹⁶ “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

John 5:24 NLT
²⁴ “I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life.

This is all a part of God’s plan for us.

Ephesians 1:5 NLT
⁵ God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.

No one can snatch us away from Christ.

John 10:28-29 NLT
²⁸ I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me, ²⁹ for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father’s hand.

• We can be certain of our salvation. 

⁸ I may seem to be boasting too much about the authority given to us by the Lord. 

1 Corinthians 12 NLT
One Body with Many Parts
¹² The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ. ¹³ Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit.
¹⁴ Yes, the body has many different parts, not just one part. …

²⁷ All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it. ²⁸ Here are some of the parts God has appointed for the church:
first are apostles,
second are prophets,
third are teachers,
then those who do miracles,
those who have the gift of healing,
those who can help others,
those who have the gift of leadership,
those who speak in unknown languages.

Romans 12:3-8 NLT
³ Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us. ⁴ Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, ⁵ so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.
⁶ In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. ⁷ If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. ⁸ If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.

• God has given us different gifts (different roles) for doing certain things well. 

But our authority builds you up; it doesn’t tear you down.

The responsibility of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church.

Ephesians 4:11-13 NLT
¹¹ Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. ¹² Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. ¹³ This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.

Build others up

1 Thessalonians 5:11 NLT
¹¹ So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.

Ephesians 4:29 NLT
²⁹  Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.

Hebrews 10:24-25 NLT
²⁴ Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. ²⁵ And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.

Romans 14:19 NLT
¹⁹ So then, let us aim for harmony in the church and try to build each other up.

2 Corinthians 13:11 NLT
¹¹ Dear brothers and sisters, I close my letter with these last words: Be joyful. Grow to maturity. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you.

John 17:23 NLT
²³ I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me.

• Aim for harmony in the church and try to build each other up.

• Our role is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church. 

So I will not be ashamed of using my authority.

Use the gift God has given you.

1 Peter 4:10-11 NLT
¹⁰ God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. ¹¹ Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen.

Matthew 5:13-16
¹³ “You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless.

¹⁴ “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. ¹⁶ In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.

• Use the gift God has given you.

⁹ I’m not trying to frighten you by my letters. ¹⁰ For some say, “Paul’s letters are demanding and forceful, but in person he is weak, and his speeches are worthless!” ¹¹ Those people should realize that our actions when we arrive in person will be as forceful as what we say in our letters from far away. 

• Actions can be as forceful as what we say.

¹² Oh, don’t worry; we wouldn’t dare say that we are as wonderful as these other men who tell you how important they are!

God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise.

1 Corinthians 1:19-21 NLT
¹⁹ As the Scriptures say,
“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise
and discard the intelligence of the intelligent.”
²⁰ So where does this leave the philosophers, the scholars, and the world’s brilliant debaters? God has made the wisdom of this world look foolish. ²¹ Since God in his wisdom saw to it that the world would never know him through human wisdom, he has used our foolish preaching to save those who believe.

• You do not have to be important and “wonderful” to share Biblical truths with other people. Rely on the Holy Spirit to give you the words to say. 

But they are only comparing themselves with each other, using themselves as the standard of measurement. How ignorant!

• Don’t compare yourself with other people. (They are only comparing themselves with each other, using themselves as the standard of measurement. How ignorant!)

Paul Defends His Authority

Learning, From Paul’s Example, How to Defend Yourself (defend the faith).

2 Corinthians 10:1-6 NLT
Paul Defends His Authority
¹ Now I, Paul, appeal to you with the gentleness and kindness of Christ—though I realize you think I am timid in person and bold only when I write from far away. ² Well, I am begging you now so that when I come I won’t have to be bold with those who think we act from human motives.
³ We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do. ⁴We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. ⁵ We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ. ⁶ And after you have become fully obedient, we will punish everyone who remains disobedient.

Examine the scriptures:

2 Corinthians 10:1-6 NLT
Paul Defends His Authority

¹ Now I, Paul, appeal to you with the gentleness and kindness of Christ—

About Jesus:

Matthew 11:29 NLT
²⁹ Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 

• Jesus described himself as humble and gentle.

• Paul appealed to the Corinthians with the gentleness and kindness of Christ.

About us:

What does scripture say about the way we should treat others?

1 Peter 3:14-16 NLT
¹⁴ But even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So don’t worry or be afraid of their threats. ¹⁵ Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it. ¹⁶ But do this in a gentle and respectful way.  Keep your conscience clear. Then if people speak against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ.

2 Timothy 2:24-25 NLT
²⁴ A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach, and be patient with difficult people. ²⁵ Gently instruct those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change those people’s hearts, and they will learn the truth.

1 Timothy 6:11-12 NLT
Paul’s Final Instructions
¹¹ But you, Timothy, are a man of God; so run from all these evil things. Pursue righteousness and a godly life, along with faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness. ¹² Fight the good fight for the true faith. Hold tightly to the eternal life to which God has called you, which you have declared so well before many witnesses.

Ephesians 4:1-3 NLT
Unity in the Body
4 Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. ² Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. ³ Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.

Ephesians 4:32 NLT
³² Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.

Galatians 5:22-23 NLT
²² But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! 

• Make your appeal (defending the faith) to others with the gentleness and kindness of Christ 

though I realize you think I am timid in person and bold only when I write from far away.  

The Corinthians mistook Paul’s gentleness and meekness as weakness.

They accused him of cowardice.

Meekness epitomizes the strength that comes from loving others rather than self.

Meekness is patient endurance of unfair treatment, not bitter or angry, not seeking revenge.

• Don’t mistake gentleness and meekness as weakness.

² Well, I am begging you now so that when I come I won’t have to be bold with those who think we act from human motives.

Paul could and would confront wrong behaviors when necessary. (refer to verse 6)

Hebrews 12:11 NLT
¹¹ No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way. 

Paul’s preference was that the Corinthians Church would become fully obedient to his teachings before he arrived in Corinth.

• Confront wrong behaviors when necessary, but focus on teaching right behaviors.

Paul Defends His Authority

The underlying principle of Ephesians 6:1-3 or Romans 13:1-5 fits here.

Paul was both a spiritual father and a spiritual authority.

1 Corinthians 4:14 NLT
¹⁴ I am not writing these things to shame you, but to warn you as my beloved children. 

Galatians 1:1 NLT
¹ This letter is from Paul, an apostle. I was not appointed by any group of people or any human authority, but by Jesus Christ himself and by God the Father, who raised Jesus from the dead. 

1 Corinthians 14:37 NLT
³⁷ If you claim to be a prophet or think you are spiritual, you should recognize that what I am saying is a command from the Lord himself.

Ephesians 6:1-3 NLT
Children and Parents
¹ Children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord, for this is the right thing to do. ² “Honor your father and mother.” This is the first commandment with a promise: ³ If you honor your father and mother, “things will go well for you, and you will have a long life on the earth.” 

Romans 13:1-5 NLT
Respect for Authority
¹ Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. ² So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished. ³ For the authorities do not strike fear in people who are doing right, but in those who are doing wrong. Would you like to live without fear of the authorities? Do what is right, and they will honor you. ⁴ The authorities are God’s servants, sent for your good. But if you are doing wrong, of course you should be afraid, for they have the power to punish you. They are God’s servants, sent for the very purpose of punishing those who do what is wrong. ⁵ So you must submit to them, not only to avoid punishment, but also to keep a clear conscience.

• Teach obedience, honor, and respect.

³ We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do. 

2 Corinthians 4: 4 NLT
⁴ Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God. 

 Ephesians 6:12 NLT
¹² For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. 

First:
Know the enemy.

• Know your enemy.

⁴ We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. 

1 Corinthians 2:1 NLT
Paul’s Message of Wisdom
¹ When I first came to you, dear brothers and sisters, I didn’t use lofty words and impressive wisdom to tell you God’s secret plan.

Human ingenuity
Worldly wisdom
Clever methodologies
A show of power
Wealth
Personal influence (athletes or TV personalities)

All of the above will not work against satanic attacks.

What works?

The Word of God, the power of the Holy Spirit, and prayer

2 Timothy 3:16-17 NLT
¹⁶ All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. ¹⁷ God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work. 

Hebrews 4:12 NLT
¹² For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.

Luke 12:11-12 NLT
¹¹ “And when you are brought to trial in the synagogues and before rulers and authorities, don’t worry about how to defend yourself or what to say, ¹² for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what needs to be said.”

1 Corinthians 2:4-5 NLT
⁴ And my message and my preaching were very plain. Rather than using clever and persuasive speeches, I relied only on the power of the Holy Spirit. ⁵ I did this so you would trust not in human wisdom but in the power of God. 

• Use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments.

• Use the Word of God, the power of the Holy Spirit, and prayer to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments.

⁵ We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ.  

⁵ We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, (ESV)

• Destroy human reasoning and false arguments (not people).

• Teach truth. 

⁶ And after you have become fully obedient,

When the Corinthian Church demonstrates loyalty to Paul.

we will punish everyone who remains disobedient.

With the support of the church, Paul will deal with the false apostles.

The Blessings of Obedience

Review previous lessons on “giving”.

The call to generous giving

Do what you say you will do.

Finish what you start.

2 Corinthians 9:8-15 NLT
⁸ And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. ⁹ As the Scriptures say,
“They share freely and give generously to the poor.
Their good deeds will be remembered forever.”
¹⁰ For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you.
¹¹ Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will thank God. ¹² So two good things will result from this ministry of giving—the needs of the believers in Jerusalem will be met, and they will joyfully express their thanks to God.
¹³ As a result of your ministry, they will give glory to God. For your generosity to them and to all believers will prove that you are obedient to the Good News of Christ. ¹⁴ And they will pray for you with deep affection because of the overflowing grace God has given to you. ¹⁵ Thank God for this gift too wonderful for words!

Examine the scriptures:

The Blessings of Obedience.

If you give generously …

2 Corinthians 9:8-15 NLT
⁸ And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.  

2 Corinthians 9:8 NIV (Another translation that was helpful to me.)
⁸ And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 

• God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.              WOW! 

2 Corinthians 4:7 NLT
⁷ We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves. 

Philippians 1:6
⁶ And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.

Philippians 4:11-13 NLT
¹¹ Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. ¹² I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. ¹³ For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. 

It’s not ours, it all belongs to God.  He allows us to use it.

 ⁹ As the Scriptures say, (Psalm 112:9)
“They share freely and give generously to the poor.
Their good deeds will be remembered forever.”

Psalm 112:1 & 9 NLT
¹ Praise the Lord!
How joyful are those who fear the Lord
and delight in obeying his commands. …
⁹ They share freely and give generously to those in need.
Their good deeds will be remembered forever.
They will have influence and honor.

Proverbs 19:17 NLT
¹⁷ If you help the poor, you are lending to the Lord—
and he will repay you!

Matthew 25:40 NLT
⁴⁰ “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’

• As the Scriptures say, our good deeds will be remembered forever.

¹⁰ For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you.

God provides.
God increases your resources.
God produces a great harvest.

• God provides. God increases your resources. God produces a great harvest.

¹¹ Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous. 

• As you give you will be enriched, as you are enriched you can give more and more.

And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will thank God. ¹² So two good things will result from this ministry of giving—the needs of the believers in Jerusalem will be met, and they will joyfully express their thanks to God. 

Two results:

Physical needs are being met.

God is being praised.

¹³ As a result of your ministry, they (the Jerusalem Church) will give glory to God. 

• Two good things will result from your ministry of giving to believers—the needs of the believers will be met, and the believers will joyfully express their thanks to God (God will be praised). 

For your generosity to them and to all believers will prove that you are obedient to the Good News of Christ.  

• Your generosity is a display of obedience to the good news of Christ.

James 2:14-18 NLT
Faith without Good Deeds Is Dead
¹⁴ What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? ¹⁵ Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, ¹⁶ and you say, “Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do?
¹⁷ So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.
¹⁸ Now someone may argue, “Some people have faith; others have good deeds.” But I say, “How can you show me your faith if you don’t have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds.”

John 13:35 NLT
³⁵ Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.

• The generosity of the Corinthian Church is seen, by the Jerusalem Church, as evidence of a genuine relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

¹⁴ And they (the Jerusalem Church) will pray for you with deep affection because of the overflowing grace God has given to you.  

Overflowing grace – eternal salvation – spiritual riches.

Others will pray for you.

• The Jerusalem Church prayed for the Corinthian Church with deep affection 

¹⁵ Thank God for this gift too wonderful for words!

• Thank God for this gift too wonderful for words!

An indescribable gift!

How do we thank God for all He has done for us?

We love Him because He first loved us.

We serve the Lord

Psalm 100:2 NLT
²     Worship (serve) the Lord with gladness.
Come before him, singing with joy. 

We don’t hesitate to bless others with material gifts.

• How do we thank God for all He has done for us?
  • We love Him because He first loved us.
  • We serve Him.
  • We don’t hesitate to bless others with material gifts.

The Collection for Christians in Jerusalem

A continuation, and some repetition, of chapter 8.

Do what you say you will do.

 

2 Corinthians 9:1-7 NLT
The Collection for Christians in Jerusalem
¹ I really don’t need to write to you about this ministry of giving for the believers in Jerusalem. ² For I know how eager you are to help, and I have been boasting to the churches in Macedonia that you in Greece were ready to send an offering a year ago. In fact, it was your enthusiasm that stirred up many of the Macedonian believers to begin giving.
³ But I am sending these brothers to be sure you really are ready, as I have been telling them, and that your money is all collected. I don’t want to be wrong in my boasting about you. ⁴ We would be embarrassed—not to mention your own embarrassment—if some Macedonian believers came with me and found that you weren’t ready after all I had told them! ⁵ So I thought I should send these brothers ahead of me to make sure the gift you promised is ready. But I want it to be a willing gift, not one given grudgingly.
⁶ Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. ⁷ You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.”

Examine the scriptures:

2 Corinthians 9:1-7 NLT
The Collection for Christians in Jerusalem
¹ I really don’t need to write to you about this ministry of giving for the believers in Jerusalem. 

Repetition can be used to emphasize the importance of a point a person is trying to communicate.

Scripture frequently uses repetition.

Philippians 4:4 NIV
⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

Paul is repeating instructions from chapter 8.

2 Corinthians 8:11 NLT
¹¹ Now you should finish what you started. Let the eagerness you showed in the beginning be matched now by your giving. Give in proportion to what you have.

Go all the way back to 1 Corinthians 16:1-3

1 Corinthians 16:1-3 NLT
The Collection for Jerusalem
¹ Now regarding your question about the money being collected for God’s people in Jerusalem. You should follow the same procedure I gave to the churches in Galatia. ² On the first day of each week, you should each put aside a portion of the money you have earned. Don’t wait until I get there and then try to collect it all at once. ³ When I come, I will write letters of recommendation for the messengers you choose to deliver your gift to Jerusalem.

• Finish what you start.

² For I know how eager you are to help, 

and I have been boasting to the churches in Macedonia that you in Greece were ready to send an offering a year ago. In fact, it was your enthusiasm that stirred up many of the Macedonian believers to begin giving. 

Philippians 2:4 NLT
⁴ Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. 

³ But I am sending these brothers

Titus and the two unnamed men sent by the church mentioned in the previous lesson. (8:18-24)

to be sure you really are ready,

Paul is sending some brothers to help the Corinthians fulfill their comments.

The confusion and lies spread by the false teachers had sidetracked the Corinthians.

Titus and his companions were sent to help the Corinthians get their financial house in order.

Proverbs 15:22 NLT
²² Plans go wrong for lack of advice;
many advisers bring success. 

• Plans go wrong for lack of advice; many advisers bring success.

• Be willing to accept advice from Godly individuals.

 as I have been telling them, and that your money is all collected. I don’t want to be wrong in my boasting about you.  

⁴ We would be embarrassed—not to mention your own embarrassment—if some Macedonian believers came with me and found that you weren’t ready after all I had told them! 

• It is better to say nothing than to make a promise and not keep it.

Proverbs 25:14 NLT
¹⁴ A person who promises a gift but doesn’t give it
is like clouds and wind that bring no rain.

Ecclesiastes 5:4-5 NLT
⁴ When you make a promise to God, don’t delay in following through, for God takes no pleasure in fools. Keep all the promises you make to him. ⁵ It is better to say nothing than to make a promise and not keep it. 

• Don’t commit to something you can’t finish.

Luke 14:28-30 NLT
²⁸ “But don’t begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it? ²⁹ Otherwise, you might complete only the foundation before running out of money, and then everyone would laugh at you. ³⁰ They would say, ‘There’s the person who started that building and couldn’t afford to finish it!’ 

• Don’t commit to something until you count the cost.

It can be embarrassing to brag about someone’s ministry, only to find out that they are not doing all that they profess to be doing.

⁵ So I thought I should send these brothers ahead of me to make sure the gift you promised is ready. But I want it to be a willing gift, not one given grudgingly. 

⁶ Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. 

Luke 6:38 NLT
³⁸ Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.”

 Proverbs 11:25 NLT
²⁵ The generous will prosper;
those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.

• The one who plants generously will get a generous crop.

In case you need more motivation.

Matthew 25:34-40 NLT
³⁴ “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. ³⁵ For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. ³⁶ I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’
³⁷ “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? ³⁸ Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? ³⁹ When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’
⁴⁰ “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’ 

⁷ You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” 

• You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. 

• God loves a cheerful giver.

Titus and His Companions

Traveling Together With Other Believers.

1 Corinthians 14:40 NLT
⁴⁰ But be sure that everything is done properly and in order. 

• Be sure that everything is done properly and in order. 

• Do not set other people up for failure.

2 Corinthians 8:16-24 NLT
Titus and His Companions
¹⁶ But thank God! He has given Titus the same enthusiasm for you that I have. ¹⁷ Titus welcomed our request that he visit you again. In fact, he himself was very eager to go and see you. ¹⁸ We are also sending another brother with Titus. All the churches praise him as a preacher of the Good News. ¹⁹ He was appointed by the churches to accompany us as we take the offering to Jerusalem—a service that glorifies the Lord and shows our eagerness to help.
²⁰ We are traveling together to guard against any criticism for the way we are handling this generous gift. ²¹ We are careful to be honorable before the Lord, but we also want everyone else to see that we are honorable.
²² We are also sending with them another of our brothers who has proven himself many times and has shown on many occasions how eager he is. He is now even more enthusiastic because of his great confidence in you. ²³ If anyone asks about Titus, say that he is my partner who works with me to help you. And the brothers with him have been sent by the churches, and they bring honor to Christ. ²⁴ So show them your love, and prove to all the churches that our boasting about you is justified.

Examine the scriptures:

2 Corinthians 8:16-24 NLT
Titus and His Companions
¹⁶ But thank God! He has given Titus the same enthusiasm for you that I have.  

• The enthusiasm Titus had for the Corinthians came from God.

¹⁷ Titus welcomed our request that he visit you again. In fact, he himself was very eager to go and see you. 

2 Corinthians 8:6 NLT
⁶ So we have urged Titus, who encouraged your giving in the first place, to return to you and encourage you to finish this ministry of giving. 

• Titus welcomed the request to serve.
• We should welcome opportunities to serve others. 

¹⁸ We are also sending another brother with Titus.

Unnamed.

All the churches praise him as a preacher of the Good News. ¹⁹ He was appointed by the churches to accompany us as we take the offering to Jerusalem—a service that glorifies the Lord and shows our eagerness to help. 

²⁰ We are traveling together to guard against any criticism for the way we are handling this generous gift. 

1 Corinthians 16:3-4 NLT
³ When I come, I will write letters of recommendation for the messengers you choose to deliver your gift to Jerusalem. ⁴ And if it seems appropriate for me to go along, they can travel with me.

 Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 NLT
⁹ Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. ¹⁰ If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. ¹¹ Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? ¹² A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.

 Deuteronomy 19:15 NLT
¹⁵ “You must not convict anyone of a crime on the testimony of only one witness. The facts of the case must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.

Proverbs 11:14 NLT
¹⁴ Without wise leadership, a nation falls;
there is safety in having many advisers.

Galatians 6:1-2 NLT¹ 
Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. ² Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ.

Genesis 2:18 NLT
¹⁸ Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him.”

• A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated. 

• Two people working together are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. ^… Three are even better.

²¹ We are careful to be honorable before the Lord, but we also want everyone else to see that we are honorable. 

Philippians 4:8-9 NLT
⁸ And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. ⁹ Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you. 

• Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable.

1 Corinthians 10:31 NLT
³¹ So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

•  Do everything for the glory of God. 

²² We are also sending with them another of our brothers who has proven himself many times and has shown on many occasions how eager he is. 

An additional “brother” was added to the traveling delegation.

He is now even more enthusiastic because of his great confidence in you. ²³ If anyone asks about Titus, say that he is my partner who works with me to help you. And the brothers with him have been sent by the churches, and they bring honor to Christ. ²⁴ So show them your love, and prove to all the churches that our boasting about you is justified. 

• Christian community is not an optional part of the Christian life. 

Hebrews 10:24-25 NLT
²⁴ Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. ²⁵ And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.

 

 

 

A Call to Generous Giving (Part 2)

2 Corinthians 8:10-15 NLT
A Call to Generous Giving (Part 2)
The Patterns of Giving
¹⁰ Here is my advice: It would be good for you to finish what you started a year ago. Last year you were the first who wanted to give, and you were the first to begin doing it. ¹¹ Now you should finish what you started. Let the eagerness you showed in the beginning be matched now by your giving. Give in proportion to what you have. ¹² Whatever you give is acceptable if you give it eagerly. And give according to what you have, not what you don’t have. ¹³ Of course, I don’t mean your giving should make life easy for others and hard for yourselves. I only mean that there should be some equality. ¹⁴ Right now you have plenty and can help those who are in need. Later, they will have plenty and can share with you when you need it. In this way, things will be equal. ¹⁵ As the Scriptures say,
“Those who gathered a lot had nothing left over,
and those who gathered only a little had enough.”

Examine the scriptures:

2 Corinthians 8:10-15 NLT
A Call to Generous Giving (Part 2)
The Patterns of Giving
¹⁰ Here is my advice: It would be good for you to finish what you started a year ago. Last year you were the first who wanted to give, and you were the first to begin doing it. ¹¹ Now you should finish what you started.

1 Corinthians 16:2 NLT
² On the first day of each week, you should each put aside a portion of the money you have earned. Don’t wait until I get there and then try to collect it all at once.

The Corinthian church most likely stopped the process because they were influenced by false teachers.

2 Corinthians 2:17 NLT
¹⁷ You see, we are not like the many hucksters who preach for personal profit. …

Let the eagerness you showed in the beginning be matched now by your giving.

• Good intentions and eagerness are no substitute for good deeds.

James 2:15-16 NLT
¹⁵ Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, ¹⁶ and you say, “Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do?

 1 John 3:18 NLT
¹⁸ Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions. 

Give in proportion to what you have. 

1 Corinthians 16:2 NLT
² On the first day of each week, you should each put aside a portion of the money you have earned. Don’t wait until I get there and then try to collect it all at once.

• The New Testament never mentions set amounts or percentages for giving.

• Give in proportion to what you have. 

¹² Whatever you give is acceptable if you give it eagerly. 

2 Corinthians 9:7
⁷ You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” 

And give according to what you have, not what you don’t have.  

Don’t go into debt to give.

• God loves a person who gives cheerfully. 

¹³ Of course, I don’t mean your giving should make life easy for others and hard for yourselves. I only mean that there should be some equality. 

The word equality used here could be translated “balance” or “equilibrium”.

Help other believers meet their basic needs.

• Scripture does not promote a welfare mentality.

2 Thessalonians 3:6-10 NLT
An Exhortation to Proper Living
⁶ And now, dear brothers and sisters, we give you this command in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ: Stay away from all believers who live idle lives and don’t follow the tradition they received from us. ⁷ For you know that you ought to imitate us. We were not idle when we were with you. ⁸ We never accepted food from anyone without paying for it. We worked hard day and night so we would not be a burden to any of you. ⁹ We certainly had the right to ask you to feed us, but we wanted to give you an example to follow. ¹⁰ Even while we were with you, we gave you this command: “Those unwilling to work will not get to eat.” 

¹⁴ Right now you have plenty and can help those who are in need. Later, they will have plenty and can share with you when you need it. In this way, things will be equal.  

• Balance: When you have plenty, help those who are in need. Later, when they will have plenty, they can share with you when you need it.

1 Timothy 6:17-19 NLT
¹⁷ Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. ¹⁸ Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others. ¹⁹ By doing this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that they may experience true life. 

• Be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others. 

¹⁵ As the Scriptures say,
“Those who gathered a lot had nothing left over,
and those who gathered only a little had enough.”

Exodus 16:16-18 NLT (Divine pattern)
¹⁶ These are the Lord’s instructions: Each household should gather as much as it needs. Pick up two quarts for each person in your tent.”
¹⁷ So the people of Israel did as they were told. Some gathered a lot, some only a little. ¹⁸ But when they measured it out, everyone had just enough. Those who gathered a lot had nothing left over, and those who gathered only a little had enough. Each family had just what it needed.

Final thoughts:

Philippians 4:19 NLT
¹⁹ And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.

Proverbs 30:7-9 NLT
⁷ O God, I beg two favors from you;
let me have them before I die.
⁸ First, help me never to tell a lie.
Second, give me neither poverty nor riches!
Give me just enough to satisfy my needs.
⁹ For if I grow rich, I may deny you and say, “Who is the Lord?”
And if I am too poor, I may steal and thus insult God’s holy name.

Luke 6:38 NLT
³⁸ Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.”

 

A Call to Generous Giving

The Patterns of Giving

Examples of Generosity (Liberality)

Paul is challenging the Corinthian Church to excel in the gracious act of giving.

2 Corinthians 8:1-9 NLT
A Call to Generous Giving
The Patterns of Giving
Examples of Generosity (Liberality)
¹ Now I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters, what God in his kindness has done through the churches in Macedonia. ² They are being tested by many troubles, and they are very poor. But they are also filled with abundant joy, which has overflowed in rich generosity.
³ For I can testify that they gave not only what they could afford, but far more. And they did it of their own free will. ⁴ They begged us again and again for the privilege of sharing in the gift for the believers in Jerusalem. ⁵ They even did more than we had hoped, for their first action was to give themselves to the Lord and to us, just as God wanted them to do.
⁶ So we have urged Titus, who encouraged your giving in the first place, to return to you and encourage you to finish this ministry of giving. ⁷ Since you excel in so many ways—in your faith, your gifted speakers, your knowledge, your enthusiasm, and your love from us—I want you to excel also in this gracious act of giving.
⁸ I am not commanding you to do this. But I am testing how genuine your love is by comparing it with the eagerness of the other churches.
⁹ You know the generous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich.

Examine the scriptures:

2 Corinthians 8:1-9 NLT

A Call to Generous Giving

The Patterns of Giving

Examples of Generosity (Liberality)

¹ Now I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters,  

Paul is speaking to the Corinthian Church.

• Paul is challenging the Corinthian Church to excel in the gracious act of giving. (v. 7) 

what God in his kindness has done 

What God has done. 

through the churches in Macedonia.  

Philippi, Thessalonica, and Berea

² They are being tested by many troubles, and they are very poor. But they are also filled with abundant joy,

1 Thessalonians 1:1-3 NLT¹
 This letter is from Paul, Silas, and Timothy.
We are writing to the church in Thessalonica, to you who belong to God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
May God give you grace and peace.
² We always thank God for all of you and pray for you constantly. ³ As we pray to our God and Father about you, we think of your faithful work, your loving deeds, and the enduring hope you have because of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul knew that the abundant joy of the Macedonian believers came from their relationship with the Lord.

Psalm 28:7 NLT
⁷ The Lord is my strength and shield.
I trust him with all my heart.
He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy.
I burst out in songs of thanksgiving. 

More about this in verse 5 

which has overflowed in rich generosity. 

Tested by many troubles and are very poor.

Filled with abundant joy.

Joy overflowed in rich generosity.

• Paul’s model: The churches in Macedonia.

³ For I can testify that they gave not only what they could afford, but far more.

• They gave far more than they could afford.

Biblical principles for giving:

Proverbs 3:9 NLT
⁹ Honor the Lord with your wealth
and with the best part of everything you produce. 

Don’t give your leftovers!

1 Corinthians 16:2 NLT
² On the first day of each week, you should each put aside a portion of the money you have earned. Don’t wait until I get there and then try to collect it all at once. 

And they did it of their own free will. 

• They did it of their own free will.

2 Corinthians 9:7 NLT
⁷ You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.”

⁴ They begged us again and again for the privilege of sharing in the gift for the believers in Jerusalem.  

• They begged for the privilege of sharing in the gift for the believers. 

⁵ They even did more than we had hoped, for their first action was to give themselves to the Lord and to us, just as God wanted them to do.

• The #1 priority of the Macedonian believers was to give themselves to the Lord.

Romans 12:1 NLT
A Living Sacrifice to God
¹ And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.

Mark 12:30-31 NLT
³⁰ And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ ³¹ The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.”

Philippians 2:3-4 NLT
³ …. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. ⁴ Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. 

• Their first action was to give themselves to the Lord and to others. 

⁶ So we have urged Titus, who encouraged your giving in the first place, to return to you and encourage you to finish this ministry of giving. 

Paul’s challenge to the Corinthian Church.

Finish what you started.

Follow through.

⁷ Since you excel in so many ways—in your faith, your gifted speakers, your knowledge, your enthusiasm, and your love from us—I want you to excel also in this gracious act of giving.

God has blessed the Corinthians church in so many ways, the least they could do is to give generously to Christians in need.

⁸ I am not commanding you to do this.

2 Corinthians 9:7 NLT
⁷ You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” 

• God loves a person who gives cheerfully. 

But I am testing how genuine your love is 

Love is only expressed through giving. If there is no giving, there is no evidence that love exists. The only proof of love is giving. Giving is the action that demonstrates love.

• Giving is the action that demonstrates love. 

John 3:16 NLT
¹⁶ “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 

• For this is how God loved the world: He gave … 

by comparing it with the eagerness of the other churches. 

Comparing it with the eagerness of the other churches.

⁹ You know the generous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich.

Comparing it with Jesus.

Luke 6:38 NLT
³⁸ Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.”

 

• Paul is challenging the Corinthian Church to excel in the gracious act of giving. (v. 7)
• Paul’s model: The churches in Macedonia.
  • They gave far more than they could afford.
  • They did it of their own free will.
  • They begged for the privilege of sharing in the gift for the believers.
• The #1 priority of the Macedonian believers was to give themselves to the Lord.
• Their first action was to give themselves to the Lord and to others.
• God loves a person who gives cheerfully.
• Giving is the action that demonstrates love.
  • For this is how God loved the world: He gave …

Paul’s Joy at the Church’s Repentance

Introduction:

Review:

2 Corinthians 6:14 & 17 NLT
¹⁴ Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers.

¹⁷ Therefore, come out from among unbelievers,

(These statements were directed to members of the Corinthian Church)

Why was Paul making these statements?

• • The Corinthians were siding with (believing) false teachers and they were rejecting Paul.

Paul’s appealed for reconciliation.

Paul’s had a burning desire for a restored relationship with the Corinthian Church.

• • Paul’s rivals were cunning.

• • Paul experienced deep discouragement.

2 Corinthians 7:8-16 NLT
Paul’s Joy at the Church’s Repentance
⁸ I am not sorry that I sent that severe letter to you, though I was sorry at first, for I know it was painful to you for a little while. ⁹ Now I am glad I sent it, not because it hurt you, but because the pain caused you to repent and change your ways. It was the kind of sorrow God wants his people to have, so you were not harmed by us in any way. ¹⁰ For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There’s no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death.
¹¹ Just see what this godly sorrow produced in you! Such earnestness, such concern to clear yourselves, such indignation, such alarm, such longing to see me, such zeal, and such a readiness to punish wrong. You showed that you have done everything necessary to make things right. ¹² My purpose, then, was not to write about who did the wrong or who was wronged. I wrote to you so that in the sight of God you could see for yourselves how loyal you are to us. ¹³ We have been greatly encouraged by this.
In addition to our own encouragement, we were especially delighted to see how happy Titus was about the way all of you welcomed him and set his mind at ease. ¹⁴ I had told him how proud I was of you—and you didn’t disappoint me. I have always told you the truth, and now my boasting to Titus has also proved true! ¹⁵ Now he cares for you more than ever when he remembers the way all of you obeyed him and welcomed him with such fear and deep respect. ¹⁶ I am very happy now because I have complete confidence in you.

Examine the scriptures:
2 Corinthians 7:8-16 NLT
Paul’s Joy at the Church’s Repentance 

⁸ I am not sorry that I sent that severe letter to you (with Titus), though I was sorry at first,

(Refer to the note at the end)

What was the issue?

Paul had to defend his apostleship.

Paul’s character was being assaulted.

 for I know it was painful to you for a little while. 

Hebrews 12:11 NLT
¹¹ No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.

• No discipline seems pleasant at the time. Later on, however, it produces the peaceful fruit of righteousness.

⁹ Now I am glad I sent it, not because it hurt you, but because the pain caused you to repent and change your ways.

A sorrow that led to repentance.

Pain or sorrow that causes repentance and change is a good thing.

• Paul talks about two kinds of sorrow.

It was the kind of sorrow God wants his people to have, so you were not harmed by us in any way.  

¹⁰ For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. 

There’s no regret for that kind of sorrow.

2 Timothy 2:25 NLT
²⁵ Gently instruct those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change those people’s hearts, and they will learn the truth. 

• The first kind of sorrow is a sorrow God wants us to experience. It is a sorrow that leads us away from sin and results in salvation.

But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death.

Sorry for getting caught.

• The second kind of sorrow is worldly sorrow. Worldly sorrow lacks repentance and results in spiritual death. 

¹¹ Just see what this godly sorrow produced in you! 

Such earnestness,

Earnestness, diligence, or eagerness to pursue righteousness and make amends.

such concern to clear yourselves,

To explain and clear yourselves of the charges that you tolerate sin. 

such indignation,

At sin (the man who opposed Paul)

2 Corinthians 2:5-11 NLT
Forgiveness for the Sinner
⁵ I am not overstating it when I say that the man who caused all the trouble hurt all of you more than he hurt me. ⁶ Most of you opposed him, and that was punishment enough. ⁷ Now, however, it is time to forgive and comfort him. Otherwise he may be overcome by discouragement. ⁸ So I urge you now to reaffirm your love for him.
⁹ I wrote to you as I did to test you and see if you would fully comply with my instructions. ¹⁰ When you forgive this man, I forgive him, too. And when I forgive whatever needs to be forgiven, I do so with Christ’s authority for your benefit, ¹¹ so that Satan will not outsmart us. For we are familiar with his evil schemes.

such alarm,

Fear of offending God.

such longing to see me, 

such zeal,

To do what is right. 

and such a readiness to punish wrong.

To punish those who sin and those who tolerate sin.  To see justice done.

 

Just see what this godly sorrow produced in you! 

Earnestness,      a concern to clear yourselves,      indignation,      alarm,

a longing to see me,     zeal,     and a readiness to punish wrong. 

You showed that you have done everything necessary to make things right. 

 

¹² My purpose, then, was not to write about who did the wrong or who was wronged.  (Paul may be referring to himself as the one who was wronged. 2 Corinthians 2:5) I wrote to you so that in the sight of God you could see for yourselves how loyal you are to us. 

• Paul’s primary purpose in writing the letter was to benefit the Corinthians. The primary focus was not on the one who did the wrong.

• Paul had a burning desire for a restored relationship with the Corinthian Church.

¹³ We have been greatly encouraged by this.

You showed that you have done everything necessary to make things right. (v.11) 

In addition to our own encouragement, we were especially delighted to see how happy Titus was about the way all of you welcomed him and set his mind at ease. ¹⁴ I had told him how proud I was of you—and you didn’t disappoint me. I have always told you the truth, and now my boasting to Titus has also proved true! ¹⁵ Now he cares for you more than ever when he remembers the way all of you obeyed him and welcomed him with such fear and deep respect. ¹⁶ I am very happy now because I have complete confidence in you. 

• Overall, the outcome of Paul’s “severe” letter was positive.

 

 

 

Note added:

Four Letters, Three Visits

1^st visit

A.D. 48-51      1 ½ years
Acts 18:1 (NLT)
Paul Meets Priscilla and Aquila in Corinth
Then Paul left Athens and went to Corinth.

1^st letter – now lost  From Ephesus – misunderstood by the Corinthians

1 Corinthians 5:9 (NLT)
⁹ When I wrote to you before, I told you not to associate with people who indulge in sexual sin. 

2^nd letter  (1^st Corinthians)  From Ephesus –  A.D 53-55 

2^nd visit  A painful visit 

3^rd letter – now lost   Tearful, severe letter

2 Corinthians 2:3-4 (NLT)
³ That is why I wrote to you as I did, so that when I do come, I won’t be grieved by the very ones who ought to give me the greatest joy. Surely you all know that my joy comes from your being joyful. ⁴ I wrote that letter in great anguish, with a troubled heart and many tears. I didn’t want to grieve you, but I wanted to let you know how much love I have for you. 

2 Corinthians 7:8-9 (NLT)
⁸ I am not sorry that I sent that severe letter to you, though I was sorry at first, for I know it was painful to you for a little while. ⁹ Now I am glad I sent it, not because it hurt you, but because the pain caused you to repent and change your ways. It was the kind of sorrow God wants his people to have, so you were not harmed by us in any way. 

4^th letter  (2^nd Corinthians)  From Macedonia A.D. 55/56 

3^rd visit  A.D. 56 -57

Acts 20:2-3 (NLT)
² While there, he encouraged the believers in all the towns he passed through. Then he traveled down to Greece, ³ where he stayed for three months. He was preparing to sail back to Syria when he discovered a plot by some Jews against his life, so he decided to return through Macedonia.

ESV Study Bible                    NIV Study Bible                    The Bible Knowledge Commentary

Lindsell Study Bible               The MacArthur Bible Commentary