Outline of
Second Corinthians
Defense of Paul's Ministry
I. Paul Suffered For Them
1:1-11
A. Logic of This Section: Why would Paul suffer for them if he did not care for them?
B. Comfort in Suffering
1. Fact, Purpose, Benefit of Suffering 1-7
2. Purpose of Suffering 8-11
II. Paul was Transparent
Before Them 1:12-14
III. Paul Planned his
dealings with them 1:15-2:2
A. Plan to come was for their good
B. Plan not to come was for their good
IV. Paul wrote to prepare
them for his coming 2:3-11
A. Difficult but motivated by love
B. Punishment of offender necessary for their sakes--not his alone {see excellent section in Training of 12 on Church
Discipline 207ff}
C. They obeyed, repentance came, now time to forgive
D. Paul wrote to test their obedience
1. APP: sometimes we have to take our hands off and check what they are really like
2. Give us a better understanding of how to deal with them
V. Paul found God's will
always ends in triumph 2:12-17
A. Open door by God
B. No peace of God
C. Triumph always results
1. triumph means that the knowledge of Christ emanates from us like a fragrant odor
2. the odor is good to some, bad to others
D. A pure motive keeps the smell sweet
VI. Paul's Commendation
3:1-3
A. Not human praise or self glorification
B. Results of their ministry {tell a tree by its fruit}
1. The results of our ministry are open for all to see
2. The results are not our own but from God vv 4-6
C. Nature of Paul's ministry {logic--the heretics will bring you into subjection}
1. Not legalism vv7-15
2. But liberty vv16-18
3. APPs:
a. The truth is the wisest course to follow--it was designed by an all-wise God
b. Human wisdom and feeling always brings bondage
c. God's ways always bring liberty
VII. The Source and Effect
of the Ministry Kept Paul Encouraged 4:1-18
A. We do not lose heart because of the message 1-6
1. A Clear Conscience encourages vs 2
2. Knowledge that those who do not believe are not our fault vs 3,4
3. Our message promotes Christ not self
4. It is God that brings the light of salvation
B. We do not lose heart because we maintain a true view of the messengers 7-15
1. The messengers are clay, the power is from God
2. We would be destroyed if God did not help
3. When we die, Christ's life works through us {importance of death to self}
4. We keep going because of faith vv13-15
a. faith motivates vs 15
5. We keep going for your sakes
C. We do not lose heart because of the dynamics of the CL
1. The perishing--renewing dynamic
2. The suffering--reward dynamic
3. The temporal vs eternal dynamic {keeping our eyes focused on the eternal not the temporal keeps us encouraged in the ministry}
VIII. Motivations To Keep
Up the Ministry 5:1-21
A. The Resurrection Motivates 5:1-8
B. The Judgment Seat Motivates 5:9-10
C. The Terror of the Lord Motivates vs 11
D. The Love of Christ Motivates Us vs 12-15
E. The New Life Motives Us vs 17
F. The New Ministry Motivates Us 18-21
IX. Marks of the Ministry
6:
A. The Minister's Heart 1-2
B. The Minister's Motive 3
C. The Minister's Life 4-10
D. The Minister's Message 11-7:1
1. Separate from Unbelievers6:11-7:1
2. Be Sorry For Your Sins 7:2-13
a. The personal story behind Paul's rebuke
b. His love for them and delight in them
c. His worry over them (his response) vs 5
d. His relief at their response 6,7
e. His willingness to hurt them to help them vs 8
f. His joy over the result 9-12
g. The effect of their obedience on others 13-16
3. Be Sacrificial in Giving chps 8-9
Paul was not afraid to ask them to give sacrificially--even when he knew it was a touchy subject. I need to be
willing to do this also--Paul's motive was pure.
a. Giving is an important grace to develop in the Christian life 8:1-7
b. Our sincerity is measured by the sacrifices of others 8-9
(1) Giving is to our advantage 10
(a) They had committed themselves to a giving project 10
(b) They should finish what they started 11
c. Our sincerity is measured by what we have 12
(1) God uses giving to help all believers 13-15