PREFACE
Last week I finished my studies in first Corinthians, and now I am beginning to study second Corinthians. Let me remind you that these are my personal studies; I research each verse in order that I might arrive at the correct meaning of them. I use the grace method of study, that is, if it doesn't make sense in the light of God's grace, it is nonsense. The grace concept is that our entire Christian life is ruled by God's free grace, and if we must work to obtain our salvation, it is not free; and if we have to work out our salvation, it is no longer grace but works; so you see, God does all the work, and we benefit. Now I remind you that we must keep in fellowship with God's Divine Family through the confession of sins to the Father, and then daily Bible study, because there is no fellowship outside the Word of God. I also research those grace teachers who have gone on before, in order to have them help me with the historical, grammatical, literal interpretation of each verse; as no one is perfect, except positionally of course, they help me with the exegesis of each verse. I use the same method I have used in the past of writing each verse out from the King James Authorized Version, and then give my literal Greek translation (LGT) in italics; as I have said before, the LGT is for my benefit to keep up my studies in the N.T. Greek.
May God bless us as we continue to study.
INTRODUCTION
Paul wrote his first letter to the Corinthians from Ephesus. He wrote this second letter from Philippi. Paul sent Titus with this letter to the Corinthians. In first Corinthians Paul dealt with the sin problems they were having, and also with the false apostles. The Corinthians wanted Paul to come to them because they needed him to give them assurance they were lacking. In this letter Paul is very gentle with them, because he knew they were still babies. The Corinthian believers were not mature, and they needed Paul to fuss over them. Paul did not go to Corinth at this time because of the pressing issues he faced in Macedonia.
Matthew Poole gives this account of the reason Paul wrote this letter:
"The occasion of his writing this Second Epistle seemeth to be, partly the false teachers' [lying about] him. 1. As an inconstant [unpredictable] man, because he had promised to come in person to Corinth, and was not yet come; the reason of which he shows, chp. 1., but the troubles he met with in Asia, and his desire to hear they had reformed the abuses he had taxed them for. 2. As an imperious [authoritative] man, because of the incestuous person against whom he had wrote; which charge he avoids, by showing the necessity of his writing in that manner, and giving new orders for the restoring him, upon the repentance he had showed. 3. As a proud and vainglorious man. 4. As a contemptible person; base in his person, as he expresses it. The further occasion of his writing were, to commend them for their kind compliance with the precepts and admonitions of his former Epistle, and their kind reception of Titus: as also to exhort them to a liberal contribution to the necessities of the saints in Judea, to which they had showed their forwardness a year before: and as hearing that there was yet a party amongst them bad enough, that went on in vilifying [slandering] him and his authority, as well as in other sinful courses; against whom he vindicated himself, magnifying his office, assuring them he was about to come to Corinth; when they should find him present such as, being absent, he had by this letter declared himself, if they were not reformed. The substance therefore of this Epistle is partly apologetical, or excuses himself for his not coming to Corinth as soon as he thought, and for his so severe writing as to the incestuous person: partly hortatory [to urge them], where he persuades them, more generally, to walk worthy of the gospel, chp. 8 and 9., to a liberal contribution to the saints: partly minatory, or threatening, where he threatens severity against those whom, when he came amongst them, he should find contumacious [resistant to authority] and impenitent offenders. He concludes the Epistle 9as usually) with a salutation of them, pious exhortations to them, and a prayer for them."
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