2 Corinthians

Overview

After a painful exchange with the Corinthians, Paul writes his most personal letter to mend the relationship. He opens by praising the God of all comfort, who consoles us in affliction so we can comfort others, and explains the change in his travel plans and the sincerity of his motives.

Paul reflects on the glory of new covenant ministry, surpassing even the glory of Moses. Though believers carry this treasure in jars of clay, the surpassing power belongs to God. Present afflictions are light compared to eternal glory, and the gospel makes anyone in Christ a new creation, reconciled to God and entrusted with the message of reconciliation.

He then appeals warmly for the Corinthians to complete their generous gift for the suffering believers in Jerusalem, holding up the Macedonians' joyful giving and Christ's own self-giving as the pattern: though he was rich, for our sake he became poor.

In the final chapters Paul defends his apostleship against rival teachers who boast in worldly credentials. He boasts instead in his sufferings and weaknesses, recounting his thorn in the flesh and the Lord's answer that his grace is sufficient and his power is made perfect in weakness. He closes urging self-examination and the grace of Christ.

Context at a Glance

Author

Paul the apostle, with Timothy

Written

Around AD 56, from Macedonia

Genre

Epistle (personal defense and appeal)

Audience

The church in Corinth, after a painful conflict

Central theme

God's strength and comfort in weakness

Key Verse

2 Corinthians 5:17 (WEB)

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away. Behold, all things have become new.

Paul declares the heart of the gospel's transforming power: union with Christ makes a person an entirely new creation.

The Big Movements

• Comfort in affliction (chs 1-2) — The God of all comfort sustains Paul and reconciles him to the church.
• The glory of ministry (chs 3-5) — New covenant ministry, treasure in jars of clay, and reconciliation in Christ.
• Paul's appeal for openness (chs 6-7) — A plea for the Corinthians to open their hearts and repent with godly grief.
• The grace of giving (chs 8-9) — Generous, cheerful giving modeled on Christ's self-giving love.
• Paul defends his apostleship (chs 10-12) — Boasting in weakness, the thorn, and grace made perfect in weakness.
• Final warnings (ch 13) — A call to self-examination and the grace of the triune God.

Key Figures

• Paul — The apostle defending his ministry with deep affection and transparency.
• Timothy — Paul's co-sender and trusted partner in the gospel.
• Titus — Paul's emissary who brought news of the Corinthians' repentance and led the collection.
• The Corinthian church — Believers Paul longs to win back fully after painful conflict.
• The 'super-apostles' — Rival teachers boasting in credentials whom Paul opposes.

Pointing to Christ

Christ is the one in whom all God's promises are Yes, the Lord whose glory transforms believers, and the Savior who though rich became poor to make us rich. His grace is sufficient, his power perfected in our weakness, and through him God reconciles the world to himself.

Big Lessons

• God comforts us in affliction so that we can comfort others.
• Gospel ministry carries treasure in fragile clay jars, showing the power is God's.
• In Christ we become new creations, reconciled and given a ministry of reconciliation.
• Generous giving flows from grace and follows Christ's example.
• God's grace is sufficient, and his strength is perfected in our weakness.
• True ministry boasts in the Lord, not in worldly credentials.