2Cor 2:14-7:4 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for 2Cor 2:14: 2:14–7:4 At this point, the story about finding Titus breaks off and will not be resumed until 7:5 . Paul digresses to discuss his ministry as an apostle proclaiming the Good News. 2:14 Like captives in a Roman general’s celebration march, Paul was in Christ’s triumphal procession (cp. 1 Cor 4:9 ; Eph 4:7-11 ), carrying the marks of willing servitude (see Rom 1:1 ; Gal 6:17 ).

Summary for 2Cor 2:14: 2:14–7:4 ^a At this point, the story about finding Titus breaks off and will not be resumed until 7:5 ^b. Paul digresses to discuss his ministry as an apostle proclaiming the Good News. 2:14 ^c Like captives in a Roman general’s celebration march, Paul was in Christ’s triumphal procession (cp. 1 Cor 4:9 ^d; Eph 4:7-11 ^e), carrying the marks of willing servitude (see Rom 1:1 ^f; Gal 6:17 ^g).
Summary for 2Cor 2:15-16: 2:15-16 ^h Incense was scattered along the parade route of a victorious Roman general, and it was received in one of two ways. For the captives, who were on their way to the arena and death, it was a dreadful smell of death and doom. For the victors, it was a life-giving perfume. So it is with the lives of those who proclaim the Good News, which either leads to eternal life or seals the fate of the person who rejects it (cp. 1 Cor 1:18 ⁱ).
2:17 ^j Paul contrasts his service with that of his opponents.

• They preach for personal profit and adulterate the truth, like merchants in Paul’s day who offered shoddy goods, or innkeepers who watered down the wine. By contrast, Paul preached with sincerity and with Christ’s authority (cp. 1:12 ^k; 4:2 ^l). Paul’s denial of mercenary motives reemerges in 11:1–12:21 ^m.

‏ 2 Corinthians 3

Summary for 2Cor 3:1-3: 3:1-3 ⁿ Paul’s ministry was validated by the lives of those who were changed by the Good News rather than by a letter of recommendation (cp. Acts 18:27 ^o). Christ, the author of this transformation, used Paul to lead believers to him. The marks of genuineness are not in letters written ... with pen and ink on parchment, but in the fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22-23 ^p) in human lives and carved . . . on human hearts.
Summary for 2Cor 3:4-18: 3:4-18 ^q The contrast between Paul’s ministry and the others’ ministries leads Paul to contrast the old covenant of written laws (Exod 31:18 ^r) with the new covenant written on human hearts (Jer 31:33 ^s).
Summary for 2Cor 3:4-6: 3:4-6 ^t The old written covenant is the Mosaic law as interpreted by the Jewish rabbis. It ends in death for adherents who see it as a way of salvation. The law is good (Rom 7:12-14 ^u), but those who use it to gain merit fail. It leads either to transgression or to pride; either way, the law brings condemnation (2 Cor 3:9 ^v).
Summary for 2Cor 3:7-11: 3:7-11 ^w The old covenant had its moments of glory, such as when Moses’ face . . . shone from his communion with the Lord (Exod 34:29-35 ^x).

• The old way has been replaced by the new way, which is eternal (Heb 8:8-13 ^y).
Summary for 2Cor 3:12-15: 3:12-15 ^z The old covenant, represented by Moses’ veil, led to fear and did not remove spiritual blindness.
Summary for 2Cor 3:16-18: 3:16-18 ^aa The believer who turns to the Lord has freedom in the Spirit. We receive something Moses never knew as we become more and more like Christ (4:4 ^ab; John 1:1-14 ^ac; Col 1:15 ^ad; Heb 1:1-4 ^ae) and reflect the glory of the Lord. Divine glory in this present life leads to our being like Christ in the next life (Rom 8:29 ^af; Gal 4:19 ^ag; Phil 3:21 ^ah; 1 Jn 3:2 ^ai).

‏ 2 Corinthians 4

4:1 ^aj This new way (or This new ministry) shows us God’s mercy. Paul felt privileged to have the ministry of sharing the message of good news (1 Cor 15:9-11 ^ak; 1 Tim 1:12-17 ^al).
4:2 ^am Paul’s ministry was marked by honesty, unlike some other preachers (2:17 ^an).
Summary for 2Cor 4:3-4: 4:3-4 ^ao The Good News divides people into two categories: those who remain in darkness and those who are enlightened by God (see Acts 26:18 ^ap, cp. John 3:19-21 ^aq). God’s action in bringing people to himself is a movement from a realm governed by darkness to the light of God’s presence (Col 1:12-14 ^ar; 1 Pet 2:9 ^as). The god of this world fights against the change that the Good News brings to people’s hearts and minds.
4:5 ^at We preach that Jesus Christ is Lord: See also Rom 10:9-10 ^au; 1 Cor 12:3 ^av; Col 2:6 ^aw.
4:7 ^ax The message of good news is like great treasure, but it is housed in fragile clay jars—our weak bodies. This insight gives purpose to suffering (4:8–5:10 ^ay).
4:11 ^az Believers often share the humiliation of the Lord with confidence that they will also share in his triumphant risen life (4:14 ^ba).
4:12 ^bb Through his life of danger and exposure to mortal peril (see 1 Cor 15:30 ^bc), Paul was reinforcing the faith of the Christians in the churches that he founded (cp. Col 1:24 ^bd; 2 Tim 2:10 ^be).
Summary for 2Cor 4:13-14: 4:13-14 ^bf The secret of Paul’s resilience was in the same kind of faith the psalmist had, (see Ps 116:10 ^bg), which is centered in the living Lord.
Summary for 2Cor 4:16-17: 4:16-17 ^bh we never give up: This call to endurance is given with a reminder of what is in store in the future (5:1-10 ^bi). The human body is in the process of dying in the normal course of growing old, and Paul was particularly worn away physically and emotionally (4:8-12 ^bj). Yet he was being renewed every day—his spirit’s life was being rejuvenated and revitalized by the power of God.
4:18 ^bk If we look at the troubles we can see now, we grow faint; but when we see our lives in the light of eternal reality, we know that our troubles will soon be gone.

‏ 2 Corinthians 5

Summary for 2Cor 5:1-10: 5:1-10 ^bl The prospect of eternal hope is bright, with heavenly bodies replacing the dying bodies of this present life. The God of resurrection will also raise us and present us to himself with all believers (4:14 ^bm). The immediate stimulus for this statement of resurrection hope was what Paul had to face in Ephesus (1:8-11 ^bn). The frailty of his body reminded him of what lies beyond death, when this earthly tent we live in—that is, our body—will be taken down in death and dissolution (see 1 Cor 15:42-57 ^bo; Phil 3:20-21 ^bp).
5:2 ^bq we long to put on our heavenly bodies: This is no death wish; Paul was yearning for the Lord’s return when he would give new bodies to his people (1 Cor 15:51-58 ^br; Phil 3:20-21 ^bs; 1 Thes 4:16-17 ^bt).
5:7 ^bu Our hope for future resurrection can only be known by faith (see Heb 11:1 ^bv, 3 ^bw, 27 ^bx), yet we do have Jesus’ own resurrection and the presence of the Holy Spirit as evidence of what is to come (1 Cor 15:1-9 ^by; Eph 1:14 ^bz).
Summary for 2Cor 5:9-10: 5:9-10 ^ca The goal of the present life is to please him (see also Rom 12:1-2 ^cb; 14:18 ^cc; Col 1:10 ^cd; 1 Thes 4:1 ^ce). This ambition will be tested when we stand before Christ to be judged. The judge is also our advocate, so we are confident of acquittal (Rom 8:1 ^cf, 33-34 ^cg). Yet actions done in this earthly body will be assessed and called to account (Acts 17:31 ^ch).
Summary for 2Cor 5:11-21: 5:11–7:4 ^ci Paul now explains the main theme of his message, which is reconciliation—the turning of enemies into friends and the restoration of relationships. Paul’s thinking is rooted in what God has done through Christ to reconcile sinners to himself (5:18-21 ^cj). This exposition is framed by a defense of his own ministry (5:11-17 ^ck) and an application of his message to the situation in Corinth (6:1–7:4 ^cl). 5:11 ^cm One motive for Paul’s ministry is fearful responsibility to the Lord—not a cringing dread, but a healthy reverence (see Prov 1:7 ^cn).
5:12 ^co Paul’s opponents bragged about having a spectacular ministry outwardly, but they did not have a sincere heart (cp. 1 Sam 16:7 ^cp; Rom 2:28-29 ^cq).
5:13 ^cr If ... we are crazy: This statement might imply a charge on Paul’s previous visit to Corinth (2:1-2 ^cs) that he was out of his mind when he proclaimed the simple Good News there (1 Cor 2:2 ^ct).
Summary for 2Cor 5:14-17: 5:14-17 ^cu Paul’s doctrine of reconciliation arises from his conviction that (1) Christ died for all believers; (2) in Christ, believers also die to sin and self; and (3) now all believers should live for Christ. The new life in Christ thus leads to a fresh evaluation of other people and of Christ. 5:14 ^cv Christ’s love controls us: This could refer either to believers’ love for Christ or (more likely) to Christ’s love for us, which urges believers on in making Christ known through their service (see 1 Cor 9:16 ^cw).
Summary for 2Cor 5:16-17: 5:16-17 ^cx merely from a human point of view: Paul might be reflecting on his belief at one time as a Pharisee that the Messiah would come to set the Jews free from political oppression.

• How differently we know him now! Christ rose from the dead, ushered in the new creation (5:17 ^cy), and was established as the redeemer from sin and Lord of the universe (Rom 1:3-4 ^cz; Phil 2:6-11 ^da; Col 1:15-20 ^db).
Summary for 2Cor 5:18-21: 5:18-21 ^dc God entrusts to his servants the message and ministry of reconciliation through Christ.

• God has given us this task of reconciling people: Paul is speaking of his own ministry, but sharing this wonderful message is the responsibility of all believers. Christ’s ambassadors call people to accept what God has done so they can be made right with God through Christ.

• Christ paid the penalty for people’s sins—to take away all that stood between God and humans and to make us right with God.
5:20 ^dd The great privilege of believers is to be Christ’s ambassadors (cp. Eph 6:20 ^de).

• God is making his appeal through us: Paul doesn’t say that he speaks for God; rather, God speaks his word through us.

• Christ’s redeeming work for sinners opens the way for them to “Come back to God!” and be reconciled with him (see Rom 5:1-11 ^df; Eph 2:11-22 ^dg; Col 1:15-23 ^dh). Christian witness has this appeal at its heart. Paul was also appealing to the rebellious Corinthians to come over to his side (see 2 Cor 6:1 ^di).
5:21 ^dj Christ became the offering for our sin on the cross when he took sin’s penalty on himself and died a criminal’s death. He did this, though he himself never sinned (John 8:46 ^dk; 1 Pet 2:22 ^dl; 1 Jn 3:5 ^dm), so that we might be made right with God—i.e., set in right relationship with God and accepted by him (see Gal 3:13 ^dn).

‏ 2 Corinthians 6

Summary for 2Cor 6:1-2: 6:1-2 ^do To win over the disaffected believers at Corinth, Paul appeals to them to listen to him and Timothy as God’s servants and messengers.

• As God’s partners: Literally As we work together, which leaves open the question whether Paul meant that they were working together in a team effort, or that they were working together with God.
6:2 ^dp This quotation from Isa 49:8 ^dq clinches the point that God’s offer of salvation could secure reconciliation between Paul and the Corinthians; their reconciliation with Paul would follow naturally from their true acceptance of the Good News.
Summary for 2Cor 6:3-10: 6:3-10 ^dr Paul gives a revealing picture of the hardships of his ministry (cp. 4:7-18 ^ds). Nine trials are listed; many of these experiences from Paul’s life are recorded in Acts (e.g., Acts 14:5-6 ^dt, 19-20 ^du; 16:19-24 ^dv; 21:30-36 ^dw). Through their steadfast suffering for the Good News, Paul and Timothy (2 Cor 1:1 ^dx) showed that they were true ministers of God.
Summary for 2Cor 6:6-7: 6:6-7 ^dy Paul describes the spirit with which he faced suffering, attributing his strength to the presence of the Holy Spirit within us.
Summary for 2Cor 6:8-10: 6:8-10 ^dz Paul’s character as an apostle was often attacked; he and his colleagues were even called imposters. Yet he was honest in spite of people’s attitudes. They must have thought that Paul was a nobody who could be safely ignored, a foolhardy person who ran unnecessary risks that made him as good as dead already. Paul rebuts each of their allegations with insight into spiritual reality.
Summary for 2Cor 6:11-13: 6:11-13 ^ea Paul’s impassioned plea reveals his inner feelings.

• our hearts are open to you ... Open your hearts to us! These sentiments are continued in 7:2 ^eb (see study notes on 6:14–7:1; 7:2-4).
Summary for 2Cor 6:14-7:1: 6:14–7:1 ^ec The connection between 6:13 ^ed and 7:2 ^ee has led many scholars to conclude that 6:14–7:1 ^ef is an inserted fragment from another letter (perhaps the one mentioned in 1 Cor 5:9 ^eg). However, this section might just as well be a digression in Paul’s writing, a suitable challenge to the Corinthians to forsake their opposition to Paul and his message. Paul was anxious to see relationships restored; here, Paul draws a picture of believers in Christ forming a holy temple. Believers’ identity as the temple of God motivates the need for harmony among them as well as separation from the impurity of unbelieving attitudes and behaviors. Paul therefore draws the contrast between Christian and pagan morality with quotations from the Old Testament. 6:14 ^eh Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers: This instruction alludes to the Jewish prohibition of certain mixtures (Lev 19:19 ^ei; Deut 22:10 ^ej). Paul was probably referring to how the Corinthians had been involving themselves in idolatrous practices (see 1 Cor 8–10 ^ek; cp. 1 Cor 10:14-22 ^el).
6:15 ^em the devil: Greek Beliar. This Hebrew word means “worthless, good-for-nothing”; in the intertestamental period it came to be used as a name for Satan.
6:16 ^en Believers together are the temple of the living God, indwelt by the Holy Spirit and thus holy (1 Cor 3:16 ^eo; 1 Pet 2:1-10 ^ep).
6:18 ^eq This quotation is from 2 Sam 7:14 ^er, though Paul adds and daughters (cp. Isa 43:6 ^es).

‏ 2 Corinthians 7:1-4

7:1 ^et Paul wanted the church to be a holy people, filled with God’s presence.

• because we fear God: We should be reverent in the presence of a holy God (see study note on 5:11).
Summary for 2Cor 7:2-4: 7:2-4 ^eu Please open your hearts to us: Paul picks up his plea from 6:11-13 ^ev (see study note on 6:14–7:1). Paul had a deep concern for the churches (11:28 ^ew), expressed by seeking a close bond of fellowship. When he was misunderstood, he explained his actions, as he does here.

• We have not ... taken advantage of anyone: That is, by taking their money.
7:4 ^ex All our troubles might refer to Paul’s many hardships (6:5 ^ey) or his problems with the Corinthians themselves. Either way, he was filled with joy because the church’s response had greatly encouraged him (as he explains in 7:5-16 ^ez).