2 Corinthians 5:11-21
Summary for 2Cor 5:11-21: 5:11–7:4 a 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 b). This exposition is framed by a defense of his own ministry (5:11-17 c) and an application of his message to the situation in Corinth (6:1–7:4 d). 5:11 e One motive for Paul’s ministry is fearful responsibility to the Lord—not a cringing dread, but a healthy reverence (see Prov 1:7 f).5:12 g Paul’s opponents bragged about having a spectacular ministry outwardly, but they did not have a sincere heart (cp. 1 Sam 16:7 h; Rom 2:28-29 i).
5:13 j If ... we are crazy: This statement might imply a charge on Paul’s previous visit to Corinth (2:1-2 k) that he was out of his mind when he proclaimed the simple Good News there (1 Cor 2:2 l).
Summary for 2Cor 5:14-17: 5:14-17 m 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 n 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 o).
Summary for 2Cor 5:16-17: 5:16-17 p 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 q), and was established as the redeemer from sin and Lord of the universe (Rom 1:3-4 r; Phil 2:6-11 s; Col 1:15-20 t).
Summary for 2Cor 5:18-21: 5:18-21 u 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 v The great privilege of believers is to be Christ’s ambassadors (cp. Eph 6:20 w).
• 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 x; Eph 2:11-22 y; Col 1:15-23 z). 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 aa).
5:21 ab 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 ac; 1 Pet 2:22 ad; 1 Jn 3:5 ae), 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 af).
2 Corinthians 6
Summary for 2Cor 6:1-2: 6:1-2 ag 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 ah This quotation from Isa 49:8 ai 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 aj Paul gives a revealing picture of the hardships of his ministry (cp. 4:7-18 ak). Nine trials are listed; many of these experiences from Paul’s life are recorded in Acts (e.g., Acts 14:5-6 al, 19-20 am; 16:19-24 an; 21:30-36 ao). Through their steadfast suffering for the Good News, Paul and Timothy (2 Cor 1:1 ap) showed that they were true ministers of God.
Summary for 2Cor 6:6-7: 6:6-7 aq 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 ar 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 as 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 at (see study notes on 6:14–7:1; 7:2-4).
Summary for 2Cor 6:14-7:1: 6:14–7:1 au The connection between 6:13 av and 7:2 aw has led many scholars to conclude that 6:14–7:1 ax is an inserted fragment from another letter (perhaps the one mentioned in 1 Cor 5:9 ay). 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 az Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers: This instruction alludes to the Jewish prohibition of certain mixtures (Lev 19:19 ba; Deut 22:10 bb). Paul was probably referring to how the Corinthians had been involving themselves in idolatrous practices (see 1 Cor 8–10 bc; cp. 1 Cor 10:14-22 bd).
6:15 be 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 bf Believers together are the temple of the living God, indwelt by the Holy Spirit and thus holy (1 Cor 3:16 bg; 1 Pet 2:1-10 bh).
6:18 bi This quotation is from 2 Sam 7:14 bj, though Paul adds and daughters (cp. Isa 43:6 bk).
2 Corinthians 7:1-4
7:1 bl 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 bm Please open your hearts to us: Paul picks up his plea from 6:11-13 bn (see study note on 6:14–7:1). Paul had a deep concern for the churches (11:28 bo), 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 bp All our troubles might refer to Paul’s many hardships (6:5 bq) 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 br).
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