Understanding The Bible
STUDY REFERENCE
Clarence E. Mason's "2 Corinthians"
INTRODUCTION and SUMMARY OUTLINE

 

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BY THE AUTHOR
Dr. Clarence E. Mason, Jr.
Philadelphia College of Bible
1971

SECOND CORINTHIANS


INTRODUCTION (from Arthur S. Way)
Soon after the dispatch of his first letter to the Corinthian church (earlier in 57) Paul left Ephesus for Macedonia, where he anxiously awaited the return of Titus, whom he had sent with the bearers, or as himself the bearer, of that letter. Misgivings filled his heart lest the letter had been too severe, but these were relieved by Titus’ report of the repentance of the obedient members of the church.

But the report revealed a new peril:
(1) Some were assailing Paul’s authority and asserting that he had no proper apostolic credentials:
(2) that he dared not claim a living by the gospel, such as other apostles enjoyed;
(3) that he was insincere and cowardly, having twice promised to visit them, but daring only to write them vigorous letters;
(4) that he was scheming with his friends by private letters;
(5) and that his plan of an alms-fund was but a device for securing for himself money that he had refused (while among them).

In this second letter he comforts those who had been duly and properly affected by the first, and with great sorrow of heart and under deepest pressure because so hateful to his Christian humility, he meets the false charges, using a large part of the epistle to vindicate his apostolic authority as proceeding from Christ alone.

It was written about AD 57 (from Macedonia),


SUMMARY OUTLINE

  1. INTRODUCTION 1:1-2
     
  2. PAUL’S MINISTRY 1:3-7:16
    1. Exercised in suffering and rejoicing 1:3-11
    2. Sincere and triumphant l:12-2:16a
    3. The sufficiency of God -- his credentials 2:16b-3:5
    4. The New Covenant -- the theme of his ministry 3:6-4:15
    5. Motives for effective ministration of the New Covenant 4:16-6:2
    6. The sufficiency and testing of his ministry 6:3-10
    7. The New Covenant’s appeal to separation 6:11-7:1
    8. His heart in the ministry 7:2-16
       
  3. CHRISTIAN STEWARDSHIP 8-9
     
  4. VINDICATION OF PAUL’S APOSTLESHIP 10:1-13:10
     
  5. CONCLUDING SALUTATION 13:11-14

 

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