Bible Book:  II Corinthians

Because the Bible is practical, here is an overview of the book.

Author: Paul

Type of Book: Epistle

Outline
Greeting and Opening Blessing (1:1-2)
Paul’s Explanation of His Actions and Ministry (for the Sake of the Loyal Majority, 1:3-7:16)
Praise and Thanksgiving for God’s Comfort Through Suffering (1:3-11)
Explanation and Motives for His Change in Travel Plans (1:12-2:4)
Discipline and Forgiveness for the Offender (2:5-11)
Direction and Triumph in Ministry (2:12-17)
Clarification Concerning the Character of His Ministry (3:1-6:10)
New Covenant Glory (3:1-18)
Openness and Truth (4:1-6)
Personal Suffering (4:7-5:10)
Compassionate Dedication (5:11-6:10)
Sincere Appeal to and Love for the Corinthians (6:11-7:16)
The Offering for Christians in Jerusalem (8:1-9:15)
An Example of and a Challenge for Christian Generosity (8:1-15)
The Mission of Titus and the Need for Readiness (8:16-9:5)
The Response and Results of Generosity (9:6-15)
Paul’s Defense of His Authority (to the Rebellious Minority, 10:1-13:10)
An Answer to Challenges and the Measure of His Ministry (10:1-18)
A Reluctant Self-Defense of His Apostleship (11:1-12:13)
Justifying His Ministry in Corinth (11:1-15)
Affirming His Rights as a True Apostle (11:16-12:13)
An Upcoming Third Visit Mentioned as a Warning (12:14-13:10)
Promise and Concern (12:14-21)
Warning and Expectation (13:1-10)
Conclusion and Final Blessing (13:11-14)

Theme: Glory Through Suffering

Date of Writing: A.D. 55/56

Purpose
    Paul wrote this letter to address three categories of people involved in the church at Corinth. (1) First, he wanted to encourage the majority who had remained faithful to him as their spiritual father (i.e., the leader who originally introduced them to faith in Christ and helped establish their church). (2) He wanted to challenge and expose the false leaders and messengers who continued to speak against him personally, trying to undermine his leadership and authority and to change his message. (3) He wanted to warn and firmly address the minority in the church who were being influenced by Paul’s opponents and resisting his authority and correction. Paul defended the integrity of his ministry and reaffirmed his authority as a pioneer leader of the Corinthian church. He also clarified his motives of love and concern for the Corinthians and warned them against further rebellion. 2 Corinthians served to prepare the church as a whole for his future visit.

Survey
2 Corinthians has three main divisions. (1) In the first section (chs. 1-7), Paul begins by thanking God for giving him peace and comfort as he suffered for the sake of Christ and his message. He then defends the reasons for changing his travel plans for his next visit, and he commends the Corinthians for how they disciplined a spiritual offender. In the next section (3:1-6:10), Paul shares the most extensive insight in the NT on the true character of Christian ministry. He goes on in the third section to stress the importance of separation from worldly beliefs, behaviors and lifestyles (6:11-7:1). He then expresses joy in learning from Titus (a younger ministry assistant whom Paul had mentored) that many in the church who had previously rebelled against Paul’s authority (ch. 7) had experienced a genuine change of heart.
(2) In chs. 8 and 9, Paul encourages the Corinthians to match the wholehearted generosity of the Macedonian Christians who had contributed to the offering he was raising for the distressed Christians at Jerusalem.
(3) The tone of the letter changes in chs. 10-13. Here Paul defends his apostleship (his God-given authority to deliver Christ’s original message and to lead the effort of establishing his church). He begins by describing his initial commissioning by Christ himself, his spiritual qualifications and his sufferings as a true messenger of God. By presenting this defense, Paul hopes the Corinthians will be able to compare and, thus, identify the false messengers among them and be spared from further discipline when he arrives again in person. Paul concludes 2 Corinthians with the only benediction (i.e., closing blessing) in the NT addressing all three persons in the Trinity: God the Father, Jesus the Son and the Holy Spirit (13:14; see article on The attributes of God, and Mk 1:11, note, for a brief explanation of the Trinity—the one true God in three distinct, interrelated and unified persons).

Special Features
    Four major features characterize this letter. (1) It is the most autobiographical of all Paul’s letters (i.e., he writes and reveals more about his own background, situation and perspective). His many personal references are made with open and transparent humility, sincere apology and even embarrassment at the need to defend himself. But this tone was understandable and necessary because of the situation at Corinth. (2) It goes beyond all of Paul’s other NT letters in revealing the deep love and concern he felt for his spiritual children (i.e., those he introduced to faith in Christ and mentored spiritually). (3) It contains the NT’s most-developed teaching about Christian suffering (1:3-11; 4:7-18; 6:3-10; 11:23-30; 12:1-10; see article on The suffering of the righteous) and about Christian giving (chs. 8-9). (4) Key terms, such as weakness, grief, tears, danger, distress, suffering, comfort, boasting, truth, ministry and glory, highlight the unique character of this letter.

Giving credit where credit is due.  These informational notes about this book come from the Full Life Study Bible, also known as the Fire Bible.  Don Stamps, editor.  Originally published by Life Publishers.