[Note: Due to technical difficulties, the recording of the beginning of this class was lost. My apologies! - MRW]

Introduction to 2 Corinthians Notable verses + II Corinthians 4:16 + II Corinthians 5:7 + II Corinthians 5:10 + II Corinthians 5:17 + II Corinthians 6:2 + II Corinthians 7:10 + II Corinthians 9:7 + II Corinthians 10:4 + II Corinthians 12:9 + II Corinthians 13:5 * Corinth, a city of Achaia + Ancient Greek city destroyed by Rome in 146 B.C., then refounded as a Roman colony in 44 B.C. by Julius Caesar. + Important crossroads between the Greek mainland and Peloponnesian peninsula + Home to many “gods” and “lords” (I Corinthians 8:5) + Jewish presence (Acts 18:4) + Other cities of Achaia: Athens and Cenchrea (Acts 17; 18:18) + Acts 18:2-3 * Background + Paul spent 1.5 years in Corinth in the late 40s/early 50s (second journey). + I Corinthians written about A.D. 55 from Ephesus (third journey) - Paul anticipated another visit to Corinth (I Corinthians 16:2-3, 6) - Painful visit (II Corinthians 2:1)? + II Corinthians written about a year later from Macedonia (third journey) - II Corinthians 13:1 - Three-month stay in Greece after writing II Corinthians (Acts 20:2-3) - Wrote Romans during that visit. + Brief review of I Corinthians * Three main sections of II Corinthians + II Corinthians 1-7 – Apologetic (explanation and defense) + II Corinthians 8-9 – Hortatory (exhortation) + II Corinthians 10-13 – Polemical * II Corinthians overview + Very personal letter from Paul to Christians in Achaia. + Paul used a variety of methods to convince and exhort them. * Paul’s work as an apostle + John 15:26-27; 16:8-11 + Acts 9:15-16 - “Instrument” from the Greek, skeuos*, meaning vessel (II Corinthians 4:7) + Acts 20:22-24 + I Corinthians 15:8-10 + II Corinthians 4:1; 5:18; 6:3 + I Timothy 1:12-13, 16 * Class goals + Greater understanding of the text with a goal toward personal application and improvement. + Local authority and individual Christian’s relationship with apostolic authority. * Class expectations

II Corinthians 1:1-2* Paul immediately calls himself an apostle. + II Corinthians 8:23 – Titus is called an apostle in Greek, but usually translated “messenger.” + Paul was more than just a messenger. He was an apostle in the matter of the original twelve. * II Corinthians 1:2 - Compare II Corinthians 13:4 + “Lord Jesus Christ” – this phrase is used a number of times - “Lord” – refers to His Deity - “Jesus” – refers to His time as a man - “Christ” – refers to His role as Messiah