Purpose of Writing:
The church in Corinth began in AD 52 when Paul visited there on his second missionary journey. He stayed one and a half years, accomplishing much for the sake of the gospel. A record of this visit and the establishment of the church is found in Acts 18:1–18.
In his second letter to the Corinthians, Paul expresses his relief and joy that the Corinthians had received his “severe” letter (now lost) in a positive manner. That letter addressed issues that were tearing the church apart, primarily the arrival of self-styled (false) apostles (2 Corinthians 11:13) who were assaulting Paul’s character, sowing discord among the believers, and teaching false doctrine. They appear to have questioned his veracity (2 Corinthians 1:15–17), his speaking ability (2 Corinthians 10:10; 11:6), and his unwillingness to accept support from the church at Corinth (2 Corinthians 11:7–9; 12:13). There were also some people in Corinth who had not repented of their licentious behavior, another reason he had sent the “severe” letter (2 Corinthians 12:20–21).
Paul was overjoyed to learn from Titus that the majority of Corinthians had repented of their rebellion against Paul (2 Corinthians 2:12–13; 7:5–9). The apostle encourages them for this in an expression of his genuine love (2 Corinthians 7:3–16). Paul also urged the Corinthians to finish collecting an offering for the poor (chapters 8—9) and to take a harder stance against false teachers (chapters 10—13). Finally, Paul vindicated his apostleship, as some in the church had likely questioned his authority (2 Corinthians 13:3).
For a more detailed summary select the link below.
The Book of 2 Corinthians Summary
Summary of the Book of 2 Corinthians – Bible Survey | GotQuestions.org
Context Summary
Second Corinthians 1:3–11 contains profound praise to God for His comfort of all in affliction. Paul connects Christian suffering to the sufferings of Christ. This shows the Corinthians how Paul’s suffering and the comfort he has received from God during it have been for their benefit. Paul has experienced grave suffering recently, bringing him and his co-workers to the edge of death. The God who raises the dead has delivered them. Paul invites the Corinthians to participate in the celebration of God’s power by continuing to pray for Paul and his companions and to give thanks for God’s deliverance.
For a more detailed summary select the link below.
“2 Corinthians 1:3” Bibleref.com
What does 2 Corinthians 1:3 mean? | BibleRef.com
2 Corinthians 1:3
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort;
Context Summary
Second Corinthians 1:3–11 contains profound praise to God for His comfort of all in affliction. Paul connects Christian suffering to the sufferings of Christ. This shows the Corinthians how Paul’s suffering and the comfort he has received from God during it have been for their benefit. Paul has experienced grave suffering recently, bringing him and his co-workers to the edge of death. The God who raises the dead has delivered them. Paul invites the Corinthians to participate in the celebration of God’s power by continuing to pray for Paul and his companions and to give thanks for God’s deliverance.
For a more detailed summary select the link below.
“2 Corinthians 1:4” Bibleref.com
What does 2 Corinthians 1:4 mean? | BibleRef.com
2 Corinthians 1:3-4
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort; 4 who comforts us in all our affliction, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, through the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
Context Summary
Second Corinthians 2:12–17 briefly continues Paul’s story of deciding not to come to Corinth until learning whether they were ready. He hoped to learn of their response in Troas, but his co-worker Titus did not show up with the news. Feeling unrestful in his spirit, Paul left. He then transitions into powerfully describing Christians as the aroma of Christ on earth: evoking death to those perishing and life to those being saved. Paul insists that he and his co-workers are sent by God.
For a more detailed summary select the link below.
“2 Corinthians 2:14” Bibleref.com
What does 2 Corinthians 2:14 mean? | BibleRef.com
2 Corinthians 2:14
14 Now thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and reveals through us the sweet aroma of his knowledge in every place.
Context Summary
Second Corinthians 3:1–6 poetically describes the only letter of recommendation Paul needs for his legitimacy as an apostle: the Christians in Corinth. Paul and his friends delivered Christ to them. The Corinthians are a letter written by Christ not with ink but with the Holy Spirit, not on tablets of stone but on human hearts. God is the one who has empowered Paul for the ministry and who sent him and his friends into the world to do it.
For a more detailed summary select the link below.
“2 Corinthians 3:5” Bibleref.com
What does 2 Corinthians 3:5 mean? | BibleRef.com
2 Corinthians 3:5
5 not that we are sufficient of ourselves, to account anything as from ourselves; but our sufficiency is from God,
Context Summary
Second Corinthians 3:7–18 contains Paul’s comparison of the glory of God revealed in two covenants. The first is the Old Covenant with Israel, second is the far greater glory revealed in the new covenant of God’s grace through faith in Christ. The glory of the Old Covenant is fading just as it did on Moses’ face after he had been with God. Those who come to God through faith in Christ are forgiven for their sins and able to look on God’s glory. The veil of unbelief must be removed by the Spirit through Christ. Those who see Him begin to become like Him.
For a more detailed summary select the link below.
“2 Corinthians 3:17” Bibleref.com
What does 2 Corinthians 3:17 mean? | BibleRef.com
2 Corinthians 3:17-18
17 Now the Lord is the Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18 But we all, with unveiled face seeing the glory of the Lord as in a mirror, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord, the Spirit.
Context Summary
Second Corinthians 3:7–18 contains Paul’s comparison of the glory of God revealed in two covenants. The first is the Old Covenant with Israel, second is the far greater glory revealed in the new covenant of God’s grace through faith in Christ. The glory of the Old Covenant is fading just as it did on Moses’ face after he had been with God. Those who come to God through faith in Christ are forgiven for their sins and able to look on God’s glory. The veil of unbelief must be removed by the Spirit through Christ. Those who see Him begin to become like Him.
For a more detailed summary select the link below.
“2 Corinthians 3:18” Bibleref.com
What does 2 Corinthians 3:18 mean? | BibleRef.com
2 Corinthians 3:17-18
17 Now the Lord is the Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18 But we all, with unveiled face seeing the glory of the Lord as in a mirror, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord, the Spirit.
Context Summary
Second Corinthians 4:1–6 begins with Paul’s insistence that he would never act in disgraceful or deceptive ways. He and his co-workers present the truth of God’s Word openly. They invite others to openly evaluate their conduct before God. Some will not be able to believe their true teaching about Christ, though, since they are blinded by Satan from seeing the light of God’s glory in Christ. God has shone that light into the hearts of Paul and his friends, and they bring the light of knowing God’s glory through Christ to the world.
For a more detailed summary select the link below.
“2 Corinthians 4:6” Bibleref.com
What does 2 Corinthians 4:6 mean? | BibleRef.com
2 Corinthians 4:6
5 For we don’t preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake, 6 seeing it is God who said, “Light will shine out of darkness,” Genesis 1:3 who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
Context Summary
Second Corinthians 4:7–18 explains that the priceless treasure of knowing God’s glory through faith in Christ is kept in the fragile containers of human beings. In this case, this refers to Paul and his co-workers who preach the gospel. Their suffering is enormous, but God keeps them from being wiped out. They don’t quit because even after they die, they know they will be resurrected, as Christ was. Then they will spend eternity with Him in a glory that will far outweigh and outlast the comparatively lightweight and momentary suffering of this life.
For a more detailed summary select the link below.
“2 Corinthians 4:10” Bibleref.com
What does 2 Corinthians 4:10 mean? | BibleRef.com
2 Corinthians 4:10
10 always carrying in the body the putting to death of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.
Context Summary
Second Corinthians 4:7–18 explains that the priceless treasure of knowing God’s glory through faith in Christ is kept in the fragile containers of human beings. In this case, this refers to Paul and his co-workers who preach the gospel. Their suffering is enormous, but God keeps them from being wiped out. They don’t quit because even after they die, they know they will be resurrected, as Christ was. Then they will spend eternity with Him in a glory that will far outweigh and outlast the comparatively lightweight and momentary suffering of this life.
For a more detailed summary select the link below.
“2 Corinthians 4:13” Bibleref.com
What does 2 Corinthians 4:13 mean? | BibleRef.com
2 Corinthians 4:13
13 But having the same spirit of faith, according to that which is written, “I believed, and therefore I spoke.”Psalm 116:10 We also believe, and therefore we also speak;
Context Summary
Second Corinthians 4:7–18 explains that the priceless treasure of knowing God’s glory through faith in Christ is kept in the fragile containers of human beings. In this case, this refers to Paul and his co-workers who preach the gospel. Their suffering is enormous, but God keeps them from being wiped out. They don’t quit because even after they die, they know they will be resurrected, as Christ was. Then they will spend eternity with Him in a glory that will far outweigh and outlast the comparatively lightweight and momentary suffering of this life.
For a more detailed summary select the link below.
“2 Corinthians 4:15” Bibleref.com
What does 2 Corinthians 4:15 mean? | BibleRef.com
2 Corinthians 4:15
15 For all things are for your sakes, that the grace, being multiplied through the many, may cause the thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.
Context Summary
Second Corinthians 4:7–18 explains that the priceless treasure of knowing God’s glory through faith in Christ is kept in the fragile containers of human beings. In this case, this refers to Paul and his co-workers who preach the gospel. Their suffering is enormous, but God keeps them from being wiped out. They don’t quit because even after they die, they know they will be resurrected, as Christ was. Then they will spend eternity with Him in a glory that will far outweigh and outlast the comparatively lightweight and momentary suffering of this life.
For a more detailed summary select the link below.
“2 Corinthians 4:16” Bibleref.com
What does 2 Corinthians 4:16 mean? | BibleRef.com
2 Corinthians 4:16
16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.
Context Summary
Second Corinthians 4:7–18 explains that the priceless treasure of knowing God’s glory through faith in Christ is kept in the fragile containers of human beings. In this case, this refers to Paul and his co-workers who preach the gospel. Their suffering is enormous, but God keeps them from being wiped out. They don’t quit because even after they die, they know they will be resurrected, as Christ was. Then they will spend eternity with Him in a glory that will far outweigh and outlast the comparatively lightweight and momentary suffering of this life.
For a more detailed summary select the link below.
“2 Corinthians 4:17” Bibleref.com
What does 2 Corinthians 4:17 mean? | BibleRef.com
2 Corinthians 4:17
17 For our light affliction, which is for the moment, works for us more and more exceedingly an eternal weight of glory,
