Butler's Commentary

Chapter Two

THE PROBLEM OF LONELINESS

(2 Corinthians 2:1-17)

IDEAS TO INVESTIGATE:

1.

What pain was Paul reluctant to cause the Corinthians?

2.

Who is the one who had caused pain both to Paul and the church?

3.

What are the designs of Satan about which we should not be ignorant?

4.

What aroma do Christians become to God?

5.

Who are peddlers of God's word? What's wrong with peddling it?

APPREHENSION:

1.

Why is the writing of this second epistle causing Paul pain?

2.

Why was Paul so intent on resolving the alienation he was getting from the Corinthian church?

3.

Who was causing pain in Corinth?

4.

Can you recount in your own words the scenario of Paul's dealings with the Corinthian church which led to all this pain?

5.

How will Satan gain advantage over these Corinthian Christians according to Paul?

6.

Why should Christians want to know the devil's designs?

7.

What very evident design did the devil have for the Corinthian church?

8.

Why did Paul turn aside from the door opened to him in Troas?

9.

What event of the first century is Paul using to portray the Christian ministry in 2 Corinthians 2:14-16?

10.

What is a peddler of the word of God?

APPLICATION:

1.

Why are preacher's pained when there is division in the church?

2.

Does causing grief to one of the leaders of the church hurt the rest of the church? How?

3.

How far should church discipline go? When is it too much? What is the church to do about a member who repents after discipline?

4.

How does being unforgiving make us vulnerable to Satan's designs?

5.

How do we keep ourselves from being ignorant of Satan's designs?

6.

Should preachers be allowed to have special friends in a congregation?

7.

Should preachers ever get depressed and so lonely they can-'t go through opened doors? Do they? What can a congregation do to help them?

8.

How does the earnestness of the ministry of the gospel contribute to making some preacher's lonely?

9.

Is preaching the gospel a racket? For whom?

10.

How may a preacher handle the problem of loneliness?

CORINTHIAN CORRESPONDENCE AND VISITS

Taken from the book Chronological and Background Charts of the New Testament, by H. Wayne House, pub. 1981 by Zondervan Publishing House.

Event

Scripture Reference

Founding of church on second missionary journey

Acts 18:1-17

Leaving Corinth, arriving at Ephesus

Acts 18:18-19

Writing a letter now lost[1]

1 Corinthians 5:9-13

[1] Some believe 2 Corinthians 6:14 to 2 Corinthians 7:1 is a fragment of this letter.

Receiving a bad report from some from Chloe'S
household and a letter from Corinth

1 Corinthians 1:11; 1 Corinthians 7:1

Writing of I Corinthians

I Corinthians

Sending of Timothy and Erastus to Corinth

Acts 19:22; 1 Corinthians 4:17; 1 Corinthians 16:10

Hearing of serious crisis in Corinth
caused by Jewish emissaries in which Paul'S
authority is questioned

2 Corinthians 10:10; 2 Corinthians 11:23; 2 Corinthians 12:6-7

Making a hasty trip to Corinth (painful visit)

2 Corinthians 2:1; 2 Corinthians 12:14; 2 Corinthians 13:1

Writing of severe letter to Corinth

2 Corinthians 2:3-9; 2 Corinthians 7:8-12

Searching for Titus in Troas and Macedonia

2 Corinthians 2:12-13

Finding of Titus, who reports worst at Corinth is over

2 Corinthians 7:6-16

Writing of II Corinthians

II Corinthians

Making third visit to Corinth

Acts 19:21; Acts 20:3; 2 Corinthians 13:1

A CHRONOLOGY OF THE APOSTOLIC AGE

Crucifixion

Friday, April 3, 33

Pentecost (Acts 2:1-47)

Sunday, May 25, 33

Peter's second sermon; Peter brought before Sanhedrin (Acts 3:1 to Acts 4:31)

summer 33

Death of Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 4:32 to Acts 5:11)

33-34

Peter brought before Sanhedrin (Acts 5:12-42)

34-35

Deacons selected (Acts 6:1-7)

late 34-early 35

Stephen martyred (Acts 6:8 to Acts 7:60)

April 35

Paul's conversion (Acts 9:1-7)

summer 35

Paul in Damascus and Arabia (Acts 9:8-25; Galatians 1:16-17

summer 35-early summer 37

Paul in Jerusalem, first visit (Acts 9:26-29; Galatians 1:18-20)

summer 37

Paul to Tarsus and Syria-Cilicia area (Acts 9:30; Galatians 1:21)

autumn 37

Peter's ministry to Gentiles (Acts 10:1 to Acts 11:18)

40-41

Barnabas to Antioch (Acts 11:19-24)

41

Paul to Antioch (Acts 11:25-26)

spring 43

Agabus's prediction of famine (Acts 11:27-28)

spring 44

Agrippa's persecution, James martyred (Acts 12:1-23)

spring 44

Relief visit, Paul's second visit to Jerusalem (Acts 11:30; Galatians 2:1-10)

autumn 47

Paul in Antioch (Acts 12:24 to Acts 13:1)

autumn 47-spring 48

First missionary journey (Acts 13:1-52; Acts 14:1-28) Departure from Antioch

April 48-Sept. 49

Cyprus

April 48

Pamphylia

April-June 48

Pisidian Anitoch

first of July-middle of July 48

Iconium

Oct. 48-last of Feb. 49

Lystra-Derbe

March-middle of June 49

Return visit to churches

middle of June-Aug. 49

Return to Antioch of Syria

Sept. 49

Peter in Antioch (Galatians 2:11-16)

autumn 49

Galatians written from Antioch

autumn 49

Jerusalem council, Paul's third visit (Acts 15:1-41)

autumn 49

Paul in Antioch (Acts 12:25 to Acts 13:1)

winter 49/50

Second missionary journey (Acts 15:25 to Acts 18:22)

April 50-Sept. 52

Departure from Antioch

April 50

Syria and Cilicia

April 50

Lystra-Derbe

May 50

Iconium

last of May-middle of June 50

Pisidian Antioch

middle of June-first of July 50

Antioch to Troas

July 50

Philippi

Aug.-Oct. 50

Thessalonica

Nov. 50-Jan. 51

Berea

Feb. 51

Athens

last of Arrival at Corinth

Arrival at Corinth

middle of March 51

Silas and Timothy arrive from Berea

April/May 51

I Thessalonians written

early summer 51

II Thessalonians written

summer 51

Departure from Corinth

first of Sept. 52

Ephesus

middle of Sept. 52

Jerusalem, Paul's fourth visit

last of Sept. 52

Return to Antioch

first/middle of Nov. 52

Paul's stay at Antioch

winter 52/53

Third missionary journey (Acts 18:23 to Acts 21:16)

spring 53-May 57

Departure from Antioch

spring 53

Visiting Galatian churches

spring-summer 53

Arrival at Ephesus

Sept. 53

I Corinthians written

early spring 56

Departure from Ephesus (riot)

first of May 56

Troas

May 56

Arrival in Macedonia

first of June 56

II Corinthians written

Sept. Oct. 56

Departure from Macedonia

middle of Nov. 56

Arrival in Corinth

last of Nov. 56

Romans written

winter 56/57

Departure from Corinth

last of Feb. 57

Philippi

April 6-14, 57

Troas

April 19-25, 57

Troas to Assos

Monday, April 25, 57

Assos to Mitylene

April 26, 57

Mitylene to Chios

April 27, 57

Chios to Trogyllium

April 28, 57

Trogyllium to Miletus

April 29, 57

Ephesian elders-' visit with Paul

April 30-May 2

Miletus to Patara

May 2-4, 57

Patara to Tyre

May 5-9, 57

Stay at Tyre

May 10-16, 57

Tyre to Caesarea

May 17-19, 57

Stay at Caesarea

May 19-25, 57

Caesarea to Jerusalem

May 25-27, 57

Jerusalem, Paul's fifth visit

eve of Pentecost, May 27, 57

Meeting with James (Acts 21:13-23)

May 28, 57

Paul's arrest and trial before Felix (Acts 21:26 to Acts 24:22)

May 29-June 9, 57

First day of purification

Sunday, May 29, 57

Second day of purification

May 30, 57

Third day of purification

May 31, 57

Fourth day of purification

June 1, 57

Fifth day of purification, riot, Paul's speech

June 2, 57

Paul before the Sanhedrin

June 3, 57

Appearance of the Lord (night)
Conspiracy (day)

June 4, 57

Journey to Antipatris (night)
Journey to Caesarea (day)

June 5, 57

Waiting in Caesarea for trial

June 5-9, 57

Trial before Felix

Thursday, June 9, 57

Paul before Felix and Drusilla (Acts 24:24-26)

June 57

Caesarean imprisonment (Acts 24:27)

June 57-Aug. 59

Trial before Festus (Acts 25:7-12)

July 59

Trial before Agrippa (Acts 26:1-32)

first of Aug. 59

Voyage to Rome (Acts 27:1 to Acts 28:29)

Aug. 59-Feb. 60

Departure from Caesarea

middle of Aug. 59

Myra

first of Sept. 59

Fair Havens

Oct. 5-10, 59

Shipwreck at Malta

last of Oct. 59

Departure from Malta

first of Feb. 60

Arrival in Rome

last of Feb. 60

First Roman imprisonment (Acts 28:30)

Feb. 60-March 62

Ephesians written

autumn 60

Colossians and Philemon written

autumn 61

Philippians written

early spring 62

James, the Lord's brother, martyred

spring 62

Paul in Ephesus and Colosse

spring-autumn 62

Peter went to Rome

62

Paul in Macedonia

late summer 62-winter 62/63

I Timothy written

autumn 62

Paul in Asia Minor

spring 63-spring 64

Paul in Spain

spring 64-spring 66

Christians persecuted, Peter martyred

summer 64

Paul in Crete

early summer 66

Paul in Asia Minor

summer-autumn 66

Titus written

summer 66

Paul in Nicopolis

winter 66/67

Paul in Macedonia and Greece

spring-autumn 67

Paul arrested and brought to Rome

autumn 67

II Timothy written

autumn 67

Paul's death

spring 68

Destruction of Jerusalem

Sept. 2, 70

Applebury's Comments

CHAPTER TWO

Analysis

A.

Paul continued the explanation of his deferred visit to Corinth (2 Corinthians 2:1-13).

1.

He explained his personal reason for the delay (2 Corinthians 2:1-4).

a)

He had decided not to come again in sorrow.

b)

He gave his reason: If I make you sorry, who is there to gladden me but the one I made sorry?

c)

He reminds them that he had writtenin First Corinthiansthis very thing:

(1)

He did so in order that he might not have sorrow from those who ought to make him rejoice.

(2)

He had done so because he was confident that his joy was their joyhis visit was to be enjoyed by all.

d)

He told them about the nature and purpose of his writing (First Corinthians).

(1)

He wrote it out of affliction, anguish of heart, and many tears.

(2)

He did so not to cause sorrow, but that they might know of his abundant love for them.

2.

He explained his attitude toward the one who had caused the sorrow (2 Corinthians 2:5-11).

a)

He explained his reasons for this attitude (2 Corinthians 2:5-7).

(1)

He had caused sorrow not to Paul alone but, in part, to all.

(2)

His punishment at the hand of the many was sufficient.

(3)

It was Paul's judgment that he should be forgiven lest he be overcome by his sorrow.

b)

He appealed to them to let the one who caused the sorrow know of their forgiveness (2 Chronicles 2:8, 2 Chronicles 2:8-11).

(1)

He urged them to confirm their love for him.

(2)

He had written (in First Corinthians) to put them to the test, that is, to see whether or not they would obey him in all things.

(3)

He joined with them in forgiving this one for their sakes in the presence of Christ.

(4)

Such forgiveness would prevent Satan from gaining the advantage over them.

(5)

He gave his reasons for this appeal: We are not ignorant of Satan's thoughts.

3.

He explained why he left Troas and went to Macedonia (2 Corinthians 2:12-13).

a)

The move to Troas.

(1)

It was for the gospel of Christ.

(2)

There a door was opened for him in the Lord.

b)

The move to Macedonia.

(1)

He had found no relief for his anxiety over Corinth.

(2)

He had not found Titus.

B.

Paul interrupted the account of his search for Titus with an expression of thanks to God for Triumph in Christ (2 Corinthians 2:14-17).

1.

His thanksgiving: (2 Corinthians 2:14).

a)

For His continuous leading in triumph in Christ.

b)

For His making manifest through His messengers the savor of His knowledge in every place.

2.

His explanation: (2 Corinthians 2:15-16 a).

a)

The messengers are a sweet savor of Christ unto God.

b)

The message is true with reference to those who are saved and those who perish.

c)

In one it is a message from death unto death, and the other from life unto life.

3.

His question: (2 Corinthians 2:16 b - 2 Corinthians 2:17).

a)

Who is adequate for these things?

b)

We are, is his implied answer.

c)

The reason for this answer:

(1)

We are not as the many corrupting the Word of God.

(2)

We speak with sincerity in the sight of God in relation to Christ.

Questions

1.

How many times did Paul visit Corinth?

2.

Why had he postponed his coming to see them?

3.

How had he caused them sorrow?

4.

How had they gladdened his heart?

5.

What was his purpose in writing to them as indicated by 1 Corinthians 4:14?

6.

What are some of the ways in which the gospel message brings joy?

7.

How many letters did Paul write to the Corinthians?

8.

Instead of causing him tears, what did Paul have a right to expect from the brethren at Corinth?

9.

What was it that had caused him such anguish of heart?

10.

What was Paul's purpose in telling them about his sorrow?

11.

Why didn-'t Paul name the one who had caused the sorrow?

12.

How does the case of the one mentioned in the fifth chapter of First Corinthians fit this situation?

13.

What do the Scriptures say about the responsibility of Christians toward an erring brother?

14.

What do they say that the erring one should do?

15.

To whom besides Paul had this one caused sorrow?

16.

Was the church unanimous in believing that this one had caused them sorrow?

17.

How had the majority reacted to the direction which Paul had given for punishing the guilty one?

18.

What was that punishment? What was its purpose?

19.

Since the guilty person had repented, what was the church to do?

20.

What did Jesus say about those who fail to forgive?

21.

What did Paul say might happen to him if the church failed to forgive?

22.

How were they to show their love for the one who had repented?

23.

What advantage would Satan gain through an unforgiving attitude on their part?

24.

Why did Paul say, We are not ignorant of his devices?

25.

What are some of the ways in which Satan destroys the work of the church of God?

26.

Why did Paul go to Troas?

27.

What opportunity for the gospel did he find there?

28.

What indication is there that he did not overlook this, even though he left Troas and went to Macedonia to find Titus?

29.

What did his going on to Macedonia reveal to the Corinthians about Paul's attitude toward them?

30.

Why didn-'t Paul receive direct communication from God about the issues in Corinth instead of his having to wait until Titus reported to him?

31.

What limit did God put on direct communication to the messengers of the gospel?

32.

What did Paul think of Titus?

33.

Why did Paul break off the description of his anxiety without saying whether or not he had met Titus in Macedonia?

34.

What did he thank God for?

35.

How could every effort of the apostle, even when the gospel was rejected by some, be thought of as triumph in Christ?

36.

With what familiar custom did Paul describe his triumphant ministry for Christ?

37.

To what did he liken the knowledge about Christ?

38.

How did he indicate that Christ's messengers were also acceptable to God?

39.

With what two issues does the gospel message deal?

40.

What did Paul mean when he asked, Who is sufficient for these things?

41.

What made him adequate for the task of preaching the gospel?

42.

What may this have suggested as to the false apostles who were troubling the Corinthians?

43.

What figure did Paul have in mind when he spoke of those who were corrupting the Word?

44.

By contrast, what did Paul say of his own sincerity?

For Discussion

1.

What are some of the subtle ways in which Satan may be destroying the effectiveness of the church today?

2.

What can the church do today to avoid misrepresenting the message of the gospel?

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