College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
2 Corinthians 4 - Introduction
Butler's Commentary
Chapter Four
THE PROBLEM OF DISCOURAGEMENT
IDEAS TO INVESTIGATE:
1.
Who would tamper with God's word?
2.
Is there a god of this world who is not Jehovah?
3.
What treasure did Paul have in an earthen vessel?
4.
What is the inner nature of man?
5.
How can unseeable things be seen?
APPREHENSION:
1.
Was Jesus, the perfect man, ever disappointed? When? Why?
2.
How does the word therefore beginning chapter 4 indicate the source of Paul's disappointment? What was that source?
3.
Does Paul infer that he once used disgraceful, underhanded ways with the word of God? When? How?
4.
What is tampering with God's word?
5.
Who is a tamperer with God's word?
6.
How did Paul commend his ministry to mankind?
7.
Is the devil the god of this world? In what way?
8.
What proof is available to man that the devil is not a god?
9.
Does Paul infer some Corinthians were preaching themselves? Why?
10.
What does Paul mean by earthen vessels?
11.
What is the believer's treasure?
12.
Did Paul experience pressure and anxiety? Why?
13.
Why did Paul say he had experienced perplexity?
14.
To what may Paul be alluding when he says struck down?
15.
What death is Paul talking about when he says, always carrying in the body the death of Jesus?
16.
How is death at work in us? What is death working in us?
17.
What is the outer nature? How do we know it is wasting away?
18.
When do we know that our inner nature is being renewed?
19.
What is the direct tie between our afflictions in this life and the glory that is to come to the believer in the next lift?
20.
What, according to C.S. Lewis, is the eternal weight of glory?
21.
What may we surmise about the eternal weight of glory from the Scriptures?
APPLICATION:
1.
Should preachers ever become discouraged, disappointed? Does your preacher?
2.
Have you ever been guilty of legalism? What makes you feel alright with God?
3.
How many people do you know who think of the devil as equal with God in power?
4.
What does it mean, to measure themselves by one another? What is wrong with that?
5.
Why is it that young people seldom think of their mortality?
6.
Should Christians think of death often? Is that being morbid? Can it be good to do so?
7.
May Christians expect to be afflicted, perplexed, persecuted, and knocked down? How often?
8.
Is there an answer to such a life? What is it? Have you found it workable? Have you told anyone else about this answer?
9.
Do you always carry in your body the death of the Lord Jesus? How?
10.
Do you expect God to help you die to self? How do you think God will accomplish this in your life?
11.
Do you feel like you are being renewed in your inner nature every day? Why? How? What can you do to insure that you are?
12.
What is waiting for you when you die?
13.
Why do you think God will say to you, after you die, Well done, good and faithful servant. ?
14.
What is really real to you? Have you come to the place in your life yet where everything in this world is unreal?
Applebury's Comments
CHAPTER FOUR
Analysis
A.
Paul explained the nature of his ministry under the glorious New Covenant (2 Corinthians 4:1-6).
1.
His attitude toward his ministry (2 Corinthians 4:1-2).
a)
Since he had received it through the mercy that had been shown him by the Lord, he did not lose heart (2 Corinthians 4:1).
b)
He did, however, reject things that were unbecoming to such a ministry (2 Corinthians 4:2 a).
(1)
He renounced the hidden things of shame.
(2)
He did not carry on his ministry by craftiness.
(3)
He did not handle the Word of God deceitfully.
c)
He conducted himself in such a manner as to commend himself to every man's conscience (b).
(1)
He did so by making the truth clear.
(2)
It was done openly as in the sight of God.
2.
His attitude toward the gospel which he preached (2 Corinthians 4:3-6).
a)
He assumed that his gospel might become veiled in some (2 Corinthians 4:3-4 a).
(1)
This could happen in the minds of those who were perishing.
(2)
It was done by the god of this world.
(3)
It was the result of their being blinded by unbelief.
b)
He pointed out the result of this blindness: Those who are perishing do not see the light of the glory of the gospel of Christ who is the image of God (2 Corinthians 4:4 b).
c)
He gave his reasons for this view of the veiled gospel (2 Corinthians 4:5-6).
(1)
Based on the message he preached:
(a)
He didn-'t preach himself but Christ Jesus as Lord.
(b)
He was their servant for Jesus-' sake.
(2)
Based on what God said:
(a)
Let light shine out of darkness.
(b)
God caused light to shine in his heart by revealing His truth.
(c)
This caused him to see the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.
B.
Paul explained the secret of his ability to endure the trials of his ministry (2 Corinthians 4:7-15).
1.
He was but an earthen vessel in which this treasure was carried that it might be evident that the power of his ministry was of God, not of himself (2 Corinthians 4:7).
2.
Death was working in his case that they might have life (2 Corinthians 4:8-12).
a)
He described the trials which he endured in his ministry (2 Corinthians 4:8-9).
(1)
Pressed but not straightened.
(2)
Perplexed but not unto despair.
(3)
Pursued but not forsaken.
(4)
Smitten down but not destroyed.
b)
He explained the nature of these trials (2 Corinthians 4:10-12).
(1)
They were like bearing about the dying of Jesus that the life of Jesus might be manifested in his body.
(2)
He explained that he was delivered to death for Jesus-' sake that the life of Jesus might be manifested in his mortal flesh.
(3)
This meant that death was working in him, but life in the Corinthians.
3.
His ministry was carried on in the spirit of faith (2 Corinthians 4:13-15).
a)
His faith was like that of the Psalmist who said, I believed, therefore I spoke (2 Corinthians 4:13).
b)
His faith was in God who raised up Christ and would raise him also (2 Corinthians 4:14).
c)
His ministry of faith was for their sakes that the multiplied grace of the many might cause thanksgiving to abound unto the glory of God.
C.
Paul explained his view of temporal suffering (2 Corinthians 4:16-18).
1.
He did not lose courage in face of such suffering.
2.
He thought of them in contrast to things eternal.
a)
They were as light afflictions compared to the weight of eternal glory.
b)
Things that are seen are temporal; things that are unseen are eternal.
Questions
1.
Why did Paul again refer to his ministry at this point?
2.
What merciful thing had God done for Paul in connection with his ministry?
3.
In what way had Paul's conversion changed his Pharisaical views?
4.
What might this suggest as to the teachers who were disturbing the church at Corinth?
5.
What was Paul's attitude toward the hardships which he faced?
6.
What were the hidden things of shame which Paul renounced?
7.
What kind of a life had he lived as a Pharisee?
8.
How do the practices of the false teachers in Galatia show what Paul meant by hidden things of shame?
9.
What were some of the crafty, deceitful practices of some of the false teachers in Paul's day?
10.
What did Paul say to the Ephesian elders about his own relation to the whole counsel of God?
11.
How did Paul seek to commend his ministry?
12.
Why did he speak of the possibility of the gospel being veiled?
13.
Who is the god of this age?
14.
How does he blind the minds of some to the truth of the gospel?
15.
What will ultimately happen to the god of this age and to all who worship him?
16.
On what does belief in Christ rest?
17.
What experience did Jesus have with this kind of blindness?
18.
What is the light of the gospel?
19.
What did Paul mean when he spoke of Christ as the image of God?
20.
What did Jesus say about His relation to the Father?
21.
What did Paul mean when he said, We preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus as Lord?
22.
Why did he speak of himself as their servant?
23.
Why did Paul refer to the fact that God said, Light shall shine out of darkness?
24.
How had God enlightened the heart of Paul? How does he enlighten hearts of others?
25.
What contrasts may be seen between the god of this world and God who sheds light on our minds through the gospel?
26.
What did Paul mean by the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ?
27.
What is the connection between this thought and that of the glory on the face of Moses?
28.
What contrast may this suggest between the message that went forth from Sinai and the gospel that was preached on the Day of Pentecost?
29.
What was the treasure in earthen vessels?
30.
What were the earthen vessels?
31.
What important view of Paul's ministry does this give?
32.
Why did Paul mention the frailty of the human body at this point?
33.
What experience of Paul had caused him to be pressed on every side, yet not straitened?
34.
How did the failure to find Titus cause him to be perplexed, yet not unto despair?
35.
How did Paul show that the Lord had never forsaken him?
36.
When had he been smitten down, but not destroyed?
37.
In what way was he always bearing about in the body the dying of Jesus?
38.
What was the purpose of this?
39.
What did he mean by saying, Death works in us, but life in you?
40.
To what spirit of faith did Paul refer? Why?
41.
Why was Paul cheerful even though he knew that his physical body was wearing out?
42.
With what did he compare his light affliction?
43.
What is the eternal weight of glory?
For Discussion
1.
What can be done to exalt the gospel today when so many are preoccupied with human systems of thought?
2.
How can the unseen glories of heaven be made real to us?