ARE MADE TO US. "Since God makes us all these promises, we ought to jump into action!" LET us PURIFY. "Since we are God's temple (1 Corinthians 3:16-17), we must make ourselves pure by separating ourselves from everything that makes body or soul unclean!" Body and soul form a _unity,_ and the sin th... [ Continue Reading ]
MAKE ROOM. It is not possible for the Corinthians and Paul to be friends as long as they listen to the slander of the false teachers against him! but THEY must act to make room in their hearts for Paul and the other true servants of Christ! DONE WRONG TO NO ONE. Paul is thinking about the painful le... [ Continue Reading ]
I DO NOT SAY THIS. "I do not say this to condemn you for allowing yourselves to be misled by the false teachers, or to stir up past problems! As I said before, _we have opened wide our hearts to you_! Our fellowship in Christ is too important to allow anything to destroy it!!!... [ Continue Reading ]
SO SURE OF YOU! The news from Titus has made him jubilant!!! See 2 Corinthians 7:6.... [ Continue Reading ]
EVEN AFTER. Note that Paul picks up the thought he dropped in 2 Corinthians 2:13. When Titus did not meet Paul at Troas, he may have been afraid that Corinth had rejected his letter and that some special problem kept Titus there. Paul also faced opposition from unbelievers, as he always seemed to do... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT GOD. Note how Paul always gives God the credit for what happens! How happy it made Paul to hear the good news about improved conditions at Corinth!!!... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT ALSO HIS REPORT. Titus may have had doubts about his mission to Corinth, knowing the problems which Paul had in the _painful visit_ (2 Corinthians 2:1). He was much encouraged to learn the improved attitude of the Corinthians! TO SEE ME. They sincerely wanted him to be with them! HOW SORRY. They... [ Continue Reading ]
IF THAT LETTER. The letter of 2 Corinthians 2:4. I AM NOT SORRY. "It was necessary that I write this strongly worded letter to you!" I COULD HAVE BEEN SORRY. "Please don't think it made me happy to humiliate you! It made me sad to do it, but it was for your own good.... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT BECAUSE. "Here is why I am happy: it made you change your ways!" WAS USED BY GOD. 2 Corinthians 7:10 explains this.... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE SADNESS. "God is able to use the sadness that regrets actions which were contrary to God, to change our heart and bring us to himself! The Corinthians were sad because their actions against Paul had also been against God. Change our heart = repent = turn _from_ sin _to_ God. _Worldly sadness... [ Continue Reading ]
SEE WHAT GOD DID! Paul gives God the credit for the _change of heart_ which the Corinthian Christians have made. Paul examines the signs which show that they have repented of past sins. Repent = reform! INNOCENCE! They _clear themselves_ by doing as Paul had instructed. INDIGNATION! Probably toward... [ Continue Reading ]
IT WAS NOT. "I do not want you to misunderstand why I wrote that letter. Although it may have seemed harsh, there was no thought of taking revenge." INSTEAD. "I wrote to test you (2 Corinthians 2:9) and to make you yourselves AWAKE of how you actually felt in this matter! This crisis could only be r... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT IS WHY. Paul is much encouraged by the evidence of repentance which the Corinthians have demonstrated! TITUS. Both Titus and Paul are servants of the same Lord! When Titus was made happy, Paul was made happy also!... [ Continue Reading ]
I DID BOAST of you. After the _painful visit_ of 2 Corinthians 2:1, it may surprise us that Paul would boast of them. But Paul's love for them looks beyond the moment, and sees the good! Some let present problems blind them to the real value of a person. Paul did not do that!!!... [ Continue Reading ]
AND SO HIS LOVE. Titus remembers well their spirit of faith!!!... [ Continue Reading ]
HOW HAPPY! They have passed the test! Compare 2 Corinthians 7:4. NOTE: Chapter s 8-9 are the most complete discussion of _Christian giving_ in the New Testament. Galatians 2:1-10 implies a working-agreement between the Jewish and Gentile churches. This showed a _new spirit_ among the Christians (see... [ Continue Reading ]