Bethesda Chapel 2001
SG Bible Study #5 - Notes for SG and BS leaders

SG BS#5: Bible Study of 2 Corinthians

1) Gordon Fee. How to read the Bible for All Its Worth, pp1-71, 1982
2) Frank E. Gaebelein. The Expositor’s Bible Commentary Vol 10, 1976.

Guide to oversight, deacons, SG leaders and BS leaders

1. One needs to understand that when using an English translation, in the process of translation from Greek to English, interpretation has taken place. A Greek word can be translated in a few ways into English. Those who use the NIV can check shades of meanings with the RSV/NASB, GNB/NAB, or NEB/JB.¹
2. 2 Corinthians is an epistle. An epistle is not as easy to interpret as is often thought. The statement, "you don’t have to interpret the Bible, just read it and do as it says" is a valid protest against too much in-depth study and discussion without faith and obedience. The aim of good interpretation is to get to the "plain meaning of the text" and not outdo one another with uniqueness. Hence, read, interpret, understand, believe and obey. The last two are important for experiential growth. Hence at the end of the Bible study, there should be practical applications and timely sharing of relevant personal experiences.
3. In general, the Bible is God’s word and has eternal relevance. But because God spoke through human words in history, there is a tension that exists between its eternal relevance and its historical particularity. The latter implies a need to understand the historical and literal contexts before interpreting the text.
4. When does the text say then? What does it say now? We have to move from the original intent of the text at that time period to the interpretation of the text for today.
5. Three steps in interpreting, understanding and applying a passage – a) What does the text say? b) What light can be thrown from the context? c) What does it say today? Often the first and second steps are skipped.

An epistle typically has six parts:

1. Writer’s name
2. Recipient’s name
3. Greeting
4. Prayer or thanksgiving
5. Body
6. Final greeting and farewell

Epistles are occasional documents, i.e. written for specific occasions, and are from the first century. Although inspired by the Holy Spirit they are written by an original author to the original recipients. Hence the historical and literary contexts have to be understood, with the help of additional materials and resources where available.

Chronology/Date

1. Spring A.D. 55, 1 Corinthians written in, painful visit by Paul in Summer or Fall A.D. 55.
2. Spring A.D. 56, severe letter (2 Cor 7:8 cf 2:4), Paul leaves for Ephesus; Summer A.D. 56, Paul in Macedonia and Titus arrives in Macedonia.
3. Fall A.D. 56, 2 Corinthians written.

Occasion

1. Titus’s visit to Paul with favourable news about the Corinthians’ positive response to his severe letter.
2. Arrival of fresh disturbing news concerning Corinth.

Purpose

1. Paul’s good feelings concerning Titus report (2:6,9,12-14; 7:5-16).
2. Paul’s exhortation on the promised collection (8:6,7,10,11; 9:3-5 cf Rom 15:26).
3. To prepare them for his coming by their self-examination and self-judgment (12:14; 13:1,5,11), to help them discern rival apostles (ch 10 to 13) and spare them from severe discipline (10:2,5,6,11; 11:3; 12:19-21; 13:10).

2 Corinthians was successful because Paul made the promised visit (Acts 2:2,3). During his three months in Greece (primarily Corinth in the winter of A.D. 56-57) he wrote and completed Romans, which gives no hint of trouble in Corinth. But forty years later, Clement of Rome wrote to the church of God at Corinth in A.D. 96 to rebuke the same internal strive and rebellion against authority (Gaebelein, EBC, 307-308).

Special problems

1. The painful visit - two visits before 2 Corinthians (12:14;13:1,2) one visit was painful (2 Cor 2:1; 12:21).
2. The severe letter (2 Cor 2:4), to deal with discipline (2 Cor 2:6,9; 7:12). Its effect – their remorse and indignation, Paul’s appeal for forgiveness (2 Cor 7:6-16; 2:6-8).
3. Collection for the poor in Jerusalem (Rom 15:26).
4. Paul’s opponents at Corinth – Palestinian Jews (2 Cor 11:22 cf Phil 3:5). The false apostles have an exalted view of the Twelve apostles and regard the Twelve as "super-apostles" (2 Cor 11:5; 12:11). False apostles are those who lay claim on apostleship and preached another gospel (2 Cor 11:4,13).

a) Pastoral attitudes and techniques (spiritual shepherd 1:24; 2:6,7; 6:1; 10:2; 13:5,10; spiritual father 6:11-13; 11:2,3; 13:11).
b) The theology of Christian suffering (1:3-11; 4:7-18; 6:3-10).
c) Role of the minister of the new covenant (2:14-17; 4:1-5; 5:16-21; 11:28,29; 12:14,15).
d) The relation between the old and new covenant (3:7-18).
e) The theology of death and resurrection (4:7-5:10).
f) The principles and practice of Christian stewardship (2 Cor 8-9).

Structure and Themes

Ch 1-7         Paul’s explanation of his conduct and apostolic ministry
Ch 8-9         Collection for the saints in Jerusalem
Ch 10-13     Paul’s vindication of his apostolic authority

Ch 1-9
            I must rejoice (2:3; 6:10; 7:4, 7, 9,13,16)
            Comfort in the midst of affliction (1:3-7; 7:4,7,13)

Ch 10-13
            I must boast (12:1)
            Strength in the midst of weakness (12:9)

comfort (noun 9x); comfort (verb 8x)
affliction (9x), afflict (3x)
joy (2x); rejoice (4x)
weakness (6x); be weak (7x) in chapters 10-13 but none in chapters 1-9
boast (19x) in an apologetic or vindicative sense (ch. 10-13)
boast (root, 10x) in complimentary sense in ch. 1-9.

1 NIV New International Version – committee translation in the evangelical tradition; RSV Revised Std Version, NASB New American Std Bible are attempts to update KJV King James Version. RSV is better than NASB and KJV which are more far more literal to the point of being wooden. New American Bible is a committee translation in the American Catholic tradition. GNB Good News Bible is a translation by a single scholar who uses ‘dynamic equivalence.’ The NEB New English Bible is a committee translation with English idioms not familiar to the American readers. The Jerusalem Bible is an English translation of the French Bible de Jersualem. NEB/JB tends to be freer in translation than those which adopt dynamic equivalence like the NIV and GNB.