Last 4 chapters of 2 Corinthians (Full Version)

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laura... -> Last 4 chapters of 2 Corinthians (6/5/2008 9:42:07 AM)

Last night I was reading 2 Corinthians in my study bible. In the beginning of chapter 2 Paul writes:

1So I made up my mind that I would not make another painful visit to you. 2For if I grieve you, who is left to make me glad but you whom I have grieved? 3I wrote as I did so that when I came I should not be distressed by those who ought to make me rejoice. I had confidence in all of you, that you would all share my joy. 4For I wrote you out of great distress and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to grieve you but to let you know the depth of my love for you (emphasis mine)

The study note for verse 4 says that there are several opinions about the previous letter that Paul is referring to. Most early scholars believe that the previous letter was 1 Corinthians. More recent scholars believe that it was a letter sent sometime between the writing of 1 Corinthians and 2 Corinthians that is now lost. However, some scholars believe that the last 4 chapters of 2 Corinthians may actually be part of this mentioned previous letter; especially since it has such a big shift in focus and tone from the previous 9 chapters.

I am definitely not a bible scholar but the change in tone from the end of chapter 9 to the beginning of chapter 10 is really obvious. The way Paul wrote those 4 chapters certainly matches the description of his state of mind in 2:4 (great distress and anquish of heart). It makes sense to me that it is part of Paul's previous letter that had at some point become attached to 2 Corinthians.

What say you all?



Szaftoo -> RE: Last 4 chapters of 2 Corinthians (6/5/2008 12:33:45 PM)

I think Paul's tone changes dramatically as he addresses the challenges to his authority in Corinth. He answers criticisms made against him and rebukes those who are trying to undermine his ministry. It is a warning to the minority who are still in rebellion.



SpongeBlog -> RE: Last 4 chapters of 2 Corinthians (6/5/2008 12:59:28 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: laura...

Last night I was reading 2 Corinthians in my study bible. In the beginning of chapter 2 Paul writes:

1So I made up my mind that I would not make another painful visit to you. 2For if I grieve you, who is left to make me glad but you whom I have grieved? 3I wrote as I did so that when I came I should not be distressed by those who ought to make me rejoice. I had confidence in all of you, that you would all share my joy. 4For I wrote you out of great distress and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to grieve you but to let you know the depth of my love for you (emphasis mine)

The study note for verse 4 says that there are several opinions about the previous letter that Paul is referring to. Most early scholars believe that the previous letter was 1 Corinthians. More recent scholars believe that it was a letter sent sometime between the writing of 1 Corinthians and 2 Corinthians that is now lost. However, some scholars believe that the last 4 chapters of 2 Corinthians may actually be part of this mentioned previous letter; especially since it has such a big shift in focus and tone from the previous 9 chapters.

I am definitely not a bible scholar but the change in tone from the end of chapter 9 to the beginning of chapter 10 is really obvious. The way Paul wrote those 4 chapters certainly matches the description of his state of mind in 2:4 (great distress and anquish of heart). It makes sense to me that it is part of Paul's previous letter that had at some point become attached to 2 Corinthians.

What say you all?

I would have to study it closer and compare it to the rest of 1 and 2 Corinthians to form some kind of time line. But I will share this interesting thing. I'm taking the young adults in our 'College and Career/ School of (the) Rock' class through 1 Corinthians, and I had to flip ahead to these very chapters to help them understand Paul's defense of his ministry and motives all through the Corinthian letters.

For years I thought it odd that you can't get the necessary understanding of Paul's relationship to the Corinthians, and thus some of his message to them, until you get to the end of 2 Corinthians. Once you do, from then on both 1 and 2 Corinthians is filled with much more meaning. Flipping ahead and reading that really turned the lights on for them.



laura... -> RE: Last 4 chapters of 2 Corinthians (6/5/2008 1:52:41 PM)

Some possible internal evidence:

2 Corinthians 1:15-2:1 shows that Paul had intended to visit Corinth again but changed his mind in order to spare them and himself another painful visit.

15 Because I was confident of this, I planned to visit you first so that you might benefit twice. 16 I planned to visit you on my way to Macedonia and to come back to you from Macedonia, and then to have you send me on my way to Judea. 17 When I planned this, did I do it lightly? Or do I make my plans in a worldly manner so that in the same breath I say, "Yes, yes" and "No, no"? ...

23 I call God as my witness that it was in order to spare you that I did not return to Corinth. 24Not that we lord it over your faith, but we work with you for your joy, because it is by faith you stand firm. 2:1 So I made up my mind that I would not make another painful visit to you.

In chapter 12 Paul states that he is planning to visit and he expects the visit to be painful.

14 Now I am ready to visit you for the third time, and I will not be a burden to you, because what I want is not your possessions but you. After all, children should not have to save up for their parents, but parents for their children. 15 So I will very gladly spend for you everything I have and expend myself as well. If I love you more, will you love me less? 16 Be that as it may, I have not been a burden to you. Yet, crafty fellow that I am, I caught you by trickery! 17 Did I exploit you through any of the men I sent you? 18 I urged Titus to go to you and I sent our brother with him. Titus did not exploit you, did he? Did we not act in the same spirit and follow the same course?

19 Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves to you? We have been speaking in the sight of God as those in Christ; and everything we do, dear friends, is for your strengthening. 20 For I am afraid that when I come I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be. I fear that there may be quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, factions, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder. 21 I am afraid that when I come again my God will humble me before you, and I will be grieved over many who have sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual sin and debauchery in which they have indulged.

If chapter 12 is part of a different, previous, letter then the visit he is announcing in chapter 12 could be the visit he cancelled in chapter 1.



laura... -> RE: Last 4 chapters of 2 Corinthians (6/5/2008 3:26:44 PM)

In the following verses Paul is reminding the Corinthian church that he had never been a burden to them-a financial burden. He never received any support from them but preached the gospel free of charge. He uses really strong language in stating that he "robbed" other churches, specifically the church in Macedonia in order to serve in Corinth. The Macedonian church was supporting Paul's ministry in Corinth. He also reminds them that the men he sent, Titus and a brother, also did not take any money from them.

2 Cor 11: 7Was it a sin for me to lower myself in order to elevate you by preaching the gospel of God to you free of charge? 8I robbed other churches by receiving support from them so as to serve you. 9And when I was with you and needed something, I was not a burden to anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied what I needed. I have kept myself from being a burden to you in any way, and will continue to do so.

12:11 I have made a fool of myself, but you drove me to it. I ought to have been commended by you, for I am not in the least inferior to the "super-apostles," even though I am nothing. 12The things that mark an apostle—signs, wonders and miracles—were done among you with great perseverance. 13How were you inferior to the other churches, except that I was never a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong!
14Now I am ready to visit you for the third time, and I will not be a burden to you, because what I want is not your possessions but you. After all, children should not have to save up for their parents, but parents for their children. 15So I will very gladly spend for you everything I have and expend myself as well. If I love you more, will you love me less? 16Be that as it may, I have not been a burden to you. Yet, crafty fellow that I am, I caught you by trickery! 17Did I exploit you through any of the men I sent you? 18I urged Titus to go to you and I sent our brother with him. Titus did not exploit you, did he? Did we not act in the same spirit and follow the same course?

In chapters 8 and 9, Paul speaks about the Macedonian church's sacrificial giving to support Paul's ministry. He then talks about a financial gift that Corinth promised to collect and give. Paul states that he has been boasting to the Macedonians about Corinth's readiness to give generously.
It seems to me that it would make sense that the last 4 chapters were written quite some time prior to the rest of 2 Corinthians, because the generosity of the Corinthian church could be a result of Paul lambasting them regarding his never having been a burden and how the Macedonians had supported his ministry to the Corinthians. This could be part of the repentance that Paul speaks about in chapter 7.

7:8Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it. Though I did regret it—I see that my letter hurt you, but only for a little while— 9yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. 10Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. 11See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done. At every point you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter. 12So even though I wrote to you, it was not on account of the one who did the wrong or of the injured party, but rather that before God you could see for yourselves how devoted to us you are. 13By all this we are encouraged.



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