2nd Corinthians 9:1 - 10:18; Giving Under The Law vs During this Age of Grace; Paul Defends His Ministry as Being Accomplished in the Power of The Lord:
Volume 5, Number 70The 9th chapter continues the thought of chapter 8 concerning the money Titus was collecting from Members of the Body of Christ in Greece. Paul and associates were to take it to Jerusalem for the Jewish Kingdom saints there who had run out of funds on which to live. We note here the difference in giving requirements for Members of Christ’s Body during this dispensation, i.e., this age of Grace, and the requirements under the Law of Moses. Under the Law each was to give 10% of their earnings. Under Grace, Paul tells the Corinthians and believers today: “But this... Continue reading →
2nd Corinthians 8:1 - 24: Grace in the Form of Monies Collected from Members of the Body of Christ in Greece by Titus & a Brother in Christ For the Suffering Kingdom Saints in Jerusalem:
Volume 5, Number 69The word “faith” occurs 7 times in 2nd Corinthians, the 5th instance here in chapter 8: “Therefore, as ye abound in everything, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also.” 2 Corinthians 8:7. Note the 6 highlighted words in this verse: faith, utterance, knowledge, diligence, love and grace. Let’s first define each of these attributes:• Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen, Hebrews 11:1.• Utterance is from the Greek “logos,” (G3056) used 330 times in the New... Continue reading →
2nd Corinthians 7:1 - 16: Saints Are To Avoid Filthiness of the Flesh; The Deep Reciprocal Love Between Paul, Titus & the Corinthians; A Template For Believers Today:
Volume 5, Number 68Chapter 7 opens: “Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” 2 Corinthians 7:1. “These promises” are listed in the previous chapter, they are that every believer is a Temple of God, separate from and not identified with unbelievers and all are the sons and daughters of God Almighty, 2 Corinthians 6:16 - 18. However, even though believers enjoy this standing before God, nevertheless they are exhorted to cleanse themselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit. “Filthiness” is translated from the... Continue reading →
2nd Corinthians 6:3 - 18; Proof That Paul’s Apostleship is Genuine; Paul’s Exhortation To Members of Christ’s Body to Live According to God’s Calling:
Volume 5, Number 67Our previous study pointed out that 2 Corinthians 6:2 is a parenthesis, initially quoting first part the first part of Isaiah 49:8 teaching that God approved of Jesus Christ’s finished work on the cross for the sins of fallen mankind and raised Him from the dead (the major event of history). The second part proclaims that “now” is the day of salvation. It has been the “day of salvation” ever since right up to today. 2 Corinthians 6:1 continues the thought from the previous chapter (2 Corinthians 5:17 - 21) and states that Paul and his fellow Apostles, working in... Continue reading →
2nd Corinthians 6:1 - 2; Believers Exhorted Not To Receive God’s Grace in Vain; The Resurrection of Jesus Christ In Isaiah’s Prophesy Addressed to Israel vis a vis the Apostle Paul’s Revelation to The Body of Christ:
Volume 5, Number 66The 6th chapter begins: “We (Paul and those with him) then, as workers together with Him (Jesus Christ), beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.” 2 Corinthians 6:1. The words “we then” that begin this verse indicate that what follows is based on what was just disclosed in previous verses, i.e., “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature (creation): old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to... Continue reading →
2nd Corinthians 5:1 – 21: To Whom the “We” & “Us Refers;” Key Verses Words; A New Creation; The Fear of The Lord:
Volume 5, Number 65The 5th chapter of 2nd Corinthians has 21 verses and either the word “we” or “us” is found in all but 2 of them. “We” is the most common and sometimes occurs 2 or 3 times in a single verse, while both “we” and “us” are found in some. The dictionary defines “we” as “a first-person plural pronoun that refers to the speaker and one or more other people as the subject of a verb; it is used in various contexts, including: when a speaker or writer uses ‘us’ to refer to both themselves and one or more other people,... Continue reading →
2nd Corinthians Chapter 5:6– 10, Living By Faith, not by Sight & The Judgement Seat of Christ:
Volume 5, Number 64Today, we begin by examining the Greek word “ekdemeo” (G1553) meaning “to emigrate, thus, figuratively to vacate or quit.” “Ekdemeo” is found only 3 times in the New Testament (NT), all here in 2nd Corinthians 5; it’s translated “we are absent” in verse 6; “to be absent” in verse 8 and “absent” in verse 9. Its use in these 3 verses emphasize the truth that all believers, while alive on earth are absent from the Lord, 2 Corinthians 2:6 but are confident (exercise courage) and willing (take pleasure ) to be absent from these bodies to be present with the... Continue reading →
2nd Corinthians Chapter 5:1 - 7: Everything the Believer Needs to Know about Their Present, Intermediate and Future Abodes In a Few Short Verses - All By Faith:
Volume 5, Number 63The first 4 verses of chapter 5 are packed with some interesting words and understanding the Greek from which they are translated provides insight into the three phases of the true believer’s existence; here on earth; the intermediate after death and the glorious eternal heavenly existence. Of course, if the rapture occurs before death, the intermediate is skipped. The last two verses of the preceding chapter provide context: “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen,... Continue reading →
2nd Corinthians Chapter 4: The Spirit of Faith; The Message, Gospel & Truth revealed to Paul Reflects onto and from Believers while Satan blocks it from Unbelievers:
Volume 5, Number 62Paul opens the 4th chapter: “Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;” 2 Corinthians 4:1. “This ministry” refers to the New Covenant/Testament revealed in the 3rd chapter, and “The Gospel” later here in chapter 4. The Holy Spirit made Paul an able minister of this gospel/ministry, 2 Corinthians 3:6. This ministry/gospel had been a mystery/secret before it was revealed to Paul, Romans 16:25; 1 Corinthians 2:7. The four words “we have received mercy” are translated from the Greek “eleeo” (G1653) found 31 times in the New Testament (NT) translated variously in other passages:... Continue reading →
2nd Corinthians Chapter 3: Message of Christ Written on the Hearts of Believers Who Reflect the Glory of the Lord; Not on Tables of Stone or as Moses’ Face was Veiled To Israel:
Volume 5, Number 61Paul begins the 3rd chapter asking rhetorically if he and his fellow workers needed letters of commendation to the Corinthians or from them, as was apparently the practice of false apostles, 2 Corinthians 3:1. He answers that the believing Corinthians (members of The Body of Christ) themselves are the epistle (message or letter) written (engraved or inscribed) of all men, because they are declared (rendered apparent) to be the epistle (message or letter) of Christ not written (engraved or inscribed) with ink (as was the Law), but with the Spirit of the Living God, not in tables of stone (as... Continue reading →