This study is part of our series of verse by verse studies of 2 Corinthians, the 47th book in the Bible. Taught by Sim Forder, one of our pastors, at our Sunday evening service on the 6th February 2022. You can watch or listen on this web page or save the audio for later listening.

Summary of this book

Some 7 years after Paul had left Corinth, he hears that the culture has affected, or infected the church. That they are not holding fast to what they have learned. And so he writes to them – about sexual immorality, about division in the church, about marriage, about the dangers of false teachers, of what to do with meat offered to idols, and famously – about love. That’s 1 Corinthians.

And as is evident in this second letter, the church listened. But not all took that well – and some retaliated in the only way they could, not by critiquing the message, but by questioning the authority of the messenger. And so as Paul writes this second letter, he’ll address those attacks – and in doing so we’ll understand a great deal about Paul’s heart. If 1st Corinthians informed us of Paul’s message, then 2nd Corinthians could be considered to inform us of Paul’s character.

At it’s simplest, we can break this letter down into three sections:

• Chapters 1 to 7 – Christian living
• Chapters  8 to 9 – Christian giving
• Chapters 10 to 13 – Christian guarding

Summary of this study

As Paul beings this letter, he begins with grace; with gentleness in his approach, and also that ever present reminder that there is no peace with God without God’s grace. But further, he declares that God is the God of all comfort – so much so, that He is the very thing we should comfort others with, with the knowledge that our trials teach us to trust in Him. Finally, as Paul starts addressing the questions about him and his authority, he reminds the church of his sincerity, and clarifies the reason he hadn’t visited in person yet was for their benefit – something he’ll continue in chapter 2.