II Corinthians

II Corinthians

Summary: It seemed that thesis to Corinth's wealth and trade the Christians could not find steady footing in their faith. By the time Paul wrote this letter it appears he had sent others chastising them including the "letter of tears." Though in his first letter to Corinth had  addressd sex, marriage, idolatry these problems seemed to persist among the brethren of the city. Though my reading I noticed Paul was much harsher in hi discipline yet still re-affirms his love for them.  Still knowing of their persecution Paul looks to encourage as muchas correct.   

Things I Noticed:

1. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the serene of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. (Even negative emotion can be used for good.)

2. For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. 

3. It is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has annointed us, and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as guarantee.

4. For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God's word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ. 

5. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 

6. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to dispair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 

7. always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life may also manifest in our bodies.

8. For this slight momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are entenal. 

9. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 

10. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

11. Therefore, we are ambassador for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 

12. As servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardship, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love; by truthful speech, and the power of God; with weapons of righteuosness for the right and for the left; through honor and dishonor, through slander and praise. 

13. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything.

14. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness. 

15. For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death. 

16. As you excel in everything-in faith,in speech, in knowledge, in all earness, and in our love for you!-see that you excel in this act of grace also.

17. Whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack. 

18. The point is this; whoever sows sparingly will reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each must give as he has made up his mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. (Giving comes from our heart.)

19. For through we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. 

20. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete. (This can include bad logic, lies, false theories and bad science.)

21. What we say by letter when absent, we do when present. 

22. I preached God's gospel to you free of charge. (Yea he said no charge for truth and love.)

23. For even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to thier deeds. 

25. My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in your weakness.

26. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weakness, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 
27. For children are not obligated to save up for their parents, but parents for their children. (It is our job to create a legacy.)

28. Perhaps there may be quarreling, jealousy, anger, hostility, slander, gossip, conceit, and disorder.

29. For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth.

Paul has sent us to the Celtic Gauls of Galatia. I hear there highlands are beautiful. We carry a letter for the people who took care of Paul while he was ill. Timothy sees excite but insists the we continue out study of numbers. The book is my least favorite of the Tenach but ever word of God caries wisdom that the Holy Spirit can reveal. Till then, Read up, Post up, and Shalom.