Kress Biblical Resources :: A Change in Plans Explained and Defended (2Co 1:3-24; 2Co 2:1-11)

Detailed Outline of 2 Corinthians

Defending the New Covenant Gospel Ministry of Grace and the Sufficiency of Christ

II. Gospel ministry and the sufficiency of Christ (2Co 1:3-7:16)

1. A change in plans explained and defended (2Co 1:3-24; 2Co 2:1-11)
   1. Comfort in suffering, fellowship, and mutual concern should be more important than a change of plans (2Co 1:3-11)
      1. Extolling God before the explanation of the change of plans (2Co 1:3-7)
         1. The praise proffered to the God of all comfort (2Co 1:3-4a)
            1. The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (2Co 1:3a)
            2. The Father of mercies (2Co 1:3b)
            3. The God of all comfort (2Co 1:3c-4a)
         2. The practical purpose of His comfort (2Co 1:4b-7)
            1. To comfort others in their afflictions (2Co 1:4b)
            2. To demonstrate the sufficiency of Christ’s comfort in the midst of suffering (2Co 1:5)
            3. To foster fellowship with other believers in suffering and comfort (2Co 1:6-7)
      2. Explaining the circumstances that led to the change plans (2Co 1:8-11)
         1. A desperate situation arose (2Co 1:8)
         2. A deepening dependence on God resulted (2Co 1:9)
         3. A deliverance from death was experienced (2Co 1:10)
         4. A deliberate prayer request is now petitioned (2Co 1:11)
   2. Changing plans should not necessarily be equated with sinister motives or weak leadership (2Co 1:12-22)
      1. Plans can be made and changed with a clear conscience (2Co 1:12-16)
         1. The testimony of a good conscience (2Co 1:12)
         2. The truth plainly communicated as intended (2Co 1:13)
         3. The trust that should issue from godly relationships (2Co 1:14)
         4. The thinking behind the initial plan (2Co 1:15-16)
            1. The intention (2Co 1:15)
            2. The itinerary (2Co 1:16)
      2. Plans can be made and changed and still reflect the faithfulness of God (2Co 1:17-22)
         1. The plan was not made flippantly (2Co 1:17-19)
            1. The plan was made in good faith (2Co 1:17)
            2. The plan was founded on God’s faithfulness (2Co 1:18)
            3. The preaching of Christ is evidence of good faith and God’s faithfulness (2Co 1:19)
         2. The Providence that directs believers’ lives is faithful (2Co 1:20)
         3. The pledge of the Spirit and the redemption of God in Christ is proof of God’s faithfulness (2Co 1:21-22)
            1. The firm foundation is God Himself (2Co 1:21)
            2. The future is secured by God’s Spirit (2Co 1:22)
   3. Changing plans may indicate godly motives and spiritual discernment (2Co 1:23-24; 2Co 2:1-11)
      1. The spiritual reasons for the change in plans (2Co 1:23-24; 2Co 2:1-2)
         1. An expression of grace (2Co 1:23)
         2. An expression of humility (2Co 1:24)
         3. An expression of wisdom [after an initial painful visit] (2Co 2:1)
         4. And expression of hope (2Co 2:2)
      2. The sorrowful letter that was sent instead of a second painful visit (2Co 2:3-11)
         1. The sorrowful letter was sent in the hope of repentance (2Co 2:3)
         2. The sorrowful letter was personally painful but sent out of love (2Co 2:4)
         3. The sorrowful letter was for the good of the whole body—not just the offending party (2Co 2:5)
         4. The sorrowful letter was intended to foster faithfulness, forgiveness and restoration within the church (2Co 2:6-11)
            1. The response of the church was church discipline (2Co 2:6)
            2. The response of the church to the repentant must be comfort and forgiveness (2Co 2:7)
            3. The restored must receive charity [love] and affirmation (2Co 2:8)
            4. The reason for the letter was to prove the church’s faithfulness to the truth (2Co 2:9)
            5. The response of Paul to the offense was not personal, but rather due to the public nature of the offense (2Co 2:10ab)
            6. The response of Paul was forgiveness from the heart before Christ and public acknowledgement of that forgiveness (2Co 2:10c)
            7. The refusal to forgive and restore is a satanic scheme to destroy people and the church (2Co 2:11)