Kress Biblical Resources :: Introductory Matters

Introductory Matters of 2 Corinthians

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

1. The author (2Co 1:1a)
   1. The human author (2Co 1:1a)¹
      1. His name
      2. His office
      3. His authority
      4. His ministry representative²
   2. The divine Author (2Ti 3:16; 2Pe 1:21; 2Pe 3:15-16)
2. The audience (2Co 1:1b)
   1. The original recipients (cf. Act 18:1-18; Act 19:1)
      1. The church of God in Corinth
      2. The wider audience of believers throughout Achaia
   2. The current recipients (2Ti 3:16; 2Pe 3:15-16)
3. The aim
   1. To explain why Paul had decided to change his previously planned visit to Corinth (2Co 1:8, 15-19, 23-24; 2Co 2:1)
   2. To encourage the church to forgive a penitent offender who had sinned publicly [against Paul] (2Co 2:5-11; cf. 2Co 7:8-12)
   3. To defend the superiority of the New Covenant gospel ministry of grace against those who would denigrate Paul’s ministry (2Co 2:15-17; 2Co 3; 2Co 4:3-6; 2Co 5:11-21; 2Co 6:1, 3-10)
   4. To encourage the church to embrace Paul’s ministry wholeheartedly and separate from those who taught contrary doctrine (2Co 6:11-18; 2Co 7:1-7)
   5. To encourage the church to complete the collection for the needy saints in Jerusalem (2Co 8; 2Co 9;)
   6. To defend Paul’s authority as an Apostle so that the purity and simplicity of the gospel would be preserved against false apostles (2Co 10; 2Co 11; 2Co 12; 2Co 13:1-10)
   7. Summary reason: Defending the New Covenant gospel ministry of grace and the sufficiency of Christ

¹ For a biblical biography of the Apostle Paul see Act 7:58; Act 8:1; Act 9:1-30; Act 11:25-30; Act 12:25-28:31; 1Co 15:30-32; 2Co 6:4-5; 2Co 11:23-30; Gal 1:13-2:16; Phl 3:4-14; 2Th 3:8.

² For a biblical biography of Timothy see Act 16:1; Act 17:14-15; Act 18:5; 1Co 4:17; 1Co 16:10; Phl 2:19-23; 1Th 3:2, 6; 1Ti 1:2; 1Ti 5:23; Heb 13:23