Kress Biblical Resources :: Overview Outline

Overview Outline of 2 Corinthians

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

1. Introduction (2Co 1:1-2)
   1. The writer (2Co 1:1a)
   2. The recipients (2Co 1:1b)
   3. The reasons (see The Aim in the Introductory Matters)
   4. The requisite greeting (2Co 1:2)
2. 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)
      2. Changing plans should not necessarily be equated with sinister motives or weak leadership (2Co 1:12-22)
      3. Changing plans may indicate godly motives and spiritual discernment (2Co 1:23-24; 2Co 2:1-11)
   2. A Christ-Sufficient ministry explained and defended (2Co 2:12-7:16)
      1. The Christ-Sufficient ministry promotes Spirit-Enabled, New Covenant worship and liberty—not legalism (2Co 2:12-17; 2Co 3:1-18)
      2. A Christ-Sufficient ministry will be marked by difficulty and satanic opposition—not temporal ease (2Co 4:1-15)
      3. A Christ-Sufficient ministry seeks to please Christ with a view to the eternal reward—not earthly reward (2Co 4:16-18; 2Co 5:1-10)
      4. A Christ-Sufficient ministry is motivated by faith, Christ’s love, and the desire to honor Him—not the love and honor of self (2Co 5:11-21; 2Co 6:1-10)
      5. A Christ-Sufficient ministry is characterized by a deep concern for spiritual well-being of others—not personal profit (2Co 6:11-18; 2Co 7:1-3)
      6. A Christ-Sufficient ministry is characterized by divine comfort, joy, and holy optimism—not pessimism and defeat (2Co 7:4-16)
3. Giving principles concerning the collection for the saints and the sufficiency of Christ (2Co 8; 2Co 9)
   1. The call for grace giving concerning the needs of the saints (2Co 8:1-15)
      1. The example of the churches in Macedonia (2Co 8:1-5)
      2. The exhortation to the church at Corinth (2Co 8:6-8)
      3. The example of the Lord Jesus (2Co 8:9)
      4. The exhortation continued (2Co 8:10-12)
      5. The explanation of divine provision (2Co 8:13-15)
   2. The concern for propriety in regard to the handling of the collection and the distribution of the funds (2Co 8:16-24; 2Co 9:1-5)
      1. Integrity and accountability are essential in the collection and distribution of God’s resources (2Co 8:16-23)
      2. Intentionality, preparation, and commitment are essential in the giving of God’s resources (2Co 8:24; 2Co 9:1-5)
   3. The corollary principles and precepts for grace giving (2Co 9:6-15)
      1. The principle of sowing and reaping in grace giving¹ be generous in your giving (2Co 9:6)
      2. The proper perspective of grace giving—be joyful, not grudging in your giving (2Co 9:7)
      3. The power and purposes of God’s grace in grace giving—be confident in God’s power and purposes in your giving (2Co 9:8-14)
      4. The praise of God’s glorious gift of grace—be thankful and amazed by God’s grace (2Co 9:15)
4. God-Ordained authority and the sufficiency of Christ (2Co 10; 2Co 11; 2Co 12; 2Co 13:1-10)
   1. Christ-Sufficient authority is self-restrained and employs spiritual means—not worldly tactics and self-exaltation (2Co 10:1-6)
      1. Spiritual authority is characterized by both meekness and might (2Co 10:1-2)
      2. Spiritual authority wields spiritual weapons—which are divinely powerful to both deliver and destroy (2Co 10:3-6)
   2. Christ-Sufficient authority will, when necessary, speak in self-defense (boast) for the sake of gospel and those under its care (2Co 10:7-18; 2Co 11; 2Co 12:1-13)
      1. Boasting in Christ-Sufficient authority—not self-acclamation (2Co 10:7-18)
      2. Boasting in Christ-Sufficient ministry support (2Co 11:1-15)
      3. Boasting in Christ-Sufficient service (2Co 11:16-33)
      4. Boasting in Christ-Sufficient gifting and power (2Co 12:1-13)
   3. Christ-Sufficient authority is willing, when necessary, to personally and painfully confront error, and call for repentance (2Co 12:14-21; 2Co 13:1-10)
      1. Confronting false accusations (2Co 12:14-18)
      2. Confronting a lack of repentance (2Co 12:19-21)
      3. Calling for self-examination and corporate action (2Co 13:1-10)
5. Conclusion (2Co 13:11-14)
   1. Practicing fellowship and experiencing the presence of God (2Co 13:11-13)
   2. Praying for fellowship with the triune Person of God (2Co 13:14)

¹The following context makes it clear that spiritual blessing is the harvest, not primarily a monetary reciprocity.