II Corinthians

Paul wrote 2 Corinthians shortly after he wrote 1 Corinthians.  2 Corinthians is written becuase Paul felt the need to write the church in Corinth because he feared something about the church.  He had planned to visit them, but could not make it.  In 2Corinthians Paul focuses on the theme of the glory of the New Covenant God has established- one with a spiritual nation.  Paul speaks of believers as jars of clay who reflect the likeness and the image of God.  He tells the believers in Corinth to l;ong for their heavenly dwelling but to present Christ to others while they await patiently the coming of the Lord.  Take special notice of the word patiently.  God calls us to patiently await and look for him on a daily basis.  However, he does not want us to be hypereschatalogical(hyperactive in the study of the end times) like some Christians have become throughout the centuries.  Paul talks about appearing before the judgment seat of Christ.  He talks of how any one who becomes a Christian is a new creature.  Paul encourages the Corinthians not to be yoked with unbelievers.  The term yoked refers to a custom of tying donkeys together to carry the load.  Donkeys were yoked together by a straight line that had to be even.  Otherwise, the line would pull one way more than the other usually with the momentum going on the back side and causing a wreck.  Paul encourages love and generosity among the believers.  He speaks clearly that their love must be sincere.  Sincere comes from two Egyptian words which combine to mean without wax.  This was a term used in Egyptian pottery to refer to the Egyptians as they often molded broken pottery with wax.  The broken pottery being covered up with wax is a reference to how Christians often try to hide their flaws when we are all infiltarted with the inheritance of sin.  Paul proceeds further to warn that there will be false apostles.  He talks about the super-apostles who infiltarte the ministry in Corinth.  THough apostolic ministry and gifts are important, they are not to become a basis for the faith.  Apparently that is what happens in Corinth..  Paul goes by the Old Testament custom in the last chapter that a matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.  He then encourages the believers to examine themselves to see if they are in the faith.  We need to examine ourselves on a daily basis as Christians to make sure we are in the faith.  One of my big mentors, Lane Stallings, argues that the person who never questions their stance with God is probably not even saved.  Paul then moves forward and closes the book with final greetings.