II CORINTHIANSA (VERY) SELECTIVE OVERVIEW

DOCTRINAL GEMS• 1:20 For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. • 3:17 … where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.• Jn 8:32; Rom 6:16

• 4:18 we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.• 5:7 for we walk by faith, not by sight.

POWERFUL PARADOXES

• 8:9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich• 9:6-7 whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver

DEVILISH DETAILS … • 2:11 so that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs.• 4:4 the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ• 11:14-15 And no wonder, 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 their deeds

ISOLATED IDEAS?• 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.• 6:2 Behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation• 6:14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?

CONTROVERSY! THORN IN THE FLESH• 12:7-9 So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me

PAUL’S THORN IN THE FLESH Gal 6:11 – large letters = eye

problems?

II Cor 12:7-10 : who or what?

II Cor 2:5 – was this the “messenger of

Satan”?

In OT, “thorn” = metaphor for enemy

Cf. Num 33:55, Josh 23:13, Judg 2:3

“Satan's messenger”