But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. (2 Corinthians 4:7, Memory Verse #2)

In chapters 2 and 3, you learned that you are the aroma of God spreading everywhere the knowledge of Him. Women know all about aroma. Think of the delightful smell of good food cooking or fine perfume, and of course, the many benefits of essential oils. A pleasing aroma influences and invites the receiver to enjoy more of the same. So it is with you as the aroma of Christ.

You are also a living letter presenting Christ to those who are “reading” you. Have you thought about how much reading stimulates the mind and draws one into exploring more? That’s what the Spirit of God is writing in your life, a letter that others will want to read and experience what you have in Christ.

And, you are an illustration of the freedom that comes in Christ. Freedom from the blindness enslaving the mind of an unbelieving person. As you are transformed by the Holy Spirit into the image of Christ, you are freed from sinful behaviors so that your life will glorify God more and more. To glorify God means to enhance His reputation. That’s what we are to do with our lives.

But, whether you will be a delightful aroma, an inviting letter, or a clear image of Christ depends on how much you are relying on God to lead you and change you.

Yet, your aroma of God and letter of Christ are emanating from frail human bodies. The best news is that God overcomes your weaknesses with His power as you trust in Him.

Questions To Consider This Week:

• How do you keep your eyes fixed on what is unseen and eternal rather than seen and temporary (4:18)?
• Why does God put His treasure in “jars of clay?” And, what is revealed in our frail human bodies during every trial that threatens us?
• What will it take for you to trust in God to help you view whatever hardships and pain you experience as “light and momentary troubles?”

Day One Study—Get The Big Picture

Read 2 Corinthians 3:18-5:10, including verses from the previous lesson. Ask the Lord Jesus to teach you through His Word.

[To print, follow this link (or for the NIV, this one). Use your own method (colored pencils, lines, shapes) to mark: 1) anything that grabs your attention and 2) words you want to understand. Feel free to develop your own method of marking up a passage. Put a star  next to anything you think relates to dependent living.]

1. What grabbed your attention from these verses?

• 4:7-12
• 4:13-18
• 5:1-10

2. What verses or specific words do you want to understand better?

3. What topics are repeated in this passage or continue an earlier discussion in this letter?

4. What verses illustrate or help you understand what dependent living on God looks like?

Respond To The Lord About What He’s Shown You Today.

Day Two Study

Read 2 Corinthians 4:7-12. Ask the Lord Jesus to teach you through His Word.

What Does The Bible Say?

5. Answer the following questions based on what is written in the biblical text.

• Why does God put His treasure in “jars of clay” (4:7)?
• In vv. 8-9, Paul says about his team that they are what? But not what?
• What is revealed in our frail human bodies during every trial that threatens us (vv. 10-11)?
• Did anything else grab your attention?

Historical Insight: It was customary to conceal treasure in clay jars, which had little value or beauty and did not attract attention to themselves and their precious contents. (NIV Study Bible, note on v. 7, p. 1767)

What Does It Mean?

Historical Insight: The pottery lamps which could be bought for a coin or two in the Corinthian market-place provided a sufficient analogy; it did not matter how cheap or fragile they were so long as they showed the light. (Dr. Constable’s Notes on 2 Corinthians 2017 Edition, p. 49)

6. Let’s try to understand what Paul means by “the treasure” in 4:7.

• From 3:18-4:6, what could be “the treasure” in 4:7?
• What do other Bible translations of 4:7 say that help in understanding this verse?

7. How does 2 Corinthians 4:7 relate to 4:8-9?

Think About It: There will be times when you feel like you’re going crazy, struggling, and wondering how you’ll ever live through your hardships or heartaches. Take it from a veteran: do not let yourself sink into despair. Set the bar high in your battle against despondency by holding onto biblical hope. Find an anchor in Scripture, such as a favorite psalm or snippet of a proverb. Pick a timeless stanza from a hymn or chorus. Use that Scripture or song as your stake in the ground, your resolute act of defiance against discouragement. And, above all, trust in God. (Joni Eareckson Tada, Just Between Us, Fall 2018, p. 8)

8. To understand vv. 10-11 better, see Galatians 2:20 and 2 Corinthians 5:7. This is the life of faith and dependent living.

• Who gives His life to us?
• Whose life is being lived through us?
• From where do we get the ability to live this way?

Focus on the Meaning: Jesus Christ gave His life for you, so He could give His life to you, so He could live His life through you. (Major Ian Thomas, The Saving Life of Christ)

9. So, why does God put His treasure in jars of clay?

10. What else did you learn as you studied 2 Corinthians 4:7-12?

What Application Will You Make?

11. Read the “Think About It” below. Is this how you think of yourself? Why or why not?

Think About It: A vessel’s worth comes from what it holds, not from what it is. Paul contrasted the relative insignificance and unattractiveness of the light-bearers with the surpassing worth and beauty of the light (i.e., God’s glory). … It is precisely the Christian’s utter frailty which lays him open to the experience of the all-sufficiency of God’s grace, so that he is able even to rejoice because of his weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9)—something that astonishes and baffles the world, which thinks only in terms of human ability. (Dr. Constable’s Notes on 2 Corinthians 2017 Edition, pages 49-50)

12. In what other ways can you apply this lesson to your life?

Respond To The Lord About What He’s Shown You Today.

Day Three Study

Read 2 Corinthians 4:13-18. Ask the Lord Jesus to teach you through His Word.

What Does The Bible Say?

13. Answer the following questions based on what is written in the biblical text.

• Why do Paul and his team continue to speak in spite of the dangers (vv. 13-14)?
• How do the Corinthians benefit from Paul continuing to preach Christ (v. 15)?
• Why do they not lose heart (see also 4:1) even during their struggles (v. 16)?
• What does Paul call the painful times he’s experienced (v. 17)?
• What are those troubles achieving for him?
• What does he do to keep going (v. 18)?
• Did anything else grab your attention?

Think About It: The more faithful that Paul and his companions remained to God’s will, the more they suffered and the more the Corinthians prospered spiritually from their teaching and examples of faithfulness.

What Does This Mean?

14. Paul quotes Psalm 116 in v.13. Read Psalm 116:5-10. What has the psalmist learned about life that relates to Paul’s experience?

Historical Insight: The resurrection of Christ is the greatest event in human history. No one was resurrected with an immortal body before that time or has been since. The great hope for us is that we will be resurrected when Jesus comes. We will be presented to God with all believers and live in God’s presence for the rest of eternity.

15. Paul mentions “not losing heart” twice in this chapter (vv. 1, 16). Sometimes looking at the opposite helps us to understand.

• What does it mean to “lose heart?”
• So, what does it mean to “not lose heart?” And, why is this important?

16. “Overflow” (or, flow over) is another key term in 2 Corinthians. Paul uses it 7 times. It refers to things that overflow, excel or abound.

• Read 1:5. What overflows?
• Read 3:9. What overflows or abounds?
• Read 4:15. What overflows? Why?

17. What else did you learn as you studied 2 Corinthians 4:13-18?

What Application Will You Make?

“Light and momentary troubles.” That’s what Paul called his hardships and pain because he was looking beyond today and seeing the joy of being in heaven forever afterwards. After reading just part of what he experienced (we’ll see lots more in chapters 6 and 11), it seems insane for him to say this. Commonly, our frail human nature would rather complain and even compare our troubles with each other to see if we have it better or worse. Have you noticed this?

Scriptural Insight: Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 4:17, “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that outweighs them all.” There is purpose and reward in enduring troubles. 1) Endurance is good for us. It teaches us “staying power” for a long-term burden. 2) Endurance makes us stronger. Just like load-bearing exercise makes our bones stronger, troubles that challenge your faith do that, too. 3) Endurance is necessary to grow into maturity. Think about the process of human development. Teething, learning to walk and ride a bike, and adolescence are painful but necessary parts of developing into adulthood. God’s goal for us is to be mature and complete. Endurance is His tool to help us reach that goal, to grow up.

4) Endurance teaches us to depend on God more than on ourselves. Going through troubles is God’s will for us. He allows things in our lives to challenge us, but His motive is not to trip us up. He wants to develop that endurance in us. It is not so we don’t need Him any longer but that we would rely on Him more. He wants to make us stand firm in Him and to get us through “whatever.”

18. What will it take for you to trust in God to help you view whatever hardships and pain you experience as “light and momentary troubles?” Ask Him for that right now.

19. In what other ways can you apply this lesson to your life?

Respond To The Lord About What He’s Shown You Today.

Day Four Study

Read 2 Corinthians 5:1-10. Ask the Lord Jesus to teach you through His Word.

What Does The Bible Say?

Historical Insight: In ancient times, a “tent” was a familiar symbol of what was transitory. Our physical bodies are only temporary structures, but God is preparing new bodies for us, that are far superior to anything that human hands can produce and maintain. (Dr. Constable’s Notes on 2 Corinthians 2017 Edition, p. 54)

20. How do you keep your eyes fixed on what is unseen and eternal rather than seen and temporary (4:18)? Paul continued to give reasons why we should not lose heart.

• What happens if our earthly tent (human body) is destroyed (v. 1)?
• Why do we groan in the meantime (vv. 2-3)?
• What else does Paul say about life in the meantime (v. 4)?
• What has God done (v. 5)?
• What does Paul know with confidence (vv. 6-7)?
• What would he prefer (v. 8)?
• While we live, we make it our goal to do what (v. 9)?
• For we must all appear where (v. 10?
• What do we receive there?
• Did anything else grab your attention?

What Does It Mean?

21. We are living in the now and the “not yet.” Describe the future promise we have and the ever-present tension in a Christian’s life (vv. 1-8).

• Future promises we have …
• Present tension …

22. Focus on 2 Corinthians 5:4. Paul wrote about this in his previous letter to the Corinthians. Read 1 Corinthians 15:53-54. What did he say?

Scriptural Insight: All Christians who die will receive an immortal body (v. 1). This is by itself a substantial gift of glory. Second, all Christians, including those who die soon after becoming believers, presently possess the Holy Spirit—who is God’s pledge of our future complete glorification (vv. 4-5). Third, death begins a new phase of existence for all believers, that will be far superior to what we experience now (vv. 7-8). (Dr. Constable’s Notes on 2 Corinthians 2017 Edition, p. 54)

23. Let’s look at how we are to live now in these earthly bodies (vv. 6-9). What do these statements mean?

• Living by faith, not by sight (v. 7)
• Living to please the Lord (v. 9 and Romans 14:7-8)

Think About It: Living by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and all He has promised for our present and our future is NOT the same thing as taking a leap in the dark. See Hebrews 11:1, 6. We can know Him through all that is revealed for us to know.

24. When our earthly bodies die, we appear before the judgment seat of Christ (v. 10). Read about this in 1 Corinthians 3:11-15. Paul is addressing believers about rewards, not salvation.

• As already saved people, guaranteed to receive heavenly dwellings when we die, are we responsible for our actions while in our “earthly tents?”
• Why does God care about this? Use what you’ve already seen in 2 Corinthians.

25. What else did you learn as you studied 2 Corinthians 5:1-10?

What Application Will You Make?

26. What confidence can you have at your death? Do you have this confidence? Trusting Christ for what happens to you after you die is another aspect of dependent living.

Scriptural Insight: Gain confidence about what happens when you die by looking at these truths.

What does NOT happen at death: annihilation (Luke 16:19-31); soul sleep (Philippians 1:23); become a floating spirit (2 Cor. 5:3); reincarnation (Hebrews 9:27); and purgatory (Colossians 1:22).

What DOES happen at death: Fall asleep on earth; wake up in heaven (1 Thessalonians 4:14); Leave earthly tent; get heavenly dwelling fashioned for us (2 Cor. 5:1); and Be immediately at home with the Lord (2 Cor. 5:8).

27. In what other ways can you apply this lesson to your life?

Dependent Living: Living by faith is offering yourself to God (Romans 6:13), choosing to approach life His way (seen in the New Testament writings), and trusting Him with the results.

28. Review the passage for this lesson in “Day One Study.” Add reasons why God wants us to depend on Him more than on ourselves to the chart below. I’ve given a few prompts.

Respond To The Lord About What He’s Shown You Today. 

Did you notice that every daily lesson in this study begins and ends with prayer? God speaks to you through His word. You may respond to Him about anything and ask Him to make His word true in your life. Lack of prayer is often a sign of self-sufficiency rather than dependent living and will lead you to doing what is not pleasing in God’s sight. Spend some time responding to the Lord about what He’s shown you in this whole lesson.

As His child, God transforms your life by teaching you to live dependently on Him in weakness and in strength.

Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God. Make room for us in your hearts. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have exploited no one. (2 Corinthians 7:1-2)

You are the beloved child of the living God who, in His love, has made you into a new creature with a definite purpose. You are the aroma of the knowledge of God for others to sense. You are a righteous light-bearer of God’s glory that shines even in your weakness. You are able to view other people through the lens of their relationship to Christ or need for Him rather than through worldly prejudices. That’s who you are, dear Christian, in God’s eyes—the only view that really matters.

Yet, our frail bodies live in a world filled with struggles. People around us see how we respond and may be drawn to Christ by watching us live with integrity and sincere dependence on the Lord Jesus. This is also true in our relationships with other believers, as Paul addresses in this next section of his letter. His appeal to the Corinthians who are like family to him may resonate in something you have experienced as well. “Open wide your hearts, as we have opened ours to you.”

Questions To Consider This Week:

• How do you recognize when you are being contaminated in body and spirit by a relationship or activity? What should you do about it?
• What is the difference between godly sorrow and the “I’m sorry” the world practices?

Day One Study—Get The Big Picture.

Read 2 Corinthians 6:3-7:16, which includes verses from the last lesson. Ask the Lord Jesus to teach you through His Word.

[To print, follow this link (or for the NIV, this one). Use your own method (colored pencils, lines, shapes) to mark: 1) anything that grabs your attention and 2) words you want to understand. Feel free to develop your own method of marking up a passage. Put a star  next to anything you think relates to dependent living.]

1. What grabbed your attention from these verses?

• 6:11-7:1
• 7:2-7
• 7:8-16

2. What verses or specific words do you want to understand better?

3. What topics are repeated in this passage or continue an earlier discussion in this letter?

4. What verses illustrate or help you understand what dependent living on God looks like?

Respond To The Lord About What He’s Shown You Today.

Day Two Study

Read 2 Corinthians 6:11-7:1. Ask the Lord Jesus to teach you through His Word.

What Does The Bible Say?

5. Paul appeals to their hearts and to their choices that influence their hearts.

• What does Paul declare to the Corinthians (v. 11)?
• Who is withholding affection (v. 12)?
• What does he ask them to do (v. 13)?
• What does he tell them not to do (v. 14)?
• For we are what (v. 16)?
• What has God already said about this “separateness” (v. 17)?
• Since we have the promises in 6:16-18, and are the temple of the living God, what should we do (7:1)?
• Did anything else grab your attention?

Scriptural Insight: “Belial” (v. 15) is the personification of Evil (cf. Deuteronomy 13:13; 2 Samuel 22:5-6), and he is the antithesis of Christ. “Belial” was a recognized name for “Satan” in Paul’s day. It may have come from combining the Hebrew word for “worthlessness” with the name of the pagan god “Baal. (Dr. Constable’s Notes on 2 Corinthians 2017 Edition, p. 75)

What Does It Mean?

This section of text summarizes 1 Corinthians 10:1-22, where Paul had previously warned the Corinthians about idolatry. This extended to relationships as well as behavior. Being unequally yoked refers to the disastrous results of yoking an ox and a donkey together (Deuteronomy 22:10).

6. Read vv. 14-16 in several Bible translations then answer the following questions. From the original language, we learn that Paul is addressing individual believers. But we know that individuals by their choices influence the whole community.

• What would be the general answer to all five questions that Paul asks?
• What could it mean to be yoked together with unbelievers?
• In what situations / relationships do you think this teaching against being “yoked together with unbelievers” especially applies?
• What is the difference between being “yoked together” and being a “bridge-builder” as an ambassador for Christ?
• How could being yoked together with unbelievers be detrimental to you as a believer? Look throughout today’s passage for your answer.
• What should you do to prevent yourself from being unequally yoked?

Scriptural Insight: Paul was not saying that Christians should break off all association with unbelievers (cf. 1 Corinthians 5:9-10; 10:27). He had previously encouraged the saved partner in a mixed marriage to maintain the marriage relationship as long as possible (1 Corinthians 7:12-16). He had also urged his fellow Christians, as ambassadors of Christ, to evangelize the lost (2 Corinthians 5:20). Rather, here Paul was commanding that Christians form no binding interpersonal relationships with non-Christians that resulted in their spiritual defilement. … Such alliances can prevent the Christian from living a consistently obedient Christian life. (Dr. Constable’s Notes on 2 Corinthians 2017 Edition, p. 74)

7. Every Christian is the temple of the living God. What makes us the temple of God? See also 2 Corinthians 1:22, 5:5 and 6:19-20.

8. What else did you learn as you studied 2 Corinthians 6:11-7:1?

What Application Will You Make?

9. Broken relationships: Paul talks about the pain of broken relationships in 6:11-13. Is this something you are experiencing within your family or with friends? Paul gets it. Jesus gets it. It hurts. How can you follow the process Paul gives throughout 2 Corinthians 6:11-7:16?

10. Contaminating relationships: Review 2 Corinthians 7:1. To purify yourself from everything that contaminates body and spirit means to separate yourself from ungodly, immoral, and testimony-ruining activities.

• How do you recognize when you are being contaminated in body and spirit by a relationship or activity?
• What should you do to keep from being contaminated by that relationship or activity?

Scriptural Insight: What if you are married to an unbeliever? See 1 Peter 3 and 1 Corinthians 7. What if you work for an unbeliever or are in business with an unbeliever? See Colossians 3. What if your adult children are unbelievers? See Luke 15. Be careful about causes that you support. See Acts 13:50 and Galatians 6:10.

11. In what other ways can you apply this lesson to your life?

Think About It: Flee, don’t flirt with corrupting influences of the secular culture. Flirting with it would be considering, “How close can I get to the line of sin without crossing over? Fleeing from it would be “How far away can I get from the line of sin so I am not close enough to cross over.” (Destin Garner, RockPointe Church sermon, June 25, 2017). We often put more effort into being “anti-germ” than we do in being “anti-sin.” Consider the corrupting influences from the secular culture to be as dangerous to your health as the presence of germs in your space.

Respond To The Lord About What He’s Shown You Today.

Day Three Study

Read 2 Corinthians 7:2-7. Ask the Lord Jesus to teach you through His Word.

What Does The Bible Say?

12. Review 2 Corinthians 2:12-13 to remember the situation that Paul is addressing. Paul picks up on his wording from 6:11-13.

• Paul asked them to do what (v. 2)?
• Paul declares that he has not done what to anyone (v. 2)?
• What had Paul said before this (v. 3)?
• What did Paul tell them (v. 4)?
• When Paul and his friends came into Macedonia, what did they experience (v. 5)?
• But God does what (v. 6)?
• The Corinthians had given comfort to Titus who told Paul what (v. 7)?
• Paul’s response was what (v. 7)?
• Did anything else grab your attention?

What Does It Mean?

13. Review 7:2-4. Paul is bearing his heart to the Corinthian Christians. Summarize what Paul is saying.

14. God brings comfort to Paul’s anxious heart concerning the Corinthians (vv. 5-7; 2:1-4). The context is relationship concerns.

• Why did Paul need comfort?
• What did God use to comfort him?
• How did this comforting news affect Paul?

From the Greek: Paul had felt disheartened (Gr. tapeinos, meaning “brought low, humble, lowly in spirit,” not clinically “depressed”) when he could not find Titus as he first arrived in Macedonia. He was so concerned about how the Corinthians had received his severe letter that he couldn’t rest until he heard the news.

15. What else did you learn as you studied 2 Corinthians 7:2-7?

What Application Will You Make?

16. Recall a time when you felt disheartened or downcast, and God sent others to encourage and lift you up. Have you recognized that comfort being from Him? Have you thanked Him for it?

Respond To The Lord About What He’s Shown You Today.

Day Four Study

Read 2 Corinthians 7:8-16. Ask the Lord Jesus to teach you through His Word.

What Does The Bible Say?

17. In 2 Corinthians 7:8-16, Paul returns to his train of thought from earlier in the letter. Review 2 Corinthians 2:1-11.

• How does Paul feel about the letter he had to write to them (7:8)?
• Why is he now happy (7:9)?
• Write out 2 Corinthians 7:10.
• What had godly sorry produced in them (7:11)?
• What had they proven by their response (7:11)?
• What were the reasons he wrote the letter (v. 12)?
• Besides Paul and Timothy, why was Titus happy (v. 13)?
• What proved to be true (v. 14)?
• What was Titus’s “take-away” from his visit with the Corinthians (v. 15)?
• Why is Paul glad (v. 16)?
• Did anything else grab your attention?

Think About It: To reconcile a relationship, one must take deliberate actions and address the problem that caused the breach. These actions hurt but are necessary. Hoping that the misunderstandings will go away on their own rarely works.

What Does It Mean?

18. Regarding repentance and sorrow for sin (vv. 8-12):

• Describe godly sorrow from these verses.
• What could Paul have meant by “worldly sorrow” (v. 10)? Feel free to read this verse in other Bible translations to help in your understanding.
• What is the difference in outcome and results?

19. What was Titus’s role in reconciling the relationship between Paul and the Corinthian church members (vv. 13-16)?

Focus on the Meaning: “Fear and trembling” (v. 15) is likely a hendiadys, an idiom in which a verb is intensified by being linked by “and” to a synonym. We have them in English too. If you’re “sick and tired,” this doesn’t mean you’re sick and you’re tired, it just means that you’re very tired. Similarly, “fear and trembling” seems to mean “great reverence” (or humility) as Paul is using it in 1 Corinthians 2:3; 2 Corinthians 7:15; Philippians 2:12; and Ephesians 6:5. Mark also used this in reference to the woman coming to Jesus in Mark 5:33. The same phrase is found in the Septuagint version of Psalm 2:11 and 55:5. It is the opposite of boasting. (adapted from a posting at Biblical Hermeneutics Stack Exchange)

20. What else did you learn as you studied 2 Corinthians 7:8-16?

What Application Will You Make?

As long as you live in your earthly body, you will be tempted to sin. Sin will happen—whether intentionally or unintentionally. And, though our God is no longer counting our sins against us (2 Corinthians 5:20), we still must deal with the consequences of any sinful behavior.

21. Addressing recognized sin in your life is part of dependent living. Whenever the Spirit convicts you of thinking or behavior that is definitely not pleasing to the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:9), follow this biblical process to deal with it:

• Step One: View yourself rightly. Your identity is not “_______” (coveter, greedy, gossiper, whatever it is). You are in Christ, a child of God, who sometimes “_____” (covets, is greedy, gossips).
• Step Two: Recognize (confess) the truth regarding your sin. To confess biblically means “to agree with God about what you and He both know to be true.” Confession is not a formula, a process, or dependent on a mediator. Regarding sin in my life, it is not saying, “I’m sorry.” It is saying, “I agree with you, God. I blew it!” See your sin as awful!

Using coveting for example: while reading Philippians 4:12, the Spirit convicts you that you have been coveting rather than being content. You agree with God that your coveting is actually not being content with His provision. Coveting doesn’t fit someone who knows God. That is confession.

• Step Three: Confession is incomplete without repentance. Repentance means to change your mind about that sin, to mourn its ugliness, resulting in changing your actions. Paul calls that godly sorrow in 2 Corinthians 7:9-11, and he says godly sorrow produces repentance. It’s saying, “I recognize what I am doing is wrong. This fills me with sorrow because it displeases You, God. Please help me to live differently.” He will certainly do that! That’s how our lives get transformed.

Using coveting for example: You want to not covet any longer, and you want to be content and grateful for what God has already provided. So, you pray, “Lord Jesus, please have your Spirit nudge me when I want to covet. Replace my coveting with contentment and gratitude. By faith, Lord, I want you to do that in my life.” That is repentance.

• Step Four: Repentance leads to dependence. Depend on the living Christ inside you for that change to take place. Our Lord Jesus Christ is not interested in our compliance (outward conformity) as much as He desires our obedience from the heart. And, trust in Him to help you overcome the consequences of any sinful choices you have made in a way that brings glory to Him.

Using coveting for example: Memorize Philippians 4:12-13 and any other scriptures that deal with being thankful for God’s provision. Be sensitive to the Spirit’s nudging when you are tempted to covet. Choose to be thankful instead.

Think About It: Repentance isn’t repentance until you change something. You can confess “until the cows come home” (daily, habitually) and never change anything. Jesus called for people to “repent” not “confess.”

22. In what other ways can you apply this lesson to your life?

23. Review the passage for this lesson in “Day One Study.” Add reasons why God wants us to depend on Him more than on ourselves to the chart below. I’ve given a few prompts.

Respond To The Lord About What He’s Shown You Today.

As His child, God transforms your life by teaching you to live dependently on Him in weakness and in strength.

The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:4-5)

In our study of 2 Corinthians so far, we have seen how the God who comforts us understands the many kinds of suffering we undergo in daily life. Although Paul and his friends experienced a lot of persecution that made them fear for their lives, suffering doesn’t only come from persecution. Suffering can be caused by physical danger and financial hardships. It can also come from within your circle of friends, including those whom you love the most. Misunderstandings, behavioral conflicts, and slanderous information from others can cause hurt feelings and mistrust. Regardless of the source, suffering drives us to dependence on God. We set our hope on Him more than ourselves. We see His love and grace given to us. We trust Him to work in the situation and give thanks. That’s dependent living.

In the last lesson, we saw how God teaches His children to be generous to one another as He Himself is a generous giver. This requires that we trust Him with every bit of provision we receive, recognize that it all comes from Him and belongs to Him, then ask Him to guide us as we use what He has provided to us. That’s dependent living.

At this point in the letter, Paul begins to hit hard at the charges made against him by his opponents in Corinth. We don’t know who they are except that they are Jews (2 Corinthians 11:22). Their teaching may be like the Judaizers that infiltrated the Galatian churches (Jewish Christians insisting Gentiles must be circumcised and follow the Mosaic Law to be saved). We can infer from the text that these false teachers attack those who have influence over the Corinthians (Paul and his companions) in order to gain prestige and power for themselves.

When we are falsely accused, we have a choice. We can choose to get sidetracked by copying the bad behavior of the accusers, or stay on course by continuing to walk faithfully in dependence on God to avenge us and tear down the walls for us. That’s also dependent living.

Questions To Consider This Week:

• Do you recognize a current situation in your life where you’re trying to fight a spiritual battle with worldly weapons such as deception, manipulation, and intimidation? How is that working for you?
• Do you have a tendency to compare yourself to others to see how you measure up? Or, do you look at the world’s standards to define your achievements. How does that affect you?

Day One Study—Get The Big Picture.

Read 2 Corinthians 10:1-18. Ask the Lord Jesus to teach you through His Word.

[To print, follow this link (or for the NIV, this one). Use your own method (colored pencils, lines, shapes) to mark: 1) anything that grabs your attention and 2) words you want to understand. Feel free to develop your own method of marking up a passage. Put a star  next to anything you think relates to dependent living.]

1. What grabbed your attention from these verses?

• 10:1-6
• 10:7-11
• 10:12-18

2. What verses or specific words do you want to understand better?

3. What topics are repeated in this passage or continue an earlier discussion in this letter?

4. What verses illustrate or help you understand what dependent living on God looks like?

Respond To The Lord About What He’s Shown You Today.

Day Two Study

Read 2 Corinthians 10:1-6. Ask the Lord Jesus to teach you through His Word.

Scriptural Insight: Whenever he described himself as “I Paul,” he is making his point with strong emphasis and telling them that what he is about to say is indeed coming from him. See where he does this in Galatians 5:2; Ephesians 3:1; Colossians 1:23; 1 Thessalonians 2:18; 2 Thessalonians 3:17; and Philemon 19.

What Does The Bible Say?

5. Paul addresses accusations made against him that he is “timid.” He responds with truth.

• By what does Paul make his appeal to the Corinthians (v. 1)?
• How has he been described (v. 1)?
• Some people think what about Paul and his team (v. 2)?
• Though we live in the world, we do not do what (v. 3)?
• Our weapons (v. 4) are not _____________ but they have ______________.
• We are to demolish what (v. 5)?
• We are to take captive what (v. 5)?
• What will we be ready to do (v. 6)?
• Did anything else grab your attention?

Historical Insight: The word picture Paul used in v. 5 is that of Roman siege warfare focused on tearing down walls of a fortified city in order to take it captive.

What Does It Mean?

Focus on the Meaning: Humility and gentleness were characteristics of Christ. Humility recognizes God as one’s authority and takes a servant attitude toward people. Gentleness refers to strength under control and is expressed through fairness and graciousness to others. Both are available to us under the control of Christ who is in us. Both are evidence of dependent living.

6. Review 2 Corinthians 10:1 in the ESV translation. After reading the “Focus on the Meaning” above, how has Paul’s behavior toward the Corinthians been like this? Note: We will address the rest of v. 1 in the Day Three Study.

Since the fall of Man in the garden (Genesis 3), there has been a spiritual war raging in our world concerning God’s truth versus lies being disseminated through human reasoning and demonic influence. One leads to overflowing joy and dependent living on God. The other leads to self-dependence and rebellion against God. Let’s look at this warfare more closely

7. Truth #1: We have God’s power to fight the war effectively. Note: The context in vv. 3-4 is the Church.

• What are we fighting against? See also 2 Corinthians 2:11; 4:4; Ephesians 2:1-2; and 1 John 2:16.
• What weapons should we not use in this kind of warfare? See 2 Corinthians 1:12; 4:2, 5; 5:16; 6:14-16; and 10:4.
• What weapons are effective? See also 2 Corinthians 1:12; 4:2, 5; 5:16; 6:6-7; 7:2; and 10:1.

Think About It: Weapons such as intimidation, manipulation, trickery, double-talk, rumor, and hypocritical behavior are not from the Spirit of God and are not acceptable weapons for the believer to use in spiritual warfare. Victory comes from approaching life (and battles) God’s way and relying on His power to overcome the enemy.

8. Truth #2: We have God’s power to demolish strongholds. Strongholds are anything upon which one relies for security and survival. Think “castle” or “fortress.” But, these are not good castles. They are anything that takes captive the minds of believers away from God-dependence.

• What strongholds particularly need to be demolished (v. 5)?

From the Greek: “Arguments” comes from the Greek logismos, meaning “thoughts, calculations, and reasonings.” Paul uses that to represent walls of wrong thinking standing in opposition to right Christian thinking. “Pretension” comes from the Greek hypsoma, meaning “elevated structure such as a barrier or rampart.” This represents a notion contrary to God that’s been raised up or lifted high with the purpose to intimidate. (Kelly Minter, All Things New, p. 141)

• Give some examples of strongholds that affect believers, even you.
• To demolish a physical stronghold takes force and power. How would you demolish spiritual strongholds?

Think About It: Satan’s strategy uses speculations (theories) and incorrect information that contradict God’s revealed truth. When approaching Bible Study, beware of speculating just to derive an answer. That would include reading into Scripture what we want it to say to match what our culture is teaching us. God has revealed much for us to know. Some things He has reserved for Himself (Deut. 29:29).

9. To complete tearing down these walls (v. 5), means you must take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ (a continuous action). How would you do that for a stronghold in your life?

10. Strongholds are not just thoughts but can be associated with people who have influence over you. What should you also do? See 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1 and 1 Corinthians 15:33.

Focus on the Meaning: Based on 2 Corinthians 10:2 and 6, the Corinthians needed to make a clean break from the rebels in their midst. Paul needed the church to stand firm with him in disciplining his unrepentant opponents and removing themselves from that influence.

11. What else did you learn as you studied 2 Corinthians 10:1-6?

What Application Will You Make After Studying Today’s Pasage?

12. Do you recognize a current situation in your life where you’re trying to fight a spiritual battle with worldly weapons such as deception, manipulation, and intimidation? How is that working for you?

Demolishing strongholds requires that you: 1) Identify the toxic thought patterns you’ve been building in your mind that work against the knowledge of God and your dependency on Him. 2) Give those to God and ask Him to help you knock them down with truth. 3) Destroy the stronghold by consistently applying the truth.

13. Follow the steps above to recognize and demolish strongholds in your reasoning and thoughts that work against the knowledge of God and dependency on Him.

To get help recognizing cultural strongholds that affect you or your children, check out the podcasts on mamabearapologetics.com.

14. In what other ways can you apply this lesson to your life?

Respond To The Lord About What He’s Shown You Today.

Day Three Study

Read 2 Corinthians 10:7-11. Ask the Lord Jesus to teach you through His Word.

The word “boast” occurs twenty-nine times in this letter, and only twenty-six times in all the other letters put together. Paul used this conflict with the Corinthians as a “teachable moment” for them on what validates boasting for a believer. His words are still extremely relevant for us today as we learn to live dependently on the Lord.

What Does The Bible Say?

15. Let’s continue to explore the gracious yet unbending ways in which Paul addressed his opponents. Though Bible translations of v. 7 differ, we can conclude from the context of vv. 1 and 10 that Paul is telling them to look at the facts and not outward appearances.

• What does Paul say to the one confident in belonging to Christ (v. 7)?
• About what does he boast freely (v. 8)?
• What are the troublemakers saying about Paul (vv. 9-10)? See also v. 1.
• What does Paul say in response (v. 11)?
• Did anything else grab your attention?

Scriptural Insight: Like so many who judge things according to the outward display of this world, Paul’s opponents interpreted meekness (humility) as weakness, forbearance as cowardice, and gentleness as indecision (cf. v. 1; 11:21)—or at least they had sought to induce the Corinthians to place this interpretation on Paul’s character. (Dr. Constable’s Notes on 2 Corinthians 2017 Edition, p. 101)

What Does It Mean?

16. Paul refers to his authority in v. 8. Referring back to v. 1, Paul said he was letting Christ’s humility and gentleness live through him as he exhorted the Corinthians in a gracious manner.

• According to v. 8, spiritual authority is to be used for _____________.
• It is not to be used for ________________.
• How are the false teachers not adhering to this principle regarding Paul and his team? Hint: what are they saying about their Christian brother Paul?

Focus on the Meaning: This does not mean Paul—or any spiritual leaders for that matter—should be a pushover who never enforces any rules. Here’s where the good tension of extending grace and applying discipline comes into play. We need the discernment of the Holy Spirit to know when to emphasize each. (Kelly Minter, All Things New, p. 148)

17. Though Paul might not be the flashy speaker like the professional orators of his day, from where did the power and influence of his teaching come so people should follow him? See 1 Corinthians 1:17; 2:1-5 and 2 Corinthians 11:6,10.

Think About It: In 1 Corinthians 11:1, Paul says, “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.” That’s the kind of statement that gets the apostle Paul slapped with labels like “arrogant” and “egotistical.” Maybe that bothers you, too. Why didn’t Paul just take himself out of the equation and tell people to follow Christ? The answer is that Paul knew we all need a role mode, a picture of Christ that makes the heart, mind and ways of Christ visible and tangible. To step into a role of leadership is essentially to state, “Follow me as I follow Christ.” If people are going to follow us, our primary task is following well … We all follow somebody. If you are a Christ follower, the practice of following well may be one of the greatest tests of your character. Who are you following? (Heather Zempel, Community Is Messy, pages 67-68)

18. What else did you learn as you studied 2 Corinthians 10:7-11?

What Application Will You Make?

19. All of us have spheres of authority. We are to use our authority for building up those in our sphere of influence. Some of us don’t handle that authority well.

• Do you struggle with being bossy and bearing down on others within your sphere of influence? What is the evidence and fruit of your behavior? Ask the Lord to teach you graciousness and gentleness.
• Are you continually being walked over and struggle to assert your God-given authority in an area of your life? What is the evidence and fruit of your behavior? Ask the Lord to help you step up and lead with courage for the sake of building others up.
• For both you can say, “Lord Jesus, I can’t do this on my own. But, you can do this in me and through me. I will trust you to show me how.”

20. We should be careful how we talk about other Christian teachers / leaders. Review 2 Corinthians 10:7-8. We are to demolish arguments, not people. What if you have a disagreement with other believers, perhaps a former church you attended the leaders of a ministry? Usually it is over leadership style or your preferences.

• What questions should you ask?
• What should you avoid doing so as not to “wage a worldly war” against brothers and sisters in Christ? Review the “Think About It” after Question 7.

21. In what other ways can you apply this lesson to your life?

Respond To The Lord About What He’s Shown You Today.

Day Four Study

Read 2 Corinthians 10:12-18. Ask the Lord Jesus to teach you through His Word.

What Does The Bible Say?

Historical Insight: The Greek philosopher Aristides said that on every street in Corinth one met a so-called wise man, who had his own solutions to the world’s problems. (NIV Study Bible, note on 1 Corinthians 1:19, p. 1736) Does this sound familiar to today’s world?

22. Paul helps the Corinthians to recognize what true wisdom is and what is really worth boasting about.

• What does Paul not do (v. 12)?
• What does he say is unwise?
• To what does Paul confine his boasting (vv. 13-14)?
• What is Paul’s hope (vv. 15-16)?
• What does he not want to do (v. 16)?
• In whom should we boast (v. 17)? See also 1 Corinthians 1:31.
• For it is not the one who ___________ who is approved, but the one whom ____________ (v. 18).
• Did anything else grab your attention?

Focus on the Meaning: Paul did “pioneer evangelism.” He did not want to build on, much less take credit for, the foundation work that anyone else had done, but to “preach the gospel” in previously unevangelized areas. He did not, however, object to others building on the foundation that he had laid, or watering what he had planted (1 Corinthians 3:6, 10). He did object to their failing to give credit where credit was due. (Dr. Constable’s Notes on 2 Corinthians 2017 Edition, p. 103)

What Does It Mean?

23. Comparison is a huge issue for some people. Write v. 12 in the NLT (New Living Translation) and 2 other Bible translations. Then, answer the questions.

• What does Paul say is not wise (v. 12)?
• Why is that not wise?
• What would that kind of comparison look like? Give examples from your culture.

Think About It: Comparison against a standard isn’t all bad. But, comparison becomes dangerous when that standard is based on worldly values, and we deem ourselves “successful” when we hit that worldly standard. And, with the prevalence of social media, we can be tempted to compare ourselves with other believers—their achievements, social platform, and even their recreational activities. This can lead to self-centered pride or feelings of discouragement and failure. Also, don’t glorify men or women by 1) depending on them more than on Christ, 2) crediting them for your spiritual blessings, or 3) namedropping to increase your own image. Gratitude is okay.               

24. The answer to this “comparison thinking” is in vv. 17-18. Considering what you have learned so far in 2 Corinthians, why should we boast about the Lord and not about ourselves? See also John 5:44.

Focus on the Meaning: The word Paul kept using for “boast” means “to glory in or on something, to rejoice.” Boasting is not bad if you are boasting about the Lord and His work (v. 17) and the assignment He has given you (v. 13).

25. What else did you learn as you studied 2 Corinthians 10:12-18?

What Application Will You Make?

26. Do you have a tendency to compare yourself to others to see how you measure up? Or, do you look at the world’s standards to define your achievements. How does that affect you?

27. How does living dependently on Christ keep you focused on what He has appointed YOU to be and do?

28. In what other ways can you apply this lesson to your life?

29. Review the passage for this lesson in “Day One Study.” Add reasons why God wants us to depend on Him more than on ourselves to the chart below. I’ve given a few prompts.

Respond To The Lord About What He’s Shown You Today.

As His child, God transforms your life by teaching you to live dependently on Him in weakness and in strength.

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 about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:9-10, Memory Verse #3)

The Corinthians had been putting up with the teaching of fools, contrary to the solid, biblical truth that Paul taught them. The foolish teachers claimed to be God’s leaders but were really masquerading as apostles of Christ and servants of righteousness. They didn’t look evil, but their teaching and behavior exploited the Christians in Corinth—drawing them away from following Christ more than themselves.

On the other hand, Paul chose to promote Christ, not himself. To counter the evil influence on those whom he loved so dearly, Paul is forced to talk about his own life choices and experiences, especially hardships. These are evidences of the Lord Jesus’s commendation of his work and vindication of him as an apostle (2 Corinthians 10:18).

Many of those same challenges can happen to anyone, not just those being persecuted for their faith. And, in the midst of those messy and often painful circumstances, we also have a choice of whom to promote—ourselves or Christ. On whom will we rely at those times? It is in our weaknesses that He is the strongest. He uses many things to come to our rescue and to comfort us. Sometimes all we can do is to get into the basket provided for us, be quiet, and trust the One holding the rope. Whether weak or strong, living dependently on Christ is the best way to live.

Questions To Consider This Week:

• In the midst of your most painful trial, how have you seen Jesus’s grace be sufficient for you? How have you seen His power made complete in your weakness?
• When people mistake your love for something contrary to your true intentions, how do you tend to respond?

Day One Study—Get The Big Picture.

Read 2 Corinthians 11:30-12:21, which includes verses from the last lesson. Ask the Lord Jesus to teach you through His Word.

[To print, follow this link (or for the NIV, this one). Use your own method (colored pencils, lines, shapes) to mark: 1) anything that grabs your attention and 2) words you want to understand. Feel free to develop your own method of marking up a passage. Put a star  next to anything you think relates to dependent living.]

1. What grabbed your attention from these verses?

• 12:1-10
• 12:11-18
• 12:19-21

2. What verses or specific words do you want to understand better?

3. What topics are repeated in this passage or continue an earlier discussion in this letter?

4. What verses illustrate or help you understand what dependent living on God looks like?

Respond To The Lord About What He’s Shown You Today.

Day Two Study

Read 2 Corinthians 12:1-10. Ask the Lord Jesus to teach you through His Word.

What Does The Bible Say?

Focus on the Meaning: The “third heaven” probably represents the presence of God. It could be a technical description of God’s abode, above the cloudy heavens overhead, and beyond the farthest reaches of space that man can perceive. “Paradise” (v. 4) is a good synonym for the third heaven (cf. Luke 23:43; Revelation 2:7). (Dr. Constable’s Notes on 2 Corinthians 2017 Edition, p. 116)

5. Paul shares his vision from Christ and what he learned from that experience.

• What happened 14 years before this letter was written (v. 2)?
• While in paradise (heaven), what did he hear (v. 4)?
• About what does he choose to boast (v. 5)?
• If he chooses to boast about that experience, he would not be a fool (liar) because it was true. Why does he refrain from boasting about that experience (v. 6)?
• In order to keep from being conceited, what happened (v. 7)?
• Three times, Paul did what (v. 8)?
• Write God’s answer to him (v. 9) in the space below:
• What is Paul’s response to God (v. 9)?
• Write Paul’s choice of how to live his life (v. 10) in the space below:
• Did anything else grab your attention?

Historical Insight: Paul said he was caught up to heaven 14 years before the writing of this letter (56 AD). That would have happened around 42 AD. Paul was back in Tarsus ministering in Syria and Cilicia (Acts 9:30; Galatians 1:21). This was before Paul went to Antioch to pastor the church there and before He went on any missionary journey. No wonder he was so sure of his mission and his life knowing Christ.

What Does It Mean?

Looking at v. 6, we see that Paul preferred to be remembered for what he said and did in following Christ rather than for that one extraordinary experience that certainly contrasts with sneaking out of Damascus in a basket.

6. Why did Paul share this experience with the Corinthians after keeping it private for 14 years? See also v. 11.

Think About It: We love the sensational. We get excited for a miracle or a good vision or dream. … we’re infatuated with the platforms of Christian celebrities … But do we have the same level of passion for daily faithfulness? … it’s the consistent godly patterns of our lives that yield enduring fruit. (Kelly Minter, All Things New, p. 175)

7. Let’s look at the what, why, and who of Paul’s “thorn in the flesh.” Note: Although a lot of speculations are made, no one knows what this ailment was. Most of us can identify with having a thorn or splinter stuck in our skin at some point in our lives.

• What does Paul mean by calling it a “thorn in his flesh” (v. 7)?
• The Lord in His goodness allowed Satan to touch Paul’s body with this “thorn” (as in Job 2:10). For what purpose?
• How many times did he ask for it to be removed?

8. To understand God’s answer, read 2 Corinthians 12:9 in The Message translation and 2 other Bible translations then answer the questions below.

• God said His grace is sufficient (most English translations use this word). Paul used a word (Gr. arkeo) that means, “to be possessed of unfailing strength, enough.” Grace is God’s provision for our every need when we need it. How can God’s grace be sufficient when you have a persistent thorn?
• God’s power is made perfect in weakness. “Made perfect” means “perfected, finished, exactly fitting the need in a certain situation or purpose.” Jesus said the same thing on the cross in John 19:30. See 2 Corinthians 13:4. How is God’s power made perfect in weakness?

9. After Paul heard from Jesus, his tone changed from pleading with the Lord to remove the thorn to what entirely new response (vv. 9-10)?

From the Greek: The word translated “rest” referring to Christ’s power means “to dwell, to take possession of and live in.” The word translated “delight” means “seems good, take pleasure in, ready to do, think well of.”

10. Why is Paul willing to delight in weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions and difficulties “for Christ’s sake?”

11. Considering the definitions above, how can it be that when you are weak (admit it, boast in it, even be glad about it), you are strong?

Scriptural Insight: Paul’s response relates back to what he shared previously about his own life. Look back at Acts 18:9-11; 2 Corinthians 1:9; 4:7-11; 6:3-10 and 11:21-33.

12. In what ways was Paul made strong in weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions and difficulties?

Think About It: God is attracted to weakness. He can’t resist those who humbly and honestly admit how desperately they need Him. Our weakness, in fact, makes room for His power. (Jim Cymbala, Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire)

13. What else did you learn as you studied 2 Corinthians 12:1-10?

What Application Will You Make?

14. What could it look like, feel like, and sound like (the words we use) if we applied vv. 9-10 to our lives?

15. In the midst of your most painful trial, how have you seen Christ’s words to be true, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness?”

16. Have you been spending precious energy trying to solve or figure out “a thorn” in your life? If there doesn’t appear to be a clear answer—or at least in the near future—take a moment to entrust it to the God who knows.

17. In what other ways can you apply this lesson to your life?

Respond To The Lord About What He’s Shown You Today.

Consider using any creative means to respond to the Lord’s grace being sufficient for your every weakness—poem, song, painting, craft, prose, or other means.

Day Three Study

Read 2 Corinthians 12:11-18. Ask the Lord Jesus to teach you through His Word.

What Does The Bible Say?

18. See how Paul picks up again on what he shared in 2 Corinthians 11:1-12 …

• I ought to have been ___________ (v. 11) for I am not ___________ even though I ___________.
• What things mark an apostle that were done in Corinth (v. 12)?
• Why does Paul choose not to be a burden to them (v. 14)?
• Like parents do for their children, Paul says he will very gladly do what (v. 15)?
• What illogical question does he ask (v. 15)?
• What 3 questions did he ask them about himself and Titus (vv. 17-18)?
• Did anything else grab your attention?

What Does It Mean?

19. Focus on v. 11.

• How was Paul “nothing” (no one, a nobody)? See also 2 Corinthians 10:10.
• How does Paul’s “nothing” relate to what you read in 2 Corinthians 11:30 and 12:9?

20. What does he confirm about his behavior toward them (vv. 14, 16-17)?

21. Contrast the false teachers’ behavior (11:19-21) with that of Paul and his associates. See also 2 Corinthians 7:13-16; 8:22-23.

22. What else did you learn as you studied 2 Corinthians 12:11-18?

Focus on the Meaning: Paul’s focusing on the signs (evidences) of an apostle, rather than on the rights of an apostle, is helpful for all servants of the Lord to observe. We, too, should concentrate on demonstrating the proofs of our ambassadorship in our works, especially our perseverance, rather than expecting those we serve to follow us because we are “claiming” our rights. We need to earn the respect of those we serve, with our works and by our example, rather than demanding it because of our position. (Dr. Constable’s Notes on 2 Corinthians 2017 Edition, p. 121)

What Application Will You Make?

23. When people mistake your love for something else (especially contrary to your true intentions), that can be deeply wounding. Is that something you are experiencing right now or have experienced in the past? Look at Paul’s response in today’s passage. What can you learn from him that challenges and inspires you for dealing with this hurtful experience?

24. In what other ways can you apply this lesson to your life?

Respond To The Lord About What He’s Shown You Today.

Day Four Study

Read 2 Corinthians 12:19-21. Ask the Lord Jesus to teach you through His Word.

What Does The Bible Say?

25. Paul had genuine concerns (fears) about his next visit to the church. Fear is a normal human emotion designed to alert us to danger so that we can take action against it. Answer the following questions based on what is in the biblical text.

• Who does Paul say is a witness to his words (v. 19; 11:31)?
• What does he call them in v. 19? See also 7:1.
• Everything he does is for what purpose (v. 19)?
• What are his fears about visiting them (v. 20)?
• What also might happen when he visits them (v. 21)?
• In what had some of them been indulging (v. 21)?
• Did anything else grab your attention?

Think About It: Paul shares many things with the Corinthians. All of them are “in Christ.” Their identity in Christ is equal. But, authority is different. Paul as an apostle has authority over them.

What Does It Mean?

26. What could Paul mean by saying “you may find me not as you want me to be?” See 10:10-11.

27. What else did you learn as you studied 2 Corinthians 12:19-21?

What Application Will You Make?

What Paul describes in v. 20 sounds like some family gatherings, especially around the holidays. Does it sound familiar to you?

28. Describe a time when you had anxiety over seeing someone you hadn’t seen in a while. What were your worries? How did you prepare yourself? Did it go as you expected or were you surprised?

29. The sinful behaviors Paul mentions in vv. 20-21 are common to humans. Paul mentions these same things in most of his other letters. See Galatians 5:19-21, Ephesians 4:25-32; 5:3-4, and Colossians 3:5-10 for example. Are you “indulging” in any of these behaviors? If so, purify yourself now (2 Corinthians 7:1). See Lesson 6, Day Four Study application for the biblical process for dealing with sin in your life. Repentance begins with agreeing with God that what you are doing is sin against Him. Mourn your behavior because it causes Him sadness. Commit to letting the Spirit transform you in that area of your life (2 Corinthians 3:17-18). Trust Him to work in and through you beginning today.

30. In what other ways can you apply this lesson to your life?

31.Review the passage for this lesson in “Day One Study.” Add reasons why God wants us to depend on Him more than on ourselves to the chart below. I’ve given a few prompts.

Respond To The Lord About What He’s Shown You Today.

Dependent Living: As His child, God transforms your life by teaching you to live dependently on Him in weakness and in strength.