Are You Being Deceived?
Related MediaDeceit is altogether too common in today’s world. As defined, it involves “the action or practice of deceiving someone by concealing or misrepresenting the truth”.1 Deceit is often seen in the Scriptures. In what follows we shall note many occurrences of deceit in the Poetic books of the Bible, particularly in the Davidic Psalms and in the book of Proverbs.
In Psalm 5 the psalmist David points out that the Lord has sent destruction for those who tell lies. God “abhors” blood-thirsty deceitful men” (v. 6). No doubt this includes all people, male or female. David gives further reasons in verse 9:
Not a word from their mouth can be trusted;
their heart is filled with destruction.
Their throat is an open grave;
with their tongue they speak deceit.2
This should certainly be the case with all who are deceitful (cf. 4-6).
The work of deceitful lips is condemned in the Psalms. For example, Psalm 17 begins with the psalmist’s plea to God:
Hear, O LORD, my righteous plea;
listen to my cry.
Give ear to my prayer –
it does not rise from deceitful lips. (v.1)
Having expressed his devotion to God, the psalmist in Psalm 26 says:
I do not sit with deceitful men,
nor do I consort with hypocrites. (v. 4)
He then declares his innocence and faithfulness to the Lord (vv. 5-8).
In Psalm 32 David begins his psalm with the blessedness of the man “whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered” (v. 1). By truly resting in God’s forgiveness, he lives a more blameless life in the service and presence of the Lord. In a subsequent psalm, David points to the deceitful words of those who live wicked, sinful lives. So much is this the case that a bit later David expresses his need for God’s protection and direction in the face of “deceitful and wicked men” (Ps. 43:1).
Deceitfulness among many people is so prominent that the psalmists often speak of it, especially in connection with the tongue (e.g., Psalm 50:19; 52:1-4). Such people deserve and can expect God’s condemnation and punishment (cf. Ps. 55:23; 119:118; 120:1-4).
Later, David speaks of his desire to lead a blameless life, for God will look with great favor upon “the faithful of the land” (Ps. 101:6). He then proceeds to condemn the deceitful person who not only practices deceit, but fails to speak honestly:
No one who practices deceit
will dwell in my house;
no one who speaks falsely
will stand in my presence. (Ps. 101:7)
In a still later psalm, David appeals to the Lord for his help (Ps. 109:1-2):
O God, whom I praise,
do not remain silent,
for wicked and deceitful men
have opened their mouths against me;
they have spoken against me with lying tongues.
Such being the case, David completes his thoughts by assuring the Lord that he will praise Him (cf. vv. 20-21). In yet another psalm, David again appeals to God for his protection and preservation:
Reach down your hand from on high;
deliver me and rescue me
from the mighty waters,
from the hands of foreigners
whose mouths are full of lies,
whose right hands are deceitful. (Ps. 144:7-8, cf. v. 11)
He then assures the Lord that he will praise the Lord in song (vv. 9-10), before pleading with the Lord for deliverance from wicked foreigners (v. 11). Looking at the above Psalms, we see that they often record David’s dependence upon the Lord and his appeal for God’s deliverance.
When one looks carefully through the book of Proverbs, he sees that they also often point to the danger of deceit. For example, Proverbs 6:12-15 speaks of the fate of a deceitful person who plots evil:
Disaster will over take him in an instant,
he will suddenly be destroyed – without remedy. (v. 15)
In a later Proverb, we read that:
A malicious man disguises himself with his lips,
but in his heart, he harbors deceit. (Pr. 26:24)
Other proverbs warn of “the advice of the wicked” being “deceitful” (Pr. 12:5) and the dangers of a “false witness”, for such a person’s testimony is “deceitful” (Pr. 14:25). Moreover,” a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit” (Pr. 15:4b). Yet one can see that ultimately, “A man of perverse heart does not prosper; he whose tongue is deceitful falls into trouble” (Pr. 17:20). Accordingly, it can be said that it is far, far better to live a righteous life;
Truthful lips endure forever,
but a lying tongue lasts only a moment.
There is deceit in the hearts of those who plot evil,
but joy for those who promote peace (Pr. 12:19-20).
May we, then, be those who follow the advice of the psalmists and these proverbs, so that we may live a quiet and spiritually profitable life, fully dependent on the Lord.
Take time to be holy; Let Him be your guide,
And run not before him, Whatever betide.
In joy or in sorrow, Still follow the Lord,
And, looking to Jesus, Still trust in His Word.3
1 This definition is posted on the internet: https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/deceit. Accessed 5/15/2019.
2 All Scripture references are from the NIV.
3 William D. Longstaff, “Take Time to Be Holy”, v. 3.
Related Topics: Devotionals, Terms & Definitions
Milan Cathedral
Over the triple doorways of the cathedral of Milan there are three inscriptions spanning the splendid arches.
- Over one is carved a beautiful wreath of roses, and underneath it is the legend, “All that which pleases is but for a moment.”
- Over the other is sculptured a cross, and there are the words, “All that which troubles us is but for a moment.”
- But underneath the great central entrance to the main aisle is the inscription, “That only is important which is eternal.”
If we always realize these three truths, we will not let trifles trouble us, not be interested so much in the passing pleasures of the hour. We should live for the permanent and the eternal.
Editor's Note: Takes this with a "grain of salt." It has come to our attention that this may not be accurate, or at least does not seem to be accurate in the current situation of the Cathedral of Milan. This illustration is in print though, and goes back many years (1800's). Given the Cathedral of Milan's long history of construction and its many stages it is possible there is an reasonable explanation. However that explanation is not readily apparent.
Seeing Clearly through the Darkness: Downloadable Resources
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Seeing Clearly through the Darkness: A Study of Judges for Today's Woman
Background of Judges
Period of the judges
Began at the death of Joshua (1:1) after the period of conquest, often dated about 1390 B.C. but date is unclear because of the overlap of judges’ rules.
Ended at the coronation of Saul around 1050 B.C.
Includes judges Eli & Samuel, whose stories are in 1 Samuel.
Was approximately 1/3 of the entire Old Testament history of Israel.19
Involves overlapping time for some of the judges, who lived in different areas of the land.
Authorship
Unnamed in the book but likely an editor of previously written materials from various sources.
The rabbis held that Samuel authored the book.
What was a judge?
Hebrew word “judge”: sā pât: broader than our term judge, meaning to govern, administer, exercise leadership.20 The position may best be understood as a tribal leader.21
Think deliverer, not legal functionaries, although some may have functioned that way as well.
Judges 2:16-19 helps explain who they were.
The primary or major judges (determined only from the amount of space and information given)
Othniel
Ehud
Deborah
Gideon
Jephthah
Samson
Eli
Samuel
The secondary or minor judges
Shamgar
Tola
Jair
Ibzan
Elon
Abdon
Three sections of the book
Double introduction (1:1-2:5; 2:6-3:6).
Cycles section (3:7-16:31). This section includes 6 cycles of apostasy-punishment-cry of pain-deliverance.
Double conclusion (17:1-18:31; 19:1-21:25).
Theme
Seven times this is repeated: “The descendants of Israel did evil in the eyes of the LORD; they forgot the LORD and served the Baals and Asherahs” (2:11; 3:7, 12; 4:1; 6:1; 10:6; 13:1).
The final verse of the book is a good statement of the theme from the perspective of the actions of God’s people: “In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (NASB).
Four times in the last five chapters it says this: “There was no king in Israel” (17:6; 18:1; 19:1; 21:25). These statements are not so much about the theme but simply describe the leadership situation.
Arthur Lewis identifies the theme as “God’s providential care and discipline of his children.”
True hero in the book is God and God alone, not the judges.
19 Wood, p.2.
20 Clendenen, p.23.
21 Muck, pp.21-22.
Lesson Two: Trust in God’s Faithfulness - Exod 3-4, Numbers 13-14, Deut 7, 34
Light for Today
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever!
Hebrews 13:8 (NET)
I am not sure we have many examples of faithfulness today. People used to take pride in being people of their word. Instead, we hear couples speak oaths of faithfulness at their wedding who simply decide they want to be free or happy, forsaking the vows that they made to one another. In the business world executives try to find ways to get around the contractual commitments made when they find those agreements less than profitable. Every day I come across people who do not follow through with the commitments and responsibilities they have agreed to shoulder, even in the church.
God is so different from the world’s norm because he always carries out the promises he has given. He is a faithful God, who can be trusted to fulfill all that he has said in his word. Just as he was faithful to the promises to Abraham that we studied last week, so he will be faithful to his promises to you (Heb. 13:8—learn your memory verse).
Day One Study
1. By way of review, what promises did God make over and over to Abraham, as you saw last week? (Look back at Gen. 12:1-3; 15:13-16.)
God is indeed a God of his word—faithful to fulfill all of his promises. We saw last week that the descendants of Abraham inherited the promises through Isaac, Jacob, and his twelve sons, who founded the twelve tribes of Israel. One of these sons was Joseph, whose story is told in the latter part of Genesis. Although his brothers sold him into slavery in Egypt, that became the means of saving his entire family during a famine. God orchestrated the events so that his word would be fulfilled.
Review Gen. 15:13-14.
2. What did God tell Abraham would happen to his descendants? How did this happen according to Ex. 1:8-14?
Read Exodus 3:1-4, 8-10.
3. What was God’s plan to rescue his people out of slavery in Egypt? (Be sure and write down from which verses you get answers like this so that you can quickly find them again.)
Read Exodus 3:11-4:17.
More light: Write down the arguments/excuses that Moses tried to use with God.
Read Isaiah 6:1-8.
4. Compare Isaiah’s response to God’s call in Is. 6:1-8 to Moses’ response.
5. Sharing question: Is there something God has called you to do as a believer that you have failed to do, but have instead excused yourself, essentially arguing with God? It could be something specific to you or something he calls all believers to do. Be specific and openly confess your failure to your group.
6. Responding to God: Write a prayer of confession over this sin and a prayer of commitment, trusting that God will empower you as he did Moses. Ask for the faith and the courage to obey.
Day Two Study
God was at work though Moses to make good the promise of deliverance that he gave Abraham. Moses did go to Egypt and obey God. All that God promised Moses, God performed.
7. List God’s promises to Moses in Ex. 3:19-22.
Exodus 7-10 chronicles nine miraculous plagues that God sent upon Egypt to compel Pharaoh to release the Jewish people. Because the ruler still would not permit them to leave, God sent one last, severe plague on the Egyptians. In it, he provided a beautiful picture of the salvation that he would eventually bring to us in Jesus Christ.
More Light: Read about the plagues in Ex. 7-10, considering the great power of God to make his promises come true.
Read Exodus 12:21-32, 40-41.
8. Describe God’s instructions for the first Passover. What were the people to do? What were the consequences of failing to obey?
9. How did the Passover picture the salvation that we have in Jesus? (Read John 1:29.)
10. Why did God require the Jews to continue observing Passover throughout their generations (v. 42)?
11. Sharing question: Describe a time in your life when you learned firsthand that God is faithful to his promises, or describe a current situation where you need to trust him.
12. Responding to God: Write a prayer or poem of celebration for God’s faithfulness to his word.
Day Three Study
After the Jews left Egypt, they spent some time at Mount Sinai receiving God’s law, entering a covenant with him, and building a Tabernacle in which God would dwell in a special sense right in their midst. Just over a year later, they set off for the Land of Promise, called Canaan, the same land God gave to Abraham and his descendants according to his word in Genesis.
It has been estimated that approximately two million Jews were part of this traveling company led by God through a cloud by day and a fire by night.3 They eventually came to the edge of the Promised Land and stopped at Kadesh-Barnea.
Read Numbers 13:1-3, 25-33; 14:1-10, 26-35.
13. What was the report of the ten spies and their advice to the people? How did Caleb and Joshua’s report differ and why?
14. What was the root cause of the disobedience of the Israelites who were unwilling to enter the land promised by God? (See Heb. 3:15-19.) How does that attitude lead to disobedience to God?
15. What consequences followed their disobedience?
The same sin is always at the root of disobedience. Joshua and Caleb saw clearly through the darkness while the other spies could only see the darkness. We, too, can focus on the darkness or on the power and faithfulness of God.
More light: Skim Numbers 15:32-17:12; 20:1-25:18. Note some of the events that happened during this time.
16. Sharing question: In what area do you struggle most to obey God? It could be that you fail to be pure in your thoughts. You may tell white lies to your friends or boss. You may not be faithful to what you say you will do. You may not be content. You may choose to please others rather than God. You may struggle to prioritize giving to God’s kingdom work. There are so many options! We all struggle with specific sins more than others. (Be honest here and be willing to be real with your group. It’s time for Christian women to take off the masks and love one another.) What are you failing to believe about God that leads to this disobedience? Think of a specific characteristic of God that lies at the root of your unbelief. Share it with your group.
17. Responding to God: Confess your disobedience and your unbelief. Ask God for the grace to believe him in the areas where you struggle. Write your thoughts below.
Day Four Study
Over and over we have seen God’s faithfulness to his promises. Just as he fulfilled his word to deliver the people from Egypt, so he was faithful to his promise that they would die in the wilderness rather than enter the land. Only those who had been children at the time of the spies’ report were able to possess the Land of Promise.
Once that entire generation died, Moses took the people a second time to the border of the land. There he gave his farewell sermon to the people. In it, he recounted God’s faithfulness and the people’s faithlessness. He gave them God’s final instructions for possessing the land and warned them of the consequences of disobedience.
Read Deut. 7:1-6, 17-23.
More light: Read all of Deut. 7, and write down your thoughts.
18. What did God instruct the people of Israel to do with the inhabitants of the Promised Land? Why? (This will become important when we get to the period of the Judges.)
Consider the situation—the Israelites would not get this land without a fight. They were facing war as they entered the land.
19. How did Moses encourage the people not to fear? What were they to remember (Deut. 7:17-19)?
20. Sharing question: How can you apply this principle? What mighty deeds has God done in your life?
Read Deut. 34:1-12.
21. What happened to Moses before the move into the land?
22. How did God prepare Joshua for leading the people?
23. Responding to God: Thank God that he prepares you for any task that he gives you. Ask him for the insight to see any task that you have left undone out of unbelief and fear. Talk to him about moving forward with that task.
Day Five Study
If faith is essential to our lives, we want to grow in our understanding of God so that we do trust him.
24. Look up these verses and write down your insights into God’s character:
a. Deut. 34:5-8
b. Psalm 135:5, 6
c. Psalm 136:1
d. Psalm 147:15
e. 2 Tim. 2:13
f. 1 John 1:9
25. Sharing question: Which of the above verses applies to the unbelief that you mentioned on Day Three in #16 & #17? Why did you choose it?
More light: What story in the Bible illustrates the characteristic of God that you chose? Read the story and consider what you learn about God from it.
26. Illustrate in some way that quality of God that answered the previous question (#25). A stick picture would be fine! We aren’t all artistsJ
27. Responding to God: Read Ps. 145:1-7 and speak of his greatness to others today. Write down what you said and to whom you spoke it.
The stories we have read aren’t just facts out of a history book; they contain truths that will change your life if your heart is open to God. So far, we have seen that God reaches out to us to draw us to himself. He calls us to follow him, and he blesses the faith that responds. We have also witnessed that God is faithful to his word in the lives of his people. If we are to see clearly through our present darkness, we must understand these truths so that we depend upon them when all seems unclear.
Virginia’s Story
Being married to a corporate executive had all the perks of living a good life – country club living, tennis, fancy cars and a large beautiful home. Then the unexpected day arrived when the company my husband worked for was sold and he lost his job. We were momentarily stunned, but not concerned. After all, there were many other corporations out there.
Months went by without any new prospects for work. There were younger corporate executives in the marketplace working for less pay. The savings dwindled, the bills piled up. We prayed, we went to church, we continued serving and trusting God, yet many more months went by without income. We kept waiting for the outpouring of income to support our lifestyle that we trusted God for, but it didn’t come. On the outside, we looked like we had it all together; but on the inside, we were crying. And, of course, pride was in the way of letting others know how bad things were.
Finally, on a particular Sunday morning, we were getting ready for church when my husband called from the shower for a bar of soap. When I replied that we were out, it was the last straw. We fell apart and acknowledged that we were in serious trouble and would have to change our lifestyle. We were out of money and didn’t even have change in our pocket to buy bath soap! We left for church that morning in total despair, questioning the provision and faithfulness of God.
The pastor’s message that day was from Isaiah 43:18-19. “Do not call to mind the former things, or ponder things of the past. Behold, I will do something new. Now it will spring forth; will you not be aware of it? I will even make a roadway in the wilderness, rivers in the desert.”
My husband and I listened to this message with tears running down our faces. We felt God was telling us to forget our old lifestyle, to be willing to accept a new way of life; and as we let go, he would provide in this wilderness time of our lives.
When we arrived home, there was a promotional package in a plastic bag hanging from the front door knob. Inside the bag was a bar of soap – the name of it was Spirit, and it was blue! (the color of my bathroom) We burst out laughing! How unusual for a promotional package to be delivered on a Sunday, but God used the timing and the product to, not only put a little humor in our situation, but to prove his faithfulness in even the little things. We learned from this experience that trusting in God’s faithfulness is not just for the future – a week, a month, a year; but faith is living moment by moment trusting that God is faithful in that very moment! Then, those moments link together for a future of experiencing God’s faithfulness.
That date in August of 1993 was a turning point in our lives. We have never regained that lifestyle, but we don’t miss it. God had something totally different in mind for us. Our financial circumstances did not improve, but our faith did. God has been faithful to provide for our needs moment by moment as we live by faith trusting Him. To God be the glory!
A Mother’s Application
Sometimes it is helpful for us as mothers to see that God disciplines his disobedient children so that we will not be afraid to discipline our children. When the children of Israel flatly refused to enter the land that he had promised them, God punished them. They were unable to receive the gift. Instead, they were nomads for the remainder of their lives, never able to rest in their own land.
When your children adamantly refuse to obey you, you must deal with them because of their attitudes. The size or significance of what you requested of them is not the issue. It is an issue of rebellion in the heart.
As adults, we are called to submit to God himself. It takes an obedient, willing heart to do so. We must teach our children to obey when they are young so that they are prepared to submit to God when they are older.
As a child I did not like to obey my mother. I had a rebellious heart. Because she did punish me in an effort to teach me obedience, I learned that obedience is a better choice. Just as I paid the price for rebellion, it is also risky to disobey God because he will discipline when necessary. Heb. 12:6 says, “For those whom the Lord loves he disciplines, and he scourges every son whom He receives.” If you truly love your children, you will follow God’s model of discipline because you want the best for them and that means obedience to God, who knows what is best in every situation.
Ask God for the wisdom to consistently discipline your children and teach them obedience. Pray specifically for each of your children.
3 Note in The MacArthur Study Bible, Ed. John MacArthur (Nashville, TN: 1997), 113.
Related Topics: Faith, Theology Proper (God)
The God-Dependent Woman: Life Choices From Second Corinthians
Related Media
God wants you to learn to rely on Him more than on yourself. Being a God-dependent woman will make you stronger and more effective in life than you could ever be on your own.
The key to being a God-dependent woman is dependent living. Paul teaches you how to do that in Second Corinthians.
Through this 11-lesson study of 2nd Corinthians, you will learn how to make plans for your life and rely on God with how you proceed. You will learn how to educate your mind and rely on God to use that knowledge to glorify Him. You will learn how to make money and rely on God to show you how to use it wisely. You learn how to do this as you act in obedience to the Word of God, depend on Jesus Christ for the power to do so, and trust Him with the results.
Work through The God-Dependent Woman study and start living this way today!
Related Topics: Christian Life, Women, Women's Articles
Using This Study Guide
Related MediaThis study guide consists of 11 lessons covering Paul’s letter we know as “Second Corinthians.” Since this letter consists of 13 chapters in our New Testaments, we will need to cover more than one chapter in some of the lessons. If you cannot do the entire lesson one week, please read the Bible passage covered by the lesson and try to do the “Day One Study” of the lesson.
The Basic Study
Each lesson includes core questions covering the passage narrative. These core questions will take you through the process of inductive Bible study—observation, interpretation, and application. It is the best approach for doing Bible Study. The process is more easily understood in the context of answering these questions:
- What does the Bible say? (Observation: what’s in the text)
- What does it mean? (Interpretation: the author’s intended meaning)
- How does this apply to me today? (Application: making it personal)
Study Enhancements
Dependent Living: The focus of this study is choices we make to rely more on God than on ourselves in weakness and in strength. That is called dependent living, meaning we live in daily dependence upon God. Some questions have a DL in front of them. These will prompt you to recognize what it means to live dependently on God and how to apply it to your life.
Study Aids: To aid in proper interpretation and application of the study, additional study aids are located where appropriate in the lesson:
- Historical Insights
- Scriptural Insights
- From the Greek (definitions of Greek words)
- Focus on the Meaning
- Think About It (thoughtful reflection)
Other useful study tools: Use online tools or apps (blueletterbible.org or “Blue Letter Bible app” is especially helpful) to find cross references (verses with similar content to what you are studying) and meanings of the original Greek words or phrases used (usually called “interlinear”). You can also look at any verse in various Bible translations to help with understanding what it is saying. You will have the opportunity to add your own study at the end of every What does it mean? section.
New Testament Summary
The New Testament opens with the births of Jesus and John (often called “the baptist”). About 30 years later, John challenged the Jews to indicate their repentance (turning from sin and toward God) by submitting to water baptism—a familiar Old Testament practice used for repentance as well as when a Gentile converted to Judaism (to be washed clean of idolatry).
Jesus Christ, God’s incarnate Son, publicly showed the world what God is like and taught His perfect ways for 3 – 3½ years. After preparing 12 disciples to continue Christ’s earthly work, He died voluntarily on a cross for mankind’s sin, rose from the dead, and returned to heaven. The account of His earthly life is recorded in 4 books known as the Gospels (the biblical books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John named after the compiler of each account).
After Jesus’s return to heaven, the followers of Christ were then empowered by the Holy Spirit and spread God’s salvation message among the Jews, a number of whom believed in Christ. The apostle Paul and others traveling with him carried the good news to the Gentiles during 3 missionary journeys (much of this recorded in the book of Acts). Paul wrote 13 New Testament letters to churches & individuals (Romans through Philemon). The section in our Bible from Hebrews to Jude contains 8 additional letters penned by five men, including two apostles (Peter and John) and two of Jesus’s half-brothers (James and Jude). The author of Hebrews is unknown. The apostle John also recorded Revelation, which summarizes God’s final program for the world. The Bible ends as it began—with a new, sinless creation.
Dependent Living
Through this 11-week study of 2nd Corinthians, you will learn how to make plans for your life and rely on God with how you proceed. You will learn how to educate your mind and rely on God to use that knowledge to glorify Him. You will learn how to make money and rely on God to show you how to use it wisely. You learn how to do this as you act in obedience to the Word of God, depend on Jesus Christ for the power to do so, and trust Him with the results. This “dependent living” will make you stronger and more effective in life as you become a God-dependent woman.
As a reminder, you’ll see this main idea at the end of each lesson:
As His child, God transforms your life by teaching you to live dependently on Him in weakness and in strength.
Lesson 1: The God On Whom We Can Rely (2 Corinthians 1:1-11)
Related MediaBut this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. (2 Corinthians 1:9b, Memory Verse #1)
Day One Study
The ABCs Of 2nd Corinthians—Author, Background, And Context
Like any book you read, it always helps to know a bit about the author, the background setting for the story (i.e., past, present, future), and where the book fits into a series (that’s the context). The same is true of Bible books.
Author
Paul identifies himself as the author of this letter written to the church at Corinth. Paul, whose Hebrew name was Saul, was born in Tarsus, a major Roman city on the coast of southeast Asia Minor. Tarsus was the center for the tent making industry. Paul was trained in that craft as his occupation (his primary paying profession). As a Jewish Pharisee from the tribe of Benjamin, Paul was educated at the feet of Gamaliel, a well-respected rabbi of the day. Paul was an ardent persecutor of the early church until his life-changing conversion to Christianity
After believing in Jesus Christ as his Savior, Paul was called by God to take the gospel to the Gentiles. This was an amazing about-face for a committed Pharisee like Paul who ordinarily would have nothing to do with Gentiles. Paul wrote 13 letters that are included in the New Testament. Tradition has it that Paul was beheaded shortly after he wrote 2nd Timothy in 67 AD. (The above information comes from Acts 8:3; 9:1-31; 22:3-5; 26:9-11; and Galatians 1:11-24.)
Background
Around 44 B.C., Julius Caesar rebuilt Corinth from a pile of rubble into a great Roman capital city. So, it was relatively young by the time of Paul without aristocracy, traditions, or well-established citizens. As a Roman colony and the capital of the province of Achaia, the people who called Corinth home were mostly retired Roman soldiers, merchants (many of whom were Jews) and other immigrants from the East. Corinth’s strategic location brought commerce and all that goes with it: wealth, a steady stream of travelers and merchants, and vice (including prostitution as part of the worship of their local gods and goddesses). Corinthians had a reputation for wealth and sensuality.
As we read Acts and Paul’s letters to the Corinthians, we can piece together a lot of the background information for this letter. On his second missionary journey, Paul spent a year and a half in Corinth (A.D. 51-52). Then, Paul went to Ephesus on his third missionary journey and made that city his base of operations for almost three years (A.D. 53-56). There he heard disturbing news about immorality in the Corinthian church. So, he wrote a letter urging the believers not to tolerate such conduct in their midst. Paul referred to this previous letter in 1 Corinthians 5:9. It has not been preserved.
After this, Paul heard from “Chloe’s people” that factions had developed in the church. He also received a letter from the church in Corinth requesting his guidance on certain matters. Those who carried this letter also reported other disturbing conditions in the church. These factors led Paul to compose another letter, the one we call “1 Corinthians,” in which he dealt with the questions and problems, promised to visit them soon, and said he was sending Timothy to Corinth. Paul sent this letter from Ephesus by trusted messengers in the late winter or early spring of A.D. 55.
There was internal strife in the Corinthian church. But, the larger problem seems to have been that some in the community were leading the church into a view of things that was contrary to that which Paul taught them. This resulted in a questioning of Paul’s authority and his gospel.
While the letter we know as “1 Corinthians” did not dispel the problems in the church at Corinth completely, it resolved some of them. Yet, opposition to the Apostle Paul persisted. Paul’s critics continued to speak out against him in the church, claiming equal authority with Paul and questioning whether Paul was really an apostle. The Christians in Corinth didn’t argue with what he had written; they simply denied his right to tell them what to do.
News of continuing problems in Corinth reached Paul in Ephesus so he made a brief visit to Corinth. What he called “a painful visit,” his efforts to resolve the conflicts proved unsuccessful. He then returned to Ephesus and sent a “severe letter” from Ephesus carried by Titus and another unnamed believer. This letter has not been preserved.
While waiting to receive the report back from Titus’ visit, persecution made Paul leave Ephesus earlier than he had anticipated. He found an open door for the gospel to the north in Troas. Eager to meet Titus, who was taking the land route from Corinth back to Ephesus, Paul moved west into Macedonia. There Titus met him and gave him an encouraging report. Most of the church had responded to Paul’s directives, and the church had disciplined the troublemakers. Unfortunately, some in the congregation still refused to acknowledge Paul’s authority over them.
Paul wrote what we know as “2 Corinthians” from Macedonia (Philippi, Thessalonica, or Berea) probably in the fall or winter of A.D. 56. (The above information adapted from Dr. Constable’s Notes on 1 Corinthians and 2 Corinthians, 2018 Editions)
Context
Though found in our New Testaments after the book of Romans, Paul wrote 1 Corinthians (from Ephesus) and 2 Corinthians (from Macedonia) before he wrote Romans during his stay in Corinth.
Historical Insight: Trying to piece together this section of Paul’s life and ministry is like assembling a picture puzzle without the box-top. The big pieces are easy, but the small ones drive you crazy! (Steve Hixon, The New Covenant Lifestyle, p. 3)
Here is a possible timeline just to give you some perspective on the interaction between Paul and the Corinthians over several years:
- Paul’s founding visit — Spring 51
- Paul’s first letter (1 Cor. 5:9)
- The Corinthians’ letter to Paul (1 Cor. 1:11; 7:1; 16:17)
- First Corinthians written — Spring 55
- The “painful visit” (2 Cor. 2:1) — Summer/Fall 55
- Paul’s “severe letter” (2 Cor. 2:4)
- Titus brings news (2 Cor. 2:13; 7:5-7)
- Second Corinthians written (2 Cor. 2:4) — Fall 56
- Paul’s next visit (Acts 20:3) — Winter 56/57
1. What grabbed your attention as you read the ABC’s of the book of 2 Corinthians?
The God-Dependent Woman And Dependent Living
This letter, 2 Corinthians, is considered one of Paul’s most personal letters. It’s not a “sermon” like Romans or Ephesians that can be easily outlined. It’s a messy letter, just like most personal letters. It is full of personal feelings and experiences interspersed between some terrific teaching. It’s like life—messy—because people are messy, relationships are messy, circumstances are messy, and community within the church is messy.
The majority of New Testament writings exist because the early church was messy … Emerging from the mess is the fingerprint of God writing the hope of the gospel and the story of redemption. (Heather Zempel, Community Is Messy, pages 24, 26-27)
In the midst of our messy lives, God wants us to learn to rely on Him more than on ourselves. If you have been reared in western culture, this is contrary to what you’ve been taught most of your life. To compensate for poor teaching in the past, women are taught from girlhood to “stand on your own two feet” and “you don’t need anyone to be successful.” So, what does this relying on God look like?
Are we as Christians supposed to stay like babies not doing anything for ourselves? Does it mean we are supposed to just lie back and let anything happen to us? Does it mean we aren’t supposed to use our skills, talents, advantages, and opportunities to be the best we can be? No! That’s not what it means.
We are supposed to grow and mature in our thinking and behavior. God wants us to give to Him all the skills, talents, advantages, and opportunities and use them for His glory. That involves following His leading and guidance. It means submitting our strengths and our weaknesses to Him for His purposes in our lives.
Here is the key to this: Human parents raise their children to be less dependent on them and more independent. But, God raises His children to be less independent and more dependent on Him. Whatever He brings into our lives that makes us more dependent upon Him is good for us. The key to being a God-dependent woman is dependent living.
Throughout 2 Corinthians, we will see examples of dependent living. Paul makes plans and submits them to God to be changed. We will see him demonstrating his authority as a leader and submitting that to God. He asks for healing and submits to God’s answer. And, Paul talks about preaching the gospel in one city while his heart wants to be in another city, waiting for God to say “go.” That’s dependent living.
Dependent living is not weakness. It is being stronger and having more influence, success, and satisfaction than we could ever have through our own efforts—as brilliant and self-sufficient as we think we are or as weak and messed up as we think we are and everywhere in-between.
Through this 11-week study of 2 Corinthians, we will learn how to make plans for our lives and rely on the Lord with how to proceed. We will learn how to educate our minds and rely on the Lord to use that knowledge to glorify Him. We will learn how to make money and rely on the Lord to show us how to use it wisely. We learn how to do this as we act in obedience to the Word of God, depend on Jesus Christ for the power to do so, and trust Him with the results. This “dependent living” will make us stronger and more effective in life than we could ever be on our own.
As a reminder, you’ll see this main idea at the end of each lesson: As His child, God transforms your life by teaching you to live dependently on Him in weakness and in strength.
The following verses describe or relate to dependent living. To help you learn about living dependently on the Lord, we recommend you memorize the verses listed below. I’ve included the NIV version of each, but you can use any translation. Write them on cards and place them where you will see and review them.
But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. (2 Corinthians 1:9b)
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)
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. 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)
2. What questions do you have about “dependent living” that you hope to have answered through this study?
Day Two Study
This day will take a little longer than most because we ask you to read through the entire letter of 2 Corinthians. Reading through the whole letter is the best way to see the entire message and get the “big picture” before we divide it into smaller pieces to enjoy it more slowly.
Read the letter called “2 Corinthians” as it was intended … a letter from one dear friend to another. Read it at one sitting. It will take about 40 minutes. Consider the following questions as you read. Ready? Go!
3. What do you remember the most from your reading of this entire letter? What topics, situations, or teachings does Paul include in his letter that particularly interest you?
Ask God to show you answers to your questions and what He wants you to learn through this study of 2 Corinthians.
Day Three Study—Get The Big Picture
Let’s start digging into this wonderful letter from God to us. For every lesson, we will begin with reading the whole passage to get the big picture before we study the verses more closely.
To learn how to really observe what is in the text, it helps to print out the verses. I will give you a link to follow to print the specific passage we are studying in that lesson. You can choose a translation by pulling down the menu. Sometimes the link will include sections from a previous lesson so you can see the continuity in Paul’s letter.
Read 2 Corinthians 1:1-11. Ask the Lord Jesus to teach you through His Word. (This is a dependent living choice.)
[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.]
4. What grabbed your attention from this passage?
- 1:1-3
- 1:3-7
- 1:8-11
5. What verses or specific words do you want to understand better?
6. What verses illustrate or help you understand what dependent living on God looks like? [Example: We receive comfort from God for ourselves and to comfort others. (v. 4)]
What Does The Bible Say? (This Is The “Observation” Step In The Process Of Bible Study.)
7. Focus on vv. 1-2. This is called the “salutation.” In ancient letters, the salutation included both the letter writer and the recipient’s name.
- The letter is from Paul. What are his credentials?
- Who is with Paul?
- Who are the recipients?
- How does Paul begin his greeting?
Historical Insight: Paul intended that the Corinthian Christians would read this epistle in the church, but he also wanted all the Christians in the province of Achaia to read it. We know that at this time there was another church a few miles away in Cenchrea (Romans 16:1), and perhaps one in nearby Athens (Acts 17:34). (Dr. Constable’s Notes on 2 Corinthians 2017 Edition, p. 10)
What Does It Mean? (This Is The “Interpretation” Step In The Process Of Bible Study.)
8. Read 1 Corinthians 1:26. What does Paul say about the Corinthians that might help you to identify with them?
9. Read the following verses to compare Paul’s salutations in other letters. Galatians 1:1-3 (Paul’s first letter); 1 Corinthians 1:1-3 (written before 2 Corinthians); Romans 1:1, 7-8 (written after 2 Corinthians) and Ephesians 1:1-2 (one of Paul’s last letters). What is consistently the same?
Focus on the Meaning: “Grace” was a common Greek salutation that meant “greetings” or “rejoice.” The Jews said “shalom” to each other, meaning “peace and prosperity.” Paul used both words when he greeted the recipients of his epistles. For the Christian, these terms took on a deeper meaning. God has chosen to set His love upon the believer in Christ (grace) resulting in something that the world cannot give (peace).
What Application Will You Make? (This Is The “Application” Step In The Process Of Bible Study.)
10. Being confident in the authenticity of what you read in the Bible is important to your faith. How would the consistency you found in the previous question help to prove the authenticity of those letters? By the way, skeptics concede that Paul wrote 2 Corinthians. No argument about it.
Day Four Study
Read 2 Corinthians 1:3-11. Ask the Lord Jesus to teach you through His Word.
What Does The Bible Say?
11. Let God feed your hope through the truths revealed in this passage.
- Praise be to ________________, the Father of _______________ and the God of ________________ (v. 3).
- When God comforts us, what can we do (v. 4)?
- What abounds in / overflows into our lives (v. 5)?
- What does sharing someone else’s sufferings and comfort from God produce in us (v. 6)?
- Where did Paul and his friends suffer hardships (v. 8)?
- How did they feel during that time (vv. 8-9)?
- What purpose did they see in their sufferings (v. 9)?
- What did God do that feeds their hope (v. 10)?
- Who will benefit from the prayers of the Corinthians (v. 11)?
- Did anything else grab your attention?
What Does It Mean?
12. Paul describes God as “the Father of compassion” (v. 3) and “the God of all comfort,” the one to whom we should go first in our troubles. Compassion means to not just feel sympathy for someone’s pain but to do something to alleviate it. Paul equates this with receiving “comfort” from God.
- Define the verb “comfort.”
- How does our God of compassion comfort us? Consider all the ways that He uses to do so.
Scriptural Insight: God is not detached, cold and distant. He knows, understands, empathizes with and responds to the pain in our lives with compassion. This is beautifully illustrated in the life of Jesus (see Mark 6:34).
13. What did Paul mean when he said we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ (v. 5)? Think of the human experiences that we share with Jesus.
14. Paul wrote this letter after experiencing severe trials in Ephesus (vv. 8-9). Read Acts 19:23-41 and 1 Corinthians 15:32. What did he experience?
Although the context of Paul’s “sufferings” may be persecution, the principle applies to any troubles experienced by humans. Jesus experienced them all except those brought on by personal sinfulness since He was sinless. But, He understands our need for comfort even then.
15. Paul admitted weakness. Being a mature Christian doesn’t exempt you from fear, struggle, doubt, stress and suffering. Paul viewed those experiences as opportunities for learning to rely on God more than oneself (v. 9).
- What does it mean to rely on or trust someone?
- What choices must you make to rely on God more than on yourself?
16. When you have trouble in your life, someone might tell you this, “God doesn’t give you more than you can handle.” Based upon what you read in vv. 8-9, why is that a false teaching?
Think About It: God allows painful things to happen to His children. He puts us in situations where it’s beyond our ability. We are still capable of sinning. We can’t fully trust ourselves. He gives us more than we can handle on our own so we are forced to trust in Him.
17. Read 1 Corinthians 10:13. What does God promise regarding any temptation to sin that you face at any time? How is this also teaching you to rely on God more than yourself?
From the Greek: “Gracious favor” NIV / “blessing” ESV (v. 11) comes from the Greek word charisma meaning “a favor with which one receives without any merit of his own.” This undeserved gift of divine grace towards us stems from God’s love for us. God chooses to give it because of His love so that men and women can become acceptable to Him. Grace is summed up in the name, person, and work of the Lord Jesus Christ. We receive this favor or acceptance from God as a free gift through faith. God’s grace is all-sufficient, and our weakness is precisely the opportunity for His power to be displayed.
Did you see something else in this passage that you wanted to study more? This is where you would use an online tool or app (blueletterbible.org or “Blue Letter Bible app” is especially helpful) to find cross references (verses with similar content to what you are studying) and meanings of the original Greek words or phrases used (usually called “interlinear”). You can also look at any verse in various Bible translations to help with understanding what it is saying. These tools help you get a clearer picture of the meaning of a passage after you have studied if for yourself. You will have the opportunity to add your own study at the end of every What does it mean? section.
18. What else did you learn as you studied 2 Corinthians 1:3-11?
What Application Will You Make?
19. If you consider that God’s purpose in allowing troubles in your life is to lead you to rely on Him more than yourself (v. 9):
- How do you recognize when you are relying on yourself?
- How resistant are you to giving up control? Do you want to learn to give up control?
- What would be the benefits of relying on God more than yourself?
Think About It: 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 give thanks.
20. Read vv. 4, 6-7 again. God has purpose even for our pain.
- What does v. 4 say in “The Message” translation?
- Have you considered how your struggles can lead to helping someone else? Explain this in your own words using an example from a real-life relationship.
21. In what other ways can you apply this lesson to your life?
22. 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.
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Verse(s) |
Reasons why God wants us to depend on Him more than on ourselves |
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v. 4 |
We receive comfort from God for ourselves and to comfort others. |
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v. 9 |
He’s more powerful than we are. |
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v. 10 |
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v. 11 |
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Think About It: Every daily lesson in this study begins and ends with prayer. Prayer is conversation with Someone who loves you dearly. It is not about magic words or formulas. 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.
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.
Related Topics: Character of God, Women's Articles
Lesson 2: Promises and Faithfulness (2 Corinthians 1:12-2:13)
Related MediaNow it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. (2 Corinthians 1:21-22)
The God who comforts you understands the many kinds of suffering you undergo in daily life. Although Paul wrote about the persecution he and his friends experienced that made them fear for their lives, suffering doesn’t only come from persecution, from physical danger, or from outside your circle of friends. It can also come from within the circle of 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.
Questions To Consider This Week:
- Have you been in a position where you were misrepresented by others and, therefore, misunderstood by someone in close relationship to you? Whom would you trust to help with reconciliation?
- As you make plans that involve others, do you submit them to the Lord for Him to change if needed even though it might cause disappointments and misunderstandings for those involved?
Day One Study—Get The Big Picture
Read 2 Corinthians 1:12-2:13. 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?
- 1:12-14
- 1:15-22
- 1:23-2:13
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 1:12-14. Ask the Lord Jesus to teach you through His Word.
What Does The Bible Say?
5. As you look for the facts, remember that the context of Paul’s words are misunderstandings between the Corinthians and himself because of what other people are saying against him.
- Paul’s conscience testifies they behaved with what (v. 12)?
- But they did not rely on what (v. 12)?
- What does Paul intentionally not do (v. 13)?
- Paul hopes that they will do what (v. 14)?
- With what result (v. 14)?
From the Greek: “Boast” is based on a Greek word meaning “the act of glorying, rejoicing.” As a key word in 2 Corinthians, Paul uses it 30 times in various forms. Pay attention to all the references to those who are boasting and about what they are boasting.
What Does It Mean?
6. From 2 Corinthians 1:12-14, summarize what you think Paul is trying to communicate to the Corinthian believers.
7. Read 1 Corinthians 2:1-5. When Paul first met the Corinthians, what examples of worldly wisdom (literally, “fleshly, humanistic”) did he not use? Why?
8. What does Paul say in 2 Corinthians 1:12 to remind them about that?
From the Greek: Wisdom (Gr. sophia, meaning “knowledge, intelligence, learning”) was one of the Corinthians’ buzz words. The Greeks valued wisdom. Paul used this word or variations of it 15 times in 1 Corinthians plus 2 Corinthians 1:12.
9. What else did you learn as you studied 2 Corinthians 1:12-14?
What Application Will You Make?
Being misrepresented by someone and, therefore, misunderstood is very painful. Paul basically tells the Corinthians, “Look at my behavior. I am single-minded and sincere. It’s the truth. Please trust me. Then, we can be proud of each other’s faith.”
10. Have you been in a similar relationship where you were misrepresented and misunderstood? What have you learned from today’s study that you could apply to your situation?
11. 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 1:15-22. Ask the Lord Jesus to teach you through His Word.
What Does The Bible Say?
12. Answer the following questions based on what is written in the biblical text.
- Since Paul was confident the Corinthians would understand the truth, what was his plan for visiting them (vv. 15-16)?
- What seems to be the accusation against Paul (v. 17)?
- Referring back to v. 12, what does Paul declare in v. 18 (“yes” and “no” refers to fickleness)?
- Whom does he call upon as his witness and example to follow (vv. 19-20)?
- Through whom is Paul’s “amen / may it be fulfilled” spoken (v. 20)?
- For what purpose (v. 20)?
- What does God do to fulfill His promise and receive glory (vv. 21-22)?
- Did anything else grab your attention?
Scriptural Insight: Verse 15 can cause some confusion depending on your Bible translation. “Second experience of grace (ESV)” / “benefit twice (NIV)” comes from the Greek word charis, meaning gift, grace, blessing, or benefit. Paul used this word in the context of his visits, not any kind of salvation or spiritual experience. He hoped that his visiting them twice would be a double blessing for them.
What Does It Mean?
Read Acts 19:21-22. Paul was in Ephesus when he made his initial travel plans. To understand where he was and where he was planning to go, find Ephesus, Macedonia, Corinth, and Judea on the map below.
13. Paul made plans but left them in the Lord’s hands. On what was He relying to lead him to visit Corinth? See also Acts 18:21 and James 4:13-15 for insight.
Focus on the Meaning: In making his plans, Paul claimed not to have followed his “flesh” (his sinful human nature) rather than the Holy Spirit … Paul has argued in vv. 18-20 that as God is faithful, so, too, is Paul’s “word.” God’s faithfulness is to be seen (1) in the Son of God preached in Corinth as God’s unambiguous and now-eternal “Yes,” and (2) in the fact of all the promises of God having been kept in the Son of God, as proclaimed by the apostles including Paul, the minister of the God who speaks unambiguously (cf. 2 Corinthians 1:13) and who keeps his promises. (Dr. Constable’s Notes on 2 Corinthians 2017 Edition, pages 22, 24)
14. God was completely trustworthy in fulfilling His promises to them in Christ, uniting Paul with the Corinthians. This is true of all believers.
- What did God do to set His seal of ownership on us (v. 22)?
- What does it mean to put down a deposit or guarantee?
- Can humans back out of a bargain?
- Can God back out of a bargain? See v. 20.
- So, what does God pledge or guarantee for us? See also Ephesians 1:13-14.
Scriptural Insight: Promise and hope – the Holy Spirit is called a “deposit” or “down payment” on our salvation, giving assurance of the completion of his work. At the moment of salvation, the Spirit places you in Christ. This is the basis for your: 1) acceptance before God, 2) assurance of salvation, and 3) identity. And, Jesus Christ lives in you through His Spirit. Through Christ’s presence in you, you receive: 1) life (regeneration), 2) power for living, and 3) the basis of a relationship with the living God. What a truly awesome deal!
15. What else did you learn as you studied 2 Corinthians 1:15-22?
Dependent Living: Paul made plans but held them loosely. God’s grace was leading him (v. 12). The Spirit drove his concern for the Corinthians so Paul wanted to check on them. Paul said in vv. 19-20 that he depended on Christ as he made plans. Making plans then having to change them may result in disappointments and misunderstandings for those involved. Paul had to trust in Christ to overcome that as well.
What Application Will You Make?
16. Where you can apply what you learned today to your own life?
Respond To The Lord About What He’s Shown You Today.
Day Four Study
Read 2 Corinthians 1:23-2:13. Ask the Lord Jesus to teach you through His Word.
What Does The Bible Say?
17. Paul continues to explain himself so they can understand him.
- Why had Paul not returned to Corinth first as he planned (v. 23 & 2:1)?
- Paul reminds them that his role is to do what (v. 24)?
- Why had Paul written a letter (2:3)?
- As he wrote, how did he feel (2:4)?
- What was true about the one who had been confronted with a deliberate sin (v. 5)?
- What was true about the punishment inflicted on the offender (v. 6)?
- Now what should they do (vv. 7-8)?
- What might happen if they don’t forgive?
- For what other reason had Paul written the severe letter (v. 9)?
- Paul will do what (v. 10)?
- What did he hope to avoid (v. 11)?
- What happened when Paul left Ephesus and went to Troas (vv. 12-13)?
- Did anything else grab your attention?
What Does It Mean?
18. Instead of another visit (2:1), Paul wrote a painful letter. What was his concern now (vv. 2-3)?
19. Notice the number of times joy / glad / rejoice are used in 2 Corinthians 1:23-2:13. What is it about broken relationships that affects our joy?
Focus on the Meaning: Paul refers to “joy” repeatedly in this letter, referring to it as “overflowing” and “boundless.” Only the Lord Jesus Christ can fill our hearts with overflowing joy even in the midst of hardships.
20. Correcting someone’s error in behavior or thinking is hard but necessary in the church of Christ. We don’t know what had happened, but we can look at an incident requiring previous correction. Read 1 Corinthians 5:1-7.
- What was the problem that time?
- Why is it necessary to address ungodly behavior in a church community?
- What is the goal of caring enough about your church community that you would ask someone to leave who is deliberately sinning in such a public, proud way?
21. Based on 2 Corinthians 2:6-10, what are some “tough love” steps you can take to restore an offending community member and then comfort them?
22. Read v. 11 in several Bible translations to help in your understanding.
Paul warned of a danger always threatening believers, especially unity within the local church community. Satan’s schemes could outwit church leaders.
- What is a scheme?
- What does it mean to outwit?
- What might it look like for Satan to “outwit” church leaders when it comes to enabling bad influences to remain in the church community?
Focus on the Meaning: Comfort means encouragement plus alleviation of grief. The one offended must go to the offender who has been confronted and give forgiveness and comfort to her. This confirmation of love helps to bring everyone back into loving fellowship. Satan delights in seeing our church body, small groups and families broken up by our failure to forgive and confirm love.
23. Paul sent the painful letter with Titus. Read Galatians 2:1-3, Titus 1:1, 4-5, and 2 Corinthians 7:5-7. What do you learn about Titus?
Historical Insight: Paul left Troas, not because he wasn’t having success but because he was so concerned about his Corinthian “children.” His focus was on relationship. The likely route for Titus to take back to Ephesus / Troas would have been up from Corinth to Macedonia then a short sea journey to Troas. He had places to stay along the way with the churches already planted. Paul hoped to meet Titus in Macedonia. Do you now understand why Paul started off this letter with praising God for comfort? Titus brought him comfort in the way of good news about the Corinthians.
Dependent Living: God makes you to stand firm (v. 24). You choose to let Him do so.
24. What else did you learn as you studied 2 Corinthians 1:23-2:13?
What Application Will You Make?
25. Paul trusted Titus to represent him and help with reconciliation. Whom would you trust to send to a family member to help with reconciliation, as Paul trusted Titus? Why?
26. In what other ways can you apply this lesson to your life?
27. 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.
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Verse(s) |
Reasons why God wants us to depend on Him more than on ourselves |
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1:17 |
We get distracted and disappointed when things don’t go as we planned |
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1:22 |
He owns us and lives in us. |
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2:5-10 |
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2:11 |
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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.
Related Topics: Women's Articles
Lesson 3: Connect and Impart for God’s Glory (2 Corinthians 2:14-4:6)
Related MediaYou yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone. You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. (2 Corinthians 3:2-3)
Paul made plans to visit the Corinthians but held onto them loosely as he left them in the Lord’s hands. The Spirit drove Paul’s concern for the Corinthians so he changed plans to check on them. Because of God’s grace leading him, he chose to delay the visit. This caused disappointments and misunderstandings for those involved. But, Paul had to trust in Christ to overcome that as well.
Broken relationships due to misunderstandings and gossip from those who don’t know the facts can cause great pain. Paul asks the Corinthians to assume good will, listen to wisdom, and do what is right in God’s sight. Then, trust the Lord to heal the relationship as each party loves the other sincerely.
Questions To Consider This Week:
- If the fragrance or aroma we spread to others is the knowledge of Christ, how do we do that?
- How would you determine if someone is peddling the word of God for profit or not?
- If you are a living letter of Christ, who is reading you? Are they reading a letter that brings glory to Christ or to something else?
Day One Study—Get The Big Picture
Read 2 Corinthians 2:12-4:6, 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?
- 2:14-17
- 3:1-6
- 3:7-4:6
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 2:14-17. Ask the Lord Jesus to teach you through His Word.
Historical Insight: Paul was an observer of his world and often included references to the culture as illustrations for his listeners. The imagery is that of a Roman triumph (victory parade) in which the victorious general would lead his soldiers and the captives they had taken in festive procession, while the people watched and applauded and the air was filled with the sweet smell released by burning of spices in the street. (NIV Study Bible, note on v. 14, p. 1765)
What Does The Bible Say?
5. Corinth was a Roman colony. Roman parades were special to them. Consider the “Historical Insight” information above as you answer the following questions.
- Who is the victorious general (v. 14)?
- Who are the ones following? [Note: “as captives” is not in the original Greek so is not in most translations.]
- What does God do through us (v. 14)?
- What are we to God (v. 15)?
- To whom are we the aroma of death (vv. 15-16)?
- To whom are we the fragrance that brings life (v. 16)?
- As one who spreads the aroma of the knowledge of God, what does Paul not do (v. 17)?
- Instead, what does Paul do?
- Did anything else grab your attention?
Think About It: The sobering fact is that the fragrance of Christ is glorious to those who desire Him as Savior, but to those who reject Him, the scent is loathsome. (Kelly Minter, All Things New, page. 44)
What Does It Mean?
6. Paul says that the fragrance we spread is the knowledge of Christ, the aroma of Christ.
- Describe an aroma that is especially enticing or inviting to you.
- How can we be such an aroma to others? See Colossians 4:5-6 and other verses you know that illustrate this.
Scriptural Insight: Paul asks the rhetorical question, “Who is equal to such a task (v. 16)?” He knows that no one is. Our responsibility to represent Christ well and be that enticing aroma is weighty. But, God doesn’t ask us to do that He doesn’t enable us to do. God makes us competent to share Him with others. See 2 Corinthians 3:5.
7. Read Acts 18:1-7, 1 Corinthians 9:11-15; and 2 Corinthians 11:7-9. Traveling teachers in that culture usually expected to be paid for their services.
- What was Paul’s practice with the Corinthians instead of “peddling the word of God for profit?”
- From 2 Corinthians 2:14-17, what is the motive and drive of Paul and his team if not for money (profit)?
Scriptural Insight: How is Paul able confidently to attribute such negative motives to these men, while expecting his own claim “of sincerity” to be accepted? It appears that he is appealing to the known fact that these men have received some material benefit from the Corinthians (2 Corinthians 11:20), whereas Paul deliberately refused payment from them (2 Corinthians 11:7-12; 12:13-16). (Dr. Constable’s Notes on 2 Corinthians 2017 Edition, p. 35)
8. What else did you learn as you studied 2 Corinthians 2:14-17?
What Application Will You Make?
God uses our words and actions to bring out what people are already thinking about Him. Their responses to us are often an indicator of where they are spiritually—and that can be good or bad, positive or negative. If they are seeking to know more about Christ, they may be drawn to His fragrance in us. If someone is mad at God, we may experience that anger directed at us.
9. How do you respond when someone attacks your faith? How does it help to consider they may be reacting more to God than to you?
10. How would you recognize someone peddling the word of God for profit? What questions would you ask to determine if someone is peddling the word of God for profit or sincerely serving the Lord Jesus in ministry?
11. In what other ways can you apply this lesson to your life?
Dependent Living: Our God leads us and uses us to draw others to Christ and His victory parade. We let Him lead us and use us according to His will.
Respond To The Lord About What He’s Shown You Today.
Day Three Study
Read 2 Corinthians 3:1-6. Ask the Lord Jesus to teach you through His Word.
What Does The Bible Say?
Historical Insight: In Acts 18:27 and Romans 16:1, we see examples of letters of recommendation. The appearance of vagrant impostors, who claimed to be teachers of apostolic truth, led to the need for letters of recommendation. Paul needed no such confirmation; but others, including the Corinthian intruders, did need authentication and, being themselves, false, often resorted to unscrupulous methods for obtaining or forging letters of recommendation. (NIV Study Bible, note on 3:1, p. 1765)
12. Have you needed a letter of recommendation for something? Paul’s credentials have been questioned. Paul answers the charge that he needs a letter of recommendation (v. 1).
- The Corinthians are what for Paul (v. 2)?
- They show what (v. 3)?
- Paul gets this confidence how (v. 4)?
- Paul says, “Our competence is not (v. 5) _______________, but our competence comes _________________.”
- God has made Paul and his companions competent as what (v. 6)?
- Did anything else grab your attention?
Scriptural Insight: Notice that v. 3 includes references to God [the Father], Christ and the Spirit. This is a “Trinity” verse supporting the doctrine of one God in three persons.
What Does It Mean?
13. Read vv. 2-3 in several Bible translations. Summarize what Paul is saying.
14. Read 1 Corinthians 9:1-2 and Acts 9:15-16; 18:9-10 for background to what Paul says here. What are Paul’s credentials?
15. How do his credentials give him both confidence (trust, reliance) and competence / sufficiency in the work that Jesus gave him to do (2 Corinthians 1:1; 2:17; 3:5-6)?
From the Greek: The Greek word hikonas (“to have enough”) is translated in vv. 5-6 as competent (NIV), adequate (NAS), qualified (NLT), and sufficient (ESV). God is the one who makes anyone “have enough” for the work He has called her to do.
16. What else did you learn as you studied 2 Corinthians 3:1-6?
What Application Will You Make?
17. In the gospels, we see that Jesus would connect with people and impart truth to them. You are His letter for others to read. And, He’s used His servants to reach you and model for you how to follow Him.
- Who has modeled for you how to follow Christ? Who has written on your life?
- What do you hope people read in your letter? Is there anything in your letter that says you rely more on yourself than on Christ?
- Who are your letters, those in whom you are consciously investing right now?
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 model, 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 to lead ourselves well … The first step toward leading yourself well is following well … And if you are a Christ follower, the practice of following well is fundamental to your identity and may be one of the greatest tests of your character. (Heather Zempel, Community Is Messy, pages 67-68)
18. God is the one who makes you competent / sufficient / adequate for the work that Jesus gives you to do. Is there something right now that’s in front of you—a need, a challenge, an opportunity—but you feel spiritually incompetent to do it? How do these verses today speak to your situation?
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 3:7-4:6. Ask the Lord Jesus to teach you through His Word.
What Does The Bible Say?
20. Paul contrasts the Old Covenant with the New Covenant, revealing how life with the Spirit of God is so much better.
- Count the number of times “glory,” “glorious,” “radiance,” “light” and “shine” are used. ______
- Count the number of times “veil” or “covering” is used. ______
- What is the condition of the Jews who have not trusted in Christ (3:14-15)?
- Where the Spirit of the Lord Jesus is, there is freedom from what (3:14,16)?
- As we contemplate or behold the Lord’s glory, what is the Spirit doing to us (3:18)?
- Knowing God gave Paul his ministry through His mercy, how does he respond (4:1)?
- What has Paul renounced and chosen not to do (4:2)?
- On the contrary, what does he do (4:2)?
- The god of this age (Satan) does what (4:4)?
- Paul doesn’t preach himself but preaches what (4:5)?
- For God did what (4:6)?
- Did anything else grab your attention?
Focus on the Meaning: Freedom is being out in the open; it is the boldness of having nothing to hide. The woman who is free has no reputation to defend, no image to hide behind, nothing to preserve about herself. She can be herself. (Ray Stedman, adapted from Authentic Christianity)
What Does It Mean?
21. Contrast the Old Covenant (the Law) with the New Covenant of the Spirit (3:7-11).
Focus on the Meaning: You may be a Christian, appreciating God’s grace for salvation and heaven, but thinking that you need to be “under the law” in your Christian life. Why would you sense that? Perhaps you feel your relationship with God is based upon your performance, that His love for you is conditional, that you’re never “good enough” for Him to really accept you. That’s Old Covenant thinking. Read this passage again and realize that God wants to set you free from that inner turmoil. The New Covenant is His gift to you. (Steve Hixon)
22. Paul says in v. 18 that we are being “transformed” by the Spirit. The original Greek word means “to change from one form to another.” For us, we are being transformed into the image of Christ … not in our faces but in our characters.
- What were we like before trusting in Christ? Read 2 Corinthians 4:4 and Ephesians 2:1-3.
- How are we transformed into the image of Christ by the Spirit? Read Romans 12:2 and Colossians 3:12-17. Recognize that how the Spirit works is part mystery. We can know with confidence that He works in us. We are to respond to His Word and leading as He does.
Scriptural Insight: The “image” of God, that we see in the Word, accurately reflects God, though we do not yet see God Himself. What we see in the “mirror” of God’s Word is the Lord [Jesus], not ourselves. We experience gradual transformation … not in our faces but in our characters (cf. 2 Peter 3:18). (Dr. Constable’s Notes on 2 Corinthians 2017 Edition, p. 43)
The concept of glory can be hard to understand. But, Paul uses it repeatedly in this passage so let’s at least try.
From the Greek: “Glory” comes from the Greek word, doxa, meaning “good opinion resulting in praise and honor; splendor, brightness, majesty.”
23. Why will being transformed into the Lord’s image bring “ever-increasing glory” to us rather than fading glory?
Scriptural Insight: We are made holy in God’s sight at the moment of salvation. Holy ones are called saints (2 Corinthians 1:1). During our life on earth, we are also “being made holy” in our thoughts, words, and actions by the work of the Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:18). This is ongoing from the moment of salvation until the Lord comes or the believer dies, when our “being made holy” is complete (Philippians 1:6). The goal of the Spirit’s work is to transform us into the likeness of Christ (2 Corinthians 3:18) so that we become in thought and behavior what we are in status—holy as God is holy.
24. Although Moses wore a physical “veil” to cover the fading glory from his face, Paul uses “veil” in a figurative sense to represent the stubborn refusal of the Jews to believe the gospel message. He says that Satan (“the god of this age”) veils the gospel by blinding the minds of unbelievers (as in 2 Corinthians 3:14-16 for the Jews).
- The underlying Greek word means “to blunt the mental discernment, to darken the mind.” Why does Satan do that?
- How do you think he does that? In other words, what would it look like to blind someone’s mind?
- Who removes the veil / blindness? How? Give verses from this passage. See also Acts 26:17-18 and Colossians 1:12-13.
Scriptural Insight: In the Bible, there always seems to be a period of darkness before there comes a light. According to the Hebrew calendar—the one Jesus used—a day starts at sunset and not at midnight or sunrise. So even the Hebrew day begins with night. Isn’t that interesting? During dark times, dawn will always come. All around us it is easy to see the darkness present in this world. Wickedness, greed, selfishness, cold-blooded violence… the darkness can quickly overwhelm a soul. But there is hope! Isaiah 9:2 predicted that those living in darkness would see a great light. Jesus was that light. And when you look at His life in the Gospel books you can see that He broke the darkness that was present in His land. He healed sick people, taught the curious how to live a life of purpose, and forgave the sins of those who were longing to be free from their guilt. He still does the same today. Our world is not completely dark. There is light that always dawns. (John Newton, Advent for Restless Hearts, p. 12)
25. What else did you learn as you studied 2 Corinthians 3:7-4:6?
What Application Will You Make?
26. As living letters of Christ, we reflect the glory of Christ. What has the Spirit changed in you since you trusted in Christ so that you reflect His glory more than your own?
27. When given the opportunity, are you prepared to share the gospel message to someone who has been living in blindness? Write out the basic gospel message in the space below. [In the “Resources” section at the end of this study guide, you can see several ways to word it.] Get to know it well and ask the Lord Jesus to give you an opportunity to share this good news with someone who needs to hear it.
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.
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Verse(s) |
Reasons why God wants us to depend on Him more than on ourselves |
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2:14 |
He uses us to spread the knowledge of Him. |
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2:17 |
He sends us to speak for Him. |
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3:3 |
He writes a letter of recommendation for Himself in our lives. |
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3:4 |
He gives us confidence to trust Him. |
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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.
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