2 Corinthians 1 Study Notes

1:1 Paul claimed to be an apostle . . . by God’s will. Only such confidence could provide a foundation sufficient for this high-stakes letter. Timothy was perhaps Paul’s secretary or scribe who wrote down this letter as it was dictated. Corinth was the capital of the Roman province of Achaia, the southern part of Greece. Paul recognized that an apostolic letter would be of interest to churches in neighboring cities.

1:2 Grace begins and ends every NT letter that contains Paul’s name in the greeting. Without grace from God, a person cannot have peace with God. The equality of the Father and his Son Jesus Christ is implicit. Both are givers of grace and peace.

1:3 Frequently Paul used a form of the verb thank at this point in his letters. For this letter and Ephesians, Paul used blessed (see Eph 1:3). God is praised as the source of all blessings. Jesus had taught that “your Father also is merciful” (Lk 6:36), or kind to the needy. Isaiah 40:1 speaks of God’s comfort or relief to the sorrowing.

1:4 Believers are to be a channel passing on to others the comfort they have received from God. Paradoxically, affliction—viewed properly—may be a conduit of blessing to others (v. 6).

1:5 Believers experience none of God’s wrath that Christ suffered as our substitute. He is the example of innocent suffering for those who travel “in his steps” (1Pt 2:21). The believers’ union with him means we expect affliction, just as our Lord experienced it (Col 1:24).

1:6-7 In speaking of affliction, Paul probably had in mind the suffering he had endured from the Corinthian church during his painful visit to them (2:1), which was for their salvation. He had recently been comforted by news from Titus (7:13). The sufferings of the Corinthians probably referred to the “fear and trembling” caused by Titus’s visit (7:15).

1:8 Paul’s affliction in Asia was a near-death experience during his Ephesian ministry that is not reported in Ac 19. That he despaired of life may have prompted his later reflection on what happens to believers at death (5:1-10).

1:9-10 Paul had not died but had been delivered. Yet his true hope was in the permanent remedy—the resurrection.

1:11 The phrase the gift probably refers to God’s gracious sparing of Paul’s life for further ministry (Php 1:24-26).

1:12-13 Sincerity and purity are possible only by grace. This letter of 2 Corinthians is a reminder that the Spirit-inspired authors of Scripture intended to write what average believers could understand.

1:14 The phrase partially understood is a reference to the stormy relations between the church and the apostle. The letter of 2 Corinthians would help return the two parties to mutual pride (not arrogance but confidence). The day of our Lord Jesus refers to Christ’s return, especially to judge believers’ works—both Paul’s and the Corinthians’ (1Co 3:12-13).

1:15-16 First Corinthians had been written while Paul was on reasonably good terms with the church. This is demonstrated by his request for them to participate in the collection for Jerusalem (1Co 16:1-3). He had expressed his intent to spend time with them (1Co 16:5-6). Later he had revised this and had planned to come twice—once on the way to Macedonia (the province north of Achaia), and again on the way south from Macedonia on his way to Judea to deliver the offering. Seeing the Corinthians twice would have been a double benefit for them.

1:17 Instead of his announced plans, Paul made a brief, painful visit from Ephesus to Corinth, and then returned to Ephesus. Some believers in Corinth accused him of being unreliable and purely human. The charge of saying Yes, yes one minute and No, no the next stung him into reacting defensively.

1:18-19 The apostle’s defense against the charge of fickleness was to remind his readers of the unwavering gospel message he had preached. It was no Yes and no gospel that he and Silvanus (called Silas in Acts) and Timothy preached (Ac 18:1,5). The heart of the gospel is that Jesus (the human) is God’s Son and the Messiah promised in the OT.

1:20 Every one of God’s promises in Scripture is fulfilled directly or indirectly in him (Rm 1:2; Eph 2:12). Amen means “so be it” or “this is true.” The glory of God is displayed in Christ as well as in believers’ confession of him.

1:21-22 This is a Trinitarian text. God the Father confirms believers as his own. He initiates the anointing of believers in his Son, Christ. He also put his seal on us with the Spirit, guaranteeing our heavenly inheritance (Eph 1:13-14; 4:30).

1:23 The phrase I call on God as a witness is a solemn pledge to be telling the truth (Rm 1:9; 1Th 2:5,10). Instead of the visits planned under happier circumstances (2Co 1:15-16), Paul had made a painful visit to Corinth (2:1). He therefore canceled his previously announced itinerary. Time was needed for healing the raw emotions raised on both sides.

1:24 This verse summarizes the relationship between ministers and those under their care. Ministers do not lord it over others but work gently with them.