Book of 2 Corinthians Summary | Watch an Overview Video (2024)

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What is the short summary of 2 Corinthians? ›

Paul's message to the Corinthians encourages them to live in a new way, embracing the cruciform life of Jesus. Through the cross and resurrection, Jesus' followers can live differently and model generosity, humility, and weakness.

In this letter, the apostle Paul leads the Corinthian congregation back to a right relationship with Christ, and he also strengthens their relationship with himself as their founding apostle. He demonstrates how God heals all the wounds of his people and shows his saving power in their weaknesses.

The letter reminds the Corinthians to turn from their worldly ways and to think and live in ways that honor God. Likewise, Paul's letter encourages us to look at our own lives so we won't forget what really matters.

2 Corinthians can be divided into three parts. Chapters 1-7 finalize his reconciliation with the Corinthian church. Chapters 8-9 address generosity in the community. And chapters 10-13 challenge those who reject Paul.

Paul writes 2 Corinthians to reaffirm his commitment to the church in Corinth and urge full reconciliation with him by those who have repented. As part of that, Paul has to explain his theology of ministry and why his ministry looks the way it does, even though it is very counter-cultural and looks so weak.

Second Corinthians reveals a strained relationship between Paul and those to whom he writes. He defends not only his call to be an apostle. At the beginning of his ministry Jesus called twelve apostles to follow and serve him. Paul became an apostle of Jesus...

Suffering, endurance, and comfort

It is also true, at the same time, that the glory of God exists alongside much in the lives of believer that afflicts, perplexes, and persecutes. To be “in Christ” is to participate in the death of Jesus as well as in his life (see 2 Corinthians 4:8-10).

Now Paul reveals that he changed his original plans because he wanted to have two visits with them, one on the way to Macedonia and one on the way back. Two visits would give them two experiences of grace. By this, Paul may have meant that they would get to send him off with grace twice instead of once.

Conclusion. Will the Corinthians reject Paul's divisive opponents and seek reconciliation between their own? If they have fellowship with the Holy Spirit, and if it was “in one Spirit” that they “were all baptized into one body” (1 Cor 12.13), there should be harmony among them.

What is the gospel of 2 Corinthians? ›

The theme of gospel paradoxes appears frequently throughout the book: in Christ, we are comforted in affliction (2 Cor. 1:3–13), rich in poverty (8:9), and strong in weakness (2 Cor. 12:10). Gospel comparisons also provide needed encouragement: God's promises are more permanent than our momentary trials (2 Cor.

1 Corinthians 1–11 Paul warns against divisions within the Church and emphasizes the importance of unity among Church members. He warns members against sexual immorality, teaches that the body is a temple for the Holy Spirit, and encourages self-discipline.

In 2 Cor 2:4 Paul refens to a letter that has been appropriately named “the letter of tears”: “For out of much affliction and contraction of heart I wrote to you through many tears.” Although scholars have recognized the importance of this tearful letter in Paul's relationship with the church at Corinth, no attention ...

Paul wrote these letters to show that what a person believes about Jesus should shape how they live. Further, it shows that when believers live with and for Jesus, the church becomes what God always wanted it to be.