21 Aug. 2 Corinthians 1:1-11

21 Aug. Why did Paul write a Second Letter to the Corinthians?

"From Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus... Also from Timothy our brother in Christ.
To the church of God in Corinth, and to all of God's people everywhere in southern Greece:
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ."

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is the Father who is full of mercy and all comfort. He comforts us every time we have trouble, so when others have trouble, we can comfort them with the same comfort God gives us."

"We share in the many sufferings of Christ. In the same way, much comfort comes to us through Christ. If we have troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation, and if we have comfort, you also have comfort."

"This helps you to accept patiently the same sufferings we have. Our hope for you is strong, knowing that you share in our sufferings and also in the comfort we receive."

"Brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the trouble we suffered in [the Roman province of] Asia. We had great burdens there that were beyond our own strength. We even gave up hope of living."

"Truly, in our own hearts we believed we would die. But this happened so we would not trust in ourselves but in God, who raises people from the dead. God saved us from these great dangers of death, and he will continue to save us."

"We have put our hope in him, and he will save us again. And you can help us with your prayers. Then many people will give thanks for us - that God blessed us because of their many prayers."

          (2 Corinthians 1:1-11)

 

 

Paul's Second Letter to the Corinthians was probably written from Philippi in Macedonia in the autumn of 56AD during Paul’s third missionary journey, just a few months after Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians.

After writing his first letter during the spring, Paul had decided to visit Corinth twice – both before and after his visit to Macedonia (see 2 Corinthians 1:16). But he had later changed his mind, and had gone straight to Macedonia with the intention of travelling to Corinth afterwards to spend the winter there (see Acts 20:1-3).

The letter was taken from Philippi to Corinth by Titus (see 2 Corinthians 8:16-17) who had earlier brought news of the Corinthian believers to Paul at Philippi (see 2 Corinthians 7:6-7).

In this second letter, Paul responds again to the attacks made on him by some of the believers in Corinth, and expresses his joy that there has been some reconciliation following his first letter. He reminds the believers about collecting their offering for the church in Judaea, and defends himself against further charges brought against him by ‘false prophets’.

In his introduction, Paul sends greetings to all the believers in Corinth and throughout Achaia (southern Greece). He also sends greetings from Timothy (whom Paul sent to Macedonia earlier in the year, on route to Corinth) (see 1 Corinthians 4:17 & 16:10) as Paul has caught up with him again in Philippi. Timothy later travelled on to Corinth with Paul (see Acts 20:2-4).

Paul gives thanks to God – “the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Corinthians 1:3). He reminds the believers that they can rely on God in times of trouble and persecution. “He comforts us every time we have trouble, so when others have trouble, we can comfort them with the same comfort God gives us” (2 Corinthians 1:4).

Paul reminds the believers of the problems he had recently endured in Ephesus – where he came close to death following the riot stirred up by the silversmiths who made images of the goddess Artemis (see Acts 19:23-41). But, he says, "this happened so we would not trust in ourselves but in God." (2 Corinthians 1:9)

The photo shows the remains of Roman Philippi where Paul wrote his Second Letter to the Corinthians.

You can read more from the letter @ https://www.thebiblejourney.org/…/pauls-2nd-letter-to-cori…/

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