06/26/2022 – Day 119 – 2 Corinthians 1 – 3 // Ministers of the New Covenant
Over the three chapters, I am going to share a series of hopeful verses. Then, I will share an contextual informative summary excerpts once again from my “Halley’s Bible Handbook” by Henry H. Halley. Let’s get started!:
“… in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.” 1: 4 – 5
“… For no matter how many promises God has made, they are ‘Yes’ in Christ. And so through him the ‘Amen’ is spoken by us to the glory of God. Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He annointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.” 1: 20 – 22
“if the ministry that condemns men is glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness! For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpasssing glory. And if what was fading away came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts!” 3: 9-11
“And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect teh Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” 3:18
Summary from Halley’s Bible Handbook:
Date and Occasion of Writing
“… Leaving Ephesus he went into Macedonai, on his way to Corinth (see Map page 575). While in Macedonia , in the Summer and Fall of A.D. 57, visiting churches in the region of Philippi and Thessalonica, in the midst of many anxieties and sufferings, after long waiting to hear from Corinth , he met Titus, returning from Corinth with the word that Paul’s letter had accomplished much good (II Corinthians 7:6); but that there were still some of the Leaders in the Corinthian Church who were denying that Paul was a Genuine Apostle of Christ…” (pg 601)
Chapter 1. Paul’s Comfort in his Suffering
“Ephesus and Corinth were only about 200 miles apart, with ships plying between constantly. And, it seems from 2:1; 12:14; 13: 1-2; that Paul had paid a visit from Ephesus to Corinth , with Sorrow (2:1), occasioned by a very grave crises that had arisen in Paul’s relation to the Corinthia Church, probably shortly after he had written the First Epistle. This may, in part, account for Paul’s anxiety to meet Titus…” (pg 601 – pg 602)
Chapter 3. The Glory of His Ministry
Epistles of Commendation (1). This expression was probably suggested by the fact that the Juaizing teachers carried Letters of Introduction from Jerusalem. They were alway edging in on Paul’s work, and were among his chief trouble-makers, and availed themselves of every possible excuse or opportunity to fight him. The were now asking, Who is Paul? Can he show Letters from anybody of standing in Jerusalem? Which on the face of it, was absurd. Letters commending Paul to a Church, which Paul himself had founded? The church itself was Paul’s letter.
This led to a Contrast of His ministry with Theirs: the Gospel with the Law. One written on Stone, the other on Hearts. One of the Letter, the other of the Spirit. One unto Death, the other unto Life. One Veiled, the other Unveiled. One unto Condemnation, the other unto Righteousness. One Passes, the other Remains. Beholding Christ, we are Changed, from Glory to Glory, into His own Image.” (pgs 602 – 603)
Soli Deo Gloria!