Reading for December 15th

 Read 2 Corinthians 13.1-13. In verses 1-4: Final warning. In verse 1: Third time: 12.14; the quotation is from Deut 19.15. In verse 2: Paul resumes the tone of a stern father (1 Cor 4.18-21). In verse 3: Again, the tone is sarcastic. they could have asked: How do we know your apostolic call is legitimate? In verse 4: Like 4.7-12, Paul's lifestyle bears the stamp of Christ's death and resurrection. defining the resurrection power as the power to discipline is a new wrinkle. In verses 5-10: Parting advice. In verse 5: Such advice, taken seriously makes them less vulnerable to the pressures of outside teachers. The presence of Christ within them should give them confidence to chart their own course (Rom 8.10). In verses 6-9: These are the words  of an anxious father-self-doubts, fear that his children will never grow up, willingness to be weak as long as the children are strong. In verse 10: He closes with a father's threat (10.8; 12.19). In verses 11-13: Farewell and benediction. In verse 11: Such advice brings harmony. In verse 12: The holy kiss was a form of liturgical greeting that may have originated in early Christian circles (Rom 6.16; 1 Cor 16.20). In verse 13: The trinitarian form of the benediction is distinctive. Comments or Questions..

Reading for December 14th

 Read 2 Corinthians 12.14-21, In 12.14-21: Fatherly love and anxiety. In verse 14: Third time: The founding visit (Acts 18) was followed by the painful visit (2.1), which prompted this severe letter. Writing from Macedonia, he is now ready to come a third time (13.1). What is yours: He did not want their money. The parent-child image extends through both letters (11.2; 1Cor 4.14-15). In verse 16: Crafty explains his denials in 2.17 and 4.2. In verses 17-18: The sending of Titus and the brother described in 8.16-24 appears to be in view. Taking advantage could be applying pressure to participate in the collection. In verse 19: His self-defense has occurred under oath. Building  up defines the purpose and the limits of Paul's use of authority (10.8). In verse 20: Some of these vices of social disorder have been present for a long time (1 Cor 1-4). In verse 21: Sexual sins have not figured prominently in 2 Corinthians although they are included in the warnings of 6.14-7.1. These fears may go back to the first letter (1 Cor 5.7). Comments or Questions..

Reading for December 13th

 Read 2 Corinthians 12.1-13. In verses 1-10: Experiencing visions and revelations of the Lord. In verse 1: Paul now moves to a different order of boasting. In verse 2: The person in Christ is surely Paul himself. Fourteen years ago would put it shortly after his conversion, probably in the 30's. In verse 3: The language suggests an ecstatic experience., in which he was taken out of the body. In verse 4: Paradise is where God dwells (Lk 23.43; Rev 2.7). Hearing unrepeatable things describes the revelations in greater detail (v. 1). What he saw is emphasized less. In verse 5: Such an experience enabled Paul to distinguish his ordinary self from the caught up into heaven. In verses 6-7: In talking about such experiences, less is better. In verse 7: What is thorn in the flesh was no one knows, though many guesses have been made. Messenger of Satan is literally "angel of Satan." In verse 8: The Lord can be either God (1.2) or Christ (13.14). In verse 9: Power of Christ: Christ transmits the  power he experienced in the resurrection (4.11; 1 Cor 6.14). In verse 10: Weak ... strong expresses the paradox of the cross (1 Cor 1.25). In verses 11-13: Concluding the fool's speech. In verse 11: Super apostles: 11.5. I am nothing: again Paul speaks sarcastically, mimicking the  opponents (10.7). In verse 12: Paul occasionally refers to his wonder-working ability (Rom 15.19) It is developed much more fully in Acts. In verse 13: Their argument could have run: You were much closer to Philippi, they supported you financially (Phil 4.15). Comments or Questions ..

Reading for December 12th

 Read 2 Corinthians 11.16-33. In 11.16-33: A fool speaks. In verse 18: They boast in self-achievements (10.2-4). In verse 19: This recalls Paul's description of the "spiritual people"  in 1 Cor 4. 10. In verse 20: They submit to the false apostles' demands for money. In verse 22; these labels identify them as Jewish Christians. Unlike Paul's opponents in Galatia, they do not require circumcision and observance of the law (Gal 5.2-6). In verse 23: Ministers of Christ: their language is Christian (11.4). Madman 5.13. In verses 23-27: This list of hardships is longer and more detailed than others (6.4-10). Acts 13-28 confirms many of these details. In verse 24: This indicates Paul was under synagogue jurisdiction. In verse 28: Anxiety: This was especially seen in the way he awaited Titus' report (2.12-13; 7.5, 13; 1 Thess 2). In verses 30-33: This episode caps the list of hardships. In verse 31: The use of the oath underscores that the claims that follow will be hard to believe (Gal 1.20). In verses 32-33: This may be the escape referred to in Acts 9.23-25. Comments or Questions..

Reading for December 11th

 Read 2 Corinthians 11.1-15. In 11.1-15: Paul's love for the Corinthians. In verse 1: Foolishness: This anticipates the fool's speech that follows (11.16-29). In verse 2: The image is a father whose daughter has deeply disappointed him. In verse 3; Gen 3.13. Led astray suggests sexual seduction. In verse 4: The opponents are obviously Christian. Another Jesus probably means an understanding of Christ completely different from Paul's, perhaps on emphasizing Jesus' miracle working power and resurrection to the neglect of his human limitations and crucifixion. Different spirit is possibly a different understanding of the Holy Spirit. Their different gospel certainly placed them at odds with Paul (Gal 1.6-9). In verse 5: Super-apostles: This doubtless Paul's label for his opponents (12.11), it need not refer to the twelve apostles, but could be a derisive way of referring to competing missionaries. In verse 6: He echoes their criticisms of him. In verses 7-9: In keeping with the policy outlined in 1 Cor 9, he preached without pay. Humbling myself refers to working to support himself. Other churches: He received financial support from the Philippians (Phil4.15). In verse 11: His opponents might have argued if he loved you, he would accept your money. In verse 12: Equals: They wanted to have equal claim on the church. In verse 13: The language is unusually harsh. Apostles probably means "missionaries," rather than some of the twelve apostles (8.23; 12.11-13). In verse 14-15: Calling them ministers of Satan intensifies the criticism. Comments of Questions..

Reading for December 10th

 Read 2 Corinthians 10.1-18. In 10.1-13: Paul defends his ministry. In 10.1-11: Taking the offensive. In verse 1: The character of Christ figures prominently in chs. 10-13 (11.4; Mt 11.29). Humble ... bold: Paul mimics his opponents' description of him (v. 10). In verses 2-4: Human translates "sarx," literally "flesh." it denotes an outlook opposed to god and concerned primarily with oneself. In verses 4-6: The military imagery serves to draw the battle lines between Paul and his opponents. He sees the controversy as more than a  battle of words, it is a conflict of a much higher order (Rom 13.12; Eph 6.10-17). Inverse 7; Paul's fidelity to Christ was an issue. In verses 8-9: The source and nature of Paul's authority are concerns throughout this section (13.10). In verse 10: This identifies two important criticisms; inconsistent behavior (1.15-22) and poor speaking ability (4.2;11.6). In verses 12-18: Limits of self promotion. In verse 12: Commend themselves: Paul was probably accused of making himself the center of his preaching (3.1-3; 4.5; 5.12). Now he criticizes his opponents for promoting themselves as a way of gaining favor. In verses 13-16: Paul regarded Achaia as the region God assigned him, He thinks the "super-apostles" (12.11) have invaded his territory. he preferred to work where no one else had been ((Rom 15.20). Inverse 17: Jer 9.23-24; see 1 Cor 1.31. In verse 18: Paul consistently defers to god's judgment (1 Cor 4.3-4). Comments or Questions..

Reading for December 9th

Read 2 Corinthians 9.1-15. In verses 1-5: Paul explains the purpose of the delegation. In verse 1: Ministry to the saints is another name for the collection (8.4, 20). In verse 2: Last year 8.10. In verse 3: The brothers are those mentioned in 8.18. In verse 5: Voluntary gift: it should be like Christ's gift (8.9). In verses 6-15: Reasons to give. In verse 6: The proverb expresses general experience (Job 4.8; Prov 11.24-25). In verse 7: The gift should be deliberate and voluntary (Philem 14). God loves a cheerful giver: This quotation is based on the Septuagint version (the ancient Greek translation of the Hebrew Scripturas) of Prov 22.8a (see Sir 35.9. In verse 8: God's generosity toward human beings is a recurrent biblical Theme (Deut 30.9-10; Lk 1.52). For Paul, it especially enables human generosity. In verse 9: Ps112.9. In verse 10: Based on Isa 55.10. In verses 11-12 The more blessings, the more prayers of thanksgiving offered. In verse 13: Willingness to give is seen as an expression (and test) of one's confession of faith. In verses 14-15: God's graciousness is the ultimate reason to give. Comments or Questions..