Outline of II Corinthians

Darrell Messer
Pastor, Emmanuel Baptist Church, Centerville, Ohio

  1. Introduction and Background of II Corinthians.   It is my earnest belief that understanding something of the background in which the written Word of God was placed is essential to a full appreciation of the text.   Therefore, I trust, that a brief overview of the city and church will be profitable to each reader.
    1. The City of Corinth.
      1. Corinth was located on the narrow isthmus of land connecting the lower peninsula of Greece (Peloponnesian Peninsula) with the main land mass to the north.   It had two main harbors; one facing eastward ( Cencherea) toward the Aegean Sea, and the other facing westward ( Lechaeum) toward the Adriatic Sea.   The ancient city of Corinth was called the light and ornament of Greece.   Corinth had been the capital of the Doric states and the head of the Achaean league with its praises sung far and wide in the ancient world.   After an act of rebellion, ancient Corinth had been destroyed in 146 B.C. by Lucius Mummius, the Roman general.   The inhabitants of the city were deported, and the city itself set ablaze.   For a century the ashen ruins of the city remained untouched.   In 46 B.C., Julius Caesar began rebuilding the city, calling it “ Colonia Julia Corinthus”.   Only some marble, precious statues, columns, and cornices remained of the former city to be rescued and restored to their former positions or used in the building of the new Corinth, the city at the time of Paul, repopulated with mostly freedmen Italians.
      2. Prominent as one of the most important cities of Greece, rebuilt Corinth flourished and soon outstripped Athens in size.   Its preeminence was in the main due to its placement.   Strategically located, Corinth was made the capital of the Roman province of Achaia, the seat of government and commerce.   All ships traveling east and west from Rome stopped here.   Navigating the Peloponesus was an extremely dangerous trip of about 250 miles.   Therefore, the clever merchants of Corinth devised a plan of pulling smaller ships from one gulf to another across the narrow land isthmus.   Merchandise from larger ships was often unloaded in one harbor and loaded on another ship in the opposite harbor.   Corinth was enriched as all the shipping and commerce traveling by land north or south passed through it.   A 2000 foot high great rock, called Acrocorinth, overlooked the city and its swarming markets, streets and both harbors laden with ships.   Continual streams of merchants and merchandise enriched this city until it became among the wealthiest of that day.   Add to the vast commerce and political power of Corinth, the Isthmian Games played near there every two years, of only slightly less importance in the Greek mind than the Olympic Games, and you have a city well known to the lips of all men.
      3. Corinth’s population in Paul’s day was quite cosmopolitan.   As a colony, the city was thoroughly Roman, but varied nationalities mingled in Corinth.   Many native Greeks lived in the city, and they left their own mark upon the life in Corinth.   Corinth’s moneymaking opportunities attracted a large colony of Jews.   Travelers and traders from almost every known country traveled through the streets.   At the time of Paul’s visit the population of the city may have been as large as six or seven hundred thousand, of whom almost two-thirds were slaves.
      4. The profligacy of Corinth was hastened by the mixture of people, and Corinth became famous for its degradation.   At night its streets were hideous with brawls and lewd songs of drunken revelry.   In the daytime its markets and squares swarmed with Jewish peddlers, foreign traders, sailors, soldiers, athletes in training, boxers, wrestlers, charioteers, racing men, betting men, courtesans, slaves, idlers, and parasites of every description – a veritable pandemonium (Paul and His Epistles, D.A. Hayes, p. 192).   Chrysotom said it was the most licentious city of all that are or ever have been.   Farrar called Corinth, the Vanity Fair of the Roman empire.   Corinth’s name became proverbial for evil.   A Corinthian girl meant a prostitute.   To Corinthianizeor to live like a Corinthian meant you were being accused of a very immoral life.   A Corinthian banquet was a drunken revel.   A Corinthian drinker was a sot.   It was while a resident of this city and observing this debauchery that Paul wrote Romans 1:21-32.   In painting that awful picture of paganism, Paul penned what he was observing day after day.
      5. The paganism and immorality of Corinth was fostered by the degrading worship of the goddess Aphrodite, the goddess of love, the guardian goddess of the city.   Atop the plateau Acrocorinthus, was a magnificent temple to this goddess with a thousand Hieroduli (consecrated prostitutes) for the free use of temple worshippers.   Further use was made of these priestesses for the cause of immorality as they performed lewd dances at public festivals.   Other pagan religions were also known in this city.   The worship of Venus, the Roman counterpart of Venus, was restored in Corinth.   The temples of Athena, Apollo, Poseidon, Hermes, and others could be found there.   There was the Pantheon, or temple of all the gods.   The temple of Aesculapius, the god of healing, was surrounded by a number of buildings designed for the use of patients coming there.   There were also other temples to gods such as Egypt’s Isis and Serapis.   The flourishing of pagan religion in Corinth was but the furthering of moral decadence.   Instead of holding back the tide of immorality, it hastened it forward.
      6. The philosophy of Corinth, together with all the corruption of morals there, was the cultivation of a superficial and cynical philosophy.   Corinth kept up a pretense to great culture.   It had a host of halls of rhetoric and schools of philosophy.   One ancient historian said that you could not take a step in the street of Corinth without meeting a sage.   For all this, unlike its famous neighbor, Athens, Corinth never became famous for its philosophers.   The Corinthians prided themselves in their quest of knowledge and philosophical pursuits, yet this interest was quite shallow.
    2. The Church at Corinth
      1. The origin of the church at Corinth is rooted in missionary zeal.   Into this moral cesspool came the man of God with the message of God.   Like the prophet casting salt into the bitter waters of old to heal them; the Apostle Paul cast the gospel message into this sewer of iniquity.   The result was the founding and flourishing of one of the Lord’s churches even there!   This is one of the great wonders of New Testament history, a wonder that’s been repeated many times since, and is proof of the supernatural power of the gospel.   Paul came to Corinth during the second of his three great missionary journeys.   Acts 18 records the historical events of the founding of this assembly of believers.   His ministry commenced in the synagogue, reasoning with Jews and Greeks; but moved as a result of Jewish opposition to the nearby house of one named Justin (19:7).   The time of his initial ministry there was a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them (18:11).   The encouragement for his ministry among them was not only the conversion of many but a vision from the Lord declaring:   Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace.   For I am with thee, and no man shall set upon thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city (18:9-10).
      2. The members of the church at Corinth, like the city, were cosmopolitan.   Among the membership were Greeks, Romans, Jews, and perhaps some other nationalities.   While some Jews had been won, most notably Crispus (the chief ruler of the synagogue), the majority of members were Gentiles (I Corinthians 12:2).   A few were of noble rank in the church but the majority were just the common folk of life (I Corinthians 1:26-31).   Many of the members were probably from among the vast slave population of the city.   All social positions seemed to have been represented; but not many wise, not many mighty, and not many noble were called (I Corinthians 1:26).

  2. The Writing of II Corinthians.
    1. The authorship is declared in the opening verse:   Paul an apostle of Jesus Christ.   The contents of the book are distinctly Pauline in character.   This book is the most autobiographical of all of Paul’s epistles.   In II Corinthians, Paul bares his heart and life as in none of his other writings.   II Corinthians allows us to glimpse Paul’s inner feelings about himself, his apostolic ministry, and his relation to the churches he founded and nurtured.   This book, therefore, is especially valuable for insights into the character of the Apostle Paul.
    2. Paul was in Macedonia (2:13; 7:5-7) when II Corinthians was written to the Corinthians about 57 A.D.   Paul may have been in Philippi, as stated in some early manuscripts (retained in some King James Versions) which read:   The second epistle to the Corinthians was written from Philippi, a city of Macedonia, by Titus and Lucas.   Titus and Lucas were serving as scribes for Paul.

  3. Paul wrote II Corinthians in response to the report he received from Titus, who had just returned from Corinth (7:5-7).   His purpose was:
    1. Vindication.   The majority of the church had responded favorably to the severity of I Corinthians and had a fervent mind of loyalty to Paul; but he felt the need to fully vindicate and reestablish his apostolic authority.
    2. Jubilation.   A lesser purpose may have been to express his great joy over the response of the church toward Titus and toward him (7:7-13).   In addition, his tremendous joy over the triumph of the Gospel in Corinth in spite of the powerful forces that sought to destroy it (2:14-17).
    3. Exhortation.  Paul gave them some much needed instruction in regard to the repentant offender (2:5-11).   Also he exhorts them concerning the collection for the poor saints of Judea (2:8-9).
    4. Edification.   Paul summarizes the aim of the letter when he writes, Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the power which the Lord hath given me to edification not to destruction (13:10).

  4. Outline of II Corinthians.
    1. The communication Paul gave, 1:1-2.
      1. The addresser (Paul), 1:1a; the addressee (church at Corinth and all saints), 1:1b; the address, 1:2.
      2. Key thought:   The salutation of the book.   Practical truths:   Every church needs to understand that he who leads the assembly does so because of a divine call on his life.   Not only a calling of position but of place.   Thus the man and his message deserve a ready ear in the church.   The desire of every true undershepherd is for the demonstration of God’s grace and the delight of God’s abiding peace in each life.   Grace is a word that gathers up all that God is ready to do for, in, and through us.   Peace is the calm and confidence that results from God’s supply of grace.
    2. The comfort Paul experienced, 1:3-11.
      1. The source, 1:3; the scope, 1:4; the service, 1:5-7; the specifics, 1:8-11.
      2. Key thought:   God’s comfort and comforting in affliction.   Practical truths:   In every assembly there are hurting people.   We are in a war and battles produce wounded soldiers.   Trials come to all lives and we have a responsibility to one another to encourage and comfort by letting them know that:
        1. God will always be there for comfort and strength, 1:3-4a.
        2. There is always a purpose in trials.   One of the grand outcomes is that the comfort, strength, and lessons we learn in the crucible of life God will allow us to use to help others who are hurting, 1:4b-7.
        3. Trials come to remind us that we can not trust in ourselves but in the living God, 1:8-10.
        4. The prayers of others are most valuable, 1:11.
    3. The conciliation Paul desired, 1:2-2:11.
      1. The unfulfilled visit, 1:12-2.4.
        1. The clear conscience, 1:12-14.
        2. The changed plan, 1:15-22.
        3. The candid explanation, 1:23-2:4.
      2. Key thought:   Paul explained why he had not visited the Corinthians as all expected.   Practical truths:   misunderstandings arise within the assembly.   The need is for honest (1:12-14), open (1:15-24), and loving (2:1-4) explanation.   Nothing is gained by ignoring the situation.   Each person in the assembly must understand that there are times when someone will not live up to expectations or fulfill all the promises he or she has made.
      3. The unforgiven offender, 2:5-11; the punishment given, 2:5-6; the penitence gained, 2:7; the pardon sought, 2:8-11.
      4. Key thought: Restoration of repentant offenders.   Practical truths: Reality demands that we acknowledge that not all saints will act saintly.   Sometimes biblical discipline must be administered by the church of the Lord.   But we must be willing not only to administer proper discipline but have a ready mind to restore that one who is disciplined when repentance has been evidenced on his or her part.   When either biblical discipline or biblical forgiveness is lacking, the devil has the advantage and the church has fallen for one of his schemes, 2:11.
    4. The concern Paul shared, 2:12-13.
      1. The opportunity, 2:12; the oppression, 2:13.
      2. Key thought:   Paul’s unsettled spirit over not hearing from Titus concerning the Corinthians.   Practical truths:   In spite of abundant opportunity concerns apart from the work at hand sometimes will not allow us the peace that is needed to avail ourselves of the opportunity as we should.   Even the best of servants can be distracted by concerns unrelated to the task.
    5. The Certainty Paul expressed, 2:14-17:
      1. In the Master, 2:14; in the mission, 2:15-16; in the message, 2:17.
      2. Key thought:   To be effective as an assembly of believers we must have confidence in the God who saved us.   Confidence in His purpose through us.   Confidence that the message of our church is a faithful presentation of what God says; declaring the whole counsel of God.
    6. The commendation that Paul sought, 3:1-3.
      1. Penned commendations, 3:1; personal commendations, 3:2a; public commendations, 3:2b-3.
      2. Key thought:   The Corinthians as a recommendation for Paul’s ministry.   Practical truths:   The recommendation of any church is the changed lives of those who sit under her ministry.   The Holy Spirit is constantly writing a letter to others through our lives.
    7. The confidence Paul enjoyed, 3:4-18.
      1. A God to empower, 3:4-5; a gift to exercise, 3:6a; a gospel to expound, 3:6b-18.
      2. Key thought:   Divine sufficiency.   Practical truths:   No preacher or church has the ability to change vile lives into virtuous lives before God.   The church must understand that her sufficiency, collectively and individually, is the Holy Spirit working in her.   In His power we proclaim the message of the new covenant.   Men and women are set at liberty and their lives changed by that same Holy Spirit into a greater and greater likeness of Jesus Christ.
    8. The commitment Paul asserted, 4:1-7.
      1. The determination, 4:1-2; the declarations, 4:3-7.
      2. Key thought:   The Gospel we preach.   Practical truths:   The keys to success in ministering the Word of God are:   (1) Do not grow weary in well doing, 4:1; (2) Handle the Word honestly, 4:2; (3) Understand the spiritual forces that work in the presentation of the Gospel, 4:3-4; (4) Keep the message focused on Christ, not man, 4:5; (5) Keep a servant’s heart in all you do, 4:5; (6) Understand the great treasure that has been committed to your care.
    9. The circumstances Paul endured, 4:8-18.
      1. The present trials, 4:8-12; the presence of faith, 13-18.
      2. Key thought: The sufferings of Paul and his response to them.   Practical truths: Trials and tribulations are no stranger to any child of God.   But do not lose heart; in all things God is working and ready to strengthen us for that situation.   Remember, no miracle ever occurred in Scripture without first a problem that needed the divine power of God.   We shall never know His real power experientially in our lives without problems.   Refocus and look not on things temporal but things eternal.
    10. The change Paul anticipated, 5:1-9.
      1. The proposition, 5:1; the prospect, 5:2-8; the proposal, 5:9.
      2. Key thought:   The glorified body.   Practical truths:   The bright promise for every child of God is that one day we shall exchange these old bodies of clay for a brand new body that shall never grow old and has no blemishes.   While we are awaiting our change it behooves us to so labor that we will have nothing for which we are ashamed when we stand in His presence.
    11. The challenge Paul presented, 5:10-13.
      1. The people assembled, 5:10; the place appointed, 5:10; the purpose assigned, 5:10; the persuasion afforded, 5:11-13.
      2. Key thought:   The judgment Seat of Christ.   Practical truths:   The judgment seat of Christ awaits every Christian.   It will be a place of revelation and reward or loss thereof.   The realization of giving an account of ourselves in God should spur us on in service to Christ.
    12. The constraint Paul felt, 5:14-16.
      1. The exhibition of that love, 5:14-15; the experience of that love, 5:16-19a; the exponents of that love, 5:19b-21.
      2. Key thought:   The love of Christ.   Practical truths:   There is, however, a higher motivation for service than fear of standing at the judgment seat.   The love of Christ for us and our love for Him in return is the noblest motivator I know for service.   When we understand what we have become in Him and how we became that New Creation, how can we fail to say thanks through faithful service?   We are privileged in that service to serve as Ambassadors for Christ to invite others to be reconciled to Him.
    13. The conduct Paul displayed, 6:1-10; Paul’s beseeching Word, 6:1-2; Paul’s blameless walk, 6:3-10.
      1.  Key thought:   Paul’s upright walk in the ministry.   Practical truths:   People are watching how we live.   They watch to see how we will respond to the adverse situations that come our way.   They watch to see if we practice what we preach and to see where the source of our strength lies and the basis of our convictions.   Can you, like Paul, say I am giving no offense in any thing.
    14. The corrections Paul urged, 6:11-7:1.
      1. Concerning his unqualified love, 6:11-13; concerning their unequal yoke, 6:14-7:1.
      2. Key thought:   The assurance of Paul’s love and a warning about unholy alliances.   Practical truths:   It is not the waning of love that causes the man of God to speak boldly of wrongs being done; rather it is the witness of his love.   Unequal yokes of whatever nature can only lead to entanglements that will hurt the child of God.   Our principles and practices are going to conflict with the unbeliever.
      3. The clearing Paul made, 7:2-16; the claim he issued, 7:2; the compassion he felt, 7:3; the comfort he enjoyed, 7:4-12; the confidence he had, 7:13-16.
      4. Key thought:   The opening of the apostle’s heart in one of the most moving appeals in Scripture.   Practical truths:   Often it is difficult to speak words to one we love that we know shall hurt them deeply, causing great sorrow.   But if the motivation is love for them and their enrichment before God, then tremendous results can be produced in that life.   7:11 gives a sevenfold effect of godly sorrow.   A true manifestation of godly sorrow renews confidence in the one in whom the work of sorrow has done its work.
    15. The collection Paul solicited, 8:1-9.
      1. An Example of Giving, 8:1-6.
        1. The people involved, 8:1.
        2. The principles involved, 8:2-6.
      2. An Exhortation for Giving, 8:7-15.
        1. See the grace of giving, 8:7.
        2. Show your love through giving, 8:10-12.
        3. Set your heart on giving, 8:10-12.
        4. Sense the equality in giving, 8:13-15.
      3. An Expedient Handling of Gifts, 8:16-24.
        1. The identity of the partners, 8:16-19.
        2. The integrity of this plan, 8:20-24.
      4. An Encouragement in Giving, 9:1-15.
        1. As to readiness in giving, 9:1-5.
        2. As to the results of giving, 9:6-15.
      5. Key thought:   Giving to the needs of others.   Tithing is not the emphasis in these chapters.   Practical truths:   The sacrificial giving of others should be an incentive to our own giving.   Giving must not be the result of duty but delight.   You can give without loving but you can not love without giving.   The needs for our love gifts are great.   This text is good for benevolent giving as well as missionary giving.   God’s love of harvest is, in effect, our giving.   Sow little, reap little; sow much, reap much.
    16. The confrontation Paul could not avoid, 10:1-11.
      1. Paul’s appeal to the church, 10:1-6; Paul’s answer to the charges, 10:7-11.
      2. Key thought:   Paul’s vindication of his Apostolic position.   Practical truths:   Sometimes little pockets of opposition in the church must be dealt with.   Sometimes the man of God can ignore what others are saying; sometimes he must answer their charges and expose them for what they are.
    17. The comparison Paul would not make, 10:12-18.
      1. Repugnant boasting, 10:12; right boasting, 10:13-16; righteous boasting, 10:17-18.
      2. Key thought:   The right way to boast.   Practical truths:   Some see themselves as being great because they have compared themselves with a standard that is not proper.   We look around at others like us and we feel good, but in doing so we demonstrate our lack of wisdom.   If we boast, let us boast of what God is doing through us and therefore let us glory in the Lord.   In doing so we give the Lord the opportunity of commending us in the hearts of others.
    18. The cause for Paul’s boasting, 11:1-4.
      1. Paul’s Godly fervor for them, 11:1-2; Paul’s Godly fear for them, 11:3-4.
      2. Key thought:   Paul defends his boasting.   Practical truths:   There is such a thing as godly jealousy.   Preachers ought to look after their flocks with a godly zeal lest the Father of Lies turns their minds from truth to error.
    19. The Charge Paul Raises, 11:5-20.
      1. Paul defends himself, 11:5-11; Paul denounces his foes, 11:12-15; Paul displays their work, 11:16-20.
      2. Key thought:   Paul exposes his enemies for who they really are.   Practical truths:   We must be careful by what standards we judge the expounder of the Word.   He may be eloquent in speech, exquisite in appearance, educated in the finest schools, electrifying in personality, effective in administration, exceptional in every way; but simply be an ambassador for Satan transformed into an angel of light.
    20. The comparisons Paul did make, 11:21-33.
      1. Paul stated they were foolish, 11:21.
      2. Paul showed they were fair, 11:22-29
        1. Paul compared lineages, 11:22
        2. Paul compared labors, 11:23-27.
        3. Paul compared love, 11:28-29.
      3. Key thought:   Paul set himself alongside the bragging of the others.   Practical truths:   With the right standard God’s man is better than the best of Satan’s ambassadors.   The Christian has a better lineage (he is the son of God); he has a track record of faithfulness; he has a never failing love for God’s people.
    21. The commendation Paul gave, 11:30-12:10.
      1. To God for His protection, 11:30-33; to God for His privileges, 12:1-6; to God for His power, 12:7-10.
      2. Key thought:   God’s supply is the proper ground of boasting.   Practical truths:   God can protect us when we are at a loss to protect ourselves.   We must never allow the goodness of God in revealing Himself in special ways to cause us to become puffed up.   God has unique ways of keeping us humble.   It is not always God’s will to remove the thorns of life, but there will always be abundant grace available.
    22. The chastening Paul delivered, 12:11-13.
      1. For what they forced him to do, 12:11; for what they forgot he had done, 12:12; for what they felt he had done, 12:13.
      2. Key thought:   Paul’s reproof for having to defend himself through boasting.   Practical truths:   When someone speaks against God’s man there ought to be an outcry of those who know that they are not telling the truth.   The proof of a pastor is his labor among the people and the demonstration of God’s grace in his life.
    23. The coming Paul planned, 12:14-13:10.
      1. The declaration he gave, 12:14-18; the doubts he expressed, 12:19-21; the discipline he prepared, 13:1-4; the dare he extended, 13:5-10.
      2. Key thought:   The statement of Paul’s intention to come to the Corinthians.   Practical truths:   There are times when though a pastor has the right to be supported by those among whom he labors that it is better to support himself.   One must be willing to expend himself in the service of God although there is little or no thanks forthcoming for the effort.   God has a way of vindicating His man.   Every man has an obligation to make sure that he belongs to Christ and whether he is really upholding proper doctrine.
    24. The closing Paul wrote, 13:11-14.
      1. The closing was conciliatory, 13:11a; the closing was caring, 13:11b-14.
      2. Key thought:   Paul’s benediction.   Practical truths:   However harsh the words have gotten, the last words should be words of peace and love.

  5. A Topical Outline of II Corinthians:   The Gospel Ministry of the Church.   In chapters 2-6 Paul hones in on his ministry.   What we find in those chapters as characteristics of Paul’s ministry should be the same characteristics we find in the gospel ministry of the church.
    1. The certainty of our ministry, 2:14-17: victory in Christ and veracity toward the Word.
    2. The commendation of our ministry, 3:1-3:   changed lives.
    3. The confidence of our ministry, 3:4-5:   the sufficiency of God.
    4. The covenant of our ministry, 3:6-18:   the new covenant.
    5. The commitment of our ministry, 4:1-7: we won’t quit.
    6. The circumstances of our ministry, 4:8-18: the path will not always be smooth but the best is yet to be.
    7. The compulsions of our ministry, 5:1-13: anticipating beyond this life.
    8. The constraint of our ministry, 5:14-19: behold the love of Christ.
    9. The cry of our ministry, 5:20-21: be ye reconciled to God.
    10. The conduct of our ministry, 6:1-10: giving no offence in any thing.
    11. The come out of our ministry, 6:14-18: be not unequally yoked with unbelievers.