2 Corinthians 1:12-24

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TALKS FOR GROWING CHRISTIANS

The Lord Directs Paul to Change Plans

BACKGROUND NOTES



DOCTRINAL POINT(S)

  1. Believers will be accused of vacillation by fellow believers.

  2. Believers will be accused of oppression by fellow believers.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

  1. Don’t call God a liar by questioning your eternal security.

QUESTIONS

  1. What charge does Paul address in this passage?

  2. Did Paul break his word about visiting Corinth?

  3. Who were Paul’s accusers?

  4. How did Paul defend himself?

  5. What else was Paul accused of in this passage?

ANSWERS

  1. Certain persons at Corinth were questioning Paul’s authority as an apostle and one of the arguments that they were putting forward to undermine the apostle’s credibility was that Paul vacillated in his plans and promises to visit Corinth.

  2. No. In his letter 1 Corinthians, he mentioned a possible visit, but made no absolute promises to come. His original plans were delayed because of his ministry in Asia, but he did spend three months in Corinth later.

  3. In 2 Corinthians 11:13 he calls them “false apostles” and “deceitful workers.” These trouble makers were unbelieving religious teachers and workers, probably unsaved Judaizers who had infiltrated the church at Corinth and were causing the true believers there to question Paul’s motives and authority.

  4. He reminded the Corinthians how he had always dealt with them in godly sincerity and had always written them in a straight forward way. There were no hidden agendas or ulterior motives with Paul.

  5. Apparently those who were trying to undermine Paul’s apostolic authority were also accusing Paul of throwing his weight around and oppressing the Corinthian Christians with his supposed apostolic authority.

DISCUSS/CONSIDER

  1. Have you ever been accused of not being a person of your word by a fellow believer? This is such a painful accusation. Before you accuse someone else of this, look at the facts again and see if it may just be a misunderstanding.

  2. Review the ministries of the Holy Spirit in 2 Corinthians 1:21-22. Discuss how each of these ministries assures our eternal security as believers.

CHALLENGE

  1. If you are attacked by fellow believers this week, respond as the Apostle Paul did. Keep your eye on the Judgment Seat of Christ where motives will be revealed and rewards will be given.

KEY VERSES

  • “We conducted ourselves in the world in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God.” 2 Corinthians 1:12 “Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.” 2 Corinthians 1:21-22



2 Corinthians, Talks, New TestamentDeb Harms2 Corinthians 1:12-24