2 Corinthians
Chapters 10:1-13:14
Lecture 11

Attitudes, Suffering and Service
This Portion of 2 Corinthians
•	Paul begins with this chapter to reveal somethings about himself.  This is one of the most important biographical sections of any of Paul’s letters.  It will be applicable to all Christian ______________ and ______________.  It points out things which commend a Christian. Verse 18 can summarize Chapter 10.
Chapter 10 Outlined
•	1. The Christian’s ______________ (1-6)
•	2. The Christian’s ______________y (7-11)
•	3. The Christian’s ______________ (12-18)
•	The Christian’s Attitude (1-6)
The Christian life offers the possibility and prospect of the ______________ fellowship on earth, but if not careful, it may become the ______________ of experiences.  
A Personal Appeal (1-2)
•	T. Robertson noted “at this point it is possible that Paul took the pen from his amanuensis and wrote himself as he did in Galatians 6:11.  He now deals with the accusations of the Judaizers, a minority group, upset him greatly.  He deals with it openly.  Verses 1 & 2 are difficult to unfold, but it seems that they were accusing him of being a two-faced person.  He introduced his defense by an appeal to Jesus Christ.  Paul says he is ______________ or ______________. This is a reference to a horse under control. 
Verse 2
The words “______________-______________ according to the flesh” probably stung Paul severely.  That was the last thing he would want said about him.  All one needs do is look at his conduct on the three missionary journeys.  
The Spiritual Warfare (vv 3-10)
v. 3 - 4 – 
Paul was not indicting the entire church, nor was he replying to the every church member except as they were influenced by the false witnesses. He wanted the Corinthians to see the difference in his weapons of warfare and those of his enemies.  Paul’s weapons were non-military.  His weapons were “______________ with ______________.”
Verse 5
Paul’s argument explains in a further way the character of the warfare in which he was engaged.  The battle going  on now is a battle of the minds of men.  One cannot attack the thoughts of a person without attacking his moral character. The power center of a man is his ______________, his reasoning power.  Paul wants to trust in God’s revelation, not men’s wisdom.
Verses 6--7
This verse seems to imply that Paul wants the ______________ as a whole to become more ______________.   In verse 7 He says, “Look at the facts”.  That is an imperative. Those accusing Paul felt they were true “Christians”. Paul said, “Take another look”.  
Verses 8-10
Paul defended his role as an ______________ of ______________ in no uncertain words.  His mission is given to him by Christ to build up the believers, not tear them down.  Some of Paul’s enemies accused Paul of boasting in letters, but being weak-kneed in person.  They were unkind in their remarks.  Paul says that he does not live a double-life and there is no two-faced character about him.  
3. Invidual Comparisons (vv 11-18)
Verses 11 and 12 show Paul defending himself. He shows the problem with his adversaries lay in the fact that they “measure themselves by themselves.” This allows them to ______________ and causes others to ______________.  In reality, says Paul, the real measure is JC. 
Verses 13-14 highlights Paul’s declaration of the standard of measurement was the sole purpose of reaching out into the Corinthians.  Paul was not pushing himself forward in any way to gain favors.  
Verses 15-16
Paul was the ______________ of the ______________ of ______________.  None of his boasting had to do with the work of others.  In fact, Paul had relied upon the work of no one else in order to boast.  He was within his rights to boast about the Corinthians.  He wanted their faith to be increased and that would be the ultimate measure.  Paul then looked beyond Corinth to do more work in other lands.  He wanted to preach the gospel to other people.
Verses 17-18
Paul closes his discussion concerning his defense by speaking from the mountaintop of excellence.  If any boasting was to be done, It was to be done “______________ the ______________.”  If any commendation is to be done, it is to be done by “the Lord.”  Only He who called the messenger, called him to service, and made him “fit” for that service can afford any grounds to boast.  Anyone wanting to be an ambassador for Christ ought to display these verses on his/her desk.
Chapter 11: Apostolic Vindication Through Foolish Glorying
Paul’s Little Foolishness (11:1-6)
Paul’s folly is that of boasting of privileges and achievements as a servant of Christ in comparison with those of other men; this he describes as not only ______________ (11:16ff), but as ______________ (11:23).  Yet the Corinthians have made Paul do this because they have been ready to listen to false teachers denounce him (12:11ff).  Paul demands a hearing: Do bear with me!
His Passion
Notice he is motivated by a divine jealousy, ie, a jealousy like God feels for His people, for the Lord demands loyalty (Exod 20:1-6).  Like the bride for Isaac (Gen 24) Paul has taken the part of the one who secures a bride for another: he has engaged the church to Christ with the wedding seen to be scheduled for the return of Christ.  He recalls that Eve was deceived and fears the Corinthians will be too. So as a bride should have eyes for only her husband, so the Corinthian church should have eyes for Christ only – a sincere and pure devotion.
Three threats are Presented
To the Corinthians: another Jesus, a different ______________ and a different ______________.  The Jesus who is preached is the one Jesus of Nazareth, but He is portrayed in a different guise so that He becomes another  version of Christ.  The spirit is far removed from the Holy Spirit.  And the gospel is quite different from that given with the apostolic gospel of Paul.
The Superlative Apostles in v 4
Are represented as “______________” and in verse 5 are presumed to claim superiority to Paul, cannot be the original apostles of Jesus.  They are heretic claimants to the title and are named false apostles in 11:13ff.  They claimed Paul was an unskilled preacher in comparison to themselves (unskilled = laymen in comparison to “professional”).  Paul does not contest the claim, but he resists the idea of being a “laymen’ in knowledge.  In this he is an “expert and not a laymen” being trained and inspired by the Lord Himself.
Paul’s Refusal of the Corinthians (11:7-15)
In moving to the subject of ______________ for ______________ rendered to the church at Corinth, Paul touches on a subject about which both the church and his opponents were sensitive.
Paul Preached to the Corinthians Without Cost (v. 7)
This was initially possible through his ______________. By pursuing this trade in Corinth he abased himself for in the eyes of the Greeks, manual labor was degrading for a professional teacher.  Paul did it so the Corinthians would be brought to the gospel.  Was it a sin? Of course not, but it may have been suggested by his opponents.  Paul makes it clear they know he loves them.  
Paul Becomes Indignant (v.8)
Other ______________ apparently paid him so that Corinth did not have to do so.  Those who came from Macedonia helped him (v.9).  Paul would never take money from the Corinthians! Why? Because he did not love them?  God knows better and so do the Corinthians.  
Paul’s Reason to Maintain Independence from Corinthians (v.12)
Paul’s ______________ embarrassed these men, for it set them in a bad light.  They had demanded and received money for their upkeep. Paul had not and they were trying to shame Paul into taking it.  Paul would have nothing to do with it. He claims they are false teachers and deceitful workmen.  What does he say about them in verse 14?
Satan as an “angel of light”
Made allude to a Jewish tradition that ______________ appeared to Adam and Eve as a shining ______________. In the Apocalypse of Moses (Ch 17), it is said that when conversing with Eve “Satan took the form of an angel and praised God as the angels”. Paul says that such men who peddle darkness as light will have the same reward as Satan.   This language is similar to Romans 3:8 and Philippians 3:19. When ministers of Christ pervert the grace of God into a lie, their sin calls for judgment appropriate to its seriousness.
Paul’s Apostolic Sufferings (11:16-33)
Paul continues in his folly, but his ______________ is torn. He does not wish to be thought foolish, but if such an estimate is needful, let it be.  He will boast too!  This indicates his opponents have been boasting and engaged in this folly.  The Corinthians had paid them much attention and this forces him down that same path.  Paul will not boast in what they had done: earthly things, but in spiritual things: his sufferings for Christ.  His humiliation for Christ.  Tasker says, “He wears his pains like decorations” (p. 164).
Paul Excuses His Foolishness with the comment:
“you gladly bear with ______________, being wise yourselves” and heaps up the biting remarks in vv 20ff.  It appears the false teachers had been real wolves in sheep’s clothing and robbed the Corinthians and made them slaves.  In light of such conduct, Paul apologies for never having such nerve. 
The List of Worldly things in v 22
Shows the “superlative apostles” must have been Jews and they boasted of their Jewish origins and yet they embraced many Grecian ideas.  As Hebrews they spoke the Hebraic language.  Israelites represented the nation as a theocracy—chosen people of God. Descendents of Abraham show the nation as inheritors of salvation promised to Abraham.  In all these Paul had shared.  
Verse 23
Paul now advances that he is a better apostle than the super apostles.  His appeal is to his sufferings endured for Christ and not from successes scored for Christ.  “The far greater ______________” related to endeavors to take the gospel to men and women throughout the world.  Forty lashes less one were inflicted by Jesus, in accordance with Deut 25:3, which forbade 40 stripes.  This led the Rabbi’s to limit it to 39 in case of miscounting.  This shows the amount of furor Paul raised when he went on journeys.  
Look at the Dangers Paul experienced on his journeys.
All ______________ was ______________ in that day.  He experienced constant plots and threats against his life.  He did not even need to mention the robbers and thieves around.  Another pressured was present from the churches where Paul went.  Weak sought Paul and those who fell into sin.  All of these pulled on Paul’s heart.
One more Experience
Is mentioned, in curious isolation, namely Paul’s ______________ from Damascus. Since Luke tells of it (Acts 9:24f), it is likely that it became well known.  Paul may have retold it often and spoke of them as the dangers and humiliation suffered by him for Christ.  Verse 31 may state that the message had been garbled and Paul is setting it straight.  Isn’t it ironical that the city where Paul was seeking to arrest Christians is the very place where Paul has to escape in such a way.
     
•	Paul’s Visions and Revelations (12: 1-10)
All of Paul’s Christian life and service depended on divine grace and power.  He speaks often of grace in 2 Corinthians: 1:2, 12; 4:15; 8:1, 7, 9, 9:8, 14).  Basically ______________ is the outpouring of God Himself in Christ and Chris’s outpouring of Himself through the Holy Spirit.  Paul found it ______________ for a Christian to boast of his experience. But he would if that was what it took to win the Corinthians.
•	An Experience in the Third Heaven (12:2-4)
Paul deems it necessary but distasteful to press on in the business of ______________.  Now he seems to be in greater reluctance to describe what is before his mind.  
What he relates has to be wrung out of him.  
Most likely Paul was aware that the “______________” leaders in Corinth had elevated themselves with their tales of visions to give evidence to their authority.
The Man in Christ (12:2)
Surely it is not to be doubted that the man in Christ is Paul. He speaks in this way to tone down the “______________”. 
 “Fourteen years ago” suggests that the vision made a deep impression on Paul; 
possibly it occurred at a ______________ point in his ministry.  
The Third Heaven
To which he was caught up denotes the highest heaven (some Jews speculated that there were 7 heavens) and this is defined as Paradise. 
This later term is borrowed from ______________ which meant a walled park, especially the parks of the Persian kings and nobility, and then a park of any kind.  
This was used in the ______________ to refer to the Garden of Eden (Gen 2). 
It came to denote the place of the righteous in the kingdom of God.
Whether in Body or Out of Body
Paul could not tell.  He had lost all contact with the body and the world and everything in it. 
When he saw and heard were things that cannot be told, and which man may not ______________---a not uncommon conviction for men who have shared such experiences.  (See Rev 10:2-4).  
Paul therefore says no more, either about this ______________ or of any other like it.  
Two Observations to Note
The contrast between Paul, the man of visions, and Paul, the lowly servant of Christ, is not unnatural to one who strongly distinguished, as he did, between the ______________ and outward man.  
Second, Paul for 14 years had carried this secret with him as an inspiration for his faith.  
He had told no one because he was called to ______________ Christ and not visions.  
B. An Experience of Pain (12:7-10)
Lesser men might have broken into a constant chant about such visions.  Not Paul.  He felt the ______________ must cease.  
It was not good for either the Corinthians nor for Paul. 
The Lord gave Paul something to keep Paul from ______________ exaltation of spirit. He gave him a thorn in the flesh (12:7)
Paul’s Thorn in the Flesh (12:7)
The passive voice of the verb “gave” indicates that God was the giver of the thorn.  
Speculations as to the what Paul meant are numerous: malaria, ______________, disease of the eyes, insomnia, or migraine headaches.  
Some think that his weakness could not have been physical because of the trials he endured. 
Many think it was a speech impediment.  Earlier writers felt it was temptations of the flesh.  The word “______________” is literally “stake”.
II. The True Marks of an Apostle (12:11-13)
Paul confesses in dismay that he has been a fool in his utterances—compelled by the lack of understanding by the Corinthians.  
If his opponents charge him with being a nothing—a mere nobody– he ______________; but  he is still not inferior to them, for they too are nothing! 
Yet Paul should have been commended by the Corinthians: the Paul performed the true signs of an apostle before their eyes.  What is that?  
The Corinthians themselves are the seal of Paul’s authority.  The Lord worked through him to bring them to faith.
Observe The Apostle
Is not an apostle through performing miracles; he is an apostle insofar as he preaches Christ; the reality of his commission is attested in the miracles of changed lives and also, as Paul ______________, through miracles of other kinds. 
All these marks of apostleship were witnessed by the Corinthians in Paul.  
The only thing he denied them was the privilege of paying him a ______________. Paul craved their forgiveness for this wrong!
Anticipation of A Third Visit (12: 14-21)
As Paul anticipates his forthcoming visit to Corinth he renews his earlier affirmation that he will not be a burden to the church by receiving ______________. 
He shows the purity of motives: I do not want what is yours but you.  This is a voice of love and not proud independence.  
It is in accordance with parental instinct which Paul has for his children, for everyone knows parents save up for their ______________, not children for their parents.  
The Corinthian’s Lack of Response
To such love must have been due to the accusation reflected in verse 16.  Somebody had suggested Paul’s independence of the church was only apparent, in fact it was pure ______________; he took nothing publicly from the church but collected plenty on the quiet—through his representatives who kept on coming with his letters to Corinth.  
The reference to Titus in v 18 ties up with the fact that ______________ had been sent by Paul in the previous year to organize the collection for the Jerusalem poor (8:6).
It is Possible
•	That the one who made that charge that Paul was on the take, went on to charge that the collection itself was a ______________, arranged for the benefit of Paul’s pocket.  
•	Paul’s answer to such shocking suggestions was to ask which of his representatives ever did take financial ______________ of them at any time.  
Paul’s Defense of His Conduct
•	Leaves no room for questioning of his standing as a defendant before his judges. God is his judge, and Christ has impelled him to speak as he has. The outpouring of his heart in this letter has not been for his own good, but for theirs.  “It is all for your upbuilding”.  This letter was sent for their ______________.  The fellowship will have been badly disrupted by their contentiousness, and the effects of their ______________ will have been serious in the moral realm.
Verse 20
•	 shows the kind of bitter harvest that Paul fears he will experience. Examine the list of items presented and it will show that kind of evils that result from the fragmentation of the fellowship through division.  
•	Paul dreads that his next visit to ______________ may be like his last (2:1).  This would be the case if the members of the Corinthian church had continued unrepentant.  
The Evidence of Unrepentant
•	Members would be ______________, immorality, and licentiousness.  
•	He would then have to exercise discipline like that in 1 Cor 5.  This would cause mourning, not only for Paul, but for the church as well. 
•	The ______________ of 2 Cor were 2 worth while if they prevented the tears of that action.
2 Corinthians 13