2 Corinthians 2:1-4 Paul’s Painful Visit Have you ever been so hurt by someone that the relationship is on the rocks, and it’s painful to carry on a relationship with that person? That’s Paul in 2 Corinthians. Paul’s affections, both…
2 Corinthians 1:24 Working for the Joy of Others This post marks the final post for chapter 1 (10 in toto). In it we see a theme that Paul introduces from the start. He emphasizes their (Paul’s and the Corinthians’)…
2 Corinthians 1:23 Paul’s Oath You’re familiar with the oath that a witness makes in a court of law: “Do you promise to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?” (Do they…
2 Corinthians 1:21-22 Established in the Spirit In Paul’s continued self-defense against the Corinthians—a defense, mind you, that he shouldn’t have to give in the first place, as the Corinthians should readily accept his apostleship by now—he further evidences his…
2 Corinthians 1:20 Yes and Amen in Christ We’ve all been there. Someone agreed to meet us at a place at a specific time. We arrive first at the appointed time, and we wait. And wait. And wait. Turns out…
2 Corinthians 1:15-20 Entrusting Travels (and all things!) to God’s Faithful Sovereignty We pick up the text remembering Paul’s confidence that he and the Corinthians will one day boast of each other because of what God has been doing in…
2 Corinthians 1:12-14 Grace-influenced Boasting Is boasting ever morally permitted? Yes? No? Maybe so? There’s a bunch of boasting happening all over the place, isn’t there? And it’s coming not only from the world but also the church. Anyone who’s…
2 Corinthians 1:8-11 Deadly Affliction You’ve heard people say, “God won’t give you more than you can handle,” right? Well, someone needs to tell that to Paul, because he certainly thought otherwise. After telling the Corinthians that God comforts his…
2 Corinthians 1:5-7 The Comforted Comfort You’ll recall from last time that Paul blesses God because he is the Father of mercies and God of all comfort. When God comforts us, he reminds us of his strong presence, perfect providence,…
2 Corinthians 1:3-4 Blessed Be We begin today where we left off last time: with Paul’s benedictory doxology. It is Paul blessing God. But it is also Paul praising God. After Paul greets and graces his siblings the Corinthians, he…
2 Corinthians 1:1-2 And so it begins: By “it,” I mean an almost 2-year, weekly dose of 2nd Corinthians. This entry is the first among a lot of short devotionals that address 2nd Corinthians. We will travel from chapter to…