Week 45 Day 1
Paul's first letter to the Corinthian church
was a tough one
in which he tried to get them
to see the error of their ways
and change their behavior for the better
His concern was that the Corinthian believers
would reject him
would reject his authority as their spiritual guide
and no longer want anything to do with him
or worse yet
with the gospel he preached
In this second letter we learn more about Paul
than in any other letter he wrote
we glimpse his anxiety
about the first letter
and hear Paul express his own need
for forgiveness
and reconciliation with them
Paul delayed his trip to see them
because there needed to be more time
to process that first letter
to act upon it
to heal from the wounds
to recover from the lightening bolt
Would they ever receive him
with open arms
and love him again?
DEATHS AND RESURRECTIONS
From the depths we rise--strong in Christ, forgiven, reconciled.
II Corinthians 1 & 2
1Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and
Timothy our brother. To the church at Corinth, with all the
saints who are in all Achaia; 2Grace to you and peace from
God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3Blessed be the God of mercies and God of all comfort,
4who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able
to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort
with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5For the
sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also
abounds through Christ.
8We do not want you to be ignorant of our trouble in Asia;
that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so
that we despaired even of life. 9The sentence of death was on
us, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises
the dead 10and delivered us. We trust that He will still deliver
us, 11you also helping together in prayer for us, that thanks
may be given by many persons on our behalf.
15 I intended to come to you 16again from Macedonia,
and be helped by you on my way to Judea. 23But in order
to spare you I came no more to Corinth. 24Not that we have
dominion over your faith, but are fellow workers for your joy;
for by faith you stand. 1 I determined that I would not come
again to you in sorrow. 2 If I make you sorrowful, then who
makes me glad but the one who is made sorrowful by me?
3 I wrote this very thing to you, lest, when I came, I should
have sorrow over those from whom I ought to have joy, having
confidence in you all that my joy is the joy of you all. 4Out of
much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you, with many
tears, not that you should be grieved, but that you might know
the love which I have so abundantly for you.
5But if anyone has caused grief, be not too severe. 6The
punishment inflicted by the majority is sufficient. 7 On the
contrary, you ought rather to forgive and comfort him, lest
he be swallowed up with too much sorrow. 8Therefore, I urge
you to reaffirm your love to him. 9For I put you to the test,
whether you are obedient in all things. 10Whom you forgive
anything, I also forgive. Indeed I have forgiven that one for
your sakes in the presence of Christ, 11lest Satan should take
advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.
14Thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ.
This Bible passage was condensed from the NKJV
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