Paul’s Change in Travel Plans

Introduction:

In our last lesson, we were reminded of the fact that Paul had to deal with difficult people.  Many of these people were in the church.

Some questioned the authenticity of his apostleship, some questioned his character and integrity.

Paul had travel plans that had changed. On this slight ground, his enemies in Corinth complained that he said one thing and meant another.

Paul’s opponents seemed to have made this an occasion for charging him with similar inconsistency in doctrine. If his word could not be depended on in small matters, what dependence could be placed on his preaching?

Paul shows there was no insincerity involved in this change of his plans and no inconsistency in his preaching.

2 Corinthians 1:15-22 (NLT)
¹⁵ Since I was so sure of your understanding and trust, I wanted to give you a double blessing by visiting you twice— ¹⁶ first on my way to Macedonia and again when I returned from Macedonia. Then you could send me on my way to Judea.¹⁷ You may be asking why I changed my plan. Do you think I make my plans carelessly? Do you think I am like people of the world who say “Yes” when they really mean “No”? ¹⁸ As surely as God is faithful, our word to you does not waver between “Yes” and “No.” ¹⁹ For Jesus Christ, the Son of God, does not waver between “Yes” and “No.” He is the one whom Silas, Timothy, and I preached to you, and as God’s ultimate “Yes,” he always does what he says. ²⁰ For all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding “Yes!” And through Christ, our “Amen” (which means “Yes”) ascends to God for his glory.
²¹ It is God who enables us, along with you, to stand firm for Christ. He has commissioned us, ²² and he has identified us as his own by placing the Holy Spirit in our hearts as the first installment that guarantees everything he has promised us.

Examine the scriptures:

¹⁵ Since I was so sure of your understanding and trust, I wanted to give you a double blessing by visiting you twice— ¹⁶ first on my way to Macedonia and again when I returned from Macedonia. Then you could send me on my way to Judea. 

Paul had proposed a journey from Ephesus that would have permitted him to visit the Corinthians twice.  The two visits were meant to express Paul’s affection for them. He wanted to see them as often as possible.

Corinth first, travel on to Macedonia, then back to Corinth (current passage of scripture)

Paul changed his plans.  Macedonia first, then Corinth.

1 Corinthians 16:5-7 (NLT)
⁵ I am coming to visit you after I have been to Macedonia, for I am planning to travel through Macedonia. ⁶ Perhaps I will stay awhile with you, possibly all winter, and then you can send me on my way to my next destination. ⁷ This time I don’t want to make just a short visit and then go right on. I want to come and stay awhile, if the Lord will let me.

Paul chose to make just one trip. (Details to follow in the next lesson)

2 Corinthians 2:1 (NLT)
So I decided that I would not bring you grief with another painful visit.

• Paul had changed his plans of making two trips to Corinth to making just one trip to Corinth.

¹⁷ You may be asking why I changed my plan. Do you think I make my plans carelessly? Do you think I am like people of the world who say “Yes” when they really mean “No”? 

Paul’s opponents argued that since he changed his mind about his travel plans, he had been careless in his planning.

Since he was careless in his planning he could not be trusted to do what he said he would do.

Since he could not be trusted to do what he says, his words cannot be trusted.

Do you think I am like people of the world who say “Yes” when they really mean “No”? 

“Do you think I say one thing and mean something else?”

If his words cannot be trusted, the gospel he teaches cannot be trusted. 

• Paul changed his mind about his itinerary, and his opponents said his vacillating was a sign of a fundamental unreliability,
  • affecting not only where he went
  • but what he said.

Paul fervently denied this.

Paul’s argument was that he not make plans in a self-serving manner altering them for reasons of self-interest. Nor did he talk out of both sides of his mouth to further his own ends. He would explain the reason for his change in plans, but for the moment he was more concerned with the accusation that his message was equivocal or unreliable.

¹⁸ As surely as God is faithful, our word to you does not waver between “Yes” and “No.” 

Paul argued that his word was not ambiguous and unreliable.

• Paul took unfounded accusations seriously.

• Paul argued that his word was not ambiguous and unreliable. 

Paul argued that the Gospel was not ambiguous and unreliable. 

¹⁹ For Jesus Christ, the Son of God, does not waver between “Yes” and “No.” He is the one whom Silas, Timothy, and I preached to you, and as God’s ultimate “Yes,” he always does what he says. 

Who was really under attack?

For the critics to attack Paul’s authenticity was like tearing down God’s work, and destroying the unity in the church.

• Not only was Paul under attack, but more importantly, Paul knew that the person and work of Christ were under attack from the false teachers at Corinth.

• Paul, knowing that Jesus Christ always does what He says He will do, was able to preach without vacillation or uncertainty. 

²⁰ For all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding “Yes!” And through Christ, our “Amen” (which means “Yes”) ascends to God for his glory.

• Paul did not allow these unfounded accusations against his character and the accusations that questioned the reliability of his message go unaddressed.

• All of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ.

• All the promises of God are sure and positive.

• Jesus always does what He says He will do.

• A proper response from us to God for all He has said and done is “Amen” (so be it). 

²¹ It is God who enables us, along with you, to stand firm for Christ. He has commissioned us, 

• It is God who enables us to stand firm for Christ.

1 John 2:20&27 (NLT)
²⁰ But you are not like that, for the Holy One has given you his Spirit, and all of you know the truth. ^… 27 But you have received the Holy Spirit, and he lives within you, so you don’t need anyone to teach you what is true. For the Spirit teaches you everything you need to know, and what he teaches is true—it is not a lie. So just as he has taught you, remain in fellowship with Christ. 

• God enables us to know the truth.

²² and he has identified us as his own by placing the Holy Spirit in our hearts as the first installment that guarantees everything he has promised us.

Ephesians 1:13 (NLT)
¹³ And now you Gentiles have also heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you. And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago. 

• We (believers) belong to God and the Holy Spirit living inside of us guarantees this relationship.

Nothing is unclear about what Christ did for us.

God has shown Himself to be faithful to His promises and to His people.

Dealing with Difficult People

Paul had to deal with difficult people.  Many of these people were in the church.  We can learn from Paul how we too can deal successfully with difficult people.

2 Corinthians 1:12-14
¹² We can say with confidence and a clear conscience that we have lived with a God-given holiness and sincerity in all our dealings. We have depended on God’s grace, not on our own human wisdom. That is how we have conducted ourselves before the world, and especially toward you. ¹³ Our letters have been straightforward, and there is nothing written between the lines and nothing you can’t understand. I hope someday you will fully understand us, ¹⁴ even if you don’t understand us now. Then on the day when the Lord Jesus returns, you will be proud of us in the same way we are proud of you.

Examine the scriptures:

2 Corinthians 1:12-14 (NLT)

¹² We can say with confidence and a clear conscience

 Paul responded with confidence and a clear conscience in defense against the slanders spread about his character and integrity (Paul was accused of being proud, self-serving, untrustworthy, inconsistent, incompetent, unsophisticated)

• Speak with confidence and a clear conscience when others accuse you falsely.

Don’t make yourself out to be the bad guy.

Don’t be afraid of what people say or think about you.

Proverbs 29:25 (NLT)
²⁵ Fearing people is a dangerous trap,
but trusting the Lord means safety.

Note:

It is possible to have a seared conscience.

1 Timothy 4:1-2 (NLT)
¹ Now the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times some will turn away from the true faith; they will follow deceptive spirits and teachings that come from demons. ² These people are hypocrites and liars, and their consciences are dead.

More importantly, it is possible to have a clear conscience

Acts 24:16 (NLT)
¹⁶ Because of this, I always try to maintain a clear conscience before God and all people. 

Imitate Paul

1 Corinthians 11:1 (NLT)
¹ And you should imitate me (Paul), just as I imitate Christ.

Take the first step to a clear conscience.

Confess your sins.

1 John 1:9 (NLT)
⁹ But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.

Matthew 6:14-15 (NLT)
¹⁴ “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. ¹⁵ But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins. 

Understand where a clear conscience comes from.

Romans 12:2 (NLT)
² Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

1 Timothy 1:19 (NLT)
¹⁹ Cling to your faith in Christ, and keep your conscience clear. For some people have deliberately violated their consciences; as a result, their faith has been shipwrecked.

Hebrews 5:14 (NLT)
¹⁴ Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong.

that we have lived with a God-given holiness and sincerity in all our dealings.

• Conduct yourself with integrity, honesty, sincerity, and pure motives in all of your dealings. 

Philippians 1:27-30 (NLT)
Live as Citizens of Heaven
²⁷ Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ. Then, whether I come and see you again or only hear about you, I will know that you are standing together with one spirit and one purpose, fighting together for the faith, which is the Good News. ²⁸ Don’t be intimidated in any way by your enemies. …. ³⁰ We are in this struggle together. You have seen my struggle in the past, and you know that I am still in the midst of it. 

Galatians 6:10 (NLT)
¹⁰ Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith.

We have depended on God’s grace, not on our own human wisdom. 

• Always depend on God’s grace.

Philippians 3:9 (NLT)
⁹ … I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith. 

2 Thessalonians 3:5 (NLT)
⁵ May the Lord lead your hearts into a full understanding and expression of the love of God and the patient endurance that comes from Christ. 

Galatians 5:16, 22-23 (NLT)
¹⁶ So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.
²² But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! 

That is how we have conducted ourselves before the world, and especially toward you. 

 ¹³ Our letters have been straightforward, and there is nothing written between the lines and nothing you can’t understand.

• Communicate in a clear, easy to understand manner. Say what you mean, and mean what you say.  Let your yes be yes, and your no be no. 

I hope someday you will fully understand us, ¹⁴ even if you don’t understand us now.

You can’t fully understand this now. 

Then on the day when the Lord Jesus returns, you will be proud of us in the same way we are proud of you.               

• God blesses those who patiently endure testing …

James 1:12 (NLT)
¹² God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

Since God is the source of all comfort we need to learn to rely on God.

2 Corinthians 1:8-11 (NLT)

God Offers Comfort to All
⁸ We think you ought to know, dear brothers and sisters, about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia. We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it. ⁹ In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead. ¹⁰ And he did rescue us from mortal danger, and he will rescue us again. We have placed our confidence in him, and he will continue to rescue us. ¹¹ And you are helping us by praying for us. Then many people will give thanks because God has graciously answered so many prayers for our safety.

Examine the scriptures:

Since God is the source of all comfort we need to learn to rely on God.

2 Corinthians 1:8-11 (NLT)

⁸ We think you ought to know, dear brothers and sisters, about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia. We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it. 

The specifics are unknown, but it is clear that it was “beyond our (their) ability to endure”.

Humanly speaking, deliverance was impossible.

⁹ In fact, we expected to die.

• As Paul was traveling through the province of Asia, things had gotten so bad, he expected to die.

But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves

Paul could not rely on:

Intellect

Physical strength

Resources

 

Many times Christians are tempted to rely on themselves.

Education

Finances

Family

Peers

The government

The Church

and learned to rely only on God, 

Jeremiah 17:7-8 (NLT)
⁷ “But blessed are those who trust in the Lord
and have made the Lord their hope and confidence.
⁸ They are like trees planted along a riverbank,
with roots that reach deep into the water.
Such trees are not bothered by the heat
or worried by long months of drought.
Their leaves stay green,
and they never stop producing fruit.

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NLT)
⁵ Trust in the Lord with all your heart;
do not depend on your own understanding.
⁶ Seek his will in all you do,
and he will show you which path to take.

Psalm 56:4 (NLT) Similar to Hebrews 13:6
⁴ I praise God for what he has promised.
I trust in God, so why should I be afraid?
What can mere mortals do to me?

• God is the source of all comfort.

• Learn to rely only on God. (A lifelong lesson.) 

who raises the dead. 

God is all-powerful.

God is sovereign.

God has power over death.

Matthew 19:26 (NLT)
²⁶ Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.”

Jeremiah 32:17 (NLT)
¹⁷ “O Sovereign Lord! You made the heavens and earth by your strong hand and powerful arm. Nothing is too hard for you!

Philippians 4:19 (NLT)
¹⁹ And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.

Psalm 121:3 (NLT)
³ He will not let you stumble;
the one who watches over you will not slumber. 

• Nothing is too hard for God. 

In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul prays that believers will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us.

Ephesians 1:19-21 (NLT)
¹⁹ I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power ²⁰ that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms. ²¹ Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else—not only in this world but also in the world to come.

Isaiah 41:10 (NLT)
¹⁰ Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.
Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you.
I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.

• Learn to reflect on the incredible greatness of God’s power. 

¹⁰ And he did rescue us from mortal danger, and he will rescue us again. We have placed our confidence in him, and he will continue to rescue us. 

Hope:

2 Corinthians 1:10 New International Version (NIV)
¹⁰ … On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us,

2 Corinthians 1:10 English Standard Version (ESV)
¹⁰ … On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again. 

• Set your hope on God.

2 Corinthians 4:17-18 (NLT)
¹⁷ For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! ¹⁸ So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.

¹¹ And you are helping us by praying for us. 

• Partner with those going through difficulties by praying for them.

Romans 15:30 (NLT)
³⁰ Dear brothers and sisters, I urge you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to join in my struggle by praying to God for me. Do this because of your love for me, given to you by the Holy Spirit.

 Then many people will give thanks because God has graciously answered so many prayers for our safety.

 

God, The Source of All Comfort

Applying Paul’s story of suffering to our lives.

2 Corinthians 1:1-7 (NLT)
Greetings from Paul
¹ This letter is from Paul, chosen by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and from our brother Timothy.
I am writing to God’s church in Corinth and to all of his holy people throughout Greece.
² May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.

Praise to the God of All Comfort

³ All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. ⁴ He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. ⁵ For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ. ⁶ Even when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation! For when we ourselves are comforted, we will certainly comfort you. Then you can patiently endure the same things we suffer. ⁷ We are confident that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in the comfort God gives us.

Examine the scriptures: 

2 Corinthians 1:3-7 (NLT)

God Offers Comfort to All

³ All praise to God,

This is a great reminder to all of us.

Praise is due to the God of All Comfort.

• God is most worthy of our praise.

Psalm 34:1-4 (NLT)
A psalm of David
¹ I will praise the Lord at all times.
I will constantly speak his praises.
² I will boast only in the Lord;
let all who are helpless take heart.
³ Come, let us tell of the Lord’s greatness;
let us exalt his name together.
⁴ I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me.
He freed me from all my fears.

Psalm 145:1-3, 8 (NLT)
A psalm of praise of David.
¹ I will exalt you, my God and King,
and praise your name forever and ever.
² I will praise you every day;
yes, I will praise you forever.
³ Great is the Lord! He is most worthy of praise!
No one can measure his greatness. 

⁸ The Lord is merciful and compassionate, (a tie into our lesson today) 

the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.         

A part of the triune God

God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit.

John 14:7 (NLT)
⁷ If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him!” 

• Paul is reminding his readers of the relationship between God the Father and God the Son.

God is our merciful

Compassionate,

treat with kindness, love, and tenderness

Father 

• Paul is reminding his readers of the relationship between God and those who have been adopted into his family. 

and the source of all comfort.  

Paul (scripture) tells us that God is the source of all comfort. 

• God is the source of all comfort. 

⁴ He comforts us in all our troubles

Paul mentions “troubles” (hardships, hard, pressures, distresses, hard-pressed, conflict, battles, and fears) repeatedly in this letter.

Troubles v.4
Troubled v.4
Troubles v.6 “weighed down with troubles”
Trouble v.8
Troubled 2:4
Troubles 4:8
Troubles 4:17
Troubles and hardships and calamities 6:4
Troubles 7:4
Conflict, battles, fears 7:5
Troubles 8:2
Life … hard 8:13

Troubles are certainly a significant part of Paul’s life,

and troubles are a part of a believer’s life. 

so that we can comfort others. 

Why does God comfort his children?  Why did God comfort Paul?

1. 1. 1. Obviously, we benefit from God’s comfort.

1. 1. 2. But when we are comforted by God, he is equipping us to be a comfort to others.

When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. 

It is difficult to share something that you have not experienced.

A person who has experienced cancer is better equipped to comfort another cancer patient, than someone without this experience.

A person who has experienced God’s comfort is better equipped to comfort someone else than a person who has never experienced God’s comfort.

• God comforts us so that we can comfort others.

⁵ For the more we suffer for Christ,

Suffering for Christ is far different than suffering as a result of doing something stupid.

John 15:18-19 (NLT)
¹⁸ “If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first. ¹⁹ The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you.

1 Peter 2:20 (NLT)
²⁰ Of course, you get no credit for being patient if you are beaten for doing wrong. But if you suffer for doing good and endure it patiently, God is pleased with you.

Matthew 5:11 (NLT)
¹¹ “God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers.

the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ.  

2 Corinthians 12:9 (NLT)
⁹ Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.

• The more we suffer for Christ, the more of God’s grace we will experience.

⁶ Even when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation!

For when we ourselves are comforted, we will certainly comfort you.

• God uses our suffering to strengthen others.

Then you can patiently endure the same things we suffer.  

⁷ We are confident that as you share in our sufferings,

1 Corinthians 12:26 (NLT)
²⁶ If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad. 

you will also share in the comfort God gives us. 

• Problems and trials can be good for us.

Romans 5:3-4 (NLT)
³ We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. ⁴ And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.

Introduction to 2 Corinthians

Review Paul’s visits to Corinth and review Paul’s letters to the church at Corinth.
(3 visits and 4 letters)

Four Letters, Three Visits

1^st visit

A.D. 48-51      1 ½ years

Acts 18:1 (NLT)
Paul Meets Priscilla and Aquila in Corinth
Then Paul left Athens and went to Corinth.

1^st letter – now lost  From Ephesus – misunderstood by the Corinthians

1 Corinthians 5:9 (NLT)
⁹ When I wrote to you before, I told you …

 2^nd letter  (1^st Corinthians)  From Ephesus –  A.D 53-55

 2^nd visit  A painful visit

 3^rd letter – now lost   Tearful, severe letter

2 Corinthians 2:3-4 (NLT)
³ That is why I wrote to you as I did, so that when I do come, I won’t be grieved by the very ones who ought to give me the greatest joy. Surely you all know that my joy comes from your being joyful. ⁴ I wrote that letter in great anguish, with a troubled heart and many tears. I didn’t want to grieve you, but I wanted to let you know how much love I have for you.

 2 Corinthians 7:8-9 (NLT)
⁸ I am not sorry that I sent that severe letter to you, though I was sorry at first, for I know it was painful to you for a little while. ⁹ Now I am glad I sent it, not because it hurt you, but because the pain caused you to repent and change your ways. It was the kind of sorrow God wants his people to have, so you were not harmed by us in any way.

 4^th letter  (2^nd Corinthians)  From Macedonia A.D. 55/56

 3^rd visit  A.D. 56 -57

Acts 20:2-3 (NLT)
² While there, he encouraged the believers in all the towns he passed through. Then he traveled down to Greece, ³ where he stayed for three months. He was preparing to sail back to Syria when he discovered a plot by some Jews against his life, so he decided to return through Macedonia.

References:
ESV Study Bible                    NIV Study Bible                    The Bible Knowledge Commentary
Lindsell Study Bible               The MacArthur Bible Commentary

2 Corinthians 1:1-2 (NLT)

Greetings from Paul
¹ This letter is from Paul, chosen by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and from our brother Timothy.
I am writing to God’s church in Corinth and to all of his holy people throughout Greece.
² May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.

Examine the scriptures:

 This greeting is very much like the greeting from 1 Corinthians.

1 Corinthians 1:1-3 (NLT)
Greetings from Paul 
1 This letter is from Paul, chosen by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and from our brother Sosthenes.
² I am writing to God’s church in Corinth, to you who have been called by God to be his own holy people. He made you holy by means of Christ Jesus, just as he did for all people everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours.
³ May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.

• Paul does not use empty words! This greeting is genuine and sincere.

2 Corinthians 1:1-2 (NLT)

Greetings from Paul

¹ This letter is from Paul, 

 This letter is from Paul, no question about the authorship.    (Written in 55/56 A.D.)

• Paul is in Macedonia, about to travel to Corinth for a third visit. Paul is preparing the Corinthian Church for his visit.

chosen by the will of God

Acts 9:15  (NLT)
¹⁵ But the Lord said (speaking to Ananias), “Go, for Saul is my chosen instrument to take my message to the Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel. 

This was not of Paul’s own choosing. 

to be an apostle of Christ Jesus,

Acts 22:14 (NLT)
¹⁴ “Then he (the voice from Heaven speaking to Paul) told me, ‘The God of our ancestors has chosen you to know his will and to see the Righteous One and hear him speak.

A specific calling (for Paul)

Ephesians 2:10 (NLT)
For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

This was not a position that Paul had earned.

• Paul was chosen by God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus. This was not a position Paul had earned.

Paul’s message was corrective and he wanted the church at Corinth to know that his calling and assignment was from God.  If the people resisted his message, they were resisting God.

and from our brother Timothy. 

1 Corinthians had Sos-then-es here rather than Timothy. Sosthenes was most likely Paul’s secretary.         

          Timothy- like a son, with a mentoring relationship, a companion and co-worker. 

I am writing to God’s church in Corinth

This church was founded by Paul on his second missionary journey (Acts 18:1).  A.D. 48-51
He was assisted by Priscilla and Aquila as well as Silas and Timothy.

Paul spent about 1 ½ years in Corinth.

Apollos continued the work after Paul left.

• The church in Corinth is God’s church.

Acts 18:9-11  (NLT)
⁹ One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision and told him, “Don’t be afraid! Speak out! Don’t be silent! ¹⁰ For I am with you, and no one will attack and harm you, for many people in this city belong to me.” ¹¹ So Paul stayed there for the next year and a half, teaching the word of God. 

A brief description of Corinth.

Corinth is near the middle of the 4-mile wide isthmus

North –south land traffic passed through or by the city.

*Most sea captains carried their ships on skids or rollers past Corinth. (saving 250 miles)

The city prospered. An important center of culture and trade.

Roman colony 100 years

Hosted the Isth-mi-an games (The Isthmian games and the Olympics were the two most famous events of that time.)

Even by the pagan standards of its own culture Corinth became so morally corrupt that its very name became synonymous with debauchery and moral depravity.

Some of the sins Corinth was noted for:

1 Corinthians 6:9-10 (NLT)
⁹ Don’t you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don’t fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality, ¹⁰ or are thieves, or greedy people, or drunkards, or are abusive, or cheat people—none of these will inherit the Kingdom of God. 

Corinth had an acropolis (a settlement, especially a citadel, built upon an area of elevated ground) which rose 2000 feet and was used for both defense and worship.  It had a temple for the Greek goddess of love,  Aphrodite.   This temple housed 1000 priestesses who were religious prostitutes who lived and worked there.  They came down into the city in the evenings to offer their services to citizens and foreign visitors.

Worshipped many Gods.

When Plato (Plato’s Republic) referred to a prostitute, he used the expression “Corinthian girl”.

In the church itself:

1 Corinthians 5:1 (NLT)
I can hardly believe the report about the sexual immorality going on among you—something that even pagans don’t do. I am told that a man in your church is living in sin with his stepmother.

The Corinthian church had difficulty breaking from the culture of the city.  Sound familiar?

and to all of his holy people throughout Greece. 

          Holy people, people called by God. 

John 6:44 (NLT)
For no one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them to me, and at the last day I will raise them up.

• This letter was not intended exclusively for the Christians in Corinth, but also for all the believers scattered through the province who were connected with the church in Corinth. 

² May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.

Grace- God’s love in action with peace it’s result.

Think of this as a prayer Paul had for the people.

Respect for Spiritual Leaders.

Do we allow our Pastors to have the role in our lives that God intended them to have?

Do we give our pastors the respect they deserve?

1 Corinthians 16:15-23 (NLT)
¹⁵ You know that Stephanas and his household were the first of the harvest of believers in Greece, and they are spending their lives in service to God’s people. I urge you, dear brothers and sisters, ¹⁶ to submit to them and others like them who serve with such devotion. ¹⁷ I am very glad that Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus have come here. They have been providing the help you weren’t here to give me. ¹⁸ They have been a wonderful encouragement to me, as they have been to you. You must show your appreciation to all who serve so well.
Paul’s Final Greetings
¹⁹ The churches here in the province of Asia send greetings in the Lord, as do Aquila and Priscilla and all the others who gather in their home for church meetings. ²⁰ All the brothers and sisters here send greetings to you. Greet each other with a sacred kiss.²¹ 
HERE IS MY GREETING IN MY OWN HANDWRITING—PAUL.
²² If anyone does not love the Lord, that person is cursed. Our Lord, come!²³ 
May the grace of the Lord Jesus be with you.
²⁴ My love to all of you in Christ Jesus.

 Examine the scriptures:

1 Corinthians 16:15-23 (NLT)
¹⁵ You know that Stephanas  and his household were the first of the harvest of believers in Greece (Corinth),

1 Corinthians 1:16 (NLT)
(Oh yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas, but I don’t remember baptizing anyone else.) 

and they are spending their lives in service to God’s people. I urge you, dear brothers and sisters, ¹⁶ to submit to them and others like them who serve with such devotion. 

 1 Corinthians 16:16 Common English Bible (CEB)
¹⁶ So accept the authority of people like them and of anyone who cooperates and works hard.

1 Corinthians 16:16 English Standard Version (ESV)
¹⁶ be subject to such as these, and to every fellow worker and laborer.

1 Corinthians 16:16 New International Version (NIV)
¹⁶ to submit to such people and to everyone who joins in the work and labors at it.

 Why did Paul urge “his brothers and sisters” to submit to these church leaders?

Paul may have been feeling that Stephanas was not getting the respect that he should have been receiving.

•  Submit to your spiritual leaders.

Hebrews 13:17 (NLT)
¹⁷ Obey your spiritual leaders, and do what they say. Their work is to watch over your souls, and they are accountable to God. Give them reason to do this with joy and not with sorrow. That would certainly not be for your benefit.

 Hebrews 13:17 English Standard Version (ESV)
¹⁷ Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.

Hebrews 13:17 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
¹⁷ Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you.

Spiritual leaders are appointed by God.

Ephesians 4:11-12 (NLT)
¹¹ Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. ¹² Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ.

Acts 20:28 (NLT)
²⁸ “So (Ephesian Elders) guard yourselves and God’s people. Feed and shepherd God’s flock—his church, purchased with his own blood—over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as leaders.

• Spiritual leaders are appointed by God. 

Warning: Watch out for false prophets (false teachers).

2 Timothy 4:3-4 (NLT)
³ For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. ⁴ They will reject the truth and chase after myths.

2 Peter 2 (NLT)
The Danger of False Teachers
¹ But there were also false prophets in Israel, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will cleverly teach destructive heresies and even deny the Master who bought them. 

 Acts 20:29 (NLT)
²⁹ I know that false teachers, like vicious wolves, will come in among you after I leave, not sparing the flock.

 Ezekiel 13:9 (NLT)
⁹ I will raise my fist against all the prophets who see false visions and make lying predictions, and they will be banished from the community of Israel. I will blot their names from Israel’s record books, and they will never again set foot in their own land. Then you will know that I am the Sovereign Lord.

Matthew 24:24 (NLT)
²⁴ For false messiahs and false prophets will rise up and perform great signs and wonders so as to deceive, if possible, even God’s chosen ones.

Discerning False Prophets

1 John 4:1-3 (NLT)
Discerning False Prophets
¹ Dear friends, do not believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit. You must test them to see if the spirit they have comes from God. For there are many false prophets in the world. ² This is how we know if they have the Spirit of God: If a person claiming to be a prophet acknowledges that Jesus Christ came in a real body, that person has the Spirit of God. ³ But if someone claims to be a prophet and does not acknowledge the truth about Jesus, that person is not from God. Such a person has the spirit of the Antichrist, which you heard is coming into the world and indeed is already here.

Matthew 7:15-20 (NLT)
The Tree and Its Fruit
¹⁵ “Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves. ¹⁶ You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? ¹⁷ A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. ¹⁸ A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. ¹⁹ So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire. ²⁰ Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions. 

• Watch out for false prophets (false teachers).

¹⁷ I am very glad that Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus have come here.

These men are visiting with Paul in Ephesus.

It is believed that Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus delivered the earlier letter from Corinth to Paul in Ephesus.

1 Corinthians 7:1 (NLT)
Now regarding the questions you asked in your letter. …

They have been providing the help you weren’t here to give me. ¹⁸ They have been a wonderful encouragement to me, as they have been to you. You must show your appreciation to all who serve so well.

 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 (NLT)
Paul’s Final Advice
¹² Dear brothers and sisters, honor those who are your leaders in the Lord’s work. They work hard among you and give you spiritual guidance. ¹³ Show them great respect and wholehearted love because of their work. And live peacefully with each other.

1 Timothy 5:17 (NLT)
¹⁷ Elders who do their work well should be respected and paid well, especially those who work hard at both preaching and teaching. 

• Show appreciation to your spiritual leaders.

Paul’s Final Greetings
¹⁹ The churches here in the province of Asia send greetings in the Lord, as do Aquila and Priscilla and all the others who gather in their home for church meetings. 

Acts 18:1-3 (NLT)
Paul Meets Priscilla and Aquila in Corinth
¹Then Paul left Athens and went to Corinth.  ² There he became acquainted with a Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, who had recently arrived from Italy with his wife, Priscilla. They had left Italy when Claudius Caesar deported all Jews from Rome. ³ Paul lived and worked with them, for they were tentmakers just as he was.

 Acts 18:18-19 (NLT)
¹⁸ Paul stayed in Corinth for some time after that, then said good-bye to the brothers and sisters and went to nearby Cenchrea. There he shaved his head according to Jewish custom, marking the end of a vow. Then he set sail for Syria, taking Priscilla and Aquila with him.
¹⁹ They stopped first at the port of Ephesus, where Paul left the others behind.  

²⁰ All the brothers and sisters here send greetings to you. Greet each other with a sacred kiss.

An expression of Christian love with no sexual overtones.

Repeated in:
Romans 16:16, 2 Corinthians 13:12, 1 Thessalonians 5:26, 1 Peter 5:14

• Show mutual respect and love to other Christians.

²¹ HERE IS MY GREETING IN MY OWN HANDWRITING—PAUL.
²² If anyone does not love the Lord, that person is cursed.
Our Lord, come!  (Maranatha)
²³ May the grace of the Lord Jesus be with you.
²⁴ My love to all of you in Christ Jesus.

 

 

 

 

Concluding Exhortations

1 Corinthians 16:13-14 was written to the Corinthian Church somewhere around A.D. 54 or 55.  This is nearly 2000 years ago.  These exhortations are very appropriate for us today.

1 Corinthians 16:13-14 (NLT)
¹³ Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong. ¹⁴ And do everything with love.

 Be on guard.

Stand firm in the faith.

Be courageous. 

Be strong.

And do everything with love.

 Other translations:

1 Corinthians 16:13-14 (CEB)
¹³ Stay awake, stand firm in your faith, be brave, be strong. ¹⁴ Everything should be done in love.

1 Corinthians 16:13-14 (ESV)
¹³ Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. ¹⁴ Let all that you do be done in love.

1 Corinthians 16:13-14 (ERV)
¹³ Be careful. Hold firmly to your faith. Have courage and be strong. ¹⁴ Do everything in love.

1 Corinthians 16:13-14 (NIV)
¹³ Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. ¹⁴ Do everything in love.

Examine the scriptures:

1 Corinthians 16:13-14 (NLT)

¹³ Be on guard.

 Stay awake

Be watchful

Be careful

Be diligent

Be diligent, in carrying out the will of God.

Give yourself fully to the work of the Lord.

• Never compromise the truth of the scriptures.

Why is it so important to “be on guard”?

1 Peter 5:8 (NLT)
Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.

Some of his ways:

Colossians 2:4&8 (NLT)
⁴ I am telling you this so no one will deceive you with well-crafted arguments.
^{… 8} Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ.

2 Timothy 4:3-4 (NLT)
³ For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. ⁴ They will reject the truth and chase after myths.

2 Corinthians 11:3 (NLT)
³ But I fear that somehow your pure and undivided devotion to Christ will be corrupted, just as Eve was deceived by the cunning ways of the serpent.

• Watch out for false teaching. 

Stand firm in the faith.

Philippians 1:27 (NLT)
Live as Citizens of Heaven
²⁷ Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ. Then, whether I come and see you again or only hear about you, I will know that you are standing together with one spirit and one purpose, fighting together for the faith, which is the Good News.

1 Timothy 6:20-21 (NLT)
²⁰ Timothy, guard what God has entrusted to you. Avoid godless, foolish discussions with those who oppose you with their so-called knowledge. ²¹ Some people have wandered from the faith by following such foolishness.
May God’s grace be with you all.

Jude 3 (NLT)
The Danger of False Teachers
³ Dear friends, I had been eagerly planning to write to you about the salvation we all share. But now I find that I must write about something else, urging you to defend the faith that God has entrusted once for all time to his holy people. 

• Defend the faith that God has entrusted to you. 

1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NLT)
¹¹ So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing. 

• Encourage each other and build each other up 

Be courageous. 

Psalm 27:1 (NLT)
A psalm of David.
¹ The Lord is my light and my salvation—
so why should I be afraid?
The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger,
so why should I tremble?

2 Timothy 1:7 (NLT)
⁷ For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.

 

Hebrews 13:5-6 (NLT)
⁵ …. For God has said,
“I will never fail you.
I will never abandon you.”
⁶ So we can say with confidence,
“The Lord is my helper,
so I will have no fear.
What can mere people do to me?”

 Isaiah 41:10 (NLT)
Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.
Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you.
I will hold you up with my victorious right hand. 

• The Lord is our fortress, protecting us from danger, so we have no reason to be afraid.

• God will hold us up with his victorious right hand.

Be strong. 

1 Corinthians 15:58 (NLT)
⁵⁸ So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.

Ephesians 4:14 (NLT)
Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth.

Psalm 46:1 (NLT)
God is our refuge and strength,
always ready to help in times of trouble. 

Ephesians 6:10-18 (NLT)
The Whole Armor of God
¹⁰ A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. ¹¹ Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. ¹² For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.
¹³ Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. ¹⁴ Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. ¹⁵ For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. ¹⁶ In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. ¹⁷ Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 

• God is our strength.

• Put on all of God’s armor. 

¹⁴ And do everything with love.

1 Corinthians 13:13-14:1
^13:13 Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.
^14:1 Let love be your highest goal!  

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (NLT)
⁴ Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud ⁵ or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. ⁶ It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. ⁷ Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. 

• Let love be your highest goal!

 

Paul’s Future Plans – Counsel Concerning Future Visits

1 Corinthians 16:5-12 (NLT)
Counsel concerning future visits
⁵ I am coming to visit you after I have been to Macedonia, for I am planning to travel through Macedonia. ⁶ Perhaps I will stay awhile with you, possibly all winter, and then you can send me on my way to my next destination. ⁷ This time I don’t want to make just a short visit and then go right on. I want to come and stay awhile, if the Lord will let me. ⁸ In the meantime, I will be staying here at Ephesus until the Festival of Pentecost. ⁹ There is a wide-open door for a great work here, although many oppose me.
¹⁰ When Timothy comes, don’t intimidate him. He is doing the Lord’s work, just as I am. ¹¹ Don’t let anyone treat him with contempt. Send him on his way with your blessing when he returns to me. I expect him to come with the other believers.
¹² Now about our brother Apollos—I urged him to visit you with the other believers, but he was not willing to go right now. He will see you later when he has the opportunity.

 Examine the scriptures:

1 Corinthians 16:5-12 (NLT)

In the previous verses of this chapter, Paul gave the Corinthians instructions on how to collect money for the financially strapped church in Jerusalem.

Counsel concerning future visits

⁵ I am coming to visit you after I have been to Macedonia,

Paul was in Ephesus (3 years – Acts 20:31) when he wrote this letter to the Corinthians (v.8).

From Ephesus, Paul planned to travel through Macedonia.

Paul originally planned to visit Corinth before and after his trip to Macedonia.

1 Corinthians 4:19 (NLT)
¹⁹ But I will come—and soon—if the Lord lets me, and then I’ll find out whether these arrogant people just give pretentious speeches or whether they really have God’s power.

2 Corinthians 1:15-16 (NLT)
¹⁵ Since I was so sure of your understanding and trust, I wanted to give you a double blessing by visiting you twice— ¹⁶ first on my way to Macedonia and again when I returned from Macedonia. Then you could send me on my way to Judea.

• We make plans for ourselves, but God may have something else in store for us.

Proverbs 16:9 (NLT)
We can make our plans,
but the Lord determines our steps.

for I am planning to travel through Macedonia. 

Note the different churches in Macedonia shown on the map.

Philippi
Berea
Thessalonica

Paul also collected money from these churches for the church in Jerusalem.

2 Corinthians 8:1-4 (NLT)
A Call to Generous Giving
1 Now I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters, what God in his kindness has done through the churches in Macedonia. ² They are being tested by many troubles, and they are very poor. But they are also filled with abundant joy, which has overflowed in rich generosity.
³ For I can testify that they gave not only what they could afford, but far more. And they did it of their own free will. ⁴ They begged us again and again for the privilege of sharing in the gift for the believers in Jerusalem.

⁶ Perhaps I will stay awhile with you, possibly all winter, and then you can send me on my way to my next destination. 

“You can send me.”

• Be willing to partner with others in their ministry.

⁷ This time I don’t want to make just a short visit and then go right on. I want to come and stay awhile, if the Lord will let me.  

⁸ In the meantime, I will be staying here at Ephesus until the Festival of Pentecost. 

The “Feast of Weeks” Leviticus 23:15-22
A grain harvest celebration that ended 50 days after Passover.

⁹ There is a wide-open door for a great work here (in Ephesus), although many oppose me.

• Great opportunity is often accompanied by great opposition.

2 Corinthians 1:8-10 (NLT)
⁸ We think you ought to know, dear brothers and sisters, about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia. We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it. ⁹ In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead. ¹⁰ And he did rescue us from mortal danger, and he will rescue us again. We have placed our confidence in him, and he will continue to rescue us. 

¹⁰ When Timothy comes,

1 Corinthians 4:17 (NLT)
That’s why I have sent Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord. He will remind you of how I follow Christ Jesus, just as I teach in all the churches wherever I go.

 Acts 19:22 (NLT)
He sent his two assistants, Timothy and Erastus, ahead to Macedonia while he stayed awhile longer in the province of Asia.

Timothy sometimes traveled in Paul’s place.

Philippians 2:19-24 (NLT)
Paul Commends Timothy
¹⁹ If the Lord Jesus is willing, I hope to send Timothy to you soon for a visit. Then he can cheer me up by telling me how you are getting along. ²⁰ I have no one else like Timothy, who genuinely cares about your welfare. ²¹ All the others care only for themselves and not for what matters to Jesus Christ. ²² But you know how Timothy has proved himself. Like a son with his father, he has served with me in preaching the Good News. ²³ I hope to send him to you just as soon as I find out what is going to happen to me here. ²⁴ And I have confidence from the Lord that I myself will come to see you soon. 

Timothy most likely delivered the 1 Corinthians letter at this time.

• Don’t try to do all the work yourself.

don’t intimidate him.

1 Timothy 4:12 (NLT)
Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity.

• Don’t intimidate someone who appears to be weaker than you.

He is doing the Lord’s work, just as I am. ¹¹ Don’t let anyone treat him with contempt.

• Don’t treat others with contempt.

• Respect the efforts of younger, less experienced people in ministry. 

Send him on his way with your blessing when he returns to me. I expect him to come with the other believers.

• Be willing to partner with others in their ministry.

¹² Now about our brother Apollos

An Old Testament saint and follower of John the Baptist.
Very knowledgeable in O T scripture.
Also instructed by Aquila and Priscilla.
Became a powerful Christian Preacher.
An eloquent speaker.
Profoundly influence the Corinthians on an earlier visit to Corinth.

—I urged him to visit you with the other believers, but he was not willing to go right now. He will see you later when he has the opportunity. 

• Respect the wishes of your coworkers.

 

Money for God’s people.

The Bible contains 2,350 verses about money and possessions—15% of everything Jesus said related to issues of money. – Dave Ramsey

Biblical Stewardship   –    Making smart money decisions

1 Corinthians 16:1-4 (NLT)
The Collection for Jerusalem
¹ Now regarding your question about the money being collected for God’s people in Jerusalem. You should follow the same procedure I gave to the churches in Galatia. ² On the first day of each week, you should each put aside a portion of the money you have earned. Don’t wait until I get there and then try to collect it all at once. ³ When I come, I will write letters of recommendation for the messengers you choose to deliver your gift to Jerusalem. ⁴ And if it seems appropriate for me to go along, they can travel with me.

Examine the scriptures:

1 Corinthians 16:1-4 (NLT)
The Collection for Jerusalem
¹ Now regarding your question about the money being collected for God’s people in Jerusalem.

The Jerusalem Church was facing harder than usual economic times as a result of a famine.

Acts 11:28 (NLT)
One of them named Agabus stood up in one of the meetings and predicted by the Spirit that a great famine was coming upon the entire Roman world. (This was fulfilled during the reign of Claudius.)

The area around Jerusalem was dealing with a precarious economy.

 

This is a practical expression of faith. (From a person transformed by God.)

Previous chapter.
1 Corinthians 15:58 (NLT)
So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless. 

• Work enthusiastically for the Lord. 

You should follow the same procedure I gave to the churches in Galatia.  

• This teaching is not only for the Corinthians. This is for Christians everywhere.

2 Corinthians 8:14 (NLT)
Right now you have plenty and can help those who are in need. Later, they will have plenty and can share with you when you need it. In this way, things will be equal.

Deuteronomy 15:7-11 (NLT)
⁷ “But if there are any poor Israelites in your towns when you arrive in the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hard-hearted or tightfisted toward them. ⁸ Instead, be generous and lend them whatever they need. ⁹ Do not be mean-spirited and refuse someone a loan because the year for canceling debts is close at hand. If you refuse to make the loan and the needy person cries out to the Lord, you will be considered guilty of sin. ¹⁰ Give generously to the poor, not grudgingly, for the Lord your God will bless you in everything you do. ¹¹ There will always be some in the land who are poor. That is why I am commanding you to share freely with the poor and with other Israelites in need. 

² On the first day of each week,

• Give systematically.

2 Corinthians 9:6-8 (NLT)
⁶ Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. ⁷ You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” ⁸ And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.

 you should each

• Everyone should participate.

James 2:14-17 (NLT)
Faith without Good Deeds Is Dead
¹⁴ What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? ¹⁵ Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, ¹⁶ and you say, “Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do?
¹⁷ So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.

Proverbs 3:27 (NLT)
²⁷ Do not withhold good from those who deserve it
when it’s in your power to help them.

Philippians 2:4 (NLT)
Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.

 put aside a portion of the money you have earned.

• Giving is to be proportionate.

1 John 3:17-18 (NLT)
¹⁷ If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person?
¹⁸ Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions. 

Acts 20:35 (NLT)
And I have been a constant example of how you can help those in need by working hard. You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

 Don’t wait until I get there and then try to collect it all at once. 

• Don’t procrastinate.

³ When I come, I will write letters of recommendation for the messengers you choose to deliver your gift to Jerusalem. 

• Handle money in a responsible manner. (financial accountability)

⁴ And if it seems appropriate for me to go along, they can travel with me.

Paul volunteered to travel with the men transporting the money.

 A parting thought:

Luke 6:38 (NLT)

Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.”

• • • • Give systematically.
      • Everyone should participate.
      • Giving is to be proportionate.
      • Don’t procrastinate.
      • Handle money in a responsible manner.

We Will All Be Transformed

We (Christians) have been transformed,  are being transformed, and will be transformed.

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NLT)
This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

1 Corinthians 15:50-58 (NLT)
⁵⁰ What I am saying, dear brothers and sisters, is that our physical bodies cannot inherit the Kingdom of God. These dying bodies cannot inherit what will last forever.
⁵¹ But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed! ⁵² It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed. ⁵³ For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies.
⁵⁴ Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled:
“Death is swallowed up in victory.
⁵⁵ O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting?”
⁵⁶ For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. ⁵⁷ But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.
⁵⁸ So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.

Examine the scriptures:

1 Corinthians 15:50-58 (NLT)
⁵⁰ What I am saying, dear brothers and sisters, is that our physical bodies cannot inherit the Kingdom of God. These dying bodies cannot inherit what will last forever.

Dying bodies

Romans 8:23 (NLT)
And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children, including the new bodies he has promised us. 

  Not just our bodies

Romans 8:20-23 (NLT)
²⁰ Against its will, all creation was subjected to God’s curse. But with eager hope, ²¹ the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay. ²² For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. ²³ And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children, including the new bodies he has promised us.

⁵¹ But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret.

Truth revealed in the New Testament

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 (NLT)

The Hope of the Resurrection

¹³ And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope. ¹⁴ For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died.
¹⁵ We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died. ¹⁶ For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves. ¹⁷ Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. ¹⁸ So encourage each other with these words.

 We will not all die, but we will all be transformed! 

Transformation begins before we die.

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NLT)
This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! 

⁵² It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed. ⁵³ For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies.

Resurrected bodies don’t get sick. Resurrected bodies don’t get cancer. Resurrected bodies don’t struggle with sin. Resurrected bodies don’t die. Resurrected bodies don’t have knee pain, headaches or back injuries. Resurrected bodies dwell with God personally in a new heaven and new earth—the way it was meant to be.

• We (Christians) will all be transformed.

⁵⁴ Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, 

Death’s power removed.

this Scripture will be fulfilled:  (Isaiah 25:8 & Hosea 13:14)
“Death is swallowed up in victory.
⁵⁵ O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting?”
⁵⁶ For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. ⁵⁷ But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.

John 10:27-28 (NLT)
²⁷ My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. ²⁸ I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me,

• God gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Not just transformed bodies.

Colossians 1:21-22 (NLT)
²¹ This includes you who were once far away from God. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions. ²² Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault.

• It is not just our bodies that are transformed.

Our whole being is transformed.

⁵⁸ So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. 

Read without commentary:

Ephesians 6:10-18 (NLT)
¹⁰ A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. ¹¹ Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. ¹² For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.
¹³ Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. ¹⁴ Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. ¹⁵ For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. ¹⁶ In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. ¹⁷ Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
¹⁸ Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere. 

• Be strong in the Lord. Put on all of God’s armor. 

Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, 

for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless. 

Use the talents God has given to you.

Matthew 25:21 (NLT)
“The master was full of praise. ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’ 

• Work enthusiastically for the Lord.