Day 333 Reading Schedule: 2 Corinthians 5-9 

2 Corinthians 5: Christ's Ambassador 

[Overview] 

In this chapter, Paul compares the life of this world and the next world through the metaphor of the tent house and the eternal house. He also emphasizes the fact that his apostleship is the ministry of reconciliation through Christ. This chapter logically succeeds 1 Corinthians 15, which is called the 'resurrection chapter'. There, Paul discusses the issue of death and resurrection, and he understands resurrection as shedding the old existence dominated by death and experiencing God's eschatological new creation. In the latter part of this chapter, the topic changes a bit and the ministry of reconciliation given by God is discussed in detail. The content of this chapter is largely divided into two parts. In the first paragraph, Paul exhorts us to look at the invisible world with the eyes of faith and overcome our current sufferings and please only the Lord (verses 1-10). In the second paragraph, he preaches the spiritual truth that those who have experienced reconciliation with God through Christ have become new creations and are God’s messengers who have received the mission of reconciliation (verses 11-21). 

2 Corinthians 6: Apostle Paul’s Exhortation

[Overview]

In this chapter, Paul actively testifies to the truth of his apostolic authority and divine origin by describing the sufferings he experienced in carrying out his gospel ministry. In addition, Paul exhorts the church in Corinth to be reconciled with one another as workers working together with God, and to not separate and unite with unbelievers. These two exhortations may seem extremely exclusive at first glance, but in reality, tolerating, appeasing, and reconciling with one another with the love of Christ is an indispensable requirement that cannot be separated from departing from sin, living a holy life, and maintaining spiritual purity. Therefore, Paul, as a servant of God who wholeheartedly participates in God's work, is giving these two exhortations at the same time. This chapter consists of a section exhorting not to receive God's grace in vain (verses 1-2), a section clarifying that they should work without shame as a ministry of reconciliation (verses 3-10), and a section exhorting the Corinthians to be reconciled with one another with parental tolerance (verses 11-18).

2 Corinthians 7: Paul's Joy

[Summary]

This chapter can be said to be a chapter of joy in a word. This is because the Corinthians, who had been tightly shut in their hearts even after Paul's heartbreaking visit to Corinth in 2:1, received the 'stern letter' also known as the 'letter of tears' through Titus and repented of their mistakes, giving joy to Paul, who was worried and anxious. Paul explained in this chapter that the reason the Corinthians repented was because they were anxious according to God's will. Unlike the worldly anxiety that leads to despair, anxiety, and impatience and ultimately death, this anxiety caused the Corinthians to break free from indifference to sin and to launch a movement of purification to cleanse themselves from sin, and to fear God's wrath toward sinners. The content of this chapter consists of the first half (verses 1-4) requesting reconciliation and the second half (verses 5-16) expressing the joy resulting from reconciliation.

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2 Corinthians 8: True Offering

[Summary]

This chapter records the exhortation for the relief offering for the saints in Jerusalem. This exhortation continues throughout this chapter and chapter 9. In these two chapters, Saul explains and exhorts the offering for the poor saints in Jerusalem. The background of this offering is related to Acts 11:27-30. Paul informs the church in Corinth of the fact that the church in Macedonia gave abundant offerings despite the difficulties, and encourages them to willingly participate in the offering. He decides to send Titus and an unnamed brother to Corinth to collect the offering, and specifically mentions Titus’ faith and character. Through this chapter, we can see that the essential importance of offerings lies not in the material itself, but in the unity and loving fellowship between the churches. This chapter consists of the Macedonian church’s example of giving (verses 1-5), the principle and purpose of the offering (verses 6-15), and an introduction to Titus, a fellow translator (verses 16-24). 

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2 Corinthians 9: The Right Attitude toward Offering

[Overview]

Following the previous chapter, in this chapter, Paul also conveys specific instructions on the offering of the Corinthian church. That is, he encourages the dispatched persons to not only prepare the offering in advance before arriving in Corinth, but also to give generously with a willing heart. He wrote this chapter in order to fully convey his intention to the Corinthian believers. Paul had already boasted about the zeal of the Corinthian believers to many churches. Therefore, if the dispatched persons had not yet prepared the offering, it would have been a great disaster, so he wrote this chapter. Furthermore, Paul was concerned that the Macedonians who would receive the offering would be greatly embarrassed if the offering had not yet been prepared when he visited the Corinthian church with him. With this, Paul is teaching that offerings should be a good deed of self-sacrifice and that God's blessing will surely follow. The content of this chapter consists of prepared offerings (verses 1-5) and the benefits of offerings (verses 6-15).