Class Notes, 2 Cor 7:5-9:15

2 Cor 7:5 (NIV) For when we came into Macedonia, this body of ours had no rest, but we were harassed at every turn — conflicts on the outside, fears within.

• How does Paul's description of his life contrast with the health and wealth gospel that some churches preach? In definite contrast
• How would they respond to this verse? Persecution is different from other sufferings
• If persecution is accepted under the health and wealth gospel, that raises two questions
  • Why is it that the ones who walk more closely to Christ are more likely to be persecuted?
  • And, doesn't that encourage a shallow walk with God, since health and wealth come to those who believe but don't live in a way to upset the apple cart?
• QT NOTE: Paul had a very tough life. There were joys but quite often it was difficult. It was far from the health and wealth gospel that some would like to preach. Of course, people make a distinction between troubles that are the result of persecution and non-persecution. It is as if that those who suffer persecution have no rescue from their troubles, but those who face trials not caused by persecution have the promise of healthy bodies and fixed circumstances. So, the really godly, those who are often the victim of persecution are consigned to live lives of pain and suffering, and those who are not persecuted get the good life. How illogical. Why is it we believe such things. Don't we realize that the evil and pain in this world is the result of this world's rebellion to God that started in the garden. This world is not our home. We are aliens and sojourners in it. We are, as the song says, "just a passin through." And, "our treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue." Why is it we must have our reward here and now? Why is it that we cannot wait for our reward?
  2 Cor 7:6-16 (NIV) But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, 7 and not only by his coming but also by the comfort you had given him. He told us about your longing for me, your deep sorrow, your ardent concern for me, so that my joy was greater than ever. 
  8 Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it. Though I did regret it — I see that my letter hurt you, but only for a little while— 9 yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. 10 Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. 11 See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done. At every point you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter. 12 So even though I wrote to you, it was not on account of the one who did the wrong or of the injured party, but rather that before God you could see for yourselves how devoted to us you are. 13 By all this we are encouraged.
  In addition to our own encouragement, we were especially delighted to see how happy Titus was, because his spirit has been refreshed by all of you. 14 I had boasted to him about you, and you have not embarrassed me. But just as everything we said to you was true, so our boasting about you to Titus has proved to be true as well. 15 And his affection for you is all the greater when he remembers that you were all obedient, receiving him with fear and trembling. 16 I am glad I can have complete confidence in you. 
• This is another very personal section. We learn two things from this section
  • Paul had sent a hurtful letter to the Corinthians
  • The Corinthians had responded with godly sorrow and repentance
• Regarding Paul's letter, he did and he didn't regret it. What is he saying?
  • He regretted it because he did not want to hurt them
  • He didn't regret it because he knew they needed it
• What does Paul's attitude tell you about how he saw his relationship to the Corinthians?
  • He was like a parent. He doesn't want to hurt, but he knows it is the best thing
• How do the Corinthians respond?
  • Hurt
  • Deeply sorrowful (godly sorrow)
  • Alarm, indignation, longing, concern, and readiness to see justice done
• How could the Corinthians responded?
  • Bitterness and resentment
  • Superficial repentance
• It is not clear what Paul means by "innocent" since they were genuinely sorrowful ...
• QT NOTE: Paul is extremely joyful because of the response of the church to a very harsh letter now lost. It hurts when your children, physical or spiritual, make poor choices. And there is no greater joy than seeing them repent and make correct choices. I pray that for my own children. That they would learn to seek God with all of their heart, and that they would learn that what this world offers is not worth the sweat it costs. But knowing God is worth every penny and then more. 
• QT NOTE: Some people wonder how a good God can allow evil in the world. I would offer, how can a good God not allow evil. Evil is a reminder of our rebellion and the only hope that we might turn from our selfish course and pursue God, who created Eden, but has let us experience this life in order that we would repent of our rebellion and return to him. Evil is the proof that life is not the way that God intended, nor the way to a relationship with God that will completely fulfill a person. If God was to take away every evil action or result, what we would learn, what would we do? The one thing it would not do is cause us to seek Him. It didn't work in the garden, it won't work today.
  2 Cor 8:1-9 (NIV) And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. 2 Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. 3 For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, 4 they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints. 5 And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God's will. 6 So we urged Titus, since he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part. 7 But just as you excel in everything — in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us — see that you also excel in this grace of giving. 
  8 I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.
• A number of principles for giving come out of this passage -- what do you see?
• V1. Giving is an act of grace (which differentiates it from something in or out of the law, ie, it can not be compared to tithing)
• V2. Circumstances (wealth or poverty) do not dictate giving
• V2,3. Giving is sacrificial
• V3,4. Giving is a personal decision. It is a privilege and not a command
• V5. Giving is between the giver and God (and no one else's business)
• V4-8. Giving is not commanded
• V8. Giving is a measure of our love for others
• APPLICATION: The church today is so hung up on tithing and the ten commandments (the law), that we forget one of the most essential truths of the new covenant. We are not under the law but grace. Giving is done freely, voluntarily, and between God and the giver. It is a joy and not a burden.
  2 Cor 8:10-15 (NIV) And here is my advice about what is best for you in this matter: Last year you were the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so. 11 Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means. 12 For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have. 
  13 Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. 14 At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. Then there will be equality, 15 as it is written: "He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little." 
• From an observation point of view, verse 10 tells us what? The Corinthian church led in the project to help the Jewish church
• The mentioning of their start may also be communicating a problem (at the same time)? They may have dropped the project
• What are some addition principles of giving?
  • V11-12. It does not matter how much you give, the important thing is "willingness"
  • V13. God does not want others to get rich at the giver's expense (think televangelist)
  • V14-15. Giving out of your plenty is not wrong. But holding back can result in having too little later
  2 Cor 8:18-21 (NIV)
  18 And we are sending along with him the brother who is praised by all the churches for his service to the gospel. 19 What is more, he was chosen by the churches to accompany us as we carry the offering, which we administer in order to honor the Lord himself and to show our eagerness to help. 20 We want to avoid any criticism of the way we administer this liberal gift. 21 For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of men.
• What are some additional principles related to giving?
  • V18,19. Choose men of good character and acceptable to the body to handle the money
  • V20,21. Go the extra mile to avoid criticism in the use of church funds
  • V20,21. Do what is right in the eyes of the Lord and in the eyes of men
  2 Cor 9:1-15 (NIV) There is no need for me to write to you about this service to the saints. 2 For I know your eagerness to help, and I have been boasting about it to the Macedonians, telling them that since last year you in Achaia were ready to give; and your enthusiasm has stirred most of them to action. 3 But I am sending the brothers in order that our boasting about you in this matter should not prove hollow, but that you may be ready, as I said you would be. 4 For if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we — not to say anything about you — would be ashamed of having been so confident. 5 So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to visit you in advance and finish the arrangements for the generous gift you had promised. Then it will be ready as a generous gift, not as one grudgingly given. 
  6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 9 As it is written:
  "He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor;
  his righteousness endures forever." 
  10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. 
  12 This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. 13 Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. 14 And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. 15 Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! 
• Why was this church giving project so important?
  • It was an example to smaller churches
  • It reflects on the name of Christ (implied)
  • (not mentioned) It shows Gentile concern for Jewish needs
  • It is needed by the poor in Jerusalem
• Additional giving principles
  • V5-7. Giving is done willingly, and not grudgingly
  • V6-9. Giving is sowing
  • V11-12. Giving expresses thankfulness to God
• What are God's promises regarding giving?
  • V6. There is a blessing to those who sow generously
  • V6. There is a "curse" to those sow sparingly
  • V7,8. God promises to make grace abound to the giver
  • V10-11. God promises to enlarge your harvest of righteousness
  • V11. God promises to make you rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion (?)
• The last point doesn't seem to fit and can be misinterpreted
  • Gal 6:7-9 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8 The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
  • Rich in every way does not mean financially wealthy, otherwise there would be no reason to give to the Jerusalem church. From verses in other letters, God does expect the "rich" to give generously
  • (Constable, p81, 2010) Preachers of "prosperity theology" have used these verses to support their contention that God will inevitably give you more material goods if you give what you presently have to Him. They often urge their hearers to give to God through their ministries. However Paul was comparing what God does on the physical plane with what He does spiritually. The farmer who plants a crop gets back more seed than he sowed. Similarly, Paul argued, those who sow spiritually by giving sacrificially to others will receive more spiritual seed, namely, divine enablement to help more people (vv. 8-9). Moreover God will not just supply more spiritual seed, but He will multiply it.
    Generally what we give away is what we get back. That is the principle in view. However this is not a promise that we will inevitably get more wealth if we give away our wealth. The opposite usually happens. In Galatians 6:7 the emphasis is on "that" rather than "reap." Paul's point there was that we reap in kind what we sow (cf. Gal. 6:8). He did not say that we will get back more of whatever we sow. "In everything" implies that God may give generous Christians more material resources that they can pass on to others. However, we should remember that the context is primarily dealing with righteousness that comes back to the person who sows righteous acts, not Rolls Royces and Rolex watches.