Author: Art Davison

THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS–NT SURVEY

Art Davison NT SURVEY 0 Comment
The Second Epistle to the Corinthians

Introduction:

This epistle, according to the subscription at the end of it, was written from Philippi of Macedonia… for the apostle not finding Titus at Troas, as he expected, went into Macedonia, where he met with him, and had an account from him of the success of his first epistle; of the state and condition of the church, and of the temper and disposition of mind in which the members of it were, and which gave him great satisfaction; upon which he immediately wrote this second epistle, and sent it by the same person to them; see 2 Corinthians 2:12-13; 2 Corinthians 7:5-7; 8:6, 16-18.
The occasion of this epistle was partly to excuse his not coming to them according to promise, and to vindicate himself from the charge of unfaithfulness, levity, and inconstancy on that account; and partly, since what he had wrote about the incestuous person, had had a good effect both upon him and them, to direct them to take off the censure that had been laid upon him, and restore him to their communion, and comfort him; likewise to stir them up to finish the collection for the poor saints they had begun. — John Gill’s Expositor.
The theme of the book is somewhat hidden, but it is quite apparent that Paul had prominently in mind, the vindication of his apostleship when he was writing this book. Both epistles to the Corinthians indicate that there was an element in this church which tended to discredit his ministry and authority. This tendency is shown in the texts of this Chain of Scripture: 2 Corinthians 3:1; 5:12; 7:2; 10:2-3; 11:5-6 ; 12:11; 13:3.
This is one of the most personal of all of Paul’s epistles. He dwells largely upon his own ministry. He opens his heart and discloses his motives, his spiritual passion, and his tender love for the church.
Writer: the Apostle Paul.
Synopsis: There are no definite divisions of thought in the epistle, but the subject matter may be arranged under three headings.
I. The Characteristics of the Apostle’s Ministry.

A. Comforting, 2 Corinthians 1:4-7; 7:7, 13.
NOTE: The apostle in this verse gives a reason of the former thanksgiving, and at the same time confirms the above character of God, as “the God of all comfort,” by his own experience, and that of his fellow ministers; who, though they had been in great tribulation and affliction for the sake of Christ, and his Gospel, yet were not left destitute of divine help and support under their trials. — John Gill’s Expositor.
B. Suffering, 2 Corinthians 1:5-9; 4:8-12; 5:4; 6:4-10; 7:5; 11:24-28; 12:7-10.
C. Sincerity as in the presence of God, 1 Corinthians 5:8, “Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.” See also 2 Corinthians 1:12; 2:17; 4:2; 7:2.
D. Steadfast in the inward man, 2 Corinthians 1:17-19; 4:1, 16.
E. Solicitous, 2 Corinthians 2:3-4; 7:7-8; 11:2-3; 12:20-21.
NOTE: Instead of going in person to correct the evils which existed in the church of Corinth, he wrote to them that those evils might be corrected before he came, and thus his coming would be a source of joy to both parties. — Charles Hodge.
F. Triumphant, 2 Corinthians 2:14; 4:8-9; 12:10.
G. Self-sacrificing, 2 Corinthians 4:5, 11, 15; 5:13; 11:7, 9.
NOTE: The connection indicated by the particle for is with the main idea of the preceding verse. ‘Our gospel,’ says Paul, ‘is the gospel of the glory of Christ, for we do not preach ourselves, but him.’ To preach one’s self is to make self the end of preaching; that is, preaching with the design to attract to ourselves the admiration, the confidence or homage of men. This Paul declares he did not do, but he preached Christ Jesus the Lord. — Charles Hodge.
H. Love of Christ was the controlling motive, 2 Corinthians 4:11; 5:14.
I. Looking at the Unseen Spiritual things, 2 Corinthians 4:18; 5:16; 10:4.
J. Persuasive, 2 Corinthians 5:11, 20; 6:1; 10:1-2.
NOTE: “They endeavour to persuade them by the best arguments they are masters of, taken from the word of God, and their own experience, that they are in a dangerous state and condition, walking in a way that leads to destruction; that they are liable to the curses of the law, the wrath of God, and everlasting ruin.” – John Gill’s Expositor.
K. Reconciling, 2 Corinthians 5:19-21.
NOTE: “This expresses and explains the subject matter of the ministration of the Gospel, especially that part of it which concerns our reconciliation with God; and declares the scheme, the author, the subjects, the way, and means, and consequence of it.” — John Gill’s Expositor.
L. Demonstrated by earnestness, afflictions and good works, 2 Corinthians 5:13; 6:4-10; 12:12.
M. Authoritative, 2 Corinthians 10:1-11.
NOTE: “In this chapter the apostle has chiefly to do with the false teachers, and it is taken up in refuting their calumnies of him, and in exposing their boasting of themselves; and as he goes along, he takes notice of the efficacy of the Gospel, and of the success and extent of it, as it was preached by him, and other Gospel ministers, and points at the proper manner and ground of glorying.” — John Gill’s Expositor.
N. Self-supporting, 2 Corinthians 11:9.
II. Exhortations and Instructions Concerning the Collection for the Saints in Jerusalem and Judea, 2 Corinthians 8:1—9:15

NOTE: These two chapters are “concerned exclusively with the collection which the Apostle was raising in all the Gentile Christian communities for the poor of the Mother Church at Jerusalem. This collection had great importance in his eyes, for various reasons: it was the fulfillment of his undertaking, to the original Apostles, to remember the poor, Galatians 2:10, and it was a testimony to the saints in Palestine of the love of the Gentile brethren in Christ.” – Expositor’s Bible Commentary.
III. The Apostleship of Paul.

A. Paul was discredited by one element in the church, 2 Corinthians 10:7-10; 12:11; 13:3.
B. The Authority of Paul’s Apostleship, 2 Corinthians 2:9; 13:2.
C. Paul’s Apostleship Authenticated:
1. By the Lord, 2 Corinthians 1:1, 21-22; 3:5-6; 4:6.
2. By Unparalleled Sufferings for the Cause of Christ, 2 Corinthians 6:4-10; 11:23-27.
3. By Wonderful Revelations Received, 2 Corinthians 12:1-5.
4. By Mighty Deeds Performed, 2 Corinthians 12:12.
Choice Selections:

A. The ideal ministry, 2 Corinthians 4:1-18.
B. The triumph over death, 2 Corinthians 5:1-9.
C. The call to separation from the world, 2 Corinthians 6:14-18.
D. The list of sufferings endured by Paul, 2 Corinthians 11:24-33.

THE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS–NT SURVEY

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THE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS
Introduction:
“CORINTH was the first Gentile city in which Paul spent any considerable time. It afforded him the opportunities he sought as a preacher of Christ. Lying, as it did, on the famous Isthmus which connected Northern and Southern Greece, and defended by an almost impregnable citadel, it became a place of great political importance. Its position gave it also commercial advantages.” — Expositor’s Bible.
“Looking’ towards the north, the eye rests on the mountains of Attica on the one hand, and north-eastern Greece on the other. The Acropolis of Athens was clearly visible at a distance of forty-five miles. As early as the days of Homer, Corinth was an important city. Its position made it, in a military point of view, the key of the Peloponnesus; and its command of a port on two seas, made it the centre of commerce between Asia and Europe. It became the chief city of Greece, not only in authority but in wealth, magnificence, literature, the arts, and in luxury. It was characteristic of the place, that while the temple of Minerva {Roman goddess of wisdom and the arts} crowned the Acropolis of Athens, the Acrocorinthus was the site of the temple of Venus. Of all the cities of the ancient world it was most notorious for licentiousness.
As Corinth was not only the political capital of Greece, but the seat of its commercial and intellectual life; the place of concourse for the people not only of the neighbouring cities but of nations; a source whence influences of all kinds emanated in every direction, it was specially important for the diffusion of the gospel. Paul therefore, leaving Athens, which he had visited in his second missionary journey, went alone to Corinth, where he was soon after joined by Silas and Timotheus, who came from Macedonia, Acts 18:5.” — Charles Hodge.
For more information about Corinth during the time before and after the time of the Apostle Paul, read The Life and Epistles of St. Paul by W. J. Conybeare.
Writer: The Apostle Paul.
Historical Occasion: The church at Corinth was founded by Paul on his second missionary journey. It had become infected with the evils which surrounded it in a licentious city. The Greeks were proud of their learning and philosophy, but at the same time were addicted to gross immorality. They were especially fond of oratory. It is apparent that Apollos, an eloquent Christian Jew, had come to Corinth and captured the imaginations of the Greek Christians, Acts 18:24-28. This fact led to the drawing of comparisons between him, with his silver tongue, and other religious leaders; especially to the discredit of Paul, whose bodily presence seems not to have been impressive, 2 Corinthians 10:10. This probably is the clue to the schisms in the church, 1 Corinthians 1:11-13. It was the desire of Paul to purify the church from factions and immorality, which was the primary cause of the writing of the epistle.
Here is a Chain showing the false conceptions of the ministry, 1 Corinthians 1:12-17; 3:4-7, 21-22; 4:6-7.
Synopsis:
I. The Cleansing of the Church from False Conceptions of the Ministry, Intellectual Pride, Social Evils, and other disorders, 1 Corinthians 1:1—11:1.
A. The salutation, 1 Corinthians 1:1-9.
B. The need of cleansing the church from…1 Corinthians 1:10-31.
1. Party divisions or schisms.
2. Man-worship.
3. Glorying in worldly wisdom.
C. Paul’s exemplary ministry. There was no attempt on his part to display worldly wisdom, but to declare the wisdom of God in a message revealed to him by the Holy Spirit, 1 Corinthians 2:1-16.
D. The strife over leaders is a mark of immaturity and carnality, 1 Corinthians 3:1-8.
E. The True View of the Ministry: Ministers should be regarded…
1. As dispensers of the truth, 1 Corinthians 3:1-2.
2. As the Lord’s keepers of His vineyard, 1 Corinthians 3:6-8.
3. As Co-laborers with God, 1 Corinthians 3:9.
4. As Character Builders, 1 Corinthians 3:10.
5. As Stewards, 1 Corinthians 4:1-2.
6. As Sufferers for Christ’s sake, 1 Corinthians 4:9-13; as examples, 1 Corinthians 4:16-17.
7. As Administrators of Discipline, 1 Corinthians 4:18-21.
F. The duty of cleansing the Lord’s churches:
1. From immorality, 1 Corinthians 5:1-13.
2. From a Brother going “to law before the unjust,” against another Brother in Christ, 1 Corinthians 6:1-8.
3. Believers as members of Christ’s body and Temples of the Holy Spirit, should purify themselves from all sensuality, 1 Corinthians 6:9-20.
G. The sanctification of marriage and all sexual relationships and the paramount claims of the spiritual life, 1 Corinthians 7:1-40.
H. Christian Ideals demand the Sacrifice of certain rights and privileges for the sake of the ignorant and weak. For instance, the eating meat that has been offered to idols, 1 Corinthians 8:1-13.
I. Paul’s example of surrender of certain rights and liberties for the sake of Winning Men to Christ, 1 Corinthians 9:1-27.
J. Israel’s example of Infidelity, a warning to New Testament believers, 1 Corinthians 10:1-15.
K. Fellowship at the Lord’s Supper demands separation from evil associations, 1 Corinthians 10:16-21.
L. Christian Influence to be guarded in the matters of eating and drinking, 1 Corinthians 10:23-33.
M. Social customs to be observed in matters of Dress, 1 Corinthians 11:1-16.
N. Cleansing of the Corinthian church from Disorders in connection with the Lord’s Supper, and its proper observance, 1 Corinthians 11:17-34.
II. Doctrinal Instructions and Advice.
A. Concerning the Diversity of Spiritual Gifts, 1 Corinthians 12:1-31.
B. The Pre-eminence of Love, 1 Corinthians 13:1-13.
C. The Pre-eminence of Prophecy over the gift of tongues, and the Importance of maintaining Proper Order in the Public Assemblies, 1 Corinthians 14:1-40.
D. The Doctrine of the Resurrection, 1 Corinthians 15:1-58.
E. Closing instructions and salutations, 1 Corinthians 16:1-24.

THE BOOK OF RUTH–A BRIEF OUTLINE

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THE BOOK OF RUTH

Introduction:

“This lovely story should be read in connection with the first half of Judges, as it presents a picture of life in Israel at that time.

Typically, the book may be taken as a fore view of the church (Ruth), as the Gentile bride of Christ, the Bethlehemite who is able to redeem.” — Scofield.

This beautiful pastoral story is considered a literary gem by critics. One of two books in the Bible in which woman is the principal character, —Ruth and Esther. Ruth, a Moabite, married a Hebrew husband; Esther, a Jewess, married a Gentile king.

Author: Unknown, possibly Samuel.

Period: The time of the Judges

Subject: How a Young Moabitish Woman’s Life Was Enriched.

1) By a beautiful Constancy, and Wise Choice, Ruth 1:16.

2) By a humble Industry, Ruth 2:2-3.

3) By accepting Counsel from an Older Friend, Ruth 3:1-5.

4) By the kinsman redeemer, Ruth 4:1-9,

5) By a Providential Alliance, Ruth 4:10-11.

6) By Exaltation to a Royal Line, Ruth 4:13-17.

Main Purpose: To show how a Gentile Woman became one of the Ancestors of Christ.

Historical Analysis:

1) The Sojourn in Moab, Ruth 1:1-5.

2) The Sad Return Home, Ruth 1:6-22.

3) Ruth gleans in the fields of Boaz, Ruth 2.

4) Her Marriage to Boaz, Ruth 4:13.

5) The Birth of her son, the grandfather of David, Ruth 4:13-16.

6) The Genealogy of David, Ruth 4:18-22.

THE BOOK OF NEHEMIAH–A BRIEF OUTLINE

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THE BOOK OF NEHEMIAH

Introduction:

Fourteen years after the return of Ezra to Jerusalem, Nehemiah led up a company (B.C. 444) and restored the walls and the civil authority. Of those events this book is the record. — Scofield.

In the Hebrew manuscripts the books of Ezra and Nehemiah appeared as one book.

Author or Compiler: uncertain. A large portion of the book is regarded by many students as an autobiography of Nehemiah.

Key Text: Nehemiah 6:3, “And I sent messengers unto them, saying, I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you?”

Leading Topics:

—The Rebuilding of the Walls of Jerusalem;

—The rehearsal of certain Divine Laws;

—The restoration of Ancient Ordinances.

A Brief Summary of the Book:

PART 1: A Typical Study.

Theme: The Rebuilding of the Walls of Jerusalem considered as a Type of the Up Building of the Divine Kingdom in the Earth.

1) The walls broken down, may typify the defenses of God’s kingdom weakened, Nehemiah 1:3, “And they said unto me, The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire.”

2) The preliminary season of fasting and prayer, Nehemiah 1:4-11, may typify the state of mind which should precede all great spiritual enterprises.

3) Nehemiah’s sacrifice of a fine position for the good of the cause, Nehemiah 2:5, may typify the sacrificial service always needed when a great work is to be accomplished.

4) The night inspection of the city, Nehemiah 2:15-16, may typify the necessity of facing the facts before beginning constructive work.

5) The seeking of co-operation, Nehemiah 2:17-18, may typify an essential element in all successful work.

6) The enlistment of all classes, Nehemiah 3:1 may typify the importance of thorough organization.

The Same Methods May Be Used In Overcoming Hindrances To Spiritual Work.

1) Ridicule, Nehemiah 2:19, is overcome by confidence in God, Nehemiah 2:20.

2) Wrath and contempt, Nehemiah 4:3, are overcome by prayer and hard work, Nehemiah 4:4-6.

3) Conspiracy, Nehemiah 4:7-8, is overcome by watchfulness and prayer, Nehemiah 4:9.

4) Discouragement of friends, Nehemiah 4:10, 12, overcome by steadfast courage, Nehemiah 4:13-14.

5) Selfish greed, Nehemiah 5:1-5, overcome by rebuke and self-sacrificing example, Nehemiah 5:6-17.

6) Work completed, enemies confounded by persistent endeavor, Nehemiah 6:1-15.

PART 2: Closing Events.

1) The rehearsal and exposition of the Divine Law, Nehemiah 8.

2) The confession of the Priests and Levites, and the signing of the covenant, Nehemiah 9:1–10:39.

3) The call for people to dwell in Jerusalem, Nehemiah 11.

4) The dedication of the walls, Nehemiah 12.

5) Social and religious reforms, Nehemiah 13.

THE BOOK OF EZRA–A BRIEF OUTLINE

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THE BOOK OF EZRA
Introduction:

Ezra, the first of the post-captivity books (Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi), records the return to Palestine under Zerubbabel, by decree of Cyrus, of a Jewish remnant who laid the temple foundations (B.C. 536). Later (B.C. 458) Ezra followed, and restored the law and ritual. But the mass of the nation, and most of the princes, remained by preference in Babylonia and Assyria, where they were prospering. The post-captivity books deal with that feeble remnant which alone had a heart for God. — Scofield.

Writer: Unknown. It is generally conceded that Ezra was not the author of the entire book, but may have been the compiler of those portions which he did not write. He was a Jewish exile in Babylon of priestly descent, Ezra 7:1-6.

Main Subjects: The return of the Jews from their captivity in Babylon, the rebuilding of the temple and the inauguration of social and religious reforms.

Spiritual Message: The power of the Word of God in human life; referred to as the “Word of the Lord,” Ezra 1:1; 9:4; “Law of Moses,” Ezra 3:2; 6:18; 7:6; “Commandments,” Ezra 6:14; 10:3, 5; “Law of the Lord,” Ezra 7:10,14.

A Brief Summary of the Book:

PART 1: The Return of the First Colony of Jews under the Leadership of Zerubbabel, Ezra 1:1–6:22.

1) Authorized by King Cyrus, Ezra 1:1-4.

2) The names of the returning remnant of the people, the priests, the Levites, the descendants of Solomon’s servants, and their substance and gifts, Ezra 2.

PART 2: Their Building Enterprises.

1) The altar rebuilt and worship established, Ezra 3:1-6.

2) The foundation of the temple laid, Ezra 3:8-13.

3) The people of the land desire to join in the work, Ezra 4:1-2.

4) When their offer was rejected they became violent opposers, causing the suspension of the work, Ezra 4:4-24.

5) After a long delay the work was resumed by an edict of King Darius, Ezra 5:1-6:2.

6) The temple finished and dedicated and ancient rites observed, Ezra 6:15-22.

PART 3: The Return of the Second Colony under Ezra, authorized by the king, Artaxerxes, Ezra 7:1-10:44.

1) The list of Ezra’s company of returning exiles, and their arrival at Jerusalem, Ezra 8.

2) The correction of social evils by Ezra, Ezra 9:1–10:44.

The Literary and Religious Work of Ezra:

He is the reputed author of several Psalms, notably the 119th. According to ancient tradition he wrote First and Second Chronicles, but this cannot be proven. He was associated with Nehemiah in initiating a revival of the study of the Scriptures, Nehemiah 8. He was reputed to be the organizer of the Jewish synagogue, and to have assembled most of the books of the Old Testament.