Lesson 16 – 2 Corinthians Chapter 7:13-16 & Chapter 8:1-2

It’s been a long time since we’ve started 1 and 2 Corinthians, so let me just refresh our minds a little on what we have studied. In 1 Corinthians, Paul had the challenge of hitting the “re-set button” with the Corinthian church. To put it bluntly, they had gone off the rails when it came to how Christians should live out their lives, and how any “mature” church should function.

Looking back, we saw there were dividing factions among the believers, we could call them little “clicks.” Ironically, we can still see clicks in the church today. Paul urges the Corinthian believers to be united through the cross of Christ, and not to be divided by any personalities or worldly wisdom.

Then there were moral purity and accountability issues. Paul rebukes the Corinthians for tolerating the sexual immorality that was taking place within the church, and calls for discipline and repentance on their part. Believers are reminded that their bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit.

The Corinthians abused their Christian liberty and responsibilities. Paul teaches that while believers have freedom in Christ (for example, worshipping or eating food offered to idols), they were to act in love and avoid causing others to stumble. Whether we realize it or not, there’s always someone watching. Paul says, “I don’t say this to make you paranoid, but to make you aware and responsible in all your actions.”

Also, spiritual gifts and worship were a mess in the Corinthian church. Chapters 12 to 14 explore the diversity of spiritual gifts, emphasizing to us that all gifts must be exercised in love, and that the gifts are for the edification of the church. We learned that besides love accompanying our spiritual gifts, love should always be in the mix in whatever we’re involved in. Paul also corrects them in their disorderly worship practices, which had to do with them speaking in tongues.

Paul teaches on the Resurrection; Chapter 15 is a powerful defense of the resurrection of Christ and the future resurrection of all believers. Paul declares that without the resurrection, our faith is useless, but because Christ has risen, death has been completely defeated. The only sting we feel from death is when someone we love or care about passes on, and we know as believers it’s never good-bye, it’s until we meet again!

A key verse for us: “Now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.” (1 Cor. 13:13)

The main tone we see from Paul in 1 Corinthians is that he was firm with the believers, as well as being corrective and pastoral; but in 2 Corinthians, Paul’s tone will be seen as emotional, vulnerable, and deeply personal. When Paul wrote 1 Corinthians to the Corinthian church, they sadly neglected to heed his teachings and warnings.

As we have seen in 2 Corinthians, Paul urges the Corinthian believers to stand together in unity, and to be grounded in the message of the cross, rather than divided by their personalities and preferences. Very importantly, they were also to ignore the world’s idea of wisdom. He reminds them that Christ alone is the center of their faith, and it is His sacrifice, not human leaders, that binds them together.

2 Corinthians 1–6: A very brief summary:

Chapter 1 — Comfort in Affliction

Paul opens by blessing God as the source of all comfort, explaining that his suffering has a purpose: what he has gone through equips him to comfort others.

Vs. 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.” How often do we rely on ourselves instead of God, where nothing is impossible with Him?

Then Paul defends his integrity regarding his travel plans that had changed, insisting that he acts with sincerity and that God’s promises are always “Yes” in Christ, as should our word be as well. When we say yes or no, it is the truth we speak.

Chapter 2 — Forgiveness and Paul’s Ministry

Paul urges the church to forgive and restore a disciplined member of the church, showing that discipline aims at healing, not destruction… this comes back to us loving one another.

He describes his ministry as a “triumph” in Christ, spreading the “aroma” of the good news of God, it would be life‑giving to some, and convicting to others. The question to ask ourselves is, are the lives we live a sweet smelling aroma to God?

Chapter 3 — The New Covenant

Paul contrasts the old covenant (which was written on stone, being associated with condemnation), and then the new covenant (written on hearts, bringing righteousness and the Holy Spirit).

Paul says believers behold the Lord’s glory, and are transformed into His image. With that, we should be mirrors that brightly reflect the glory of the Lord.

Chapter 4 — Treasure in Jars of Clay

Paul explains that the gospel is a treasure, carried in fragile human bodies (“jars of clay”), so everyone can see that our glorious power is from God and is not our own.

Paul also describes his hardships, but insists he is not crushed, because he looks to the eternal, and not the temporary.

Vs. 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.”

Chapter 5 — New Creation and Ministry of Reconciliation

Paul says our earthly life is like living in a temporary tent, and believers long for their eternal home. We grow weary in our present bodies, and we long to put on our heavenly bodies like new clothing. As each day passes, we are another day closer to our new bodies.

He also emphasizes that in Christ, everyone becomes a new creation, the old life is washed away and our new life is in Christ.

A verse that stands out…

Vs. 10 “For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body.”

God has given Paul… and all believers… the ministry of reconciliation, urging people to be reconciled to God. When we tell people about God’s salvation, God is using us in their reconciliation.

Chapter 6 — Paul’s Hardships and Call to Holiness

Today is the day of salvation. The moment the Holy Spirit enlightens a person to choose Jesus, that is the moment to say yes to Him! Tomorrow is not promised to anyone.

Paul lists the hardships he endures as proof of his genuine ministry.

Vs. 4 “In everything we do, we show that we are true ministers of God. We patiently endure troubles and hardships and calamities of every kind.”

He appeals to the Corinthians to open their hearts to him again. Paul speaks to them as he would his own children.

He warns them not to be “unequally yoked” with unbelievers and calls them to holiness, since they are God’s temple. This is wisdom from God’s Word that not very many people heed.

Picking up in chapter 7, we learned that Paul had a true heart for the Corinthians. They were a tough group of people to deal with, but Paul’s solution was to love them. Paul didn’t just preach love, he lived it, which is something we as believers should do as well. I think Paul and John are well known for directing believers in the path of love, and that’s because we serve a God of love.

The other thing that changed the Corinthians was the Word of God. God used Paul’s letters to reach them as a way to connect with their hearts, and the end result was their true repentance.

We only have four verses left in chapter seven, so let’s get started.

2 Cor. 7:13:
“Therefore we have been comforted in your comfort. And we rejoiced exceedingly more for the joy of Titus, because his spirit has been refreshed by you all.”

The way Paul starts out here is interesting, to say that he is comforted by the Corinthians. We know the Corinthians have a sorted history (who of us doesn’t have history?).

There’s something striking about the way Paul begins this thought. He doesn’t say, “We comforted you,” or “We corrected you,” or even “We endured you.” Instead, he says, “we have been comforted in your comfort.”

Through our many studies, we know that the Corinthian believers had lots of problems, but Paul has seen a spark in them, they were making spiritual progress, and just like a good parent or coach, Paul is lifting them up. It’s always good to accentuate on the positive. Not in a shallow, “pretend everything is fine” way, but in a deeply spiritual way, recognizing and celebrating the evidence of God’s grace in people’s lives, even when their story is complicated.

Paul knows the power of encouragement. He knows what it does to a weary heart. He knows how it can strengthen a believer who’s trying to walk in the right direction after stumbling; this was the situation in Corinth.

Unfortunately, many relationships today lie fractured, whether in homes, churches, or ministries; but know that restoration is always possible. Healing can come when people are willing to face their issues with honesty, which also involves humility. The Corinthians were willing to do this, and this is why Paul was comforted by them.

And we rejoiced exceedingly more for the joy of Titus…

What Paul had seen and sensed about the Corinthians, Titus was encouraged by as well. Titus also had seen a positive change in the Corinthians. This is what happens when we’re serving side-by-side in ministry, then when victories come, everyone on the team is lifted up.

For many years my wife and I, along with many other friends, ministered to the homeless. Whenever we had the privilege of praying with someone to receive Christ, the whole group would be filled with joy. When you’re standing in the midst of darkness, there’s nothing quite like the moment when God’s light comes breaking through.

Because his spirit has been refreshed by you all…

This brings us back to the time when Paul was, as we say, “thrown under the bus,” when people within the church attacked Paul’s reputation. In 1 Corinthians we saw factions rejecting Paul, judging him, and looking down on him.

There were also times when they questioned his authority, and with that, the Corinthians were acting superior to Paul; but now a change had taken place, the Holy Spirit worked in the hearts of these believers, and it was starting to show. Paul found comfort in this, and it says Titus was refreshed as well.

There is a certain dynamic in our verse worth pointing out, and it has to do with ministry in general. This is to all of those who are faithful servants to our Lord and Savior. The ones who have stepped out in faith and are willing to be on “Team Jesus.”

This involves time, God given talents, and resources. When Jesus said, “the fields are white for the picking,” He was talking about people who seem open, hurting, searching, or just asking deeper questions. There is no end to the possibilities in serving God. Paul found comfort in his work, and so can we.

I guess I’m saying all this to encourage you to start serving if you’re not serving now in some way, and in this, you’re storing up treasures in heaven.

2 Cor. 7:14:
“For if in anything I have boasted to him about you, I am not ashamed. But as we spoke all things to you in truth, even so our boasting to Titus was found true.”

Have you ever run into a proud parent, where if you let them, they will go on and on about their child or children, about how smart they are, or how they can do this or that? I think that’s where Paul is in this.

Paul knew the Corinthian believers and how far they had come. He says, I have boasted to him about you… meaning, like a proud parent, he talked to Titus about them, and as he did, it says he was not ashamed.

Hebrews 13:17 (NLT):
“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.”

A story that brings this into focus…

A small church in rural Georgia had been praying for years that God would bring about spiritual renewal. One Sunday, a young couple named Evan and Melissa walked in. They were new to faith, a little rough around the edges, and unsure of how church even worked. The pastor, Pastor Greene, welcomed them warmly and began meeting with them weekly.

Over the next year, the change in them was unmistakable.

• Evan, once skeptical and withdrawn, started serving on the setup team.
• Melissa, who had never prayed out loud before, began leading a women’s Bible study.
• They reconciled with family members they hadn’t spoken to in years.
• They became known for their kindness and eagerness to learn.

One day, a guest preacher named Pastor Lewis was scheduled to visit. Before he arrived, he asked Pastor Greene what the church was like. Without even realizing it, Pastor Greene lit up.

“You’ve got to meet Evan and Melissa,” he said. “You wouldn’t believe where they started and what God has done in them. They’re hungry for the Word, they love people, and they’re growing like crazy.”

He went on for several minutes — story after story — until Pastor Lewis laughed and said, “Sounds like you’re proud of them.” Pastor Greene smiled. “I really am. God has done something beautiful in their lives.”

When Pastor Lewis visited that Sunday, he saw exactly what Pastor Greene had described. Afterward he said, “You didn’t exaggerate a thing.” Pastor Greene felt no shame for boasting. He wasn’t bragging about himself, he was celebrating the grace of God at work in people he loved.

This is what Paul experienced with Titus, and they both could see that God was working in the lives of the Corinthians. A wonderful change had taken place.

But as we spoke all things to you in truth, even so our boasting to Titus was found true.

Here we have a simple message for all pastors throughout the world, that they should always speak all things in truth. This describes for us expository preaching. This is the way I approach teaching God’s Word… book by book, and verse by verse. In doing this, nothing gets left out and nothing is avoided.

While topical messages can be helpful at times, they also make it easy to avoid difficult subjects. When God’s Word is “cherry picked” the people are short changed, where the whole counsel of God is not spoken.

Paul always spoke all of God’s Word, and the Corinthians benefited from that. Paul is reminding the Corinthians that everything he ever said to them… every correction, every encouragement, every warning… was spoken with absolute honesty and truth. There was no flattery, no manipulation, no selective editing of God’s message. They grew because they were exposed to truth, even when that truth was hard to hear. Because he had always spoken truth to them, even his boasting about them to Titus proved to be true as well.

2 Cor. 7:15:
“And his affections are greater for you as he remembers the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling you received him.”

Titus remembers the obedience of the Corinthian believers. Whatever apprehension Titus may have felt was quickly shown to be unnecessary, because the Corinthians received him and Paul’s message with sincerity. The verse says, with fear and trembling.

Phil. 2:12-13:
“Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.”

Paul is calling on believers to take their spiritual growth seriously. Not to work for salvation, but to “work out” what God has already placed within them.

This mirrors what I was saying about pastors speaking “all things in truth.” Faithful preaching is part of how believers work out their salvation, by submitting to the full counsel of God’s Word rather than a selective version of it.

As believers, we are called to “work out” our salvation with seriousness and humility, yet we do so knowing that it is God who works in us to will and to act according to His good pleasure. When pastors speak all things in truth, God uses His Word to shape the will and actions of His church.

Through the obedience of the Corinthians, Paul and Titus were able to keep watch over their flock.

Hebrews 13:17:
“Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.”

When the Corinthians responded to God’s Word with willing obedience, it revealed that their repentance was genuine. Real repentance always shows itself in a heart that gladly follows Scripture… without hesitation, excuses, or conditions. When a church is filled with believers who respond to God like that, it becomes a deep source of joy for those who shepherd them.

2 Cor. 7:16:
“Therefore I rejoice that I have confidence in you in everything.”

This is like a football coach sending his team out for the big game they’re about to play. He’s seen them practice and running through their plays, and with that he’s seen the growth of coming together as a team… and with that, the coach has full confidence in them.

Confidence… (tharreō) which means, to be courageous, to be bold, or to dare. Paul could rejoice with confidence going forward with these believers. Would there be mistakes along the way? Do wide-receivers drop passes? The answer is yes.

Paul was ready to take the next step with them, he’s about to share with them a project that was in his heart, and that was to be able to do a collection for the needy believers in the Jerusalem church.

CHAPTER 8

On his third missionary journey, as Paul traveled among the churches in Macedonia and Achaia, he collected an offering, not for himself, but for the struggling believers in Jerusalem who were facing severe financial hardship because of a widespread famine. Paul saw this as a beautiful opportunity to strengthen the bond between the Gentile churches in Greece and the Jewish believers in Jerusalem, so he was eager to see the gift completed.

The Corinthians had initially embraced the idea with enthusiasm, but a full year later they still hadn’t followed through with any actual contribution. It is this unfinished commitment that Paul turns to address in chapters 8 and 9.

In chapter 8, Paul listed several motives for giving, and the first is because it is the behavior of devoted Christians.

2 Cor. 8:1:
“Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia:”

Paul uses the words, “moreover” or “now,” and it signals to us that he’s moving on to another subject. Like a good football coach, he’s ready to give his team some new plays, and here the new play in mind is about giving. He’s about to point them to the churches in Macedonia as a living example of what God’s grace can do with a generous heart.

To help us with the location in Greece, Macedonia is north of Corinth. In a straight‑line (as the crow flies) it’s 262 miles, but with today’s roads, the driving distance is about 458 miles.

There were three churches in the north that Paul was thinking about: Philippi, Thessalonica, and Berea.

Sadly, the Macedonian churches were in dire condition. The region had been hit hard with devastating wars and had been plundered by the Romans, and yet, they still managed to be generous givers. This will become a living testimony to the Corinthians and to us as well.

Phil. 4:15-17 (NLT) [Paul speaking]:
“As you know, you Philippians were the only ones who gave me financial help when I first brought you the Good News and then traveled on from Macedonia. No other church did this. Even when I was in Thessalonica you sent help more than once. I don’t say this because I want a gift from you. Rather, I want you to receive a reward for your kindness.”

The generosity of these churches didn’t rise from mere human kindness, it flowed from the grace of God moving within them. When God’s saving and sanctifying grace takes hold of a heart, it awakens a longing to give, to pour out what we have with joy and sacrifice for those in need, especially for our brothers and sisters in Christ. Such giving is an act of worship, becoming a quiet echo of the grace we ourselves have received from God.

It’s only natural that God’s children have the capacity to give, because God is the ultimate Giver; we learn how to give by watching our Father in heaven. Every good thing we have… life, breath, salvation, our daily provisions… all come from God’s hand. As His grace works in us, His giving heart begins to shape our own hearts. The more we witness His generosity, the more our hearts are stirred to reflect God’s generosity. Giving becomes not a duty, but a joyful response to the One who has held nothing back from us… not even His own Son.

James 1:17 reminds us that “every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights.”

God wants us to see that anything truly good in our lives… every blessing, every provision, every moment of grace… flows straight from the heart of our Father in heaven. God doesn’t give reluctantly or sparingly; His goodness is steady, unwavering, and always shining, just like the One from whom it comes.

These churches in Macedonia were a great teaching tool for Paul to the Corinthians.

2 Cor. 8:2:
“That in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality.”

In Mark 12, we have a great reminder about giving. Jesus is sitting in the courtyard of the temple, and He sees a widow drop two mites (about an 1/8 of a cent) in the offering box.

Because Jesus looked not merely at what people gave but how they gave, He pointed to this woman as the one who had offered the most. Her gift was measured by sacrifice, not size. In the same way, the believers in Philippi gave out of their poverty. Their offering, like hers, rose from hearts fully surrendered to God, proving that true generosity is born not from abundance but from a devotion to God.

A True Story From Today’s World…

A small church in rural Kentucky was raising money to help a missionary family whose home had been destroyed in a fire. Most of the congregation lived paycheck to paycheck, and many were out of work after a local factory had closed. The pastor made it clear: “Give only if you’re able. There’s no pressure here.”

After the service, an elderly woman named Mrs. Turner quietly approached the offering box. She lived alone in a tiny trailer, surviving on a very small monthly check. Her cupboards were often bare by the end of the month. She slipped in an envelope and walked away without a word.

Later, when the deacons counted the offering, they found her envelope. Inside was $7.43, all in crumpled bills and coins. It wasn’t much by human standards, but they knew exactly what it represented. It was her grocery money for the week. She had given not out of abundance, but out of deep trust in God.

When the pastor gently asked her about it, she smiled and said, “I can miss a few meals. They lost everything. I just wanted to help.”

Her gift ended up inspiring the entire church. People who had planned to give nothing suddenly gave sacrificially. By the end of the week, the church had raised far more than expected… enough to replace the missionary family’s essential belongings.

Just like the widow in the temple, and just like the Philippians, her gift was small in amount but great in sacrifice. God used it to stir the hearts of many.

When God gives to us, it’s best to hold on to it with an open hand… after all, everything we have comes from Him.

George Washington Carver once wisely said, “How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving, and tolerant of the weak and the strong… because someday in life, you will have been all of these.”

Do you think Paul was trying to guilt trip the Corinthians into giving? I don’t think so, because that would be manipulation. I think Paul was their teacher and pastor, and he knew by giving them examples of giving, it would serve as a gentle reminder to them, just like what happened in that church in Kentucky.

Paul knew the difference between manipulation and motivation. Manipulation uses shame to force an action. Motivation uses truth and example to awaken the heart. Paul always chose the latter.

He wasn’t saying, “Look at what others gave… why haven’t you?” He was saying, “Look at what God’s grace can do with a willing heart.”

Paul understood that the Corinthians wanted to give. They had started well, but over time they had just stalled out. So, he does what any wise pastor would do:

• He reminds them of God’s grace
• He points to living examples of generosity
• He stirs their memory of their original desire
• Then, he encourages them to finish what they began

That’s not guilt. That’s shepherding.

Their deep poverty…

Deep (bath’-os) means extreme, poverty… in today’s vernacular, they were at “rock bottom.” It’s kind of like going up to a homeless person and asking them for money.

What we’re seeing from Paul is he’s putting the spotlight on the Macedonians, and as it turns out, they have the same heart and attitude as the poor widow that Jesus talked about.

Now, this should speak to us as well, that when it comes to giving, we should do it with pure motives and a tender heart. This isn’t just about giving money, it includes our time and talents. If our heart isn’t in it, it’s best not to give at all.

Gal. 6:9:
“And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.”

Eph. 4:32:
“And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.”

Be ready to listen to that person who just needs someone to talk to. Give grace to the one who needs to be forgiven. Consider this, even a simple smile can also go a long way. As believers, we are God’s ambassadors 24/7 …we are never off duty… remember that.

Abounded in the riches of their liberality…

Abounded… Overflowed… an “abundance” …words used to describe the Macedonian riches, but it’s not what seems to be on the surface… these are spiritual riches that Paul is talking about.

Eph. 1:7:
“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.”

Every believer is rich beyond all worldly standards! Just think about being redeemed through the blood of Christ… Jesus has saved us by His death and resurrection and forgiving the sins of all who believe. Priceless! It’s all because of God’s grace toward us. Are you full of God’s grace? The Macedonians were, and the grace in them, motivated them to give. It might not have been a lot according to the world’s standards, but God saw their giving as something that came from the heart. We serve a God who always looks at the heart.

We have to stop here…

The bottom line… does God need our money? Absolutely not! But He will use a giving heart for His kingdom and His glory.