2 Corinthians 4 - A Study Guide by Mark A. Copeland

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                "THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS"

                              Chapter Four

OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THIS CHAPTER

1) To appreciate Paul's transparency and view of service

2) To understand why some people are so blinded to the obvious

3) To gain insight into why God allows His children to suffer

4) To glean Paul's secret for not "losing heart" (getting discouraged)

SUMMARY

Paul continues his defense of himself and his ministry.  With such a
glorious ministry described in chapter three, he does not get
discouraged.  Instead he has renounced the use of deceitful tactics and
openly proclaims the truth (1-2).  If the gospel seems veiled, it is
only to those whom Satan has blinded so they might not see the light of
the gospel (3-4).  Paul is simply preaching Christ Jesus as Lord and
considers himself as a servant for their sakes.  He humbly realizes
that it is God who has shone in his heart so he might share that light
of the gospel with others (5-6).

As magnificent this "treasure" may be, he is simply an "earthen
vessel".  As such he experiences great suffering in his ministry, but
he knows that God allows it so that the "life of Jesus" (the power of
God) might be manifested in his mortal body by the way he endures it,
and that such grace from God might cause much thanksgiving to the glory
of God (7-15).  In addition, he does not lose heart because his inward
man is renewed daily by the knowledge that affliction is light and
temporary compared to the eternal weight of glory that awaits him, and
by keeping his focus on things which are unseen but eternal (16-18).

OUTLINE

I. THE "HONEST" NATURE OF PAUL'S MINISTRY (1-6)

   A. THE HIDDEN THINGS OF SHAME RENOUNCED (1-2)
      1. Having received a glorious ministry by the mercy of God, Paul
         does not lose heart (1)
      2. He has renounced the hidden things of shame (2a)
         a. He does not walk in craftiness
         b. He does not handle the Word of God deceitfully
      3. But with open presentation of the truth he commends himself
         before all and before God (2b)

   B. THE GOSPEL VEILED ONLY TO THE PERISHING (3-4)
      1. If the gospel seems veiled, it is only the perishing who think
         it so (3)
      2. For their unbelieving minds have been blinded by the "god of
         this age" (4a)
      3. So that the light of gospel of the glorious Christ does not
         shine on them (4b)

   C. PROCLAIMING CHRIST AS LORD, AND THEMSELVES AS SERVANTS (5-6)
      1. Preaching not themselves, but Christ Jesus as Lord and 
         themselves as their servants for Jesus' sake (5)
      2. It is God who has shone in their hearts so that they might 
         spread the light of the knowledge of God's glory revealed in
         Jesus Christ (6)

II. THE "SUFFERING" NATURE OF PAUL'S MINISTRY (7-18)

   A. SUFFERING PERMITTED TO DEMONSTRATE THE LIFE OF JESUS (7-15)
      1. The treasure of the gospel is in "earthen vessels", but this
         is so the excellence of God's power might be demonstrated in
         them (7)
      2. Examples of overcoming suffering (8-9)
         a. Hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed
         b. Perplexed, but not in despair
         c. Persecuted, but not forsaken
         d. Struck down, but not destroyed
      3. In this way, "dying for Jesus" gives them opportunity to
         demonstrate the "life of Jesus", which in turn blesses others
         (10-12)
      4. Confident of the resurrection and ultimate glorification, he 
         knows that all things can be to their benefit, resulting in 
         thanksgiving and glory to God (13-15)
   
   B. AFFLICTION PRODUCES AN ETERNAL WEIGHT OF GLORY (16-18)
      1. He is not discouraged, even when the outward man is perishing,
         for the inward man is renewed daily (16)
      2. Affliction is light and temporary, compared with the eternal 
         weight of glory (17)
      3. His focus is on the unseen, on things that are eternal (18)
         
REVIEW QUESTIONS FOR THE CHAPTER

1) What are the main points of this chapter?
   - The "honest" nature of Paul's ministry (1-6)
   - The "suffering" nature of Paul's ministry (7-18)

2) Why does Paul not "lose heart"? (1)
   - Because of the nature of his ministry (cf. 3:7-18)

3) In renouncing the hidden things of shame, what two things does Paul
   not do? (2)
   - Walk in craftiness
   - Handle the word of God deceitfully

4) To whom is the gospel "veiled"?  Who has blinded them? (3-4)
   - Those that are perishing
   - The god of this age

5) Who does Paul preach?  How does he view himself? (5)
   - Christ Jesus the Lord
   - As their servant for Jesus' sake

6) How is the "light" that God has commanded to be shone in his heart 
   described? (6, cf. 4b)
   - As the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ
   - As the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God

7) How does Paul describe the gospel, and himself in comparison? (7)
   - As "treasure" in "earthen vessels"

8) What four examples does Paul use to describe how God's power had 
   worked in him? (8-9)
   - Hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed
   - Perplexed, but not in despair
   - Persecuted, but not forsaken
   - Struck down, but not destroyed

9) Why was Paul and others allowed to suffer for Christ? (10-11)
   - That the life of Jesus may be manifested in their mortal bodies

10) Who benefited by the things Paul suffered? (12,15)
   - The Corinthians

11) Why did Paul not "lose heart" when his outward man was perishing?
    (16)
   - Because his inward man was being renewed daily

12) In what two ways does Paul contrast his affliction and the glory to
    come? (17)
   - Light vs. a far more exceeding weight
   - Momentary vs. eternal 

13) Upon what does Paul keep his focus? (16)
   - Things unseen, which are eternal
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