Introduction and background to the letter.
Paul first addresses factionalism within the church. Paul had planted the church earlier (Acts 18) and guided it for 18 months before moving on. Apollos had then come along and continued to teach there. Apparently, some new Christians had come to believe that there was some conflict between the two. Paul denies that, comparing himself to a foundation builder and Apollos to the one who erects an edifice on the prepared foundation.
Paul uses the metaphor of leaven to condemn immoral behavior within the church. The idea being that if sin is tolerated and excused, it will spread and infect others. He instructs them to expel flagrant sinners from the body. He also chastens them about taking disputes between brothers to the secular authorities. In cases where secular law does not comport with God's law injustice will be the result.
In chapter 7 Paul is answering specific questions which are unknown to us. His points about marriage are made in the expectation that the end times were upon them. Hence, some of his advice would seem to go contrary to Torah - remaining single for example. (This episode ends abruptly. We actually went on to chapters 8 and 9, but they form a unit with chapter 10 and will be presented next time.)
Chapters 8-10 concern food sacrificed to idols. Here he says that although there is only one God and idols are not gods, not everyone understands that. Thus believers should not eat such food in order to avoid confusing those who either believe in idols or are unsure. He closes by saying that idols represent demons and that a believer should have nothing to do with them.
As with everything else in this letter, there was apparently division over Spiritual manifestations. It seems that those who had the 'flashier' gifts were exalting themselves over those who had the quieter ones. This seems especially to have been the case with tongues. Paul makes it clear that spiritual gifts are not for the benefit of the one who receives them, but rather are for the building up of the body.
Paul addresses the importance and nature of the resurrection. Although he had preached about the resurrection when he planted the church in Corinth, someone had subsequently cast doubt on the entire concept. In chapter 15, Paul affirms the fact that there were hundreds of witnesses to Christ's resurrection. He then explained why that was important. Finally, he discussed the nature of the resurrection body that believers were to receive.
2 Corinthians 1-2 Introduction and Comfort in Affliction
It appears that someone had come to Corinth after Paul had left and called his apostleship into question. This first part of the letter addresses Paul's afflictions during the course of his ministry and the fact that he was comforted by God and sustained by the prayers of believers within the churches he had planted.
In describing the stone tablets delivered by Moses as a ministry of condemnation, Paul is not speaking of their content but rather of the medium. God's word was and is intended to be written on hearts of flesh. Having those words engraved in stone is a metaphor for hearts of stone.
Paul speaks of the day to come when we will shed our earthly tent and enter a heavenly building. It is there that all of God's promises to those who trust in His Son will be fulfilled. In the mean while, we live through the trials inherent in the earthly tent, working to spread the news of His Kingdom and confident that eternal life awaits.
Paul encourages the Corinthians' generosity in setting aside an offering of grain to be sent to relieve a famine in Jerusalem. In that process he takes great pains to let them know that there will be impartial witnesses accompanying the shipment.
There seem to have been two question raised about Paul's qualifications and ministry. The first concerned the difference between Paul's letters and his demeanor in person. This might be cause to wonder if it was really Paul who had written the letters. The second concerned his qualifications. This may mean that the problem in Corinth was similar to that in Galatia where Messianic Pharisees were attempting to impose Talmudic rules on the gentiles.
In defending his ministry, Paul mentions a thorn in his flesh that God has not seen fit to remove. This was almost surely the 'super apostles' who have been leading astray the gentiles that Paul has brought into the Kingdom. He also says he intends to visit Corinth again and hopes that he will not have to use the authority given to him by Christ to chasten the Corinthians.
