Detailed Outline of 2 Corinthians
Defending the New Covenant Gospel Ministry of Grace and the Sufficiency of Christ
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Giving principles concerning the collection for the saints and the sufficiency of Christ (2Co 8; 9)
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The call for grace giving concerning the needs of the saints (2Co 8:1-15)
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The example of the churches in Macedonia (2Co 8:1-5)
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Not wealthy, but willing to give out of what they had (2Co 8:1-2)
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The grace of God was the basis of their giving (2Co 8:1)
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The great hardship they faced did not keep them from giving (2Co 8:2)
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Not sparingly, but sacrificially and joyously, giving themselves to God and others (2Co 8:3-5)
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Beyond their ability (2Co 8:3)
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Begging for the privilege to help (2Co 8:4)
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Bondservants of God and others (2Co 8:5)
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The exhortation to the church at Corinth (2Co 8:6-8)
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The coming of Titus as an apostolic representative (2Co 8:6)
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The call to abound in the gracious work of giving (2Co 8:7)
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The concern for genuine love—not grudging obedience to a command (2Co 8:8)
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The example of the Lord Jesus (2Co 8:9)
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Consider His grace—a summary statement
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Consider His glory (heavenly riches in pre-incarnate glory)
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Consider His gift and what it cost Him
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Consider your gain from His costly gift
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The exhortation continued (2Co 8:10-12)
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Good intentions are no substitute for actually giving (2Co 8:10-11)
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Paul was not demanding they give—but encouraging them for their good (2Co 8:10)
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Paul was encouraging them to finish what they had begun (2Co 8:11)
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Giving, however, should be out of what one has—not beyond one’s capacity (2Co 8:12)
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The explanation of divine provision (2Co 8:13-15)
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God calls for reciprocity—not absolute economic equality (2Co 8:13-14)
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This was not to penalize the wealthy (2Co 8:13)
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This was a temporary relief for a church in need (2Co 8:14)
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God confirmed His ability to provide for His people in Exodus 16:18 (2Co 8:15)
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The concern for propriety in regard to the handling of the collection and the distribution of the funds (2Co 8:16-24; 2Co 9:1-5)
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Integrity and accountability are essential in the collection and distribution of God’s resources (2Co 8:16-23)
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A man with a passion for God’s people—Titus (2Co 8:16-17)
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A passion that is wrought by God in the heart (2Co 8:16)
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A passion that is willing to serve (2Co 8:17)
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A man with the approval of God’s people—unnamed but well-known (2Co 8:18-19a)
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He was well-known by God’s people (2Co 8:18)
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He was approved by God’s people (2Co 8:19a)
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A ministry of generosity, grace and glory—above reproach in the sight of God and men (2Co 8:19b-21)
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A ministry of grace (2Co 8:19b)
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A ministry of glory (2Co 8:19c)
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A ministry of honesty and caution (2Co 8:20)
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A ministry of honor before God and men (2Co 8:21)
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A man with a record of faithfulness—unnamed but tested and approved by Paul (2Co 8:22)
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A ministry team summary in regard to the collection (2Co 8:23)
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The Apostle’s representative—Titus (2Co 8:23a)
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The approved messengers of the churches (2Co 8:23b)
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The appropriate motive and purpose (2Co 8:23c)
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Intentionality, preparation, and commitment are essential in the giving of God’s resources (2Co 8:24; 2Co 9:1-5)
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Purposeful giving testifies of God’s glory to those who administrate the offering (2Co 8:24)
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Purposeful giving is the fulfillment of the initial desires to help (2Co 9:1-2)
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Reminders can be helpful to those who have already purposed to give (2Co 9:1)
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Readiness to give can be an encouragement to others to give (2Co 9:2)
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Preparedness beforehand guarantees the fulfillment of the initial desire to give (2Co 9:3-5)
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A pledge to give may need follow-up (2Co 9:3)
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A pledge unfulfilled is disappointing and very possibly dishonorable (2Co 9:4)
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A pledge may be subject to second-guessing due to covetousness (2Co 9:5)
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The corollary principles and precepts for grace giving (2Co 9:6-15)
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The principle of sowing and reaping in grace giving4—be generous in your giving (2Co 9:6)
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Limited sowing makes for limited reaping (2Co 9:6a)
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Lavish sowing makes for lavish reaping (2Co 9:6b)
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The proper perspective of grace giving—be joyful, not grudging in your giving (2Co 9:7)
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Freely, not forced
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Full of joy, knowing God loves a cheerful giver
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The power and purposes of God’s grace in grace giving—be confident in God’s power and purposes in your giving (2Co 9:8-14)
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The surety of God’s provision (2Co 9:8)
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The power of God to make all grace abound to you
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The purpose of this grace—spiritual sufficiency in everything for every good work
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The Scripture confirming God’s spiritual provision and purposes (2Co 9:9)
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The Sovereign supply of both spiritual and physical resources (2Co 9:10-11)
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God will supply physical resources for the purpose of a spiritual harvest (2Co 9:10)
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God supplies physical and spiritual resources for His glory (2Co 9:11)
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The service of giving supplies both physical and spiritual needs—and ultimately issues in worship (2Co 9:12-14)
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A giving ministry meets physical needs (2Co 9:12a)
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A giving ministry issues in thanksgiving to God (2Co 9:12b)
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A giving ministry confirms the truth of the gospel to the glory of God (2Co 9:13)
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A giving ministry fosters prayer, and a holy longing for mutual fellowship (2Co 9:14)
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The praise of God’s glorious gift of grace— be thankful and amazed by God’s grace (2Co 9:15)
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Say grace—because of God’s giving ministry of grace (2Co 9:15a)
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Stand in awe—because of God’s indescribable giving ministry of grace (2Co 9:15b)
4The following context makes it clear that spiritual blessing is the harvest, not primarily a monetary reciprocity.
A Christ-Sufficient Ministry Is Characterized by Divine Comfort, Joy, and Holy Optimism—Not Pessimism and Defeat (2Co 7:4-16)
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