fellowship (cf 11:4) who were trying to lure some of those Christians away from their loyalties “These were of the Judaistic agitators who dogged the footsteps of Paul across Asia Minor and into Europe, impugning his message and attacking his person.”33 As long as there was this thorn in the group, Paul would everything he could to remove it and the festering that it threatened.34 We can understand the urgency of such an apologetic stand before the entire Christian world of the rst century A false gospel (11:4) and the true were being broadcast simultaneously around the world, and people were asking, Who are the gospel’s true ministers, and who are the false? Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians gave the answer, not only to the church at Corinth, but to people everywhere, of all time As you survey these four chapters, look especially for the credentials of a true witness for Christ in the great work of the gospel D BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES This letter is the only source of the following unique experiences of Paul: escape from Damascus, 11:32-33 his revelations and visions, 12:l-635 his thorn in the flesh, 12:7 ve Jewish scourgings; two Roman scourgings; three shipwrecks; many perils, 11:23-27 E OTHER IMPORTANT SUBJECTS Other important subjects discussed by Paul in Corinthians include: the Old and New covenants contrasted (chap 3) Christ’s substitutionary atonement (5:21) the gospel of reconciliation (5:18-20) separation from worldliness (6:14— 7:1) What key truths are taught in these passages: 4:7-12; 4:16-18; 5:1-10; 5:17-21; 6:4-10; 8:9; 9:8; 11:23-33; 12:1-10; 13:14? XV KEY WORDS, VERSES AND THEME FOR CORINTHIANS Note the key words listed on Chart 73, p 287 Each of the words glory and minister (and their cognates and synonyms) appear about twenty times in the letter Read in your Bible the key verses cited on the chart Did you observe other key verses in the epistle? Note that the title on the chart re ects the two main subjects of the epistle: ministry and gift In your own words, state the theme of Corinthians XVI APPLICATIONS FROM CORINTHIANS A large variety of spiritual applications may be made of this letter because it is so personal What practical truths are taught about these: suffering and trial of Christians death ambassadors for Christ Christian giving how to deal with false accusation and false teaching? XVII REVIEW QUESTIONS ON CORINTHIANS ...especially for the credentials of a true witness for Christ in the great work of the gospel D BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES This letter is the only source of the following unique experiences of Paul: escape... observe other key verses in the epistle? Note that the title on the chart re ects the two main subjects of the epistle: ministry and gift In your own words, state the theme of Corinthians XVI APPLICATIONS... 287 Each of the words glory and minister (and their cognates and synonyms) appear about twenty times in the letter Read in your Bible the key verses cited on the chart Did you observe other key