📖 Biblical Definition
Paul's second canonical letter to Corinth, written from Macedonia roughly six months after 1 Corinthians, after Titus brought news of the church's partial repentance. The letter is the most personally autobiographical of Paul's; he defends his apostleship against critics, recounts his sufferings, gives instructions on the collection for Jerusalem, and culminates in chapter 12's account of his thorn in the flesh and the Lord's answer: my grace is sufficient for thee.
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
2 CORINTHIANS, n.
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A scriptural proper name; Paul's second canonical letter to the Corinthian church.
📖 Key Scripture
2 Corinthians 4:7 — "But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us."
2 Corinthians 5:17 — "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."
2 Corinthians 5:21 — "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him."
2 Corinthians 12:9 — "My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
Modern Christianity wants Paul's power and skips his sufferings; 2 Corinthians records both.
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2 Corinthians is the most autobiographical of Paul's letters and contains his most extensive list of sufferings (11:23-28). Beatings, shipwrecks, hunger, sleeplessness, perils from his own countrymen, perils from Gentiles, perils in the wilderness, perils among false brethren. The list is staggering. Then in chapter 12 he describes a thorn in the flesh that the Lord refused to remove despite three earnest prayers, and the Lord's answer: my grace is sufficient for thee.
Modern Christianity wants Paul's power without his sufferings. The two are inseparable in 2 Corinthians. The treasure is in earthen vessels precisely that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. Read 2 Corinthians slowly when life is hard. The same Christ who refused to remove Paul's thorn is sufficient for yours.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
Greek roots below.
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G2882 — Korinthos — Corinth
Usage
"Modern Christianity wants Paul's power and skips his sufferings; 2 Corinthians records both."
"The treasure is in earthen vessels precisely that the power be of God."
"The same Christ who refused to remove Paul's thorn is sufficient for yours."