(Deuteronomy 4:2 [KJV]) Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I
command you.
(Proverbs 30:5, 6 [KJV]) Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.
(Isaiah 28:10 [KJV])
For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:
(Isaiah 28:13 [KJV])
But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.
(2 Peter 1:20 [KJV])
Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
All of the studies, book or topical, found here, are done with research with mainly two things: The KING JAMES BIBLE and a plain old, 1828 Webster's Dictionary. Why? Outside of actually studying secular and Jewish history, archaeology, one needs nothing more. You do not need foreign, dead languages that no one speaks, lexicons, concordances or commentaries, because they differ not only with one another and with the KING JAMES BIBLE, but they create division, confusion, debate, and unbelief. We do not need them. That Word of God written and preserved for us in our own language is supposed to be enough, like the Old Testament was for the Jews, and the New Testament for the early Christians in Greek, Latin, Italian, Spanish, German, etc. There are studies within as tangents on words, subjects found within the two testaments, as to broaden the scope of the study, to learn more, deeper truths. This is not an intellectual site with PhDs, theologians, and no worldly wisdom.. Check everything out, everything. Not just here, but with everything you read and see and hear. Be Bereans:
(Acts 17:11 [KJV])
These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
Always research for yourself, use all of the context, and never privately interpret!
CORINTH: RICH GREEK CITY/STATE
(Acts 18:1 [KJV])
After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth;
(Acts 18:8 [KJV])
And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized.
(Acts 19:1,2 [KJV])
And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, He
said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.
(2 Corinthians 1:1,2 [KJV])
Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy [our] brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are
in all Achaia: Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called [to be] saints, with all that in every place call
upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:
(2 Corinthians 1:23 [KJV])
Moreover I call God for a record upon my soul, that to spare you I came not as yet unto Corinth.
(2 Corinthians 6:11 [KJV])
O [ye] Corinthians, our mouth is open unto you, our heart is enlarged.
(2 Timothy 4:20 [KJV])
Erastus abode at Corinth: but Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick.
Lots of good, fresh water
Lots of good, arable soil
Lots of good clay for ceramics, pottery, etc., hence "Corinthian Pottery"
Shops, fountains, carved stone temples to the Greek gods, porticos, metal workshops abounded
As a part of a major shipping lane, Corinth has four ports, on the Gulf of Corinth, between two seas
A temple to Apollo was there
Another temple was one to Aphrodite, an acropolis known as Acrocorinth, that supplied prostitutes for the seafaring men, which made it a rich city
Perusing the two letters Paul wrote to them, it is obvious that they were apostate and backslidden.
(2 Corinthians 2:1 [KJV])
But I determined this with myself, that I would not come again to you in heaviness.
With the sin being in the camp, it was an easy thing to come to them in heaviness, and a necessary one
Better to stay away than to come and have a pity party, which this sin and their grief would have caused, Paul having to then deal with the sin for them
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(2 Corinthians 2:2 [KJV])
For if I make you sorry, who is he then that maketh me glad, but the same which is made sorry by me?
If all one does is sadden others who they will need to gladden themselves, we are then all sad after
Sadden or gladden......our choice, our consequences
Mutually, one hand helps the other but, if one is incapable of helping the other, and vice versa, then that is mutual and both are unhelped
If one person (person one) discourages another (person two), that person (person two) who now has been discouraged cannot then encourage the other (person two)
(2 Corinthians 2:3 [KJV])
And I wrote this same unto you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy is the joy of you all.
Dealing with sin in the camp, unrepentant, unfinished business, brings heaviness of heart, sorrow, grief to all parties when it is dealth with and when it is not
Dealing with it brings that sorrow to both, if the admonition is accepted. If it is not accepted, it brings more sorrow to the one trying to expose it, ignorant bliss in those ignoring it
One person's joy in a person like Paul can influence so many others
(2 Corinthians 2:4 [KJV])
For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you.
You cannot literally cry with anguish over those who you really have no closeness with, if you do not care
Paul's purpose was not to upset them (grieve them) but to show them that he cared, that he loved them deeply, that they were coworkers in the work of God there
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(2 Corinthians 2:5 [KJV])
But if any have caused grief, he hath not grieved me, but in part: that I may not overcharge you all.
Paul was not about to let this man who sinned bother him, grieve him, so much that he would be incapable of comforting and encouraging them, since he knew that is what they needed
To overcharge merely means to place such a burden as to "put on that last straw that breaks the camel's back"
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(2 Corinthians 2:6 [KJV])
Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many.
Since it would appear that this man was repentant, the time for healing was now
To forgive means to let go, forget, move on, not harp on it as long as it is over
There were some, there are always some, who can't let go
(2 Corinthians 2:7 [KJV])
So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow.
Paul was telling them to deal with the unforgiving people who would not let go
Unforgiveness can not only overcome the one who is repentant and sorrowful, but also the person who does not forgive
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(2 Corinthians 2:8 [KJV])
Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him.
Love is a verb, not a noun. In this case the verb is to forgive, move on, restore fellowship, encourage
Beseeching means to beg
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BESEE'CH, v.t. pret. and pp.besought.
To entreat; to supplicate; to implore; to ask or pray with urgency; followed by a person; as, "I Paul beseech you by the meekness of Christ,", 2 Cor 10; or by a thing; as, I beseech your patience.
(2 Corinthians 2:9 [KJV])
For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things.
Forgiving here, restoring, is to be obedient to the LORD
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(2 Corinthians 2:10 [KJV])
To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ;
In Christ, we can forgive anything of anyone
Outside of Christ, in the world, it is rare
With God it is possible, as are all good things; with the world, not so much
(2 Corinthians 2:11 [KJV])
Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.
Unforgiveness is a device, a useful one, for the enemy to use to cause division(s)
(2 Corinthians 2:12-13 [KJV])
Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ's gospel, and a door was opened unto me of the Lord, I had no rest in my spirit, because I found not Titus my brother: but taking my leave of them, I went from thence into Macedonia.
Moving on....let us forget that mess, for now
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TROAS
Troas was also called Troad; also "Troy-as", named after Troy, on the Aegean Sea, in Turkey. A large trade route, so wealth was found there. The peopple of Troy fought the Geeeks, as recorded in the Iliad of Homer
(Acts 16:8 [KJV])
And they passing by Mysia came down to Troas.
(Acts 16:11 [KJV])
Therefore loosing from Troas, we came with a straight course to Samothracia, and the next day to Neapolis;
(Acts 20:5 [KJV])
These going before tarried for us at Troas.
(Acts 20:6 [KJV])
And we sailed away from Philippi after the days of unleavened bread, and came unto them to Troas in five days; where we abode seven days.
(2 Corinthians 2:12 [KJV])
Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ's gospel, and a door was opened unto me of the Lord,
(2 Timothy 4:13 [KJV])
The cloke that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest, bring with thee, and the books, but especially the parchments.
TITUS
Paul called Titus his brother, meaning a close fellowlabourer in the work of God, ministry. Titus encouraged others, merely by being present (2 Corinthians 7:6), and was encouraged back (2 Corinthians 7:13). As in all ministry, those doing it have to endure a lot
(2 Corinthians 2:13 [KJV])
I had no rest in my spirit, because I found not Titus my brother: but taking my leave of them, I went from thence into Macedonia.
(2 Corinthians 7:6 [KJV])
Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus;
(2 Corinthians 7:13 [KJV])
Therefore we were comforted in your comfort: yea, and exceedingly the more joyed we for the joy of Titus, because his spirit was refreshed by you all.
(2 Corinthians 7:14 [KJV])
For if I have boasted any thing to him of you, I am not ashamed; but as we spake all things to you in truth, even so our boasting, which I made before Titus, is found a truth.
(2 Corinthians 8:6 [KJV])
Insomuch that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also.
(2 Corinthians 8:16 [KJV])
But thanks be to God, which put the same earnest care into the heart of Titus for you.
(2 Corinthians 8:23 [KJV])
Whether any do enquire of Titus, he is my partner and fellowhelper concerning you: or our brethren be enquired of, they are the messengers of the churches, and the glory of Christ.
(2 Corinthians 12:18 [KJV])
I desired Titus, and with him I sent a brother. Did Titus make a gain of you? walked we not in the same spirit? walked we not in the same steps?
(Galatians 2:1 [KJV])
Then fourteen years after I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took Titus with me also.
(Galatians 2:3 [KJV])
But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised:
(2 Timothy 4:10 [KJV])
For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia.
(Titus 1:4 [KJV]) To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.
(2 Corinthians 2:14 [KJV])
Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.
We are ultiimately victors, even when not in this life
The first century Christians saw tremendous persecutions, yet understood the victory that is ours
No knowledge of the knowledge of God is hidden from us as we read His Word, seek His will oin our lives. IF we are "in Christ", the most important part of that verse
(2 Corinthians 2:15 [KJV])
For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:
There is one flavor the world gets from us, another we give to the saved, and to God Himself
The only difference is whether a person issaved or not
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(2 Corinthians 2:16 [KJV])
To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?
To the lost who reject Jesus Christ, we are something to be ignored, hated, persecuted, etc.
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SUFFI'CIENT, a. [L. sufficiens.] Enough; equal to the end proposed; adequate to wants; competent; as provision sufficient for the family; water sufficient for the voyage; an army sufficient to defend the country. My grace is sufficient for thee. 2 Cor 12.
Qualified; competent; possessing adequate talents or accomplishments; as a man sufficient for an office.
Fit; able; of competent power or ability. Who is sufficient for these things? 2 Cor 2.
(2 Corinthians 2:17 [KJV])
For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.
The lost cannot be as hated in the eyes of the other lost
The lost cannot be a savour of life to God, for they are spiritually dead, awaiting for ultimate, physical and death forever
