(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 7: GODLY SORROW, REPENTANCE, JOY AND REJOICING
(2 Corinthians 7:1 [KJV])
Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
Therefore, wherefore, every time we see these words it means that we need to discover what it is there for
In this instance, it is to tell us what we need to do, knowing what God did for us by grace through faith
It is because, at the end of chapter six, God says that, if we "come out from among them and be ye separate", He will be our God and Father and we will be His children
The closer we get to God the more holy we become and the closer we get to holiness, the closer we get to God
(2 Corinthians 6:17-18 [KJV])
Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
(2 Corinthians 7:2 [KJV])
Receive us; we have wronged no man, we have corrupted no man, we have defrauded no man.
So where did they get the idea that Paul and his companions wronged, corrupted, defrauded?
From those in Corinth who were wronging (6:1), corrupting (2:17), defrauding(6:8) one another!
They were doing it to each other, then falsely accusing Paul of this, for none other than speaking the truth
(2 Corinthians 7:3 [KJV])
I speak not this to condemn you: for I have said before, that ye are in our hearts to die and live with you.
Strong words offend the weak, so he is telling them the purpose is to instruct, correct, for doctrinal purposes, not to offend
Strong words offend the weak, so he is telling them that they will perhaps be easily offended by the correction, because they have sin in the camp, not dealt with
(2 Corinthians 7:4 [KJV])
Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you: I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation.
While he is concerned that they may be offended by his words, he is assuring them that they have offered him good things
They were in tribulation because of intense persecution, but joyful at the same time, knowing their future was secure
Paul was straightforward, hard hitting, rough around the edges, direct, not pulling punches
What this means in Scripture is that Paul cared for them, like good parents dealing with children
(Proverbs 10:13 [KJV])
In the lips of him that hath understanding wisdom is found: but a rod is for the back of him that is void of understanding.
(Proverbs 20:30 [KJV])
The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil: so do stripes the inward parts of the belly.
(Proverbs 13:24 [KJV])
He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.
(2 Corinthians 7:5 [KJV])
For, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears.
Paul was like every other person, having fears when pressed in upon on all sides, constantly chased, etc.
Having no rest for our flesh is torturous, impossible in our flesh to endure
Pretty much, this never stopped happening to Paul and his faithful companions for very long before picking up again
(2 Corinthians 11:23-29 [KJV])
Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.
Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not?
(2 Corinthians 7:6 [KJV])
Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus;
Fellowship of like minded believers are like close family visits, the same
It is one thing to be alone with the LORD; another to be accompanied by the brethren, for comfort, who God sends to us for this purpose and reason
(2 Corinthians 7:7 [KJV])
And not by his coming only, but by the consolation wherewith he was comforted in you, when he told us your earnest desire, your mourning, your fervent mind toward me; so that I rejoiced the more.
A person bringing good news is even better than a visitor, but like a good letter from home, a birthday or Christmas card with a gift of money in it
Sharing that good news of progress in repentant believers is what Titus did, and it encouraged both Paul and Titus
(2 Corinthians 7:8 [KJV])
For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent: for I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though it were but for a season.
Because of his strong words, they were offended
(2 Corinthians 7:9 [KJV])
Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing.
Because of being offended, they were made sorry, then they repented with godly repentance, the very thing God wants and Paul also
Therefore, telling them the truth was necessary, no matter if they were offended or not
Holiness is more important to God than our happiness
(2 Timothy 3:16-17 [KJV])
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
(2 Corinthians 7:10 [KJV])
For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
So "godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation"
The sorrow of the world is merely sorrow, not repentance, not salvation
Without hearing the truth, the world is very unoffended and we can be "nice"
But life is not about us, it is about eternal life, salvation
(2 Corinthians 7:11 [KJV])
For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.
When it is godly sorrow, there is a series of things that happens in us
We get anxious (carefulness, Philippians 4:6-7)
We empty ourselves and let the Holy Spirit lead
We get angry at our sin and even all sin we see in the world and blame only ourselves, not others, not God
Strong desire to follow God and not our flesh
We want God to get that victory over our sin, not our flesh, not the enemy
(2 Corinthians 7:12 [KJV])
Wherefore, though I wrote unto you, I did it not for his cause that had done the wrong, nor for his cause that suffered wrong, but that our care for you in the sight of God might appear unto you.
Paul wrote to expose to them their sin, and that showed he cared, nothing more than that-no hate, no fear mongering, no threats, etc.
Paul was loving them like a father a son, doing it for them to see, for God to see
It was ministry to the Glory of God, not the flesh. Not Paul's, not his companions, not theirs
(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.
Hearing they repented with godly sorrow made it all worthwhile and brings even more joy, more comfort
(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.
If one speaks the truth, they never have to worry about anything they said coming back to them
Paul had admonished them for allowing this sin in the camp, and they responded gby doing what God wanted
This made him have joyful, glad, appreciative
(2 Corinthians 7:15 [KJV])
And his inward affection is more abundant toward you, whilst he remembereth the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling ye received him.
Comfort and joy will always follow, spring from , arise from godly repentance
That fear and trembling means it was genuine godly repentance, no feigning
(2 Corinthians 7:16 [KJV])
I rejoice therefore that I have confidence in you in all things.
When that happens, God is happy and so are we as the spiritual fathers of them who we have discipled, always
