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2 Corinthians 2 - What Kind of Gospel Did You Accept? Was It Watered Down?

2 Corinthians 2 - NIV Enduring Word Commentary 14 But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere. 15 For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. 16 To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life. And who is equal to such a task? 17 Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as those sent from God. Paul uses the metaphor of a triumphal procession, which would have been a visual that was vivid for the Corinthians. It is the picture of a Roman general coming home after a victory in war.  “In a Triumph the procession of the victorious general marched through the streets of Rome to the Capitol… First came the state officials and the senate. Then came the trumpeters. Then were carried the spoils taken ...

2 Corinthians 1 - The Power of Compassion!

2 Corinthians 1 - NIV Enduring Word Commentary Background on Paul's Letter Written by the Apostle Paul around A.D. 55-57, 2 Corinthians is an intensely personal letter where Paul reconciles with the church in Corinth, defends his apostolic authority against false teachers, and encourages the congregation to complete their promised financial gift for the impoverished church in Jerusalem. - Bible Hub Praise to the God of All Comfort 3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves from God. 5 For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. 6 If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. 7 And our hope for you is firm, becau...

1 Corinthians 16 - Who Should I Give Money To As A Christian?

1 Corinthians 16 - NIV Enduring Word Commentary The Collection for the Lord’s People 16 Now about the collection for the Lord’s people: Do what I told the Galatian churches to do. 2 On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made. 3 Then, when I arrive, I will give letters of introduction to the men you approve and send them with your gift to Jerusalem. 4 If it seems advisable for me to go also, they will accompany me. As Paul concludes his first letter, he addresses a very practical question. How should the church give to the needy and the poor? Paul had asked the early church to collect money to be delivered to the mother church in Jerusalem. We are not exactly sure what the need was, but most likely it was because of the famine there, and the persecution of the believers.  Paul taught them a systematic way to collect this special offering for them to...

1 Corinthians 15 - Either Jesus Did Rise From the Dead Or He Didn't!

1 Corinthians 15 - NIV Enduring Word Commentary The Resurrection of the Dead 12 But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. 15 More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. 19 If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. Paul has addressed many important issues facing the Corinthian church, and now he addresses the most import...

1 Corinthians 14 - What Is the Proper Place of Speaking Tongues in the Church Today?

1 Corinthians 14 - NIV I would highly recommend you read the commentary for this chapter. I found it helpful in understand these verses.  Enduring Word Commentary Intelligibility in Worship 14 Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy. 2 For anyone who speaks in a tongue[a] does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit. 3 But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort. 4 Anyone who speaks in a tongue edifies themselves, but the one who prophesies edifies the church. 5 I would like every one of you to speak in tongues,[b] but I would rather have you prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues,[c] unless someone interprets, so that the church may be edified. As Paul closes out his teaching on spiritual gifts, in chapter 14 he focuses exclusively on two gifts, speaking in tongues and prophecy. First of all,...

1 Corinthians 13 - This Kind of Love Never Fails!

1 Corinthians 13 - NIV Enduring Word Commentary 13 If I speak in the tongues[a] of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,[b] but do not have love, I gain nothing. 4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.  8 Love never fails. Unless a couple I am marrying specifically has a  reason to pick another verse, I will pick these verses every time I am asked to officiate at a wedding. These were the vers...

1 Corinthians 12 - The Indispensable Nature of Spiritual Gifts For You and Your Church!

1 Corinthians 12 - NIV Enduring Word Commentary Concerning Spiritual Gifts 12 Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. 2 You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. 3 Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit. 4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. 7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculou...