2 Corinthians

In order to understand the teachings of the second epistle we must acquaint ourselves with the reasons for the writing of the first letter. There evidently were many errors in this church. Among them were:

1. Divisions, Chapter I, Contentions, I am of Paul etc.

2. There was a display of human wisdom. Ch. I

This wisdom was divisive and made the cross of Christ of no effect. In Ch. 2, Paul despises excellency of speech and enticing words of man’s wisdom when he preached the Gospel. He also ascertains strongly that the natural man cannot receive nor understand spiritual things. Spiritual truths are only revealed to the spiritual through the Spirit.

3. Despite the fact that this church lacked no spiritual gift, it was one of the most carnal churches described in the New Testament. Paul describes threes classes of people: Ch.3: the natural man—the spiritual man—the carnal or fleshly man. Paul equates the carnal beliefs with a babe in Christ. This condition is brought about by lack of spiritual growth, and is evidenced in envying, strife, and divisions.

4. Ch. 5. In this church, immortality was being practiced and there was one instance at least which was so gross that even the Gentiles would not permit it in their base society. To compound the evil, the local church and the elders were indifferent to sin’s awful presence in their midst.

5. Ch. 6 Brethren were taking brethren to court before ungodly judges.

6. After these discourses, Paul reminds them of this heavenly character. You are members of Christ—you are joined unto the Lord—and your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit. Ch. 6

These things had been reported to Paul by the household of Chloe.

By H. A. Ironside, Litt. D.

Loizeaux Brothers, Inc.,
New York, N. Y.

Prefatory Note

Like the preceding volume of addresses on First Corinthians, these messages were given on Sunday mornings to the congregation of the Moody Memorial Church and to the many thousands comprising the Radio audience. My desire was to make them as clear, concise, and simple as possible, so that the least instructed of my hearers might benefit by them. They were reported by Mrs. A. E. Kirchhofer, to whom I am greatly indebted for her competent stenography.

H. A. Ironside
Chicago, 1939

Lesson 221: The Ascension Of Christ
Acts 1:1-11
Golden Text: Acts 1:11

I. The Great Commission. Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15, 10.

1. The Person Who gave it. He had the right by virtue of His Person and His work.

2. The power for it—“Himself;” v. 18. Note the “power” as seen in (1) His birth; Luke 1:35. (2) Ministry; Luke 4:32. (3) Miracles; Luke 4:36. (4) Forgiveness; Matthew 9:6. (5) Death; John 10:18. (6) Resurrection. Romans 1:4; Colossians 2:13-15. (7) Ascension; Ephesians 1:20. (8) Coming; Matthew 24:30.

3. The plan of it. (1) The command “go ye.” (2) The scope, “world.” (3) The theme, “the Gospel.” (4) The persons, “every creature.”

4. The persons to whom given—His disciples. (1) Chosen. Mark 3:14; John 15:16. (2) Saved; Matthew 16:16. (3) Taught. (4) Commissioned. (5) Equipped.

5. The privilege of it. Ambassadors, co-workers, witnesses, trustees, servants of the Lord Jesus Christ.

6. The price of it. “Go” means leave. Cp. Luke 14:26.

7. The promise with it. “I am with you.” Cp Hebrews 13:5.

II. The Promise. Acts 1:4, 5.

1. Promised in O. T. Isaiah 32:15; Jeremiah 31:33; Ezek 11:19; Joel 228.

2. Promised in N. T. John 15:26—16:14.

III. The Questioning Disciples. Vs. 6-8.

1. The question; v. 6. (1) An earthly kingdom expected; Isaiah 2:2-4. (2) The King being rejected, the kingdom is in obeyance. Luke 19:14; Acts 3:14. (3) He will yet be King over the Earth; Psalm 2.

For nearly two years, 1934 and 1935, it was my privilege to attempt to expound the Corinthian epistles at the regular Sunday morning gatherings, numbering from twenty-five hundred to thirty-five hundred people, in the auditorium of the Moody Memorial Church in Chicago. With radio equipment these addresses were broadcast over a large stretch of territory, thus reaching many thousands more. So insistent has been the demand for their publication in printed form that I have decided to send them ou...

Preface Like the preceding volume of addresses on 1 Corinthians, these messages were given on Sunday mornings to the congregation of the Moody Memorial Church and to the many thousands comprising the radio audience. My desire was to make them as clear, concise, and simple as possible, so that the least instructed of my hearers might benefit by them. They were reported by Mrs. A. E. Kirchhofer, to whom I am greatly indebted for her competent stenography. —H. A. Ironside ...

Lecture 1 Comfort In Affliction 2 Corinthians 1:1-7 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: grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are...

Lecture 6 The Glory Of TheNew Covenant 2 Corinthians 3:7-18 But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away: how shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious? For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory. For even that which was made ...

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The apostle writes the second Epistle to the Corinthians under the influence of the consolations of Christ—consolations experienced when the troubles which came upon him in Asia were at their height; and renewed at the moment when he wrote his letter, by the good news which Titus had brought him from Corinth—consolations which (now that he is happy about them) he imparts to the Corinthians; who, by grace, had been their source in the last instance. The first letter had awakened their ...