You Are Our Letter

Paul is writing to the church in Corinth and the believers in the region of Achaia because there are differences in governments, in culture, in lifestyles and in spiritual growth and needs in different regions, much as it is today. Yet, Paul begins with universal truths that God is our source in 2 Corinthians 1:2 “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ“ and in 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 “the Father of mercies and God of all comfort”. Paul then describes the unrest he had in himself as he entered Macedonia where a great and successful work of ministry was accomplished through him. Now, he tells the believers in 2 Corinthians 3:3 “you are a letter of Christ, delivered by us, inscribed not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God”. If we simply continue trusting the Lord, He will cause us to be in 2 Corinthians 2:15 “For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing“.

God of All Comfort

2 Corinthians 1:1–11
Paul doesn’t just write to the leaders of the Church, he writes to all of the believers, “to the church of God that is in Corinth” in 2 Corinthians 1:1 but he doesn’t stop there, this is also “together with all the saints who are in all Achaia”. Paul writes a universal message of grace and peace in

2 Corinthians 1:2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

and further describes in

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 “the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in all affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”

He is writing to tell them about the different environment, the different issues faced in “the province of Asia” in 2 Corinthians 1:8. These things Paul is facing in Asia though, are for the gospel and his message to the church of God in Achaia is that in whatever situation we are in, we have faith in God, in

2 Corinthians 1:9 “that we would not be putting confidence in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead”

Purity of Motive from God

2 Corinthians 1:12–14

But God is Faithful

2 Corinthians 1:15–24

I Have Confidence About You All

2 Corinthians 2:1–4

That We May Not be Exploited by Satan

2 Corinthians 2:5–11

A Door Was Opened for Me by the Lord

2 Corinthians 2:12–17
As strong as Paul was, as great as the reach of his ministry, even in this time when there was a great open door as he says in

2 Corinthians 2:12 Now when I arrived in Troas for the gospel of Christ and a door was opened for me by the Lord,

Paul was troubled. Titus was not there to be with him. He was going alone in

2 Corinthians 2:13 I did not experience rest in my spirit, because I did not find Titus my brother, but saying farewell to them, I departed for Macedonia.

But these were Paul’s internal feelings and though he felt weak, troubled, there was a great work happening around him in

2 Corinthians 2:14–15 But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ, and who reveals the fragrance of the knowledge of him through us in every place. 15 For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing,