Second Corinthians
by Paul D. Fisher  9/23/01
Paul’s second letter to the congregation at Corinth was a letter to
encourage them to continue faithful service to God. He encouraged them to
accept back the brother whom, in the first letter, they were commanded to
discipline, because that brother had repented of his sins. He wanted them
to understand that suffering is part of Christianity and not to despair
or be greatly troubled by persecutions when they came. As with the first
letter, Paul answered questions that the members in Corinth had. Some of
these questions were about the apostle Paul which were brought up by not
only JUDAIZING teachers but also by some preachers who may have been
jealous of his work (2 Corinthians 11:19-23).
In this letter we find more of the human side of Paul than in any of the
other letters contributed to him. Here we find some of Paul’s feelings,
desires, dislikes, ambitions and obligations which he spread before the
Corinthian congregation. Paul shows that the church of the first century
had it struggles and its sins. Plus, positive teaching of the letter
makes it one of the most valuable in all the New Testament. Its picture
of the ministry, its statement of the prospects beyond death and its
teaching on giving are all outstanding passages. May we be like the
Corinthians in that when sins were pointed out to them they did not
refuse to repent! May God bless each reader of this letter!
Device Ignorance
by Paul D. Fisher

“Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his
devices”

(2 Corinthians 2:11)
Many times God, through His inspired word, has warned us of our enemy,
Satan. In 2 Corinthians, the apostle Paul warned us to forgive brethren
when they repent so Satan cannot use a non-forgiving attitude against us.
Allowing a heart to stay unforgiving soon leads to more serious heart
problems. Heart problems which ole Doc Satan treats until they are
completely unhealable in the most severe cases.
Satan is crafty and uses everything he can to his advantage. A “not”
here, and a “you will be wise if you do it” there, are two of Satan’s
most used lines. Paul reminded the Corinthians, and us today, that sin is
still sin, and we commit it the old fashion way, one sin at a time. Sin
starts in the hearts of man and then it becomes action, either in word or
deed. Satan’s devices today are the very same ones that tempted Eve so
long ago in the Garden of Eden. “For all that is in the world, the lust
of the flesh, and lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the
Father, but is of the world” (1 John 2:16). Yes, Satan uses the same old
devices. Today the packaging might be a little different but that is the
only difference.
James, in his epistle, gave us a very real fact about what Satan wants,
and the results of being ignorant of his devises. “But every man is
tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when
lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished,
bringeth forth death” (James 1:14-15). We can see by this that Satan
wants us to be dead (separated) from God.
How then can we gain knowledge of Satan and his deadly devices? Paul
informs us first of all, that we must study God’s word so we can know
what to do and how to handle temptation, like Jesus did in Luke 4:1-13.
We must fill our minds (hearts) with the word of God, and put on the
Christian armor that God provides, then get up and get busy in the work
of the kingdom of God. If we do this, then we can, “Submit yourselves
therefore to God. Resist the devil (Satan), and he will flee from you”
(James 4:7). We can resist if, and only if, we are not ignorant of
Satan’s devices. Remember that being on the offense is the best defense
against Satan!

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