2 Corinthians Outline

Inspired by seeing Ron Downing's post of the outline of Matthew for his group's practicum class, I decided to unapologetically swipe the idea and do the same for my group's assignment of 2 Corinthians. Here's where we're at:


I. Greeting and prayer (1:1-5)
II. Affliction and comfort (1:6-13a)
- A. Rightly interpreting the affliction (1:6-11)
- B. Boasting in simplicity (1:12-13a)
III. Paul explains his absence (1:13b-2:13)
- A. The intention to come (1:13b-1:18)
- B. The Godhead, the pattern to follow of faithfulness and follow-through (1:19-22)
- C. Sparing the Corinthians more grief (2:1-4)
- D. Parenthesis: Forgiving the one who has caused grief (2:5-11)
- E. Divine appointment preventing Paul’s earlier arrival (2:12-13)
IV. The ministry of the New Covenant/ministry of reconciliation (2:14-6:10)
- A. Praising God for the effectiveness of the ministry (2:14-3:4)
- B. Explaining the ministry (3:5-6:11)
- - 1. The glorious new covenant of the Spirit (3:5-11)
- - 2. Veiled under Moses, unveiled in Christ (3:12-18)
- - 3. Ministers of the New Covenant (4:1-2)
- - - a. Explaining why some are still unable to receive the ministry (4:3-6)
- - - b. Explaining the apostle’s lowly state (4:7-15)
- - - c. Hope in the trial: eternal weight of glory, the resurrection (4:16-5:5)
- - - d. Confidence even in death (5:6-11)
- C. Motive and message of the ministers (5:12-18)
- - 1. Regarding no one by the flesh because of the new creation (5:12-18)
- - 2. Standing as ambassadors of Christ (5:19-6:10)
V. Appealing for purity amongst the believers (6:11-7:3)
VI. The apostle’s comfort in the report of the Corinthians (7:4-7)
- A. Godly sorrow and comfort (7:8-13a)
- B. Titus’ refreshment in the church’s repentance (7:13b-16)
VII. Generous giving (8:1-9:15)
- A. Example of giving: the generosity of the Macedonians (8:1-5)
- B. The Corinthians exhorted to give generously (8:6-9:15)
- - 1. Titus sent to complete the grace in them (8:6-7)
- - 2. Christ the example of extravagant giving (8:8-9)
- - 3. Follow through on your giving (8:10-15)
- - 4. Parenthesis: Commending Titus and his companion [who will collect the gift] (8:16-24)
- - 5. Motivating the Corinthians to give (9:1-15)
VIII. The apostle’s authority (10:1-18)
- A. Speaking in meek authority (10:1-2)
- B. The warfare is not carnal, but spiritual (10:3-6)
- C. Judging the apostle by outward appearances (10:7-11)
- D. The apostles contrasted with false apostles who commend themselves (10:12-18)
IX. Paul resorts to a little foolish boasting for the sake of the Bride of Christ (11:1-4)
- A. Paul challenges the Corinthians to find blame in him (11:5-11)
- B. The deceptive nature of false apostles (11:12-15)
- C. Countering the false apostles with a little boasting of his own (11:16-12:13)
- - 1. Boasting foolishly (11:16-21a)
- - 2. Paul’s pedigree (11:21b-22)
- - 3. Boasting in infirmities (11:23-33)
- - 4. Visions and Revelations of the Lord (12:1-5)
- - 5. The thorn in the flesh (12:6-10)
- - 6. Paul, a genuine apostle (12:11-13)
X. Paul’s upcoming visit (12:14-16)
- A. Refusing to take advantage of the church (12:17-19a)
- B. Examine yourselves (12:19b-13:5)
- C. Praying for the Corinthians to be made complete (13:6-10)
XI. Farewell (13:11-14)