The questions are based on the NET Bible.
CHAPTER 1:
Q1. The theme for v3 – 11 is ‘Sharing of ( ) and ( ) between the minister and the church in ( ).
Suffering, comfort, Christ.
Q2. What is the reason of Paul’s praise?
God’s comforting
Q3. How many times does the author use following words in v3-7?
– ‘trouble’ or ‘suffering’ or similar words: 7
– ‘comfort’: 10
Q4. What is the purpose of the afflictions of the gospel workers? (v6, 9)
To comfort the Corinthian church
To put their hope only on God who could raise them from dead.
Q5. What would be the hope of Paul for the Corinthian church, as he saw their joinging the same suffering of Paul? (v7, 10-11)
They would be comforted by God and give glory to God.
Their growth in faith (they will know more about the gospel and the ministry)
Q6. Why did Paul have a confidence that God had sent him as a minister to the Corinthian church? (v12-16)
He served them with pure motives and sincerity.
He preached the gospel in a way they could understand. They understood, partly for now.
Paul and they are linked…
Q7. Paul explains about his change of plan of visiting Corinth. First, he claimed he had not made the visit plan lightly. Find verses that implies that he had planned according to God’s will.
V12, v18, v17 (not by human standards), v19, v20.
CHAPTER 2:
Q1. Why did Paul decide not to visit Corinth once again? (1:23-2:3)
In the previous visit, Paul rebuked some church members in Corinth for their wrongdoing. It seems not good to make another visit before they are restored through encouragement and repentance. If so, Paul would be discouraged again and this will impact the whole church
Q2. What is the purpose and motivation of Paul’s rebuke? (1:24, 2:4)
It is not to rule over them, but to make them stand firm in faith. (not by coercive ways)
Writing in tears is not to make them sad, but to let them know Paul’s love for them
Q3. What is the Paul’s reason asking them to forgive the wrong doers? (v7-8, v9-10, v11)
To affirm their love for the wrong doers so that they might not be overwhelmned by despair.
To test their obedience
Not to be exploited by Satan who looks for a crack of community bond, the unforgiving spirit.
Q4. We are ( ) of Christ, a fragrance from ( ) to ( ) to those who are being saved and an ( ) from death to death to those who are perishing.
a sweet aroma, life, life, odor
Therefore, both suffering and victory come to us.
Q5. What is required to do such a task? (v17)
Not for profit, speaking Christ, with sincerity as sent by God.
CHAPTER 3:
Q1. We don’t need letters of ( ) as some others do. ( ) are our letter, written by ( ), on tablets of ( ).
Recommendation. You yourselves, the Spirit of living God, human hearts.
Q2. Our adequacy is not from ( ) but from ( ). God made us adequate to be servants of ( ) not based on ( ) but on ( ). For the letter ( ), but the Spirit ( ).
Man, God, a new covenant, the letters, the Spirit, kills, gives life.
Q3. If the minstry of the letters, which reveals [ ] in human hearts and so produced ( ), came with glory, how much more glorious will be the ministry of ( ), which brings ( ).
Sin, condemnation, the Spirit, righteousness
Q4. What is their problem in reading old covenant? (v15)
They have veil in their faces, thus failed to understand clearly.
Q5. Why would this veil be removed when we come to Christ? (hint: v6, v17, the old covenant points out our sinfulness)
Veil is to cover God’s glory reflected in Moses’ face. It delutes the message that we are sinful and hopeless before glorious God. Having a veil = Hiding of self defense and making excuses for our sins. To be exposed of our guilt before bright sunlight is too shameful.
When Jesus’ forgiveness is guaranteed, we can remove the mask of disguise and expose our shames.
Q6. When the Spirit of ( ) is present, there is ( ).
The Lord, freedom.
CHAPTER 4:
Q1. When we proclaim the gospel, why do some of them not believe the message?
The god of this age has blinded the minds of those who do not believe.
Their love for the world and its wealth and pleasure blinded them.
Q2. According to v7-11, what would be God’s purpose for the gospel workers to suffer?
Extraordinary power comes from God not from us.
Life of Jesus may also be visible in our body.
Q3. Amid our suffering, we ought to proclaim our ( ) that God would raise us up with ( ). For we have the same spirit of faith as the psalmist said, “I believed; therfore I ( ).”
Faith, Jesus, spoke (proclaim, manifest)
Q4. “For our momentary, ( ) suffering is producing for us an ( ) of glory far beyond all comparison. What can be seen is ( ), but what cannot be seen is ( ).”
Light, enternal weight, temporary, eternal.
CHAPTER 5:
Q1. ‘Earthly house’ means our mortal body. Heavenly dwelling is body of heaven. Why do we groan when we live in our earthly house?
Our house or clothe (body) is being broken down because of our sins. We are waiting for a better clothing otherwise we will be found naked.
Nakeness implies shame and guilt.
Q2. How do we know that we will have heavenly dwelling? (v5)
The Holy Spirit is the deposit.
Q3. “We live by ( ), not by ( ). Thus we are full of courage and would prefer to be away from the ( ) and at thome with the ( ).”
Faith, sight, body, Lord
Q4. “If anyone is in ( ), he is a new ( ).” According to v14-16, what do the following statements imply?
Christ, new
“What is old has passed away’: died with Jesus. No more looking ourward appearance.
“What is new has come”: Live for the Lord.
Q5. God ( ) us to Himself through ( ) and made us the ( ) for Christ to reconcile the world to Himself. We plead with everyone, “( )!” God made the one who ( ) sin to be sin ( ), so that in him we would become the ( ) of God.
Reconciled, Christ, ambassadors, Be reconciled to God, did not know, for us, righteousness.
CHAPTER 6:
Q1. We also urge you not to receive the ( ) of God in ( ). For the time is urgent, for ( ) is the acceptable time and the ( ) of salvation. Also, do not give anyone an occasion for taking an ( ) in anything.
Grace, vain, now, day, offence.
Taking God’s grace in vain: 1) Being lazy and not doing anything to save others, for the time is urgent. 2) Using the freedom of grace to gratify own desire so thus putting stumbling blocks before others.
Q2. What are two characteristics of God’s ministry? (v4-7, v8-10)
Enduring in hardshpis, by the Holy Spirit and the power of God, truthful…
Two opposite characters of the ministry: dishonor in human viewpoint but glory in God’s viewpoint. And so on..
Q3. What is Paul’s request to the Corinthian church? (v11-13)
Open wide your hearts and accept us.
There were people who denied Paul’s apostleship in the Corinthian church.
4. Paul asked them to accept difference among believers. However, not with non-believers. Paul uses five sets of contrasts that we shall not become partners with non-believers. What are the five contrasts? (v14-16)
Righteousness vs lawlessness, light vs darkness, Christ vs Beliar, believers vs unbelievers, the temple of God vs idols.
There are so great distinction between believers and unbelievers, as much as life from death, heaven from earth.
Q5. What is the reason that we are to be separated from the world? (v17-18)
It is God’s command. They are unclean. We are God’s children.
CHAPTER 7:
Q1. Paul admonished us to cleanse ourselves from everything that defile the body and the spirit. Any acts that seek the desires of the flesh would defile the body. Then, what would define the spirit? (v2-3)
Not accepting each other. In specific, refusing Paul as their minister.
Q2. Paul wrote this letter to the church of Corinth on his mission journey in Macedonia. He had sent Titus with his previous letter to the church in Corinth. And Titus was supposed to bring a reply and meet him at Troas. But, Paul couldn’t meet Titus in Troas and travelled to Maecdonia in worry. There, he met Titus. What are two things that encouraged Paul? (v6-9)
Meeting Titus
Getting a positive reply from the church. Their repentance.
Q3. Godly sadness produces ( ) that leads to ( ), but worldly sadness brings about ( ).
Repentance, salvation, death.
Worldy sadness produces bitterness and jealousy.
Q4. In the church of Corinth, there was a group of people who didn’t admit Paul’s apostleship and maliciously looked down on Paul. Paul worried if they would fall off from the true gospel because of this. What was Paul’s purpose in his writing a harsh letter to the Corinthians? (v12)
To reveal their earnestness on the behalf of Paul.
To reveal how much it is that Paul was their spiritual father.
Q5. According to v14-15, what was Paul’s boasting about the Corinthian church?
Their faithfulness and obedience.
CHAPTER 8: Completing the Collection for the Saints
Q1. What was God’s grace for the churches of Macedonia that Paul is talking to the Church of Corinth? (v1-5)
In their poverty and suffering, they wanted to help other believers.
Q2. What is Paul’s admonishment toward the Corinthian church? (v6-11)
Complete the donation project.
Q3. What are three reasons Paul asks them to complete their donation project? (v9, v10-12, v13-15)
Jesus showed us an example: he became poor for us. When helping brothers makes you poor, it is genuine.
It is your advantage that you are making an acceptable offering to the Lord
It makes equality between brothers as it is written.
Q4. It seems that Titus was delivering this letter to the Corinthian church. Why does Paul send another brother with him to Corinth? (v19-21)
He was chosen for the fund administration to void any unnecessary trouble before men.
Q5. What would be the confidence that Paul is talking about in v22?
He had the confidence for faith and devotion of the Corinthian church.
CHAPTER 9: Preparing the Gift
Q1. What are the two instructions of Paul regarding the collection of the donation fund? (v5, v6)
Prepare beforehand.
Donate generously with a willing heart. It is giving your heart.
Q2. How can we generously help fellow believers? (v8)
God will provide more.
Q3. When Paul saw three results of their sacrificial donation, he praised the Lord saying it is God’s indescribable gift. What are the tree results? (v9-10, v11-12, v14)
It is their righteousness
It is the fruit of Paul’s ministry
The recipient of the fund will pray for them and thus their bond becomes strong.
CHAPTER 10 Paul’s authority from the Lord, Paul’s mission
Q1. “For the weapons of our warfare are not ( ) weapons, but are made powerful by ( ) for tearing down strongholds. We tear down ( ) and every ( ) obstacle that is raised up against the ( ) of God, and we take every thought ( ) to make it obey Christ. We are also ready to punish every act of ( ), whenever your obedience is ( ).”
Human, God, arguments, arrogant, knowledge, captive, disobedience, complete
Q2. Why should we not argue with fellow believers? (v7)
They are Christ’s.
Q3. Why did Paul use strong tone in his letters? (v8)
To build them up.
Q4. Paul was being compared to other teachers and accused of not being an apostle for he had not been a disciple or a follower of Jesus. Such an accusation came from their human viewpoints. Find verses that allude such viewpoints.
v2,3,7,12
Q5. Tell the two meanings of ‘boasting in the Lord’ (v13-14, 15-16)
Boasting according to the work which God appointed to him. He had confidence in his authority over them.
Boasting as much as the Lord allows fruit in his ministsry.
CHAPTER 11 Paul’s & his opponents, Boasting in suffering and weakness
Q1. What is the purpose of Paul’s ministry? (v2)
To make them Jesus’ bride.
Q2. What was Paul’s concern for Corinthians? (v3-4)
They were deceived and led astray from genuine faith. They tolerated different gospels to be accepted in their church.
Q3. As Paul ministered in Corinth, he didn’t get support from the church in Corinth. He supported himself or got support from the church of ( ). Why do you think Paul wanted to keep doing this way in his ministry in Achaia (southern Greece including Corinth and Athen)? (v6, v12-15)
Macedonia.
Churches in this region were rich in everything in human viewpoints. Wealth, spiritual gifts and knowledge, and wisdom were abundant. They evaluated Paul in a worldly viewpoint. To prevent them to look at the gospel in such ways, Paul emphasizes humblity and weakness.
Q4. What did the false teachers do to Corinthians? (v18-20)
False teachers enslaved them. How? Discuss!
Q5. Why do you think Paul boasted as though he knew it was foolish? (v15, v16-17, v21)
To let Corinthians pay more attention to his message.
Q6. What did Paul boast about himself? (four)
V22: a Hebrew of Hebrews
V23-27: Paul suffered for the Lord’s sake
V28-29: Paul participated in their life
V30-33: Paul’s weakness. He fled from the persecution.
CHAPTER 12 Paul’s thorn in flesh, The signs of an apostle
Q1. What was Paul’s spiritual experience in v2-4?
He went up the heaven and saw its splendors.
Q2. Why did God not remove the thorn in his flesh? (v7, 9)
To make Paul not arrogant.
To make God’s power perfect.
Q3. Our weakness makes us not to [ ] about ourselves, but to rely on [ ]. So we will become strong in [ ], which is true strength. “Therefore, I am content with ( ), with ( ), with ( ), with persecutions and ( ) for the sake of Christ. Whenever I am ( ), then I am ( ).”
Boast, God, faith. Weaknesses, insults, troubles, difficulties, weak, strong.
Q4. When Jesus was asked for a sign from heaven, He said ‘no sign except the sign of Jonah’ which means crucifixion and crucifixion. When Paul was asked for a sign of being an apostle, what were the signs of apostle?
Wonders and powerful deeds in ministry
Great perseverance
Q5. Because of their immaturity, Paul didn’t get any support from the church of Corinth (v ). However, some said Paul was crafty to send Titus collect money (v ). For such a misunderstanding, Paul sent another person together with Titus and asked them not to burden Corinthians (v ).
v13-14, 16, 18
Q6. What was the purpose that Paul explained and defended himself? (v19)
To build them up. To make their faith grow and mature.
Q7. What does it mean, “my God may humiliate me before you”? (v20-21)
Their mal treating Paul by not acknowledging his apostleship, still.
Paul’s disappointment of not seeing the fruit of his ministry, which is their repentance from so listed sins.
CHAPTER 13 Paul’s third visit to Corinth & Closing
Q1. What made Paul upset about?
They demanded a proof that Christ is speaking through Paul.
Q2. How to confirm you are a Christian according to Paul?
“Put yourselves to the test to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize regarding yourselves that Jesus Christ is int you”
Q3. What is the basis of Paul’s strong rebuke? (v3-4)
“He was crucified by reason of weakness, but he lives because of God’s power.”
Jesus showed God’s power through His resurrection. Paul needed to show strong willingness in his admonishing Corinthians.
Q4. What is the purpose of his rebuke? (v10)
To build them up. To make the grow in faith.
Q5. “The ( ) of the Lord Jesus Christ and the ( ) of God and the ( ) of the Holy Spirit be with you all.”
Grace, love, fellowship.
Paul blessed a church that doubted his aspotleship.