FBCHS Bible Study Power Hour -Reconciliation

An Appeal for Reconciliation

2 Corinthians 6:1-13, 7:2-4

Paul was the founding pastor of the church at Corinth, a cosmopolitan city on the Isthmus of Corinth (an isthmus is a narrow strip of land that connects two land masses) connecting the mainland of Greece (Northern Greece) with the Peloponnese (Southern Greece).  Paul spent approximately eighteen months in Corinth on his Second Missionary Journey (Acts 18:1-11).

After leaving Corinth, Paul traveled extensively (Acts 18:18-23), settling in Ephesus for an extended period of time (Acts 19).  During that period, he wrote at least four letters to the Christians at Corinth. His first letter has been lost to us (see 1 Corinthians 5:9).  His second letter is the letter that we know as 1 Corinthians.  He wrote a third letter––a severe letter––”out of much affliction and anguish of heart” (2 Corinthians 2:4) so that when he visited Corinth he “wouldn’t have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice” (2 Corinthians 2:3).  He wrote a fourth letter, which we know as 2 Corinthians.  He visited Corinth again after writing this fourth letter (2 Corinthians 12:14). 

1 Working together, we entreat also that you not receive the grace of God in vain, 2a for he says,

 “At an acceptable time I listened to you,
in a day of salvation I helped you.”

 2bBehold, now is the acceptable time. Behold, now is the day of salvation.