When Paul was in Macedonia, about AD 56, God inspired him to write a second letter to the brothers of the church in Corinth and in the entire region of Achaia. This letter is different from the others he wrote, since it expresses other very relevant ideas and because it is very personal.
Through this letter, Paul defends his apostleship. So as we read his defense, we can see the invaluable teachings that every believer must keep in mind.
God teaches us in the midst of suffering (2 Corinthians 1:1 – 2:11)
Paul was taught by God while suffering for the Gospel. For example, Christ comforted him in his affliction so that he could be a comfort to others. He also learned that he should trust God in every situation, and never himself. This was reflected when, seeing that it would not be helpful, he decided not to visit the Corinthians, and also when he motivated the church to forgive the person who had offended them. As believers who suffer for the cause of Christ, we can learn from all this.
We are participants in the triumph of Christ (2 Corinthians 2:12 – 5:10)
Paul learned that to suffer for Christ and to spread the Gospel, guided by the Spirit and not by the letter of the law, was to participate in the triumph of Christ. Taking this good news to others in the midst of afflictions, reveals that this message comes from God and that we are vessels of clay that God wants to use. Likewise, just like Paul, we await the hope that our sufferings will end and turn into joy in the glory of Christ. The fragrance of this hope spreads through us today.
Let our lives be consistent with the message of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:11 – 6:13)
God redeemed Paul from his former life of sin and transformed him into a new creation, reconciling him to Himself through Christ and filling him with His Spirit. This act of grace enabled Paul to share the same message of reconciliation with others. He made sure that his own life aligned with the Gospel he proclaimed. As believers, we declare reconciliation with God through Christ while demonstrating through our lives that we have already been reconciled to Him.
Being unequally yoked generates spiritual harm (2 Corinthians 6:14 – 7:15)
Some false teachers within the church were undermining Paul, so he highlighted the danger of becoming closely aligned with such unbelievers, and contrasted it with the blessing of fellowship with sincere Christians. Those who are unjust and walk in spiritual darkness tend to draw others toward sin. In contrast, genuine believers urge ongoing repentance and a turning away from sin. Therefore, even when the correction offered by faithful Christians feels difficult, we should be grateful for it, recognizing that it is meant for our spiritual good.
Let us be like Christ, let us be generous (2 Corinthians 8:1 – 9:15)
The greatest act of generosity is seen in Christ: though He is God, He took on flesh, lived among us, and gave His life for His church, thereby enriching it with spiritual blessings. Paul points to this supreme example to encourage the church to give generously to the brothers in Jerusalem. From this, we learn to show generosity to fellow believers in need, deciding in our hearts to give freely—not reluctantly or under compulsion, and certainly not expecting anything in return. A believer’s generous heart is ultimately a reflection of Christ’s own generosity.
Our authority comes from the merits of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:1 – 13:14)
The apostleship that God had granted to Paul was not due to his own merits (being a Jew and a Pharisee, etc.) nor because of the supernatural privileges that he had experienced (visions and revelations). His authority as an apostle came from the merits and the power of Christ that was reflected in his weakness and sufferings (lashes, prison, hunger, etc). Likewise, our authority as the church of Christ does not come through our own human achievements but through the grace of God; the same grace that empowers us to be His ambassadors in this world.
“He [=the Lord] said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:9-10).
Get a good introduction about the Bible in What is the Bible?