These small group study notes on the book of 2nd Corinthians contain outlines, cross-references, Bible study discussion questions, lessons to learn, and applications. Feel free to print them, copy them, or share them. I only ask that you remember these are are personal study notes and are only meant as a supplement to your own study, not a replacement. May God be glorified! Visit our inductive Bible study main page for more studies on this and other books of the Bible. See the bottom of the page for the rest of the study on 2 Corinthians chapter 4.
2 Corinthians 4:13-18 Inductive Bible Study - Outline, Key Words, Cross References, and Discussion Questions
The Eyes of Faith
Chapter 4:13-18
2 Cor 4:13-18
13 But having the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, " I BELIEVED, THEREFORE I SPOKE," we also believe, therefore we also speak, 14 knowing that He who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and will present us with you. 15 For all things are for your sakes, so that the grace which is spreading to more and more people may cause the giving of thanks to abound to the glory of God.
16 Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. 17 For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, 18 while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
Key Words
· Things 5 Items for comparison
· Seen 4
· Eternal 2
· Believe 2
· Speak 2
· Glory 2
· Therefore 3 The emphasis on cause and effect
· But 3 A passage of contrasts
Titles
What You See is NOT What You Get
Faith Changes Things
What are You Looking At?
The Eyes of Faith
No Comparison!
Outline
I. Results of Belief
A. Evangelism
B. Resurrection
C. Reproduction
D. Thanksgiving
II. Contrasts
A. Outer and Inner Man
B. Momentary, Light Affliction and Eternal Weight of Glory
C. Visible is temporal and Invisible is Eternal
Cross References, Questions, Observations
13. But having the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, " I BELIEVED, THEREFORE I SPOKE," we also believe, therefore we also speak,
Acts 15:8-10
8 "And God, who knows the heart, testified to them giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He also did to us; 9 and He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith.
1 Cor 12:9
9 to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit,
Heb 11:6
6 And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.
Acts 2:36
36 "Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ — this Jesus whom you crucified."
Acts 5:30-31
30 " The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you had put to death by hanging Him on a cross. 31 " He is the one whom God exalted to His right hand as a Prince and a Savior, to grant repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.
a)
1) Our faith is the motivation behind our message.
14. knowing that He who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and will present us with you.
John 11:25-26
25 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?"
Rom 8:11
11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.
1 Cor 6:14
14 Now God has not only raised the Lord, but will also raise us up through His power.
1 Cor 15:13-14
13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised; 14 and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain.
a)
1) The resurrection of believers is just as certain as the resurrection of Jesus because of the power and faithfulness of the person doing the raising.
15. For all things are for your sakes, so that the grace which is spreading to more and more people may cause the giving of thanks to abound to the glory of God.
Rom 8:28
28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
2 Cor 9:11-12
11 you will be enriched in everything for all liberality, which through us is producing thanksgiving to God. 12 For the ministry of this service is not only fully supplying the needs of the saints, but is also overflowing through many thanksgivings to God.
1 Peter 2:9
9 But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION,A PEOPLE FOR God's OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
1 Peter 4:11
11 Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
a) How can it be that all things are for our sakes?
b) What is causing grace to spread to more and more people?
c) Would it be accurate to say that the spreading of the gospel is dependent upon us? Why or why not?
1) We are the agents for the God’s program of reconciling the world to Himself.
16. Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.
Isa 40:29-31
29 He gives strength to the weary,
And to him who lacks might He increases power.
30 Though youths grow weary and tired,
And vigorous young men stumble badly,
31 Yet those who wait for the LORD
Will gain new strength;
They will mount up with wings like eagles,
They will run and not get tired,
They will walk and not become weary.
Heb 6:10
10 For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love which you have shown toward His name, in having ministered and in still ministering to the saints.
1 Cor 15:58
58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.
Ps 51:10
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God,
And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Rom 12:2
2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
Titus 3:5
5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,
a) Name some reasons why Christians might tend to lose heart.
b) Explain what you think it means that our outer man is decaying.
c) Describe the process of the renewal of our inner man.
d) Why is this renewal related as a day by day process?
1)
17. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison,
2 Cor 11:23-28
23 Are they servants of Christ? — I speak as if insane — I more so; in far more labors, in far more imprisonments, beaten times without number, often in danger of death. 24 Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep. 26 I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren; 27 I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. 28 Apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure on me of concern for all the churches.
Ps 30:5
5 For His anger is but for a moment,
His favor is for a lifetime;
Weeping may last for the night,
But a shout of joy comes in the morning.
Rom 8:18
18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
Ps 119:71
71 It is good for me that I was afflicted,
That I may learn Your statutes.
Matt 5:11-12
11 "Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. 12 "Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Rom 5:3-4
3 And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; 4 and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope;
Heb 12:10-11
10 For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness. 11 All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.
James 1:3-4
3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
James 1:12
12 Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
Ps 31:19
9 How great is Your goodness,
Which You have stored up for those who fear You,
Which You have wrought for those who take refuge in You,
Before the sons of men!
Luke 6:22-23
Blessed are you when men hate you, and ostracize you, and insult you, and scorn your name as evil, for the sake of the Son of Man. 23 "Be glad in that day and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven. For in the same way their fathers used to treat the prophets.
1 Cor 2:9
9 but just as it is written,
"THINGS WHICH EYE HAS NOT SEEN AND EAR HAS NOT HEARD,
AND which HAVE NOT ENTERED THE HEART OF MAN,
ALL THAT GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM."
1 Peter 5:10
10 After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.
a) Why in the world would Paul refer to his afflictions as momentary and light?
b) Why would God choose afflictions as a path to glory?
c) Describe the glory that awaits us.
1)
18. while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
Rom 8:24-25
24 For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.
2 Cor 5:7
7 for we walk by faith, not by sight —
Heb 11:1
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
a) How can we look at things that are not seen?
b) What are the most difficult trials for you to get through?
c) Why is it difficult for us to get through trials victoriously?
1)
Key Verse
18 while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
Central Teaching
We live victoriously when we view life through the eyes of faith.
Application - Make Your Own
Pray and fast this Monday for God to increase my faith.
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