212-8 - 2 Corinthians
A follow-up letter apparently written a few months after 1 Corinthians. This time from Macedonia
Chapter 1
Vs. 1 - Timothy and Achaia
Vs. 2-3 - Note again that Paul is not confused upon the issue of whether or not Heavenly Father and Jesus are the same person.
Vs. 4 - Note a reason for us being comforted in our times of affliction and an expectation from the Lord when he comforts us.
Vs. 12-24 - Paul explains that he had intended to visit the Saints in Corinth previously, but had not been able to.
Vs. 22 - Paul teaches us that the Spirit is our "earnest money" that God will have us home. Thus, we are sealed with the Holy Spirit of Promise. See Ephesians 1:13 & D&C 88:3-4.
Chapter 2
Vs. 5-11- "There is no peace in reflecting on the pain of old wounds. There is peace only in repentance and forgiveness. (GBH Ensign, June 1991, p. 5) D&C 64:9-11.
Chapter 3
Vs. 2 & 3 - What kind of an epistle am I?
Vs. 6 - The letter killeth, but the Spirit giveth light. A comparison of the Law of Moses with the fullness of the gospel. Richard Poll's, what kind of a Latter-day Saint are you, a hold to the rodder or Liahoner?
Vs. 15 & 16 & 17 - Having the scriptures is not enough. We need to have the vail taken away
Chapter 4
Vs. 16 - The outward and the inward man
Chapter 5
Vs. 20 - Ambassadors for Christ
Chapter 6
Vs. 12 - Bowels are the center of pity and kindness
Vs. 14 - The Law of Moses prohibited the yoking of two animals not the same kind, ie, an ox and a donkey. True in marriage and where else?
Chapter 7
Vs. 8-10- Godly sorrow for sin
Vs. 17-21 - Reconciled to God. 2 Nephi 25:23; Jacob 4:10-11
Chapter 8 & 9 Hard to read chapters with a very easy and important message; give as Christ gave. Note especially vs. 8: 9, 14 and 9:6, 7, 8, 12, 15.
Chapter 10
Vs. 10 & 11 - An important message taught throughout the scriptures, that he who the Lord calls, the Lord qualifies and we ought to be careful to not be critical of those, whether it be us or another. See; Ex. 4:10 (Moses); Moses 6:31 (Enoch); Judges 6:15 (Gideon); 1 Samuel 9:21 (Saul); Jeremiah 1:6 (Jeremiah); Conference Report Oct. 1943 p. 16 (SW Kimball).
Vs. 18 - Whose approval is important?
Chapter 11
Vs 1 & 2- Who are we spiritually married to?
Vs. 19 - Who do we listen to ahead of apostles?
Vs. 24-28 - What has Paul suffered to fulfill his calling?
Chapter 12
1-4 - See I Corinthians 15 - Paul's vision of the 3 heavens.
Vs. 7-10 - "Much has been written about Paul's thorn in the flesh. Numerous hypotheses have been advanced by way of identifying the thorn, including; stuttering, epilepsy, a shrewish wife, an eye affliction, malaria, some mortal antagonist, or some spiritual weakness. Whatever it was, he knew why it was there, lest I should be exalted above measure. He had pleaded with the Lord to take it away, but he learned, as we all do, that the Lord intentionally gives each of us weaknesses to keep us humble, (Ether 2:27), If we let them accomplish their appointed purpose, weaknesses will not weaken us but strengthen us."(Ogden p. 157)
Chapter 13 -
Vs. 10 - Sometimes it is easier to say hard things from a distance, by letter, phone, having someone else relay the message or by text.
212-8 - Galatians
Who are the Galatians?
In the third century BC, a group of Celts from Europe invaded Asia Minor and settled in what is now north central Turkey
The Romans called Celts Galli, hence this region was called “Galatia”
An independent kingdom opposed to the Hellenistic (Greekspeaking)
kingdoms of Asia minor, it eventually was made a client kingdom and then in 25 BC a province of the Roman Empire. The region of Lycaonia in south central Asia Minor was added to the
province for administrative purposes. This included several Greek cities and Roman colonies, including ones visited by Paul and Barnabas in the “First” Missionary Journey of AD 46–48.
See BD p. 744
This epistle has been called a declaration of independence from Judaism. The terms free and freedom are used 11 times in the letter (Ogden p. 159) Luther used this epistle and Romans as the basis for his split with the Catholic Church. The idea that we are saved by faith and not by obedience to the law. We remember that Paul is speaking of the Law of Moses and not the law of the Gospel.
Chapter 1-This chapter is important in learning about Paul's pre and early Christian life. In vs. 10-12 he makes it clear that he was not called by man, but by God. In vs. 14 he tells that he was anything but a wishy-washy Jew before his conversion. Vs. 15-19 tell about his early Christian years.
Chapter 2 - In vs. 10-16 Paul tell about an interesting disagreement he had with Peter because of Peter's not being willing to hang out with the Gentile converts when the Jews were around. Remember that when Paul talks of the law (as he does in vs. 16 and frequently throughout his epistles) he is speaking of the Law of Moses and not the fullness of the gospel as taught by Jesus and the apostles. In vs. 21 Paul teaches that if salvation came through the law of Moses then Christ suffered and died in vain.
Chapter 3 - In vs. 7-8 Paul says that as gentiles accept the ordinances of the gospel they are adopted into God's family, thus it is adoption and not circumcision that saves. Read vs. 27 the next time someone tells you that baptism in not necessary.
Chapter 4 - In vs. 7-9 Paul marvels that with the blessings of accepting the ordinances associated with the gospel that someone return to their former life. Vs. 14-19 Paul extends his marveling that with the great love shown to him at the time of the Galatians conversion that they would not be faithful when he was not present.
Chapter 5 - In vs. 14-15 Paul gives another of his pleas for unity. Vs. 19- 21 list the fruits of the carnally minded, while vs. 22-26 tell of the fruits of those who are spiritually minded.
Chapter 6 - Vs. 1-2 is a request for the saints in Galatia to reach out to their fallen brethren and lead them back into the Church. Vs. 7-9 contain some of his finest Paulisms.
