◄ 2 Corinthians 2:12 ►
Now when I went to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ and a door stood open for me in the Lord,
Study Bible
Now when I went to Troas

Troas, an ancient city located in what is now modern-day Turkey, was a significant port city in the Roman province of Asia. It served as a strategic location for travel and trade, making it an ideal place for the spread of the gospel. The Apostle Paul visited Troas multiple times during his missionary journeys (Acts 16:8, 20:5-12). This visit to Troas is part of Paul's second missionary journey, highlighting his commitment to spreading the message of Christ across diverse regions.

Act 16:8 So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas.
Act 20:6 And after the Feast of Unleavened Bread, we…
2Ti 4:13 When you come, bring the cloak that I left…

to preach the gospel of Christ

Paul's primary mission was to preach the gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ's death and resurrection for the salvation of humanity. This phrase underscores the centrality of Christ in Paul's message and mission. The gospel of Christ is a recurring theme in Paul's letters, emphasizing salvation by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9) and the transformative power of the gospel (Romans 1:16). Paul's dedication to this mission reflects the Great Commission given by Jesus to His disciples (Matthew 28:19-20).

Rom 15:19 by the power of signs and wonders, and by the power…
1Co 9:16 Yet when I preach the gospel, I have no reason to boast…
Rom 1:16 I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power…

and a door stood open for me in the Lord,

The imagery of an "open door" is often used in the New Testament to signify opportunities for ministry and the advancement of the gospel (1 Corinthians 16:9, Colossians 4:3). This phrase suggests that God had providentially prepared the way for Paul's ministry in Troas, indicating divine approval and support. The concept of an open door also implies that Paul was sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit, recognizing and seizing opportunities to fulfill his calling. This aligns with the biblical principle that God directs the paths of those who trust in Him (Proverbs 3:5-6).

1Co 16:9 because a great door for effective work has opened to me…
Col 4:3 as you pray also for us, that God may open to us a door…
Act 14:27 When they arrived, they gathered the church together…

Persons / Places / Events
1. Paul
The apostle who wrote the letter to the Corinthians. He is a central figure in the New Testament, known for his missionary journeys and epistles.

2. Troas
A city in the northwest of Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey), significant as a location where Paul had a vision that led him to Macedonia (Acts 16:8-10).

3. The Gospel of Christ
The message of salvation through Jesus Christ, which Paul was dedicated to preaching.

4. Open Door
A metaphor used by Paul to describe an opportunity provided by God for effective ministry and evangelism.

5. The Lord
Referring to Jesus Christ, under whose authority and guidance Paul operated.
Teaching Points
Recognizing Divine Opportunities
As believers, we should be attentive to the "open doors" God places before us, understanding that these are opportunities for ministry and sharing the Gospel.

Dependence on the Lord's Guidance
Paul's journey to Troas and subsequent actions were guided by the Lord. We should seek God's direction in our decisions and trust His leading.

The Importance of Preaching the Gospel
Paul's primary mission was to preach the Gospel of Christ. We are called to prioritize sharing the message of salvation in our lives.

Faithfulness in Ministry
Even when circumstances are uncertain, like Paul's situation in Troas, we should remain faithful to our calling and trust that God will provide opportunities.

Prayer for Open Doors
Just as Paul sought prayer for open doors, we should regularly pray for opportunities to share our faith and for the courage to walk through those doors.
Bible Study Questions
1. What does the "open door" in Troas teach us about recognizing God's opportunities in our own lives?

2. How can we discern when God is leading us to a new place or ministry, as He did with Paul in Troas?

3. In what ways can we ensure that we are prepared to preach the Gospel when God opens a door for us?

4. How does Paul's experience in Troas encourage us to trust in God's timing and guidance in our personal and spiritual journeys?

5. What practical steps can we take to pray for and identify open doors for ministry in our communities?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Acts 16:8-10
This passage describes Paul's vision in Troas, which led him to Macedonia, illustrating how God guides His servants through open doors.

1 Corinthians 16:9
Paul speaks of a "great and effective door" for ministry, showing a pattern of recognizing and seizing God-given opportunities.

Colossians 4:3
Paul requests prayer for an open door for the word, emphasizing the need for divine intervention in ministry opportunities.
Sermons
An Open DoorJ.R. Thomson 2 Corinthians 2:12
Providential DoorsR. Tuck 2 Corinthians 2:12, 13
Coming to Troas; Disquietude; Defence of His ApostleshipC. Lipscomb 2 Corinthians 2:12-17
The Effect of the Gospel MinistryT. Moir, M. A.2 Corinthians 2:12-17
People
Corinthians, Paul, Titus
Places
Achaia, Corinth, Macedonia, Troas
Topics
Christ, Christ's, Door, Furthermore, Glad, Gospel, Lord's, News, Open, Opened, Preach, Providence, Publication, Spread, Stood, Though, Tidings, Troad, Troas, Tro'as
Dictionary of Bible Themes
2 Corinthians 2:12

     7725   evangelists, identity
     8426   evangelism, motivation

2 Corinthians 2:12-13

     5108   Paul, life of
     5691   friends, good

Library
The Triumphal Procession
'Thanks be unto God, which always leadeth us in triumph in Christ and maketh manifest through us the savour of His knowledge in every place.'--2 COR. ii. 14 (R.V.) I suppose most of us have some knowledge of what a Roman Triumph was, and can picture to ourselves the long procession, the victorious general in his chariot with its white horses, the laurelled soldiers, the sullen captives, with suppressed hate flashing in their sunken eyes, the wreathing clouds of incense that went up into the blue …
Alexander Maclaren—Romans, Corinthians (To II Corinthians, Chap. V)

The Two Effects of the Gospel
And, my brethren, how sweet is that consolation which Paul applied to his own heart amid all his troubles. "Notwithstanding all," he says, "God makes known the savour of his knowledge by us in every place." Ah! with this thought a minister may lay his head upon his pillow: "God makes manifest the savour of his knowledge." With this he may shut his eyes when his career is over, and with this he may open them in heaven: "God hath made known by me the savour of his knowledge in every place," Then follow …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 1: 1855

Since These Things are So, Because it were Too Long to Treat Thoroughly Of...
35. Since these things are so, because it were too long to treat thoroughly of all that in that "Pound" [2458] of Dictinius are set down as precedents of lying, meet to be imitated, it seemeth to me that this is the rule to which not only these, but whatever such there be, must be reduced. Namely, either what is believed to be a lie must be shown not to be such; whether it be where a truth is left untold, and yet no falsehood told; or where a true signification willeth one thing to be understood …
St. Augustine—Against Lying

"But if Ye have Bitter Envying," &C.
James iii. 14.--"But if ye have bitter envying," &c. The cunning of Satan, and the deceitfulness of our own hearts, are such that when a grosser temptation will not prevail with conscience in some measure enlightened, then they transform themselves into angels of light, and deal more subtilely with us. And there is no greater subtilty of Satan, nor no stronger self deceit, than this, to palliate and cover vices with the shadow of virtue, and to present corruptions under the similitude of graces. …
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

There Resulteth Then from all These this Sentence...
41. There resulteth then from all these this sentence, that a lie which doth not violate the doctrine of piety, nor piety itself, nor innocence, nor benevolence, may on behalf of pudicity of body be admitted. And yet if any man should propose to himself so to love truth, not only that which consists in contemplation, but also in uttering the true thing, which each in its own kind of things is true, and no otherwise to bring forth with the mouth of the body his thought than in the mind it is conceived …
St. Augustine—On Lying

On the Study of the Evidences of Christianity.
THE investigation of that important and extensive subject which includes what have been usually designated as The Evidences of Revelation,' has prescriptively occupied a considerable space in the field of theological literature, especially as cultivated in England. There is scarcely one, perhaps, of our more eminent divines who has not in a greater or less degree distinguished himself in this department, and scarcely an aspirant for theological distinction who has not thought it one of the surest …
Frederick Temple—Essays and Reviews: The Education of the World

Of the Matters to be Considered in the Councils.
Let us now consider the matters which should be treated in the councils, and with which popes, cardinals, bishops, and all learned men should occupy themselves day and night, if they loved Christ and His Church. But if they do not do so, the people at large and the temporal powers must do so, without considering the thunders of their excommunications. For an unjust excommunication is better than ten just absolutions, and an unjust absolution is worse than ten just excommunications. Therefore let …
Martin Luther—First Principles of the Reformation

Epistle xxxv. To Leontius, Ex-Consul.
To Leontius, Ex-Consul. Gregory to Leontius, &c. Since in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth, and some indeed to honour but some to dishonour (2 Tim. ii. 20), who can be ignorant that in the bosom of the Universal Church some as vessels of dishonour are deputed to the lowest uses, but others, as vessels of honour, are fitted for clean uses. And yet it commonly comes to pass that the citizens of Babylon serve in task-work for Jerusalem, while …
Saint Gregory the Great—the Epistles of Saint Gregory the Great

How the Rude in Sacred Learning, and those who are Learned but not Humble, are to be Admonished.
(Admonition 25.) Differently to be admonished are those who do not understand aright the words of the sacred Law, and those who understand them indeed aright, but speak them not humbly. For those who understand not aright the words of sacred Law are to be admonished to consider that they turn for themselves a most wholesome drought of wine into a cup of poison, and with a medicinal knife inflict on themselves a mortal wound, when they destroy in themselves what was sound by that whereby they ought, …
Leo the Great—Writings of Leo the Great

The Preparatory Service; Sometimes Called the Confessional Service.
In our examination of the nature and meaning of the Lord's Supper, we have found that it is indeed a most important and holy Sacrament. It is in fact the most sacred of all the ordinances of the Church on earth. There is nothing beyond it--nothing so heavenly, on this side heaven, as this Feast. Nowhere else does the believer approach so near to heaven as when he stands or kneels, as a communicant at this altar, the Holy of Holies in the Church of Christ. What a solemn act! To approach this altar, …
G. H. Gerberding—The Way of Salvation in the Lutheran Church

The Comforts Belonging to Mourners
Having already presented to your view the dark side of the text, I shall now show you the light side, They shall be comforted'. Where observe: 1 Mourning goes before comfort as the lancing of a wound precedes the cure. The Antinomian talks of comfort, but cries down mourning for sin. He is like a foolish patient who, having a pill prescribed him, licks the sugar but throws away the pill. The libertine is all for joy and comfort. He licks the sugar but throws away the bitter pill of repentance. If …
Thomas Watson—The Beatitudes: An Exposition of Matthew 5:1-12

Letter Xlv (Circa A. D. 1120) to a Youth Named Fulk, who Afterwards was Archdeacon of Langres
To a Youth Named Fulk, Who Afterwards Was Archdeacon of Langres He gravely warns Fulk, a Canon Regular, whom an uncle had by persuasions and promises drawn back to the world, to obey God and be faithful to Him rather than to his uncle. To the honourable young man Fulk, Brother Bernard, a sinner, wishes such joy in youth as in old age he will not regret. 1. I do not wonder at your surprise; I should wonder if you were not suprised [sic] that I should write to you, a countryman to a citizen, a monk …
Saint Bernard of Clairvaux—Some Letters of Saint Bernard, Abbot of Clairvaux

A Book for Boys and Girls Or, Temporal Things Spritualized.
by John Bunyan, Licensed and entered according to order. London: Printed for, and sold by, R. Tookey, at his Printing House in St. Christopher's Court, in Threadneedle Street, behind the Royal Exchange, 1701. Advertisement by the Editor. Some degree of mystery hangs over these Divine Emblems for children, and many years' diligent researches have not enabled me completely to solve it. That they were written by Bunyan, there cannot be the slightest doubt. 'Manner and matter, too, are all his own.'[1] …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

Things Pertaining to the Kingdom.
"Now is there solemn pause in earth and heaven; The Conqueror now His bonds hath riven, And Angels wonder why He stays below; Yet hath not man his lesson learned, How endless love should be returned." Hitherto our thoughts about "The Kingdom of Heaven" have been founded on the teaching of the King respecting His Kingdom recorded in the Gospels. But we must not forget to give attention to the very important time in the life of our Lord extending between His Resurrection and Ascension, during which …
Edward Burbidge—The Kingdom of Heaven; What is it?

Elucidations.
I. (Such as have lapsed, cap. vii. p. 660.) The penitential system of the Primitive days, referred to in our author, began to be changed when less public confessions were authorized, on account of the scandals which publicity generated. Changes were as follows: 1. A grave presbyter was appointed to receive and examine voluntary penitents as the Penitentiary of a diocese, and to suspend or reconcile them with due solemnities--circa a.d. 250. 2. This plan also became encumbered with difficulties and …
Tertullian—On Repentance

Letter cxx. To Hedibia.
At the request of Hedibia, a lady of Gaul much interested in the study of scripture, Jerome deals with the following twelve questions. It will be noticed that several of them belong to the historical criticism of our own day. (1) How can anyone be perfect? and How ought a widow without children to live to God? (2) What is the meaning of Matt. xxvi. 29? (3) How are the discrepancies in the evangelical narratives to be accounted for? How can Matt. xxviii. 1 be reconciled with Mark xvi. 1, 2. (4) How …
St. Jerome—The Principal Works of St. Jerome

And for Your Fearlessness against them Hold this Sure Sign -- Whenever There Is...
43. And for your fearlessness against them hold this sure sign--whenever there is any apparition, be not prostrate with fear, but whatsoever it be, first boldly ask, Who art thou? And from whence comest thou? And if it should be a vision of holy ones they will assure you, and change your fear into joy. But if the vision should be from the devil, immediately it becomes feeble, beholding your firm purpose of mind. For merely to ask, Who art thou [1083] ? and whence comest thou? is a proof of coolness. …
Athanasius—Select Works and Letters or Athanasius

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